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How much is math involved in Pharmacy?
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Dinah’s Answer
The math depends on if you are working clinical (hospital) or retail. In a clinical setting, you are going to be compounding IV's, so basic calculations are needed. The same thing is in retail because you are going to have to calculate day supply when a prescriptions is sent in. Also, in retail, you are going to be working on the cash register, so you need to be able to give out the right change back. I know this maybe be a stupid thing to say, but I worked with technician that didn't know how to count change and we were short at night every single time she worked. So basic math is the general theme here.
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London Doyoung’s Answer
It depends on what setting you are working in.
I currently work as a IV pharmacist where math is involved in daily activities. Whether you are a pharmacist or a tech, basic math is a required skill.
We receive orders that ask for 25% bupivacaine 20 mL when 75% is the only form that we carry or orders that ask for Dextrose 8 % in Water x 1 Liter when we have 5%x1L and 20%x2L. My technicians usually know how to do basic calculations, but it is the pharmacists job to check if those calculations are correct and to train them if they need help.
I currently work as a IV pharmacist where math is involved in daily activities. Whether you are a pharmacist or a tech, basic math is a required skill.
We receive orders that ask for 25% bupivacaine 20 mL when 75% is the only form that we carry or orders that ask for Dextrose 8 % in Water x 1 Liter when we have 5%x1L and 20%x2L. My technicians usually know how to do basic calculations, but it is the pharmacists job to check if those calculations are correct and to train them if they need help.
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Misty’s Answer
Guiselle,
In as a Pharmacy Tech, you basically need to know how to count and run a cash register. You are not allowed to bag medications, only count and bottle and label and set out for Pharmacist to check before bagging. As a Pharmacist, there is some math involved in that you have to calculate mixtures for certain medications such as cough meds and a few others so basic math is pretty much all you need there.