What is the best practice for a pharmacy technician when preparing hazardous medications?

Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial when preparing hazardous medications due to the potential risks they pose to pharmacy technicians and other healthcare providers. Hazardous medications can include chemotherapy agents, endocrine disruptors, and other drugs that may have harmful effects during handling or administration.

Wearing the correct PPE—such as chemotherapy gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection—helps to minimize exposure. The handling of these medications requires strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent contamination and ensure that both the patient and staff are protected. This practice not only safeguards the technician but also maintains a safe environment for all personnel involved in medication preparation and administration.

Utilizing proper labeling is also essential, but it is about ensuring that the medications are correctly identified and that warnings are clear, rather than being part of the protective measures during preparation. Rushing the preparation process increases the risk of errors and exposure, while wearing gloves only does not provide sufficient protection against all potential hazards associated with hazardous medications. Therefore, using the full range of appropriate PPE is the best practice in these scenarios.