The Waiting Game & CPR Certification Card

I hope everyone's been enjoying the holidays.  That's pretty much all I've been doing as I play the waiting game for the arrival of my California pharm tech license.  I would love to start working now and feel a bit restless.  But at least the wait is happening during a time when the holidays can be a distraction.  It would have been less tolerable in the summer.

I'm tempted to go looking into the 2010 Census jobs as a supplemental job to go along side being a pharm tech.  But of course considering getting a supplemental job without knowing the schedule of my future primary job is a bit difficult to do.  But calling to find out how long they'll be taking applications couldn't hurt.

In other news, I received my credit card sized CPR certification/identification card.  So now if in the unlikely scenario that someone asks if I'm CPR certified, I can show them proof.  And more importantly, I can see the official time span in which I can claim certification.

CPR Face Shields

These arrived the other day.  I got two of these face shields, rather than another of the full sized mask.  They come in a White, Royal Blue, Orange, and Black cases.  They're only $5.05.  Amazon had some other ones that also came with gloves in a little backpack, but it doesn't come with the shipping deal that amazon has, so that was a no go for me.  I picked up two black ones.  They're too bulky to put on my keychain, but a great size for my bag and my first aid kit.

Here's a closer look at what the actual face shield looks like.  It's a simple plastic shield to prevent any fluids from transferring either way, with a filter in the air valve, and instructions printed on the front.  However the instructions aren't very good in describing hand placement.  But if you're certified, you should have had some kind of practice using some kind of tool any way.

Black Friday Books

Today's Black Friday, and what did I buy?  (Ignoring the speakers and a dvd player/burner for my computer.  Both of which I'm using as I type this.  =D)

Despite the title of this post, the first item isn't a book.  It's the CPR Pocket Resuscitator.  I took the class and got certified, and I thought these things were cool when we were practicing with them.  I looked'em up on Amazon.com and saw they were only about $10!  Click.  It was an auto-buy.

I took the class because I want to be prepared, just in case.  I bought this little guy to help me be prepared for that just in case.  Although I have yet to decide where I'm going to keep it.  I have an emergency bag where I keep a first aid kit, an ace bandage, etc that I might throw it in.  Although I was also thinking the glove compartment of my car.  But then of course just keeping it in my bag might be a good idea too.  I want to have it handy when there's an emergency... so I need to have it with me when I'm around an emergency.  But since it's only $10, I may just buy a couple more.

The orange case comes inside a ziplock bag, and inside is the resuscitator, some blue nitrile gloves (size: large), some antiseptic handwipes, and some brief instructions.  Definitely worth it.

Get Into Pharmacy School: Rx for Success!  Now it should be obvious why I bought this.  I'm working towards and writing about getting into pharmacy school, and that's what this book is about.  I'll do a full review on it when I'm done getting through it.

As for a glimpse into what's in it, the Table of Contents is divided into six sections:

PART ONE: Is Pharmacy School for You?

- Ch 1: Introduction to Pharmacy

- Ch 2: Making the Decision

PART TWO: Planning for Pharmacy School

- Ch 3: Planning Your Undergraduate Experience

- Ch 4: The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)

- Ch 5: Selecting the Right Program

- Ch 6: Researching Pharmacy Schools

PART THREE: Applying to Pharmacy School - Navigating the Application Process

- Ch 7: Admission Criteria

- Ch 8: Completing the Application

- Ch 9: Personal Statement

- Ch 10: Letters of Recommendation

- Ch 11: The Interview

- Ch 12: Admissions Process - An Inside Perspective

- Ch 13: Rejection and Your Alternatives

PART FOUR: Preparing for Your Career in Pharmacy

- Ch 14: What to Expect and Do in Pharmacy School

- Ch 15: Postprofessional (Post-Pharm.D.) - Residencies, Fellowships, and Board Certifications

- Ch 16: Career Options

PART FIVE: Financing Your Degree

- Ch 17: Figuring Out Costs

- Ch 18: Applying for Financial Aid

- Ch 19: Finding Free Money

- Ch 20: Borrowing the Money

PART SIX: Resources

- Quick Reference List of Key Resources

- Pharmacy School Statistics

- Index

Looks like there should be a lot of good information in there, and this is a first printing, published in 2009, so the info should be up to date.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Prescription to My Younger Self: What I learned after Pharmacy School  Now this book... it caught my eye as I was shopping for the other one.  It was first published on March 28, 2008... had no description and no reviews.  Yet it had a very catchy title and there were only two copies left!  (Just one copy now with a "order soon (more on the way)" note on it.).  It was only $20, and I was curious.

I've only just cracked it open since it only arrived today, but here's an actual description for anyone else wanting to take a look at it, straight from the book:

This book is a collection of letters written by pharmacists in varying professional settings, who we feel have either excelled in the profession of pharmacy, or who have inspired us and were willing to share their stories in print.  We asked the pharmacists to provide a biography along with a letter they have written int he present to their former self on the day that they graduated from pharmacy school, and share the pearls of wisdom they learned about their profession after graduation.  Included in the epilog is group of letters from a different perspective- the student.  Each of us contributed a letter reflecting upon our current aspirations and hesitations as we venture into the unknown, a career.  Prescription to My Younger Self: What I learned after Pharmacy School, allowed us to step outside of the box and take a chance on a very unique and rewarding project.

There are twenty-seven total pharmacist chapters, from pharmacists in all kinds of pharmacy settings, as well a chapter each from the four students who came up with the idea for this book.  So the title of the book didn't lie to me, and it is what it says.  Cool.  And now you guys get more info about it than amazon.com gives.  Full review forthcoming!

CPR Certified

(Image from babble.com)

Just a couple days after passing the PTCE, I'm now CPR certified! It was a one day class, taught by a couple of nurses. The event was hosted by the PHHS (Pre-Health Honor Society) at SFSU ($20 for the random public, but a $5 discount for Pre-Pharmacy members.)

Why'd I take the class? It's not required for pharmacists as far as I know. But I think it's something worth knowing. The concept of knowing CPR, and wanting to be a pharmacist seem to mesh well together. I'm going into a health profession, as cliche as it sounds, because I like to help.

(Edit 11-23-09 - I have since learned that at least one school, USC, requires CPR certification.  I will most likely have to take the class again before I apply, since the certification only lasts a year.  It's good to find that out though.)

I did learn CPR before. This was back in high school... maybe '98 or '99. That video back then was sooo bad. The new update was better. Plus there was some new stuff there. We were told it was the 2005 update. I don't remember if we learned how to use two people effectively, I think some of the infant stuff was changed, and it was cool to learn about the AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator).

Who knows, it might come in handy one day. It did last time. We were doing a fundraiser for my class, and this girl that I was taking a break with this girl that I had a crush on back then (Or did I move on already? I can't remember.) Well anyway, we were eating, and then all of a sudden she gets up and frantically taps right below her neck with both hands. I stand up and she turns around and backs into me. The Heimlich maneuver is simple enough that I'm guessing I could have helped her without that class, but since I knew the proper way to do it, it just took a couple abdominal thrusts and breath was able to enter her lungs.

I've never had to use the knowledge again, but now I'm certified (for the next two years), and know the new methods. It might come in handy some day. Who knows.