Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician
A Chemotherapy pharmacy technician assists pharmacists with chemotherapy infusions.
Chemotherapy is a medical treatment involving intravenous drugs that combat cancer cells.
Chemotherapy technicians, specially certified pharmacy technicians, are a part of the healthcare team of professionals who care for cancer patients currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
The role of chemotherapy pharmacy technicians is to assist pharmacists with several important tasks including:
- labeling bottles of medication,
- opening jars,
- operating certain pieces of medical equipment,
- and stocking shelves.
More importantly, they are often responsible for setting up and cleaning the machines that are used for mixing the chemotherapy medications. Sometimes they also fill out forms or related patient charts with vital pieces of information.
The skills required to be a chemotherapy pharmacy technician include:
- listening,
- following strict instructions,
- and performing mathematical calculations.
The math calculations involved include the following:
- adding and subtracting numbers,
- calculating ratios,
- figuring alligations,
- and working with fractions.
It is important to make sure you mix, administer and store the correct dosages of medications carefully. Calculating a math problem incorrectly could mean that someone gets the wrong dosage (either too much or too little) of an vitally important prescribed medication.
It is also useful to have a basic knowledge of medical terms and chemotherapy practices if you’re going to be a chemotherapy technician.
In order to get the education required to be a pharmacy technician or chemotherapy technician, one can look into a variety of programs at community colleges and medical training facilities alike.
Many institutions offer one year long programs exclusively for chemotherapy technicians; however most schools offer the general training course to become a pharmacy technician, and then offer classes that cover chemotherapy training. Also, most hospitals and cancer treatment centers offer on-the-job training for new hires.
In order to become a certified chemotherapy technician, individuals must pass a written exam which is administered by either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, or by the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians.
The employment outlook for chemotherapy pharmacy technicians is fairly good, and steadily improving. There is rising demand for individuals in this field due to: an aging population that needs more prescription drugs, the increased prevalence of cancer, and new drug discoveries.
There are too many tasks for pharmacists to do alone, which is why pharmacy technicians and chemotherapy technicians alike are necessary to keep things running smoothly.
Top of Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician
Back to Pharmacy Technician Settings
Back to Home
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance addiction, please call the number below:
Didn't find what you were looking for? Use the box below to search this entire site.
Recent Articles
-
Medicare Part D
Jul 31, 18 10:26 PM
This page answers questions about Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit offered by Medicare. Topics include: Who is eligible? What are some of the Costs? Factors to Consider when choosing a p…
-
What are some strategies the FDA has implemented, which help prevent medication errors in the pharmacy?
Jul 29, 18 06:23 PM
It seems like some of the errors that have been recently made by our pharmacy techs are actually really preventable. Does the FDA do anything about
-
Osmolarity/Hospital Potassium Infusion problem (3 Part Question)
Jul 29, 18 05:24 PM
At 3:00 P.M., a pharmacist received an order to add 30 mEq/L of potassium chloride to the already running intravenous fluid for a patient. After checking
-
HOW MANY DAYS EARLY CAN I GET MY XANAX PRESCRIPTION REFILLED ?
Jul 29, 18 05:12 PM
My pharmacy tells me I can get it 3 days early but then they wont fill it but 2 days early. Is the law on Xanax 2 or 3 days ?
-
pharmacy technician exam
Jul 13, 18 10:36 PM
I am looking for a tutor to help me prepare for the pharmacy technician certification exam. I live in area code 85373. Can anyone recommend a tutor?
-
Bromfenac(bromday) 0.09% When can I get a refill?
Jul 13, 18 10:25 PM
I am to instill 3 drops into both eyes 3 times a day. Received prescription, of 3 bottles/vials, on 16 Mar 18 and need to know how to figure how long
-
Is Publicly mentioning the name of the drug the patient is on a HIPPA violation?
Jul 13, 18 10:17 PM
If the name of the drug is mentioned in order to further assist the patient with getting them the medication, is this a violation of hipaa?
-
What is a "Root Cause Analysis"? And how does a pharmacy create "healthy safety culture"?
Jul 13, 18 09:56 PM
Recently there was a wrong-drug mistake at the pharmacy I'm employed at as a technician. One of my tech friends (who works at a different pharmacy) asked
-
What is the Correct Dosage for Protamine Sulfate After Receiving 3,000 units of Heparin?
Jun 28, 18 11:01 PM
The intern sent the following orders down: Mr. Brown, 50 mg protamine sulfate STAT. You check Mr. Brown’s chart, and he received 3,000 units of heparin.
-
Prior Authorization Rejection
Apr 10, 18 11:13 PM
This page covers what a Prior Authorization is and why it happens.
-
My 10 yr olds prescription -- Is The Following Situation a HIPPA Violation?
Apr 10, 18 10:00 PM
I know someone who is a pharmacy tech. My 10yr.olds medication was called into the pharmacy she works at. Her daughter and my daughters have an on-off
-
My Pharmacy told my mom that I didn't pick up my meds. Is this a Hippa Violation?
Apr 10, 18 09:26 PM
My pharmacy told my mom I didn't pick up my meds. Yes, I do have same last name but I have a different address; for all they know, that wasn't my mom.
-
Vitamin Resources
Apr 08, 18 02:43 PM
Vitamin Resources - Information about Vitamin A, The B Vitamins, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D.
-
Two HIPPA Questions: Including, Can Pharmacy Techs counsel patients?
Mar 27, 18 10:20 PM
under the hippa law can a pharmacist and a pharmacy tech speak about a clients medical record amongs each other and cam pharmacy techs counsel the patient
-
Should pharmacy errors be reported anywhere?
Mar 27, 18 10:11 PM
Our pharmacy manager wants us to report any pharmacy error that happens. Why is it important to report errors? Where should we report the errors to?
If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance addiction, please call:
to be connected to an Specialist who can help with Addiction Recovery.
We all need help sometimes. Please don't wait to get on the road to recovery.
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.