Q: What's a typical workday like for you?
A: I work in three settings. Most of my time is in the intravenous drug room, making the chemotherapy formulas for our oncology department, or in hospital intravenous preparation, such as simple IVs for patient epidurals. At other times, I work in the main pharmacy area, dispensing the regular drugs for inpatients. I also answer phone calls from nurses when they need additional drugs. On an evening shift, I work from a printed list of a patient's 24-hour drug supply to dispense medication.
Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?
A: I'm assisting the patients by dispensing their medications so they can get well and go home. I have to be accurate so there are no patient errors or drug errors. A pharmacist double checks every medication I dispense before it leaves the department.
Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?
A: When I'm in the IV room, I mainly interact with my pharmacist. In the other areas, I interact with the nurses and other hospital employees who come to the pharmacy window.
Q: Why did you become a pharmacy technician?
A: I started as a nursing assistant working in surgery in 1970. When an opening came up in pharmacy, I took it and have been there 15 years. It gives me satisfaction knowing I'm helping patients get better.
