Southeast Community College

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Pharmacy Technician Program

Welcome

| Overview | Requirements | Student Responsibilities | Mission |

The Pharmacy Technician Program in Beatrice was established in July 2007. The program is a 1 year diploma program.  Southeast Community College – Beatrice

campus is the only diploma program for Pharmacy Technicians in the State of Nebraska.  Academic classes are completed during the Summer quarter, with the

Pharmacy Technician classes and laboratory beginning during the Fall quarter. Hands-on- training is gained through working in pharmacies in hospitals,

long term care facilities, and retail pharmacies.  Instruction in the program will be delivered by certified Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists.

Mission

Program Mission Statement:

The Pharmacy Technician program’s mission is consistent with the mission of Southeast Community College, which is to provide quality career/technical and academic educational opportunities for the students, businesses and communities of our district. The program’s mission is to graduate competent, ethical, confident entry level health care practitioners, benefitting the community at large by providing quality pharmacy services. The program strives to prepare graduates for a career in the field of pharmacy technology and provides them with marketable skills capable of maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.

PROGRAM GOALS:

1. To graduate individuals who are able to function successfully as entry-level pharmacy technicians.
2. To give graduates the ability to communicate effectively with patients and medical professionals.
3. To meet the needs of the health care delivery system locally and nationally.
4. To prepare graduates for employment in hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, research laboratories, home      health care agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other various health care entities that employ     pharmacy technicians.
5. To provide students access to the latest technology within the field.
6. To encourage graduates to recognize the need for continuing education and professional affiliation.
7. To prepare graduates to successfully pass the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination.
 

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Overview

The Pharmacy Technician program offers concentrated basic study and laboratory practice in pharmacy technician fundamentals. The program teaches students the concepts, principles, skills, and attitudes needed to become pharmacy technicians who can work with patients throughout the life-span. Students will have hands-on clinical experience in a variety of facilities and are provided close supervision and guidance under a pharmacist. Registered pharmacists serve as preceptors for clinical experience in area hospitals, long-term care facilities, and retail pharmacies. All tuition, fees, books, and related costs are the responsibility of the student (see estimated cost list).

Learning by doing-clinical experience
Students will have hands-on clinical experience in a variety of facilities. SCC students are provided close supervision and guidance under a Pharmacist/

Certified Pharmacy Technician in the clinical settings

Becoming a certified Pharmacy Technician:
The Pharmacy Technician program is seeking approval/accreditation by the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, 7272 Wisconsin Ave. Baltimore MD  20814, 301-657-3000, www.ashp.org

Graduates are required In Nebraska, to register with the State of Nebraska Health and Human Services, Public Health Licensure Unit. There is no certification or licensure required at this time. 

A technician may opt to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) by passing the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination given by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).  Students will be highly encouraged to sit for the PTCB exam.

Please note: Non-alcohol, drug- related misdemeanor or felony convictions may prevent a graduate from acquiring a state license. Contact the Department of Health & Human Services/Pharmacy Licensing & Regulatory Affairs with questions.

For students interested in advanced study SCC transfer agreements with public and private four-year colleges and universities allow the transfer of SCC credits. However, if students know the institution to which they will transfer, it is their responsibility to check with an appropriate advisor at the four-year college to determine the best course selection for transfer.

 Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “ . . . employment (for pharmacy technicians) is expected to increase much faster than the average through 2016, and job opportunities are expected to be good . . . especially for technicians with formal training or previous experience.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that “ . . . median hourly earnings of wage-and-salary pharmacy technicians in May 2006 were $12.32. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.10 and $14.92 . . . and the highest 10 percent earned more than $17.65.”

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Requirements

Health Statement
Physicians Lab
Immunization Information

Expected Physical and Mental Qualities for Success

Essential Functions
Essential functions refer to those physical, behavioral, and emotional demands or abilities that are necessary for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum and for the development of professional attributes required of students upon completion of the program.  Admission and retention decisions for the Pharmacy Technician program are based not only on academic achievement, but also on non-academic factors that serve to insure that candidates can complete the essential requirements of the program for graduation. 
The program has established the following list of minimum essential (non-academic) requirements in compliance with the American Disabilities Act and the National Accrediting Agency that must be met, with or without reasonable accommodations, in order to participate in the program and graduate.

Observation and Communication:

The student must be able to:

• Accurately observe demonstrations and exercises.
• Demonstrate functional use of the senses of smell, vision, hearing, touch and pressure.

Visual ability sufficient to distinguish gradients of colors and perform all standard tasks expected of a pharmacy technician.

Visual ability to interpret requests and physician orders.

Hearing ability to respond to messages from other individuals.

• Read and comprehend English text, numbers, and graphs displayed in print, on a monitor screen, instrument   displays, and on a video projection system.
• Communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing, with faculty members, fellow students,   healthcare professionals, and patients.
• Follow verbal and written instructions in English in order to correctly and independently perform Pharmacy and   laboratory assistant guidelines.

Psychomotor Skills:

The student must be able to:

• Perform all tasks that are normally expected within the scope of practice for a pharmacy technician.
• Move about freely and maneuver in small spaces, stand and/or walk for long periods of time.
• Travel to school and clinical sites.
• Operate computers
• Demonstrate physical ability, including sufficient mobility and fine motor coordination, to manipulate pharmacy   equipment in a safe and accurate manner.
• Exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10-25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10   pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Reach to seize, hold, grasp with hands.
• Pick, pinch, and otherwise work with fingers.

Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities:

The student must be able to:
• Measure, calculate, analyze, integrate, and apply information.
  Analyze – to study the nature of something or determine its essential features.
  Integrate - to combine separate parts or elements to form a whole.
• Use sufficient judgment to recognize and correct performance and problem solve unexpected observations or   outcomes.
• Accurately recall and apply oral and written procedures.

Behavioral and Social Attributes:

The student must be able to:

• Establish and maintain effective, professional working relationships and work as part of a team.
• Ability to organize and demonstrate responsibility for ones work
• Work in a stressful environment.
• Display flexibility and adapt to change.
• Function independently and efficiently.
• Maintain emotional health necessary to effectively use intellectual abilities fully and exercise good judgment.
• Demonstrate honesty and integrity.
• Perform in an ethical manner in working with peers, faculty, healthcare staff, and patients.

 Clinical Education
 
Learning by Doing - Clinical Experience

Students will have hands-on clinical experience in a variety of health care facilities.
Student clinical assignments will be based upon facility availability. This requires some assignments to be in nearby towns and some evening hours.

CLINICAL SITES

The student will provide his/her own transportation to and from clinical sites. Clinical site assignments are made on the basis of class rank.

• The student is required to follow each clinical institution’s policy for infection control precautions or for   accidents or illnesses.

• Clinical experiences are essential for the student to learn to apply knowledge in caring for patients; therefore,   a student must make the most of any and all experiences in the clinical area. While the student must assume   responsibility for the planning and execution of care within his/her capabilities, he/she should also recognize   limitations and seek assistance from the clinical instructor. Since clinical education is skill-based, the   student  must be prepared for the experience, including having passed skills in the laboratory prior to   performing them on clinical. Lack of sufficient and timely preparation for required nursing skills may result in the   student not meeting the behavioral objectives.

• The student is expected to perform safely in all areas of patient care. If, in the judgment of the instructor or the   clinical site, a student is not adequately prepared for clinical assignment or if his/her conduct could harm the   patient, the student will be asked to leave the clinical area. The student will be counted absent for the clinical   experience if asked to leave.