I was employed as a Pharmacy Technician at Rhode Island Hospital Pharmacy for eleven years. When first hired, I was almost instantly enthralled with the IV Services area of the department. I wanted to learn the aseptic technique process utilized in the preparation of intravenous (IV) solutions. IV Services practices a collaborative system of step-by-step checks performed by both the technician and the pharmacist. The entire process is organized around formulation paperwork created to guide the IV staff through the preparation of a multitude of IV products.
My third year at the hospital, I accepted a position as the Pharmacy Technician Specialist in charge of teaching Aseptic Technique and IV preparation. Every new technician was required to complete four weeks of training in IV Services, which included,
During the training period, each new technician is required to become literate with reading the formulation paperwork, which provides the technician and pharmacist with the mathematical calculations that determine the final concentration of the product being prepared.
"Continuous, repetitive, hands-on work, preformed with the guidance and under the supervision of an experienced trainer."
During the training period, each new technician is required to become literate with reading the formulation paperwork, which provides the technician and pharmacist with the mathematical calculations that determine the final concentration of the product being prepared.
"To a new technician reading this paperwork can be quite complicated because it does not read in the more familiar left to right, top to bottom order. Its flow and how to become literate in reading each formulation's directions is a process that must be learned through weeks of training."
During the initial days of training, I would introduce the trainee to the most common and essential terminology and equipment utilized. I would also read through the formulation paperwork with the trainee, answering any questions that arose as they began learning unfamiliar terms and concepts.
Next, I would physically perform the aseptic technique process explaining each step, in detail, as the trainee visually observed the process being performed. Around the third or fourth day of training, I would encourage trainees to begin hands-on learning by assisting me with preparing products, closely guiding them to resolve any inaccuracies in their technique as they occurred. Trainees are allowed to move through the training process at reasonably different paces, each day taking on more and more of the daily tasks performed.
Trainees do not work independently until the end of their fourth week at which time they perform all tasks by themselves under the observation of their trainer. When working with each new technician I would try to keep in mind the frustration and anxiety I felt while going through the same experience and the pressure I felt to become literate in the pharmacy world.
Over the years, I became more experienced and knowledgeable in this Special Literacy.
Next, I would physically perform the aseptic technique process explaining each step, in detail, as the trainee visually observed the process being performed. Around the third or fourth day of training, I would encourage trainees to begin hands-on learning by assisting me with preparing products, closely guiding them to resolve any inaccuracies in their technique as they occurred. Trainees are allowed to move through the training process at reasonably different paces, each day taking on more and more of the daily tasks performed.
"Trainers scaffold new technicians during their training
until they are able to perform each new task independently."
Trainees do not work independently until the end of their fourth week at which time they perform all tasks by themselves under the observation of their trainer. When working with each new technician I would try to keep in mind the frustration and anxiety I felt while going through the same experience and the pressure I felt to become literate in the pharmacy world.
Over the years, I became more experienced and knowledgeable in this Special Literacy.
"The skills I developed while working in the pharmacy field have made me more confident in myself and have encouraged me to become a more assertive and determined student."
My experience as a trainer has provided me with insight into understanding learning differences and the importance of finding what works for each specific learner. While some teaching methods work for some or most, by no means are they effective for all.
