CURRICULUM DESCRIPTION: The Career Step Pharmacy Retail Assistants program includes 14 modules and a final exam designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in both retail and institutional settings, and to prepare students for international certification exams. Numerous exercises and assessments throughout each module ensure that students master each concept before moving on, and knowledgeable student support advisors are available from program start to finish. After gaining a solid foundation of Pharmacy Retail Assistants knowledge, students can work with their instructors to discover internships in Pharmacy Stores, Hospitals and Clinics PROGRAM ORIENTATION: In this module, the student will be introduced to the Pharmacy Assistants College program. A learning objective for each of the modules in the program is presented.
WORKING AT A PHARMACY: This module provides an overview of pharmacy practice settings and describes the differences between the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists and Pharmacy Assistants; it also outlines pharmacists’ expectations for their pharmacy technicians.
COMPUTER FUNDAMENTS: In this module, the student will become familiar with basic computer skills, including using hardware, software, and the Internet.
KEYBOARD KINETICS: This module will teach the student typing basics and help increase their efficiency on the computer keyboard for the input of patient, prescription, and insurance information.
PHARMACOLGY: This module will introduce the student to the science of pharmacology, including drug actions and effects, dosage forms and routes of administration, and drug classifications, Students will learn the generic and brand names of common medications, as well as their uses. The module also provides an overview of drug references and other resources available to pharmacy technicians.
PHARMACY LAW, REGULATIONS, AND STANDARDS: In this module, the student will learn about Ghana pharmacy law and its effects, including the regulation of controlled substances and confidentiality of patients medical records. The student will learn about regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) and Drug Administration Ethics for pharmacy Assistants.
BUSINESS OF PHARMACY: This module teaches essential communication skills, customer service techniques, and payment processing. This module also provides training in inventory management for both retail and institutional settings.
PRESCRIPTIONS: In this module, the student will learn to create and review patient profiles and to read prescriptions, including common abbreviations. They will also learn the steps of the dispensing process, such as counting, packaging, and labeling. Information is included about special prescription types as well as avoiding medication errors.
PHARMACEUTICAL CALCULATIONS: This module begins with an overview of basic mathematic principles and their applications in the pharmacy. Students will learn about and practice dosage calculations, systems of measurement, compounding calculations, preparing injectable and intravenous medications, and business mathematics.
NONSTERILE COMPOUNDING: This module teaches the basics of nonsterile compounding in the pharmacy. It also includes step-by-step instructions for filling capsules, making lozenges, reconstituting powders, creating suspensions, and preparing ointments, creams, and gels. RETAIL PHARMACY PRACTICE: In this module, the student will learn about factors specific to the retail pharmacy, such as over-the-counter medications. They will also use simulated pharmacy software to practice entering patient data, processing prescriptions and refills, processing third-party claims, verifying cash pricing, and producing audit logs. INSTITUTIONAL PHARMACY PRACTICE: In this module, the student will learn about factors specific to the institutional pharmacy. This encompasses hospital organization, inpatient drug distribution, aseptic technique, sterile compounding, and hazardous agents. Step-by-step instructions are given for preparing oral syringes, filling medication carts and floor stock, charging and refilling crash carts, aseptic hand washing, garbing, and hood cleaning, using ampules, preparing parenteral solutions, and preparing sterile powder drug vials.
PREPARING FOR THE WORKFORCE: This module provides information about specific state requirements for Pharmacy Assistants in Ghana, including explanations of registration, licensure, and Certification. It also describes the certification exams and gives tips on preparing for and taking them.
FINAL EXAM PREPARATION: Upon completion of the program, students will have the opportunity to assess their skills through a final exam. This module contains information about the structure of the exam, tips for passing it, and how to schedule a time to take it.
