Title overview
For introductory pharmacy technician courses.
Filling the need for a comprehensive pharmacy technician resource
The Pharmacy Technician addresses today's comprehensive educational needs for one of the fastest growing jobs in the US: the pharmacy technician. Aspiring pharmacy technicians learn all the content they need to meet professional regulations and requirements. Step-by-step guidance in essential pharmacy tasks, combined with extensive review, reinforces practical knowledge.
The 3rd Edition includes nearly 500 updates and revisions, including more than 275 updates specific to medications. It's fully aligned with the 2019/20 Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Hallmark features of this title
Resources for current and aspiring pharmacy technicians
- Step-by-step procedures help students systematically work through processes and procedures they will perform on the job. Online videos accompany many of the procedures and practice problems.
- A student resources site includes homework assignments, critical-thinking questions, videos for math and measurements, and three 90-question practice exams simulating the PTCB national certification exam.
Practice opportunities
- Profile in Practice boxes in each chapter feature short scenarios depicting real pharmacy problems.
- Web challenges at the end of chapters lead students to perform internet research related to a chapter's content. They then either report their discoveries or answer questions related to their search.
New and updated features of this title
The most current practical information, consistent with industry standards
- UPDATED: Nearly 500 updates and revisions are included in the 3rd edition, with more than 275 updates pertaining specifically to medications.
- UPDATED: The most current pharmacy technician practices are addressed.
- UPDATED: The latest ACPE-ASHP accreditation standards are now reflected in the text.
- NEW: The most up-to-date listing of new drug information and newly available medications on the marketplace is new to this edition. Appendix A lists the most common over-the-counter products, and Appendix B lists the most prescribed medications in the US.
Exam prep resources
- UPDATED: The new edition is fully aligned with the 2019/20 Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
- UPDATED: Industry-leading online assets, activities and certification exam review measure students' understanding of current practices, while challenging them to analyze and apply content.
Table of contents
I. FUNDAMENTALS OF PHARMACY PRACTICE
1. History of Pharmacy Practice
2. The Professional Pharmacy Technician
3. Communication and Customer Care
4. Pharmacy Law and Ethics
5. Terminology and Abbreviations
6. Dosage Formulations and Routes of Administration
7. Referencing and Drug Information Resources
II. COMMUNITY AND INSTITUTIONAL PHARMACY
8. Retail Pharmacy
9. Health-System Pharmacy
10. Technology in the Pharmacy
11. Inventory Management
12. Insurance and Third-Party Billing
13. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Products
14. Introduction to Compounding
15. Introduction to Sterile Products
III. PHARMACY CALCULATIONS
16. Basic Math Skills
17. Measurement Systems
18. Dosage Calculations
19. Concentrations and Dilutions
20. Alligations
21. Parenteral Calculations
22. Business Math
IV. PHARMACOLOGY
23. The Body and Drugs
24. The Skin
25. The Eyes and Ears
26. The Gastrointestinal System
27. The Musculoskeletal System
28. The Respiratory System
29. The Cardiovascular, Circulatory, and Lymph Systems
30. The Immune System
31. The Renal System
32. The Endocrine System
33. The Reproductive System
34. The Nervous System
V. SPECIAL TOPICS
35. Medication Errors
36. Workplace Safety and Infection Control
37. Special Considerations for Pediatric and Geriatric Patients
38. Biopharmaceuticals
Appendices
A. Common Over-the-Counter Products
B. Top 200 Drugs
C. Advanced Career Path Options
D. Practice Certification Exams
Author bios
About our author
Mike Johnston is Founder and CEO of the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA), the largest professional organization representing pharmacy technicians. Mike, an Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv), is dedicated to improving patient care through the advancement of pharmacy technicians. He is author of numerous pharmacy-related textbooks, publisher of CPhT CONNECT™ magazine, host of the CPhT CONNECT™ podcast and a voting delegate of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP).