Parenteral nutrition training for the pharmacy team: focus on pharmacy technicians

Pharmacy technicians are integral to the success of parenteral compounding programs in pharmacies around the country. Their positions may vary depending on practice site, but technicians are critical to the pharmacy team, and it is imperative that they be appropriately trained to take on their roles and responsibilities. Numerous national pharmacy organizations support the need for a national standard for pharmacy technician training, education, certification, and regulatory oversight in all practice settings. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a highly specialized compounded product with potential for errors in ordering, transcribing, preparation, labeling, and administration. All compounding personnel involved in the process of delivering PN, including technicians, must be trained on the proper techniques, applicable technology, and risk of errors. This article outlines the landscape of training as it specifically pertains to pharmacy technicians and shares proceedings from key pharmacy meetings in the past 5 years that advocate for national standards.