Provide additional help while working with the pharmacist
As a trained pharmacy technician one has a understanding of some of the ailments from which various patients suffer and what some prescribed medications might cure or sooth their health concerns. While only a licensed medical professional is the only person that is legally allowed to give a patient medical advice, a pharmacy tech who has cross trained as a nurse’s aide could create additional career opportunities, especially if they are already employed in a hospital or institutional setting.
For example the pharmacy tech, who has been trained as a nurse tech, would have the ability to be an effective communicator between the patient and the doctor or pharmacist, should either not be available, at that particular time, to speak directly to the patient. In a hospital or institutional setting, this pharmacy tech who has completed the additional course of study as a nurse’s aide, may consider checking the patient’s vital signs first, and then reporting the patient’s concerns – along with the documented vital signs – to supervisory personnel, thus creating a level of comfort for the patient and demonstrating responsible work habits. Once this additional service has been performed on the patient and the results relayed to the proper authority, professional care or advice can then administered to the patient in a timely manner.
Understanding that professionally trained, career minded folks best serve the health care profession, Manhattan Institute offers classes days, evenings, and weekends, and provides staff members to answer questions over the phone, in person or via email 7 days a week.
For additional training at Manhattan Institute, please click here to review current schedule.
Working in a pharmacy is the right place for me – Michelle S
The thing that fascinated me most about medicine is that you feel fine, you get sick, you take a pill, and the you feel better. How great is that. A doctor gives you some pills and then you feel like you were never sick in the first place.
Coming from a big family with a small income, college was not my first choice after I graduated high school so I decided to learn more about my pill fascination. I looked for a school in New York where I could learn about becoming a Pharmacy Technician and while researching online I found www.manhattaninstitute.com Since they were a convenient subway ride for me, I visited the midtown school and liked the friendly staff, so I decided to sign up. After six weeks I had the credentials to look for a job in a pharmacy.
My job search didn’t last long because after a little less than a month, I was hired by a major chain drug store in New York. At first I started at the counter greeting the customers and telling them what time their prescriptions would be ready. Whenever they had questions I couldn’t answer, the pharmacist on duty was there to communicate with the customers. I also helped with cashiering duties whenever necessary. I soon began to help with stocking the shelves and learning more about the medicines being prescribed. I had to strictly pay attention to the expiration dates on all medication as this was a primary responsibility. Expired medication can make someone sick & my job is to make sure they get better. I also get to help in the administrative chores of the pharmacy department which means I maintain the customers medication records, communicate which the doctor is there is a problem with refills, or make sure the right prescriptions goes to the right customer.
I love this job and I am looking forward to being in this field for a long time. I even have hopes of becoming a pharmacist myself one day and feel like the education I first got at Manhattan Institute, along with this great job I now have, will help me to a better future.
