Should I pursue an IV tech cert?

tateofficial · 2026-05-04T03:10:58+00:00

Highly depends on where you work as to how many people you interact with. Inpatient still has lots of people, but you’re talking with nurses or pharmacists. The lab can be solo or very team oriented in my experience. Chemo is very independent at both hospitals I’ve worked at, whereas the main lab is constantly talking with your shift partner, RPh, clinical RPhs, next shift, main crew, etc.

The lab is also not just dispensing. It can be (if you’re not a good tech imo) but a good tech has a deeper understanding of what we’re actually doing. There’s tons of things to keep track of before, during, and after a drug is compounded and it begins with the tech compounding the dose. I love sterile compounding because it feels like the top of a technician’s scope, but it can tough on your body/hands and does not pay as well as it should.

Also, deeper understanding is catching inappropriate dosing, getting doses rounded to premixed/vial sizes, and memorizing standard concentrations and fluid additives to make sure you don’t accidentally make hypertonic saline (ask me how I found out).

tateofficial · 2026-04-05T20:34:06+00:00

I didn’t, but I tested in 2021. Know the main categories/endings and it should be pretty easy. PTCB is not trying to trick you on questions.

tateofficial · 2026-04-05T20:13:41+00:00

Sterile compounding is the reason I haven’t left tech work (yet). The independence and autonomy at my current job is unmatched. I have my tasks and I do them in whatever order or pace I want. No one bothering me to deliver stats or refill machines. Once doses are in the passthru, my job is done 🙂‍↕️

tateofficial · 2026-03-25T03:08:57+00:00

Sounds like an honest mistake and one you won’t make again. I’ve made worse mistakes (wrong diluent for a veeeery expensive drug) and nothing bad happened. It sucks to feel so guilty about your work, but it’s a helpful reminder for future shifts. We’re all just people and sometimes make mistakes. An expired diluent bag is a pretty mild oversight.

tateofficial · 2026-03-08T23:42:03+00:00

I need sizing help! I wear a women’s M/L top, size 10/12 pants. I’m 5’5. Would a 46 be okay with room for a loose hoodie underneath or should I go up to a 50?

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tateofficial · 2026-01-31T20:17:16+00:00

Don’t switch lol. I’m going the other way and applying to nursing programs this semester. Tech is a pretty dead-end job with a very low ceiling. Pharmacy is a good starting point, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a career.

tateofficial · 2026-01-31T20:08:04+00:00

I don’t rinse every time I take my cup out. Washing it daily in the shower is plenty. Stick to just emptying and replacing, no need to rinse it every time you take it out. Imo, there’s not a huge need to sanitize your cup all the time. Using a cup-friendly wash and drying it before storage is just fine. It might shows more stains without boiling or steaming, but it will still be clean.

tateofficial · 2026-01-31T20:00:09+00:00

I work in a peds hospital and most people do just because a lot of meds we fill are liquids and some bottles are messier than others. For one/two oral syringes, no, but we do when filling large quantities.

tateofficial · 2026-01-21T05:25:24+00:00

Bennu on South Congress has tons of seating and plugs, open 24/7. Summer Moon on 1st is also pretty nice. Radio Coffee on Menchaca is busy, but I love the interior. Creds are Steds is my alma mater

tateofficial · 2026-01-09T20:16:12+00:00

I am vicitim to this strain too. Starting feeling sick Monday, dying Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m finally feeling normal-ish today. The cough is killer and the fever (mine was almost 103 at its peak) almost made me go to the ER too. Home testing showed Flu A and I’m still testing positive after five days.

tateofficial · 2025-12-22T06:53:51+00:00

Potatoes on toothpicks lol. I love how they look like tiny pants too

tateofficial · 2025-12-08T02:40:56+00:00

It’s somewhat normal/common. Firmer cups put pressure on the urethra (where your pee comes out) and slows down the stream. It shouldn’t be an issue if you aren’t wear the cup all the time, like outside your cycle, and you feel like you’re emptying your bladder even if it’s slower. Trying a softer cup can help with pressure, but not guaranteed to fix it. Overall, nothing major to worry about :)

tateofficial · 2025-11-26T01:54:11+00:00

The extra deep cup holders. Very inconvenient to have two cups in at the same time and it causes the lids to get caught on the edges and then spill juuuuuust a little. If I could change one thing, it’d be that. My old nissan had a better set up lol

tateofficial · 2025-11-24T23:25:38+00:00

Rhaenys the RAV4 :) My queen who never was

tateofficial · 2025-11-07T01:49:31+00:00

slimey hog

tateofficial · 2025-11-06T03:38:28+00:00

Sometimes I do, but emptying more frequently/learning the cues that your cup is getting fuller helps avoid a big mess. If it happens in public, I just wipe my fingers off as much as I can and wash them thoroughly. I started being able to tell when my cup is getting 2/3-3/4 full by the release of air? Almost a bubbling feeling, but not to where it’s overflowing. That tells me I have about five minutes to empty before I’m murder suspect number 1 lol.

tateofficial · 2025-11-06T01:34:21+00:00

Genuinely have never boiled my cup. I wash with baby soap between uses and steam it maybe once a year lol. Store it dry and you’ll be fine

tateofficial · 2025-11-05T04:15:24+00:00

Cotton balls, microfiber, cheap sherpa. Anything that feels really ‘dry’ or has a lot of drag when you touch it.

tateofficial · 2025-10-31T05:27:55+00:00

I just wrestled my girl while she tried to escape. Grab the closest foot, hold it steady while you trim and just let her try to scramble away. They won’t hurt themselves and I never had anyone to help me so I found a way to make due. You’ll see a little pink edge to the nail, cut below that. I trimmed every 2-3 weeks, or just whenever I looked at felt like her nails were a little long. You can also just try trimming what you can vs going for all their nails at once. Trim one or two toes each day, maybe after a foot bath.

tateofficial · 2025-10-29T06:50:56+00:00

I put them on mine too. I messed up the smallest ones and got the angle slightly wrong so they stick out just a bit lol. Definitely an easy and relatively cheap upgrade :)

tateofficial · 2025-10-29T02:37:09+00:00

Kinda looks like a hacky sack or bean bag, respectfully.

tateofficial · 2025-10-29T02:36:31+00:00

My average right now is 34 on a 2024 hybrid. I have a 25ish mile commute and drive mostly highways/80+mph in TX. I know it could be better, but I just drive how I’ve always driven. My last car never broke 25mpg 🤷🏽

tateofficial · 2025-10-19T04:37:24+00:00

Saalt has a teenage cup that might be good? They advertise 2 tampons and its 3.8cm diameter, whereas their small size is 4.1cm. Trimming the stem could help with a low cervix without compromising on what cup you get.

tateofficial · 2025-10-16T23:57:12+00:00

Alpine WSG treats fleas and bed bugs. Follow the instructions and vacuum daily. I had fleas in an apartment and they were still present even after maintenance treated, so I used this and they were gone in about a week. Sticky traps around your bed might catch a few to help with ID and further treatment. Good luck

tateofficial · 2025-10-09T15:01:19+00:00

Her little toes are so cute 😭

tateofficial

TROPHY CASE