(Part 3) Top products from r/pharmacy

I finally passed the Nevada MPJE. I'm sharing my experience to help future RPh out.

My background: I'm a foreign grad. Most of the clinical material is fresh in my mind since I graduated a few years ago. I passed the NAPLEX on one try. This set me up to think that MPJE was a straight forward exam and that I could pass it easily. Boy, I was wrong.

I studied all the laws provided by the BOP website. I also bought the RxPrep videos and book for the Federal Law. I studied casually for a month and took the exam and I was overwhelmed. The exam questions had tricky wording. I felt like many questions were "easy" if you study how to dispense controls, and pay attention to how long to keep documents, etc, but other questions were super left field.

I got a 73 and was devastated.

This time I was determined to pass. Here was how I did it.

• Read all the NV Statues & Regulations (http://bop.nv.gov/board/ALL/Regulations/). If you have notes from school, it helps (someone from Roseman provided me notes) but it's better if you make your own notes.
  
  • Pay attention to numbers, like when to renew licenses, etc.
    
  • Also pay attention to who can prescribe, who can get medications from the pharmacy
    
  • Responsibilities of a tech vs. clerk vs. intern vs. pharmacist.
    
  • Know all the different parts of prescriptions, labels, etc
    
  • Know everything there is to know about Controlled substances, procedures for hospices and LTC facilities
    
  • adulterated vs. misbranded
    
  • CEs
    
  • Procedures for Remote Sites
    
• Read the DEA Manual and understand how the Nevada PMP works. There were several questions on this! I was so surprised.
  
• Read through the Sterile Compounding References (http://bop.nv.gov/resources/ALL/Sterile_Compounding_Reference_Guide/) Some people suggest to read through the RxPrep Course book chapter on Sterile Compounding, I think that could be helpful but you're in a pinch the resources on the NV BOP website are enough.
  
• Take some time to click through the NV BOP website and read about canadian pharmacies, all of the FAQ and resources. I can't remember exactly what came out from the exam but I know that reading through the website helps.
  
• Federal law (ie. RxPrep MPJE Reviewer & Reiss & Hall's Guide to Federal Law) is a helpful starting point but ultimately, the NV laws were the majority of the exam.
  
• Take the Pre-MPJE!!! It's a great practice test. You didn't hear it from me but I heard you could screenshot questions and study/analyze them on your own.
  
• Memorizing is not enough. If you understand the laws as they are, no matter what situation the board gives you, you can find the right answer.
  
• Making your own study guides is what helped me pass IMO. Esp when it came to studying the NV Laws.
  
  Timeframe: Realistically, you can study through all of this material within a month. You could cram all of this material with even less time. This all depends on your study habits. If you spend 2 hours+ on this every day, you can pass.
  
  ​
  
  My Resources
  
  
• Rx Prep Testbank, Videos & Book
  
  • https://www.rxprep.com/
    
• Reiss & Hall's Guide to Federal Law
  
  • https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Federal-Pharmacy-Law-9th/dp/0967633281/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=mpje&qid=1573161337&sr=8-8
    
• Rx Exam NV MPJE Questions
  
  • https://www.pharmacyexam.com/index.cfm/product/72/nevada-pharmacy-law-test-downloadable.cfm
    
• NV BOP
  
  • http://bop.nv.gov/board/ALL/Regulations/
    
  • http://bop.nv.gov/resources/ALL/Sterile_Compounding_Reference_Guide/
    
  • http://bop.nv.gov/links/PMP/
    
  • http://bop.nv.gov/resources/Resources/
    
  • http://bop.nv.gov/resources/ALL/FAQ/
    
• Other Links
  
  • https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugreg/practioners/mlp_by_state.pdf
    
  • https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/manuals/pharm2/pharm_manual.pdf
    
    ​
    
    I got an 82!
    
    You guys got this!!! Good luck!

I've worked with two pharmacist for over 2 years now and they have over 20+ years of experience. I'm always in awe of them being able to immediately answer questions given from patients. So when floaters come by that are always new grads. I wouldn't expect them to know the same information as a pharmacist that has 20+ years of experience. Things get replace by other information all the time it's pretty normal, but you should always be studying as new drugs, laws, regulations keep coming out as the world of medicine keeps changing.

Something I always recommended floaters take with them is this book that has all the drugs in it. My pharmacy manager has an older copy that's half the pages of this one and he told me he used it diligently before all the options of technology rised. It's neat thing it fit in my coats pocket perfectly as I got one myself cause why not.

Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2017 Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1284118991/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kI2szbCAYQVM3

I loved reading Ten Drugs by Thomas Hager. It's basically a history (very eloquently told) of the most important medications ever developed: https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Drugs-Powders-History-Medicine/dp/1419734407

Also, if you are interested in the process of drug development , you'll enjoy The Billion Dollar Molecule by Barry Werth. Fascinating read about a start up that became Vertex ($45BN market cap). https://www.amazon.com/Billion-Dollar-Molecule-Companys-Perfect/dp/0671510576

A couple of med students wrote a great book. It is a pretty easy read and makes healthcare delivery understandable. I think everyone should have to read it. Not just healthcare workers, everyone.

Anyway, it's pretty cheap [check it out] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0615650937/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/187-3851700-0854829)

I have this book and I love it. It goes through specific scenarios that a person would encounter all through the medical system and what would be said in every encounter.

I also have This book in an older edition It is a pocket size and easy to have at work. It is more general but also has some Spanish phrases that you wouldn't encounter outside of the medical field.

Hope that helps.

Ben Goldacre is great. Although it's written for a layman audience, I loved and highly recommend his book Bad Science.

I bought this book: http://www.amazon.com/Pharmacy-Technician-Basic-Pharmacology/dp/0895828286/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1313367649&sr=8-3

I skimmed it for a long time but truly studied for about a month and passed on my first try. It's not too difficult and here are things to focus on:

1. math calculations
   
2. classifications of drugs (schedule 1-5)
   
3. compounding (which scales to use for different measurements, what kind of mortar and pestle to use, etc)
   
4. different types of hoods and when they should be used (ex: laminar hood)
   
5. which forms to to use (ex: DEA 41)
   
6. laws/acts (ex: HIPAA)
   
7. brand name and generic names of drugs as well as function. This wasn't a huge part of the test but I do suggest knowing the main ones (ex: metroprolol). Off the top of my head, tadalafil was one of the medications for which I needed to know the function of.
   
8. terminology
   
   Good luck! Just as a warning, it's ridiculously hard right now to find a pharmacy technician job. :(

I took and passed the WA MPJE in early April using only (this book.)[http://www.amazon.com/Washington-Pharmacy-Law-Users-Guide/dp/0692412743]

I am actually looking to sell it, now that I don't need it anymore. Seems like the only place you can get it is from the UK and it's pretty expensive, I can undercut that price if you're interested!

Highly recommend this book:
PTCB Exam Simplified Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Study Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/0615883702/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_CwsBwb6V6PP58

Studied for four days using this book only and passed. My advice for you would be to look at the percentage breakdown of the test sections and focus on the sections that have the fewest pages per percent of test. Aka don't memorize drugs lol. Unless you have the time for that then go right ahead! It'll make you a better tech eventually!

I thought "On Speed" was a good read. https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Benzedrine-Adderall-Nicolas-Rasmussen/dp/0814776396/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487033664&sr=8-2&keywords=on+speed

Also, it doesn't get much better than "The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks" https://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052181/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487033763&sr=8-1&keywords=the+secret+life+of+henrietta+lacks

I enjoyed The Cure

https://www.amazon.com/Cure-Million-Medical-Establishment-Children/dp/006073440X

Drugs listed are limited and haven’t been updated since 2015, but can be helpful. Authors are UK based and some dosage forms are not in available in other countries.

https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Administration-Enteral-Feeding-Tubes/dp/0857111620

http://www.amazon.com/The-Pharmacy-Technician-2nd-Edition/dp/089582650X

This is the book I used and I was fine on the exam even though it was already a bit outdated when i took the exam in 2011. Contrary to another poster i would just study for the exam, take it and get it over with, then work as a tech...too hard to get hired otherwise..

https://www.amazon.com.au/Handbook-Pharmaceutical-Excipients-Paul-Sheskey/dp/0857112716

https://www.amazon.com/Disciplined-Minds-Critical-Professionals-Soul-battering/dp/0742516857

http://www.amazon.com/Pass-Texas-Pharmacy-Law-Exam/dp/0615655181/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465233184&sr=8-1&keywords=pass+the+texas+mpje

https://www.amazon.com/Pharmacy-Law-Prep-York-MPJE/dp/109260653X

As for DiPiro, the newest edition is the 10th edition released in December 2016

https://www.amazon.com/Statin-Drugs-Really-Lower-Cholesterol/dp/0615618170

Maybe this is it?

NH MPJE STUDY GUIDE

I failed the first time and used this study guide and passed. Has lots of practice questions with answers. Very helpful!