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Pharmacy Technician Essentials

This course is part of Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals Specialization

Instructor: Dr. Sherrie B. Moore

10,066 already enrolled

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

83 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

83 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Understand the primary functions of different pharmacy organizations
Understand the different roles of the pharmacy technician
Understand the common drugs and their uses, drug routes and formulations, and factors affecting drug activity
Understand pharmacy management software, as well as reading and interpreting prescriptions

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Pharmacy Information System

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

20 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

The Pharmacy Technician Essentials course provides an in-depth look at what a career in a pharmacy will look like. Through several lessons, students learn the ins and outs of a pharmacy setting and the meaning of the terminology used daily within a pharmacy environment. This course also provides a deep dive into the purpose of the top 200 most commonly prescribed medications and drug routes and formulations. Students will be able to demonstrate correct processing of medication orders, preparation, storage, and distribution of medications, by the end of the course. On top of knowing the medications being prescribed, students must also learn how to use pharmacy equipment, including management software and reading of prescriptions. At the completion of this course, students should have a solid understanding of what their day-to-day tasks will be within a pharmacy environment and how to use the necessary tools to excel in their new career.

Module details

Become acquainted with various pharmacy settings from the hospital to the community retail pharmacy to mail order drug distribution and the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of these settings.

What's included

5 videos2 readings3 assignments

5 videosTotal 15 minutes

Pharmacy Settings4 minutes
Institutional and Hospital Pharmacies6 minutes
Mail Order Pharmacy3 minutes
Lesson 1 - Review1 minute
Lesson 1 - Update1 minute

2 readingsTotal 35 minutes

Course Introduction and Syllabus30 minutes
Lesson 1 - Additional Information5 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Lesson 1 - Quiz30 minutes
Activity 1.1 - Pharmacy Setting for the Pharmacy Technician30 minutes
Activity 1.2 - Types of Pharmacy Settings30 minutes

Gain an understanding of the basic aptitudes and personal attributes that are needed for a successful Pharmacy Technician; the daily job duties and responsibilities, as well as training, competency testing and performance measures. Additionally, review common medical terminology, drug classifications and abbreviations used in the pharmacy, and the body systems and their common disorders that are treated with medication.

What's included

8 videos2 readings4 assignments

8 videosTotal 25 minutes

The Pharmacy Technician9 minutes
Changing Role of the Pharmacy Technician3 minutes
Professional Standards and Guidelines3 minutes
Training and Competency3 minutes
Lesson 2 - Review1 minute
Lesson 2 - Update1 minute
Terminology5 minutes
Lesson 3 - Update1 minute

2 readingsTotal 25 minutes

Lesson 2 - Additional Information5 minutes
Lesson 3 - Additional Information20 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Lesson 2 - Quiz30 minutes
Lesson 3 - Quiz30 minutes
Activity 2.1 - The Pharmacy Technician30 minutes
Activity 3.1 - Medication and Body System30 minutes

Learn about how drugs are developed, patented and named, understand drug classes, drug reference books, and common medications and their uses. Additionally, gain an understanding of the different forms that drugs are dispensed in (tablet, powder, solutions, syrups, etc.) and the various routes of administration (oral, dermal, parenteral, etc.).

What's included

25 videos3 readings8 assignments

25 videosTotal 72 minutes

Common Drugs and Their Uses7 minutes
Analgesics2 minutes
Anesthetic Agents3 minutes
Anti-Infectives2 minutes
Antineoplastics2 minutes
Musculoskeletal Agents3 minutes
Dermatologicals2 minutes
Electrolytic Agents2 minutes
Gastrointestinal and Urinary Agents5 minutes
Hormones4 minutes
Immunobiologic Agents and Vaccines1 minute
Cardiovascular Agents5 minutes
Ophthalmic and Otic Agents1 minute
Neurological Agents2 minutes
Psychotropic Agents2 minutes
Lesson 4 - Review1 minute
Lesson 4 - Update3 minutes
Drug Routes and Formulations3 minutes
Oral Formulations6 minutes
Parenteral Routes7 minutes
Ophthalmic Formulations2 minutes
Intranasal and Inhalation Formulations2 minutes
Dermal Formulations3 minutes
Vaginal Formulations1 minute
Lesson 5 - Update1 minute

3 readingsTotal 75 minutes

Top 200 Drug List60 minutes
Lesson 4 - Additional Information10 minutes
Lesson 5 - Additional Information5 minutes

8 assignmentsTotal 180 minutes

Lesson 4 - Quiz30 minutes
Lesson 5 - Quiz30 minutes
Activity 4.1 - Over the Counter Medications10 minutes
Activity 4.2 - Over the Counter Medications10 minutes
Activity 4.3 - Over the Counter Medications10 minutes
Activity 5.1 - Fosamax30 minutes
Activity 5.2 - Ultane30 minutes
Activity 5.3 - Drug Use30 minutes

Become acquainted with the various tools and equipment used in a pharmacy setting to weigh, mix, count, and dispense medication. Additionally, gain an awareness of working with computers and software programs within the pharmacy setting and the different fields utilized to fill a prescription and run basic reports. The goal is not to master any specific software but to understand overall functionality.