DESCRIPTION OF COURSES - 4080-11
Medical Terminology: This course introduces the terminology and abbreviations commonly used in
medicine. Topics include prefixes, suffixes, medical word roots, combined forms, special endings, plural
forms, abbreviations, and symbols related to anatomy, disease states, and medical treatment. Emphasis is
placed on spelling, definition, usage, and pronunciation. The total contact hours are 24 lecture hours and
16 lab hours.
Orientation to Pharmacy Practice: This course reviews the contributions made by nations of the world
to the practice of pharmacy, past and present. The course reviews the role of professional pharmacy
organizations, past and present, in improving the practice of pharmacy and the role of the pharmacy
personnel. Students also learn about new drug development, drug distribution, and the role of the
pharmacy technician in drug procurement. Course material includes the types of sites that currently
employ pharmacy technicians, including an analysis of the role of pharmacy technicians in various job
settings. Current trends that can affect the future direction for pharmacy technicians, including national
certification, are also discussed. The total contact hours are 16 lecture hours and 16 lab hours.
Introduction to Measurements: This course provides the basic to the metric system which is used
throughout pharmacy because of its accuracy. Students will be taught how units used in the metric
system include the millimeter (ml), cubic centimeter (cc), and liter (L) for volume; kilogram (kg), gram
(g), milligram (mg), and microgram (mcg) for weight; and millimeter (mm0 and meter (m) for distance.
For students to successfully complete the course, knowing the basics for volume and weight conversions
is necessary. The total contact hours are 20 lecture and 8 lab.
Anatomy & Physiology: Course provides brief overview of each body system and the medications used
to treat common conditions that afflict these systems. Course includes detailed discussions of anatomy
and physiology, as well as photographs of a number of drugs used to treat various conditions of each body
systems. The total contact hours are 24 lecture and a total of 16 lab hours. The textbook for this course
published Saunders Elsevier, Teresa Hopper, Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician Principles & Practices.
Basic Science of Pharmacology:
Microbiology:
Students are taught how organisms are classified using taxonomic systems; in particular, the
system of Whittaker will be highlighted. Students will become familiar with the characteristics of
each of the five kingdoms of organisms and what diseases are caused by the members of each
kingdom.
Chemistry:
Students are taught the importance of chemistry to their future careers as pharmacy technicians.
Students will learn the basic ions necessary for proper electrolyte balance and what each one
contributes to the body. Students will also review atoms, molecules, protons, electrons, and
neutrons. Students will learn that chemistry plays an important role in the action and reaction of
drugs.
The total contact hours are 24 lecture hours and 16 lab hours. The textbook for this course published by
Saunders Elsevier, Teresa Hopper, and Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician Principles & Practices.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES - 4080-11 CONT’D
Pharmacy Law: This course is designed to introduce students to federal and state laws governing the
practice of pharmacy. Special emphasis is given to areas of state laws regulating activities of pharmacy
technicians. The total contact hours are 16 lecture hours and 8 lab hours.
Classifications of Drugs: Course covers each major drug classification. A description of every drug
classification helps the pharmacy technician student understand how similar agents work. Course also
includes text discussion on vitamins and minerals. The total contact hours are 16 lecture hours and a total
of 16 lab hours. The textbook for this course published by Saunders Elsevier, Teresa Hopper, and
Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician Principles & Practices.
Pharmacy Ethics: This course explores commonly encountered ethical dilemmas from pharmacy
practice. On completion of this course, students will have attained skills that will enable them to identify
unethical behaviors and possible solutions and to consider solutions for appropriateness using ethical
decision-making models. Students learn evaluation skills that enable them to determine “the best possible
solution” for a given ethical dilemma. The total contact hours are 16 lecture hours and 16 lab hours.
Pharmacology I: This course reviews the principles of drug action including introduction to
pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Students also study anatomy and physiology of the nervous
system and discuss drugs used in the treatment of disorders of the nervous system. The total contact
hours are 16 lecture hours and 16 lab hours.
Pharmacology II: This course is a continuation of Pharmacology I. Students briefly will study the
anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, integumentary, respiratory,
and reproductive systems. Students discuss treatment of bacterial and viral infections. The pharmacy
technician’s role in the management of diabetes and hypertension is covered. The total contact hours are
16 lecture hours and 16 lab hours.
Applied Pharmacy Technology I: This course reviews the history of computers in pharmacy, current
practice applications, and future trends. Legal and ethical issues surrounding information collection and
retrieval also are addressed. The laboratory component of this course is designed to provide students with
skills and knowledge needed to process prescriptions using pharmacy software. Students will attain
proficiency in the use of ambulatory care prescription processing software. The total contact hours are 16
lecture hours and 16 lab hours.
Applied Pharmacy Technology II: This course reinforces what was learned in Pharmacy Technology
I—specifically, prescription entry and billing to the third party. Students will improve their understanding
of insurance billing for prescriptions, such as how to get correct information to avoid unnecessary
problems. Additionally, students analyze rejected insurance claims to learn how to problem solve billing
issues and get the prescription “paid” by the insurance carrier. Students review patient profiling and
prescription filling and refilling. Students will learn the use of dispense as written (DAW) codes,
pneumonic direction (SIG) codes, prior authorization, denial overrides, and drug utilization review (DUR)
codes. Merging and deleting files also is covered. Students in this course increase their knowledge of
pharmaceuticals, learning approximately 100 additional drugs. The total contact hours are 24 lecture
hours and 16 lab hours.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES - 4080-11 CONT’D
Lab: Lab encompasses every course offered under each program with additional case studies to be
completed as a requirement in program completion and evaluation. Students will gain access through
Internet passwords and access codes. Course completion will be monitored through an enrollment
management system by faculty to provide online assistance, completion verification, and any additional
services on as needed basis.
AIDS Education and CPR: This course satisfies requirements for acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS) education for pharmacy technicians. Covered in the course is the cause of human
immunodeficiency (HIV)/AIDS, universal precautions, and legal and ethical issues associated with
HIV/AIDS. Students are exposed to psychosocial issues, and the global impact of the disease is presented.
The role of the pharmacy technician, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
1996 regulations, is presented.
American Red Cross and/or Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross
guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are described, with the opportunity for students to
demonstrate an ability to perform CPR, according to guidelines. The total contact hours are 8 lecture
hours and 4 lab hours.
Communication Skills for Pharmacy Practice: This course is designed to assist students in developing
the necessary communication skills to function competently as contributing members in a pharmacy work
setting. Students participate in team-building exercises and are introduced to effective communication
tools. Furthermore, students learn skills to deal constructively with information, ideas, and emotions
associated with issues of diversity, culture, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, and
abilities. The total contact hours are 12 lecture hours and 8 lab hours.
Community Practice, Pharmacy Records, and Inventory Management: This course is designed to
provide skills necessary to practice effectively in an ambulatory care setting. Students learn to interpret
prescription contents, the top 100 drugs, inventory control procedures, tasks associated with procurement
of pharmaceuticals, completing and filing records for third-party reimbursement, and requirements for
completing and filing prescription records. Students also are introduced to extemporaneous compounding.
The total contact hours are 16 lecture hours and 8 lab hours.
IV Admixture and Aseptic Technique I: This course is an introduction to aseptic techniques and sterile
product preparation in institutional care settings. The devices and manipulation techniques necessary to
maintain sterility and mechanics of a hospital pharmacy are discussed and practiced in laboratory
exercises. The total contact hours are 16 lecture hours and 16 lab hours.
IV Admixture and Aseptic Technique II: This course is a continuation of IV Admixture and Aseptic
Technique I, focusing on the preparation of cardiac and other titratable drips, IV antibiotics,
chemotherapy, large volume parenteral solutions, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions. Students
learn the basic indications, mechanism of actions of specific cardiac drugs, and calculations for selected
drug concentrations. Proper technique for mixing and labeling thrombolytic, cardiac drips, and
chemotherapeutic drugs is introduced. Laboratory sessions provide the opportunity for students to
practice technique. The total contact hours are 24 lecture hours and 16 lab hours.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES - 4080-11 CONT’D
Job Placement Assistance (JPA): Students will receive 24 hours of job placement assistance
(classroom) training designed to help students identify potential employers for employment or externship.
JPA covers a 5 module curriculum including goal setting, resume writing, interview skills, employment
application, and professional ethics.
Certification Prep: Course is designed to assist students with preparation for the national certification
test with NHA. Practice tests are formatted similarly to the national exam (multiple-choice) relative to
the curriculum taught. Course content will include taking new prescriptions, assisting the pharmacist,
record keeping, and preparing controlled substances for delivery. Other tasks include understanding
formulary, preparing and/or repackaging medications, calibrating equipment, and calculations. The total
contact hours are 24 lecture hours and 18 lab hours. The textbook for this course published by Saunders
Elsevier, Teresa Hopper, Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician Principles & Practices and Mosby’s Review for
the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, Second Edition published by Mosby Elsevier.
Critical Thinking: Pharmacy technicians must develop critical thinking skills if they are to be effective
members of the pharmacy team. Controversy exists about whether critical thinking can be taught in a
classroom setting. Current thought is that the best approach to developing critical thinking is to practice
thinking critically through active engagement in the process. This is achieved by have students engaging
in problem solving real-world issues. It is essential for students to be presented with issues that have the
potential for multiple solutions. Students can debate the pros and cons or risk-benefit ratio of each
possible solution.4
Inquiry-based instruction is an essential strategy for developing critical thinking skills. Inquiry-based
instruction encourages students to think more deeply about a topic. This is accomplished by listening to
their classmate’s counterarguments and by exploring the implications of their actions and the actions of
others. Critical thinking exercises require students to explore multiple perspectives and a variety of
alternate solutions before attempting to solve a real-world problem.
Student-led study groups have proved to be a successful mechanism for engaging students in the process
of thinking critically about a topic.5 For example, students studying clinical depression can form groups to
study drugs, adverse reactions, prescribing practices, and alternative therapies. They then would engage in
a debate about when and how best to treat patients with depression. The total contact hours are 18 lecture
hours and 16 lab hours.
Business/Technical Writing: This course is a subset of JPA designed to sharpen the business writing
skills of students. The course will teach how to write with clarity and conciseness in written
communication and how to recognize and avoid common mistakes of business writing with techniques to
deliver persuasively and professionally. The total contact hours are 20 hours lecture hours and 8 lab
hours.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES - 4080-11 CONT’D
Externship: The pharmacy technician internship is designed to enable students to obtain hands-on
experience in a pharmacy setting. The primary objective of internship is to be sure the student gains
practical experience, knowledge, skills, and insight into the various aspects of the pharmacy technician’s
job. The course is structured to be a learning experience, so the student and preceptor/teaching personnel
should commit themselves to working toward that objective. This internship brings together all of the
academic knowledge gained in the classroom with practical hands-on participation in various pharmacy
settings. The clinical experience gained at these sites is invaluable in ensuring that the student becomes a
competent pharmacy technician in all settings. Evaluation forms for the student and preceptor must be
completed separately. Please note: Externships are earned during classroom/lab training. Students
much exhibits the characteristics of Professionalism – Attitude/Self Esteem, Communication, Conflict
Management, Customer Service, Diversity Awareness, Leadership, Managing Change, Productivity,
Professional Ethics, Team-Building, and Telephone Skills for the Pharmacy Setting to meet candidacy
for institutional referral. Student individual externships are accepted provided that proof of completion
(Externship Evaluation) is performed.
The total contact hours for externships are a minimum of 240 hours.