This program prepares individuals for employment as pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians assist and support licensed pharmacists in providing health care and medications to patients. Pharmacy technicians work in hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, home health care pharmacies, nursing home pharmacies, clinic pharmacies, nuclear medicine pharmacies, and in mail order prescription pharmacies. Currently, hospital, home health care, and retail pharmacies hire the majority of pharmacy technicians. This program is designed to prepare students for employment in a hospital laboratory, blood bank center, or other healthcare facility to collect blood by venipuncture and capillary puncture.
Phlebotomists draw blood from patients or donors for diagnostic testing or other medical purposes.
Students are taught safe and efficient work practices in obtaining adequate and correct blood specimens, collection of timed specimens, labeling, and transportation of specimens correctly and in a timely manner to the appropriate laboratory sections. They care for the ill, injured or infirm, promote wellness, maintain health and prevent illness under the direction of a registered nurse, licensed physician or licensed dentist. Practical nurses work in hospitals, skilled nursing and long term-term care facilities, offices, clinics, home health and other healthcare settings. The program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing.