Some good news for a change!

Via ScrubSmart

Say hello to your friendly neighborhood certified pharmacy technician! Yesterday, I finally took the exam to get certified and passed, and I swear, it was a weird feeling of "well, of course, I was going to" and also "OMG I passed?", so naturally, the boy and I went out and got cigars and the fixins for chicken salad.

I was actually a little surprised with how much I knew from talking with pharmacists and just paying attention as I filled prescriptions. Of course, there were questions where I literally said to myself, "Well, I haven't used B in a while. B looks good here," but that was to be expected, since the test covers hospital pharmacy techs, as well. Part of me thinks it is a bit ridiculous that I, a retail pharmacy tech, am expected to know how to compound chemotherapy medication* because we don't fucking do that in a damn grocery store, but the other part of me realizes this means that the door is open for me to work in a hospital, which ... hm, tempting. Granted, a lot of hospital pharmacies are like prisons - in a basement, with no windows and a grumpy pharmacist angrily arguing with a physician about acetaminophen or something - but the pay is better and hours more consistent. Well, only time will tell on that front.

There is still a lot for me to learn - curse you, insurance companies and your completely weird, indecipherable codes - but I feel like a huge weight has been lifted, like ... okay, I can actually start my month now ... on the 12th, yes, but whatever. And I feel enthused in a way I  haven't for a while, but the past few months have not been the greatest: money issues, anxiety, depression, living in a tiny room, etc. You know, all the hallmarks of fun. But now, it seems like my life is on the upswing. I'm dating a great guy, have an awesome roommate (with an awesome kitty cat), an apartment, and now certification.

Now all I have to do is catch up on NaNo. Sigh.

* This wasn't a question on the actual test, but when I studied for it, this was one of the practice questions.