All About Pharmacy Technician Schools

In many countries today, healthcare industry employment continues even while other industries falter, making a health service job a good choice for anyone considering a new career.Pharmacy technician jobs are one of the main positions seeing drastic increases with hiring expected to increase as much as 25 percent over the next few years. This is a great opportunity for anyone with good attention to detail to consider a career as a Pharmacy Technician or `PT`, especially since it is possible to complete certification programs at reputable pharmacy technician schools in as little as two years and get into a well-paying job soon afterward.Different Types of Pharmacy Technician SchoolsIn the US and Canada, some PT jobs do not require any certification or schooling although most do. Those who have schooling and certification are definitely preferable for positions, however, making schooling something that anyone looking at a career as a PT should consider very seriously.In all likelihood, more jobs will move toward requiring certification as well, so skipping the education may reduce job hire and advancement opportunity.Pharmacy Technician education is available in programs that last anywhere from 6 months to two years or more, depending on the depth of training.Like many other medical training and technical programs, the shorter programs give a basic, fundamental overview of what to expect on the job and general education relating to basic pharmacology, pharmacology law, pharmacology records, inventory, labeling, ordering and many other relevant topics to working in a retail pharmacy environment.Courses and diploma programsStudents that attend the shorter programs usually earn a Pharmacy Technician Certificate for completion of the program, but have no actual approved certifications.Longer courses offered by schools include specialized diploma programs and Associates Degree courses that last between about 12 months to 24 months.Diploma programs are great for students who already have some healthcare service experience and want to move into a position as a PT, as well as those entering the field new.Study usually includes all that is mentioned above, plus pharmacology in more detail, dosage calculation, mixing medications and others, and usually includes an externship to prepare students to take the certification exam. Students completing a diploma course and passing their certification exam will earn the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician or CPhT.Associates in Health Sciences with a PT specialty takes two years and is recommended for any individual if there is an interest in both obtaining a college degree, and being able to advance the fastest in their career.Courses of study are much more in depth and include additional medical subjects. Externships are a required part of the curriculum, as is passing the certification examination. Those with their CPhT and an AS degree stand the best chance of being hired in non-retail pharmacy technician positions, and starting at the highest salaries.Accredited vocational programIn the UK and many other countries a pharmacy technician is required to complete both an accredited vocational program in pharmacy services and a pharmaceutical science program, and must be registered with numerous UK healthcare organizations.Courses of study include that which is mentioned above, as well as medicines management for patients and training in running and assisting in hospital clinics and more.Please note however, in the UK there is a difference between a pharmacy technician and a pharmacy dispenser, with the former having more vocational and educational requirements.Interested individuals are advised to contact local professional organizations in order to get additional details about attending school to become a PT such as which are the best courses and whether they offer job placement and financial aid.In the US, contact the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPA) or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), in the UK contact the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) and in Canada the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT) to name a few.Employment After Attending PT SchoolsThere are actually many more employment opportunities for PTs than most people assume. While the majority of jobs are in retail pharmacy positions there are much more specialized career options for pharmacy techs with the right training.Hospitals, medication manufacturing and packing companies, medication compounding pharmacies, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities and any type of medical facility that either fills medication prescriptions or dispenses medications directly to patients make use of pharmacy technicians.These positions can be very rewarding, and tend to pay more as well. Certain qualified technicians also have the ability to counsel consumers and patients on the use of their medications, as well as answer medication questions.In any case, attending schools that offer the most detailed training and externships, and prepare students to become Certified Pharmacy Technicians are highly recommended for anyone interested in a career in healthcare services that pays well and offers plenty of room for advancement.

Skin Care Jargon – Demystified!

Have you ever looked at the ingredients list of the skin care products and skin care cosmetics that you buy and got confused by the undecipherable terminologies used? Just as it is important to consider the ingredients of your skin care products, it is important that you know what the terms and jargon are. So here is a handy list of common buzz words of the skin care market.AntioxidantsThey are powerful nutrients that prevent free radicals from causing damage to the skin cells. Free radicals are actually unstable oxygen molecules that take away electrons from their surrounding molecules thus creating a chain reaction and damaging the skin. Antioxidant rich skin care products can enhance the skin quality.Chemical SunscreensUnlike regular sunscreens (referred to as physical sunscreens that block the UV rays of the sun) chemical sunscreens absorb the ultra violet radiation. Popular chemical sunscreen ingredients are Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Octisalate and Octinoxate.Collagen and ElastinThey are protein fibers found within the skin cells that are responsible for the skin structure and elasticity. Collagen supports the skin tissues and keeps it firm and taut while elastin allows the skin to stretch and strain without getting ruptured. As we grow old, the levels of collagen and elastin fibers deplete thus leading to the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.EmollientsThey are special ingredients that help spread and keep other agents of the skin care product on the skin. They help lubricate the skin and protect the barrier function of the skin. They lie on top of the skin surface and trap in the moisture. In this way, emollients help to prevent dehydration.Essential OilsDerived from herbs, essential oils have an extensive range of skin care benefits. They are often included in skin care products to deliver a soothing and stimulating feeling to the skin. However, it is not advisable to use essential oils during pregnancy.HumectantsThese are the ingredients that attract moisture to the skin and thus soften skin’s surface. Because they help to keep the skin moisturized, they are effective in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines that are a result of dehydration.HypoallergenicThis term is used to describe ingredients that do not or are less likely to cause any allergic reaction on the skin.KeratinFound in all the layers of the epidermis, this protein fiber that protects the skin against a range of stressors. Hard keratin is found in hair and nails. In fact, the epidermis is comprised of 95% of dead keratinocytes. This is why it is necessary to exfoliate the skin on regular basis in order to scrape off the dead-skin layer and reveal the fresh new skin cells underneath.Free RadicalsAggressive oxygen atoms that have lost an electron, and are therefore unstable. They must then look for an electron from other atoms, which can cause a damaging cascade effect.NoncomedogenicThis is a common term used for skin care products that do not clog the skin pores or cause comedones.Open Comedones/ Closed ComedonesOpen comedones are whiteheads while closed comedones are blackheads. They are a result of accumulation of dirt and debris within the skin pores and subsequent blockage of the same.Physical SunscreensThese sunscreens reflect off and scatter the UV rays of the sun when they reach the skin surface. Physical sunscreens are advisable for people with sensitive skin. Common ingredients of physical sunscreen are Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.ParabensThey are the artificial preservatives used in skin care products in order to prolong their shelf life. Though they are important to prevent the development of micro organisms in skin care products, but they can be harmful for the skin. It is not advisable to use products that contain a large concentration of parabens. Smaller concentrations of the same are safe though.Stratum CorneumThis is the outermost layer of the skin. Skin cells that are formed within the deeper layers of the skin take about 28 days to reach the stratum corneum. The cells in this layer are all dead and require exfoliation to clear off. However, even though the cells are dead, they form the first line of defense for our skin. They prevent water loss and protect the skin from environmental toxins and UV rays.SurfactantsThese ingredients help to reduce surface tension between skin and the skin care product that you apply and enable it to spread better.

What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate

The results of this past election proved once again that the Democrats had a golden opportunity to capitalize on the failings of the Trump Presidency but, fell short of a nation wide mandate. A mandate to seize the gauntlet of the progressive movement that Senator Sanders through down a little over four years ago. The opportunities were there from the very beginning even before this pandemic struck. In their failing to educate the public of the consequences of continued Congressional gridlock, conservatism, and what National Economic Reform’s Ten Articles of Confederation would do led to the results that are playing out today.. More Congressional gridlock, more conservatism and more suffering of millions of Americans are the direct consequences of the Democrats failure to communicate and educate the public. Educate the public that a progressive agenda is necessary to pull the United States out of this Pandemic, and restore this nations health and vitality.

It was the DNC’s intent in this election to only focus on the Trump Administration. They failed to grasp the urgency of the times. They also failed to communicate with the public about the dire conditions millions have been and still are facing even before the Pandemic. The billions of dollars funneled into campaign coffers should have been used to educate the voting public that creating a unified coalition would bring sweeping reforms that are so desperately needed. The reality of what transpired in a year and a half of political campaigning those billions of dollars only created more animosity and division polarizing one extreme over another.

One can remember back in 1992 Ross Perot used his own funds to go on national TV to educate the public on the dire ramifications of not addressing our national debt. That same approach should have been used during this election cycle. By using the medium of television to communicate and educate the public is the most effective way in communicating and educating the public. Had the Biden campaign and the DNC used their resources in this way the results we ae seeing today would have not created the potential for more gridlock in our government. The opportunity was there to educate the public of safety protocols during the siege of this pandemic and how National Economic Reform’s Ten Articles of Confederation provides the necessary progressive reforms that will propel the United States out of the abyss of debt and restore our economy. Restoring our economy so that every American will have the means and the availability of financial and economic security.

The failure of the Democratic party since 2016 has been recruiting a Presidential Candidate who many felt was questionable and more conservative signals that the results of today has not met with the desired results the Democratic party wanted. Then again? By not fully communicating and not educating the public on the merits of a unified progressive platform has left the United States transfixed in our greatest divides since the Civil War. This writers support of Senator Bernie Sanders is well documented. Since 2015 he has laid the groundwork for progressive reforms. He also has the foundations on which these reforms can deliver the goods as they say. But, what did the DNC do, they purposely went out of their way to engineer a candidate who was more in tune with the status-quo of the DNC. They failed to communicate to the public in educating all of us on the ways our lives would be better served with a progressive agenda that was the benchmark of Senators Sanders Presidential campaign and his Our Revolution movement. And this is way there is still really no progress in creating a less toxic environment in Washington and around the country.