Dental Assistants reach out to Infant Crisis Center

Today we had the unique pleasure of visiting with the staff from the Oklahoma City Infant Crisis Center. We are currently studying emryology and the needs of dentistry to infants and small children so it was by luck and excellent timing that we received this visit today. The coordinator, Jerry Fitzgerald, and instructor, Aimee Tunnell, are working close with the IFC to secure a date for our students to go out, educate the public on infant dental health, and tour their awesome facilities! It is great to have a day off of studying and reach out to the community. Awesome job dental class!!


http://www.plattcolleges.edu/AlliedHealth/AlliedHealth-Disclosures.htm
Since 1979, Platt College exists with one purpose; to create a workforce of professionals with the skills and training necessary to answer the needs of today's and tomorrow's workplace. The college is located in Tulsa, Moore, Lawton, Central and North Oklahoma City as well as in Dallas, Texas. For more information call 405-946-7799, or visit www.plattcolleges.edu.

Getting Close...

Today is the last day of the month of November. The students can feel that the break is near. I have heard that some feel they will forget things by the time they come back. We are suggesting daily short reviews of all the material they have covered in class. That way, resuming class will not be traumatic. Some have even asked for math homework. Since the instructors are at school for most of the holidays, we can provide some extra tutoring if necessary. But most of all, we want our students to enjoy some time with loved ones and come back refreshed and eager to absorb what we have to offer.

PT Program Reporting For Duty

The Pharmacy Technician Program instructors are back on the job. Our mission, which we have accepted, is to make these last two weeks before Christmas break most productive. They have to be due to the 4 week break. We want the students to enjoy their break but have something to do during the break that will keep their knowledge and skills up. The entire group will be practicing sterile compounding and hopefully perfecting their technique. I will be showing them how to do a sterile I.V. compound next week. It is going to be a busy 10 days! January 9th starts the new program and not too late to get your seat reserved! Just call 918-663-9000 and join the fun!

Tuesday in Tulsa

We had an awesome day yesterday beginning with our Monday morning missive by Mr. Garry Hemphill. He made the class smile. Literally made them smile. I think it changed their day because the mood seemed elevated. Probably had nothing at all to do with the upcoming four day weekend. Today, the incredible Culinary Program is preparing a feast for all the students on campus. What an undertaking! I think it is so wonderful that Platt College thinks so much of their students that they would provide a type of Thanksgiving lunch for everyone. I love working for a company that cares so much for their students.

Friday Before Black Friday

This being the last Friday before a 4 day holiday, I have a moment to reflect on things. I believe the Pharmacy Technician Program in Tulsa has the best group of students that has come thru the doors of Platt College. Having had the opportunity to teach at the OKC, Lawton, and Dallas campuses I see many similarities in those wishing a pharmacy career. This is just one of the many occupations that will never go away due to the fact that there will always be a need for medications. Pharmacy technician students are very career-minded. They know what they want from this program from the very beginning. National certification is of prime concern to them. The ability to put the initials C.Ph.T. after their name gives them a great level of satisfaction. I generally get their first phone call after passing the Pharmacy Certification Examination and they can't hide their enthusiasm. Oftentimes I see our graduates at pharmacies all over town and marvel at their confidence and professionalism. I sometimes wonder if I had their level of self-awareness at that age.

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day in the US...my calendar says in the US. Everyday is thanksgiving day. We have so much. Living in the greatest nation is the world is reason enough to have thanks daily. Having a wonderful building to work and learn in is a great reason to be thankful. Having a director that believes in you and allows you to succeed is a blessing. Having a partner that never misses a beat and is learning to move up and take the reins of the Pharmacy Technician Program is a gift I cherish. Having students who not only get along but encourage and teach each other is incredible. Having the opportunity to make a positive difference is the reason for breathing. Take some time for yourself during this celebration of thanks. Give some time to others as you give thanks.

Off and Running Again

The senior class is beginning to feel the pressure. In this block we have a total of five pharmacology tests. I applaud these students because they go above and beyond and learn more than what is expected.

Incredible Junior Class

The Tulsa Pharmacy Technician Program has been gifted with four of the most incredible young ladies ever assembled in a classroom. This is their first block and they are absorbing every bit of information that Kristi and I can provide. It warms the heart of every instructor to know that the students love what they are learning. I hope these ladies know how much we appreciate them.

Sterile Products Calculations...

Pharmacy Technician students in the Tulsa P.T. program are getting excited because they are getting it. The math that was once considered complex is getting easier. My math teacher in pharmacy school told me the only way to get pharmaceutical calculations is to do it. Then do it again. Then do it again. Do lots of problems so that you establish some good habits and they will tend to stick. I feel some days I am turning into Mr. Edwin Hellmich. I owe him for making me do math over and over.

It's Monday Again...

The students are back after a three day break and ready to learn. It is truly amazing that some are here after hearing about their weekends. Many have jobs that would take a normal mortal away from school but they are here every day. They have my respect. I sometimes wonder if I had their tenacity, what I could have accomplished. By the way, congratulations go to Chef Dale on his win of the blogging contest.

Busy Week for PT Students

Here it is Wednesday and students are beginning to get excited about the Thanksgiving and Christmas break. Parties are already being planned and we in the P.T. program are doing the same. We will have a luncheon before the Thanksgiving break and a Christmas luncheon on the 9th of December. Students are getting into the spirit and thinking this Friday is the start of the holidays, when in reality, the staff is meeting in OKC for an in-service.

Shaken, Not Stirred

Platt Tulsa seems to be intact this morning as I came in. I noticed a pamphlet rack had fallen over due to the earthquake(s). I will be doing a more thorough inspection right after this blog and report my findings to our director. I do not anticipate too much of anything...we are Sound and Solid!!!

Robin Harris, Practical Nursing Instructor, Platt Central recently had the opportunity to speak at the Oklahoma Nurses Annual Convention. Robin and Lisa Paden, a classmate in the OBU Masters of Science in Nursing program-OKC, gave a presentation pertaining to Safe Nurse Staffing Levels, patient safety, and current legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Both presenters were very proud to discuss the historical and current activities of professonal nurses that have brought these issues to the attention of the public. Nurses at every level make a impact at the community, city, state, national and international level. Go Nurses!!!

The prfessional organization for the Licensed Practical Nurse is the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses, http://www.nflpn.org/ . I encourage every Platt PN student to become an active member in your professional organization as soon as you graduate. Together, nurses can make a difference for our profession, our patients, and our families.

http://www.plattcolleges.edu/AlliedHealth/AlliedHealth-Disclosures.htm
Since 1979, Platt College exists with one purpose; to create a workforce of professionals with the skills and training necessary to answer the needs of today's and tomorrow's workplace. The college is located in Tulsa, Moore, Lawton, Central and North Oklahoma City as well as in Dallas, Texas. For more information call 405-946-7799, or visit http://www.plattcolleges.edu/.

FRIDAY...need I say more?

This has been an incredible day! The Pharmacy Technician students are eating up the information provided them. The seniors are actually enjoying I.V. math! They found out it is not as hard as they made it out to be. The juniors are memorizing the equivalents and are finding out the same thing. We simplify the math that your high school math teacher didn't have time to do.

Fourth Day of Block

Here it is Thursday and the 4th day of the final block of this calendar year. Our new students are already learning the history of medicine and pharmacy and our seasoned students are preparing for their first pharmacology test and are learning all the math involved in preparing a sterile product (I.V.). We provided the students a bit of insight into the Professional Advisory Board meeting from Tuesday night and they listened intently when it was mentioned what the employers were looking for in an employee.

Meeting for PT Last Night

The PT Program's Advisory Board Meeting was last evening and well attended including our Director Stephanie Thrasher. We were honored that she attended. An excellent presentation by Garry Hemphill helped the members see where our program was heading. The major topics of discussion were dress codes, appearance, interviews, and personal responsibility. Garry was able to fill them in on his vision for soft skill enhancement and they seemed genuinely pleased.

Advisory Board Meeting for PT in Tulsa

It is about a half hour away from our Program Advisory Board meeting here at Platt College Tulsa. I am thankful that our Director Stephanie Thrasher understands the nature of the pharmacies in Tulsa. She allows us to have the meeting when the majority of pharmacists can make the meeting. The noontime hours for pharmacists are their busiest and we would have poorly attended meetings in the past. We are looking forward to the members ideas in an effort to properly guide the program into the future. I know they are going to suggest heavy concentration on people skills and customer service. In the past they have mentioned alot about personal responsibility and simply the employee "showing up". We can never emphasize that too much. Employers want to know that you care before they care what you know.

November 1rst at Platt College Tulsa

Today is November 1rst and the second day of the block for the majority of the Pharmacy Technician students. We had a good start yesterday and are looking forward to working with the new future C.Ph.T.'s. Since the new students were in orientation all day, today will be the first real day in the pharmacy program. I had the opportunity to listen to a portion of the orientation yesterday and was very impressed with Mr. Garry Hemphill's welcome and words about soft skills and how we would like to cultivate them. He has such insight into marketability.