In the past, pharmacy technicians have been recognized on National Pharmacy Technician Day (the 3rd Tuesday of each October), however this originated as a part of National Pharmacy Week. Since the APhA launched October as American Pharmacy Month a few years ago, we are considering making the shift to recognize technicians for an entire week. This is the approach that ASHP takes with Health-System Pharmacy Week.

Each day of the week could be designated to recognize pharmacy technicians working in various practice settings, ie Retail Pharmacy Technician Day, Health-System Pharmacy Technician Day, Pharmacy Technician Educators Day, etc.

We want your thoughts, feedback & suggestions.

My point is, however, that I love reading and I also love to give away books that I really like and make recommendations to others. In fact, I even started publishing “What I’m Reading Now” as part of my Life Focus article that is published in Today’s Technician – the magazine for pharmacy technicians – years ago.

Now that I have started www.rxmike.com – the official blog of Mike Johnston, CPhT, I think it only makes sense to start a monthly RxMike Book Club. Here’s how it’s going to work: each month I will select a book that I find compelling, impactful, inspiring or interesting…provide a brief description…and then post a related question for your comments. One comment will be selected randomly to receive a FREE copy of that month’s book. Pretty simple.

For my first Book Club selection, I’ve chosen the first book that I read that made a major impact on me…Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, PhD. The book teaches how to turn fear into personal power and action…an important lesson for us all.

When we see the world and live our life with a positive mental attitude, it becomes possible for us to deal with life in a much more efficient manner. We become responsible people. The author says that responsibility is a must. If we are to come up in life, then we have to stop blaming other people. - from www.reviewstream.com

TO ENTER TO WIN A FREE COPY of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway – LEAVE A COMMENT:
—– What is something that you fear and want to overcome?

The winner will be selected randomly on Friday, June 5th at 4:00 PM (CDT).
Follow me on twitter for the announcement of the winner.

net·work·ing

Sounds boring, I know, but the truth is that networking with colleagues is critical to success…and with the advent of online social media networks, it can be a lot of fun.

Here are three steps to get started.

1. Select a new group or network to join (see suggestions below)

2. Share a little bit about yourself with the group, list your areas of experience/expertise and offer to be of assistance to the members. (Remember, networking is a two-way street)

3. Stay active in the group dialouge – whether that is answering questions, posting questions, sharing news/information. This doesn’t need to be a daily task, but try to stay connected at least once a week.

Suggested Networking Groups for Pharmacy Technicians

1. NPTA Group on Facebook
2. NPTA Group on LinkedIn
3. NPTA on Twitter
4. NPTA Discussion Forums
5. CPhTLink Discussion Forums

If you are skeptical, I challenge you to try this for just 3 months and then reevaluate.

This soup is somehow hearty enough for the winter and yet light enough for the summer. Who knows, maybe this recipe will be added to the blog for soup and stew recipes…if so, I only hope they keep the name “RxMike’s Rustic Vegetable Soup.”

Here is the recipe…

What you need:

• 1.5 qt of vegetable broth (I use organic, vegetarian vegetable broth)
• 1 can of corn, drained (or better yet 2 ears of fresh, sweet corn)
• 1 can of cut green beans, drained (again, fresh is always better)
• 1 can of navy beans, drained (or your favorite kind of bean)
• 1 can of diced tomatoes, drained (fresh…fresh…fresh)
• 15 oz. tomato sauce
• 3-4 medium russet potatoes, cubed (you can also use red potatoes – just adjust qty)
• 4-6 carrots, sliced
• 4-5 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 white onion, diced
• 1-2 zucchini, sliced or diced
• 1-2 yellow squash, sliced or diced
• 2 tbsp. garlic (the real stuff…no powder here)
• thyme (I use fresh herbs from my garden, and just add until it tastes good)
• oregano (see above)
• 1 bay leaf
• olive oil
• salt/pepper

Directions:

1. Using a large soup pot, saute the garlic and onion until almost transparent, then add the carrots and celery and saute for several minutes.
2. Add the vegetable stock and tomato sauce; mix well.
3. Add all of the vegetables, herbs, seasonings; mix well.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for approximately 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove the bay leaf…serve with some cornbread and sweet tea…and your in heaven!

Makes approx. 4 quarts (8-12 servings)

The people are ill
Oh what the heck!
Let’s get to work cause
I’m a pharmacy tech.

People are coughing
All over the counter top
Cover your mouths
So the germs will stop.

While on their cell phone
You ask, “been here before?”
They reply with a yes
And my birthday is May 5th, 1944.

This will take about 40 minutes
Oh no they’re gonna have to wait
They gather their things
As they walk away with a face of hate.

Here comes a mom with her kids
One is crying, the other is sick.
Mom asks for a trashcan
To throw away a lollipop stick.

Oh joy some grumpy customers
What a way to start the day.
Now what in the world 
Does this freakin prescription say?

For the adult with a cough
How about Tussionex and a Zpak.
They’re breathing funny too,
So let’s fill their prednisone pack.

The medicine tastes so yucky
Let’s make mom so very merry
See if the kid wants apple
Grape, watermelon or cherry?

The insurance comes back with an error
Tussionex requires a prior auth.
Try to explain that to the patient
“Pay for the syrup OR keep the cough!”

Then I’m interrupted
Over there by Mr. John Doe.
The crazy customer wants to know
“How do I get this fungus off my toe?”

Before you finish helping him
Another impatient customer is there.
She needs some butterfly bandaids, 
And asks, “Where is the first aid care?”

I finish, and walk back in the door
Oh, wonderful, it’s the ringing telephone
It’s good ol’ Betty Jean asking
“When can I fill my hydrocodone?”

Here comes the last minute customer
“Doctor said it’s on your $4 list”
Two of them are, the other is not
They are now a little bit pissed.

All the typing and the counting
On the free drug reps tray
Dealing with customers and doctors
For what? Very little pay.

As I start to wonder if this job is worth it
Others are wondering what the heck?
Your boss comes over to you and says
“Thanks for your hard work! You’re a great Pharmacy Tech!!!”

*****
Posted with permission of the author, Eileen Neumyer, CPhT.

Have you heard about…The Pharmacy Alliance (TPA)…not if the chain pharmacy corporate offices have anything to do with it! TPA was established in 2008 and is focused on bringing back dignity, self-respect and integrity to pharmacy professionals, including pharmacy technicians (kudos).

The TPA website details their 13 guiding principles as being:
 

1. Pharmacy professionals will request direct compensation, in addition to their wage, for providing specialized professional services.

2. Pharmacy professionals will insist upon a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break for every 8 hour shift and an additional 15 minute uninterrupted rest period for a 12 hour shift.

3. Pharmacy professionals will feel empowered to use the word “no” when faced with undignified, unprofessional, dangerous, dishonest, insulting or offensive situations.

4. Pharmacy professionals will counsel patients when appropriate and will advocate for a professional environment and for patient safety.

5. Pharmacy professionals will insist on being managed by pharmacists and not by non-pharmacist managers.

6. Pharmacy professionals will not tolerate abuse under any circumstances, directed toward themselves or their staff.

7. Pharmacy professionals should not sign a “sign-on bonus” agreement until the company representative signs a TPA  “Sign On DSI agreement”.

8. Pharmacy professionals will not engage in promoting undignified prescription pricing policies that do not provide for reasonable profit and are an insult to our standing as professionals.

9. Pharmacy professionals will not accept compensation as a substitute for DSI.

10. Pharmacy professionals will advocate working in pharmacies where the physical layout of the department safeguards privacy and safety. Pharmacies should be ergonomically designed.

11. Pharmacy drive-thru areas should only be responsible for dispensing pharmacy-related products if sufficiently staffed.

12. A pharmacist will determine who is assigned to work in the pharmacy.

13. TPA will advocate for certification and licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in all 50 states.

1. I do not drink anything with caffeine.
2. I have a weird fear of birds, dentists, grocery stores and dairy products.
3. I am a pescetarian (a vegetarian + fish)
4. I speak three languages (although not fluently)
5. My older sister broke my wrist once.
6. I finished high school a semester early.
7. I worked for Gallup (phone surveys) for 3 days.
8. I have gotten lost diving…more than twice.
9. I collect PEZ dispensers and coins.
10. The only time I ever had school detention was for a poorly planned practical joke.
11. I taught my niece to refer to Reba McEntire as “Aunt Reba” as a child.
12. I’ve traveled to approx. 30 countries across 5 continents.
13. I don’t have a favorite color – I’m partially color blind.
14. I’ve electricuted myself…more than once.
15. Three different people who don’t know one another have each told me that I remind them of Joel McHale from TalkSoup…and I don’t see any resemblance.
16. I am the author of 9 published books.
17. NYC feels like a 2nd home to me.
18. I have jumped off the tallest mountain peak in Europe, using only a zipline.
19. I am obsessed with sharks.
20. I learned how to drink scotch on an airplane (thanks wendy)
21. I started going bald in my early to mid twenties.
22. I can’t tolerate centralized heating.
23. I once had a pet lobster.
24. I think 24 is one of the best TV shows ever created.
25. I hate doing lists about random personal things.