2 RED PENS

My license has officially posted to the California Board of Pharmacy website! Now I get to fill prescriptions. When filling a prescription (Rx) I make sure that the label matches the Rx hardcopy... this means the drug, quantity, measurements and directives written on the label are reflective of the original Rx. Once everything matches I can fill.  Filling a prescription is pretty simple.  Below are the steps I follow after the label is checked for any errors:

1. Grab medication from shelf and match NDC (National Drug Code) to NDC on label.
2. Circle and initial (using a red pen) by NDC code on label.
3. Write medicine expiration date on label (in red pen).
4. Count or measure quantity and fill.
5. Place label on bottle, box, or container, etc.
6. Give to pharmacist to check.

Most Rx's I filled today were in tablet form. So, I did a lot of counting today.  In some cases I could just scan the bottle and weigh tablets until the machine reports how many pills have been poured. Even more convenient is this machine we call the robot. The robot has several medications stored and will count the tablets for you. All you have to do is scan the label and place a bottle underneath the slot containing the medication needed. I'm a little weary of technology sometimes, so I checked by recounting the quantity... the robot was correct.

At the [ph]arm, red pens are hard to come by and are reserved for those who fill prescriptions. Today, being my first day at filling, I was left borrowing a red pen left and right! Finally, our pharmacist supplied me with two red pens! I now have two red pens which means I have been given double the responsibility at the [ph]arm!

My niche has broadened... At the [ph]arm I handle Rx's for deliveries and for mailing, answer the phones, check the front counter for customers, verify and fill Rx's, and retrieve and put away medications.

I am armed with my two red pens and ready for another day at the [ph]arm!

Until next time...

-Louise-