Education

A Brief Review on Hypertension for Pharmacists

With so many organ systems, disease states, and medications to remember, preparation for the NAPLEX may often times seem like a daunting task. While there can be a considerable amount of material to go over for each clinical module, there are certainly some things that deserve more focus than others. This brief review will cover some of the most important information you need to know about hypertension when preparing for your upcoming exam.

General information:

  • Hypertension (HTN) is asymptomatic
  • HTN increases the risk for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure
  • Risk factors include the following:
    • High sodium and fat diet, physical inactivity, obesity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, genetics and family history, age, sex (women more likely than men), and race (African Americans more likely than any other race)
    • Drugs can also increase blood pressure, including the following:
      • Amphetamines, cocaine, pseudoephedrine, immunosuppressants, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, ethanol, caffeine, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), oral contraceptives, erythropoietin

Blood pressure categories:

 Ultimate blood pressure goal:

  • 130/80 mmHg

Treatments:

Four preferred drug classes for the following patient subgroups:

  • Non-African American: Thiazide diuretic, CCB, ACE inhibitor or ARB
  • African American: Thiazide diuretic
  • Patients with chronic kidney disease or diabetes with albuminuria ACE inhibitor or ARB
  • Initiate two drugs regimens if blood pressure is > 150/90 mmHg

Additional information:

  • ACE inhibitors, ARBs, Aliskiren
    • Do not use with Entresto
    • Do not use any combination of ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and aliskiren for treatment
  • CCBs
    • CYP3A4 substrates, avoid CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg, grapefruit)
    • Caution with ankle swelling and/or irregular heartbeat
    • Amlodipine and felodipine are the safest to use in patients with HF
  • BBs
    • No longer preferred for HTN treatment
      • Primarily used first-line for heart disease, post myocardial infarction, and HF
    • Use with caution when taking other drugs that decrease HR
    • Mask symptoms of hypoglycemia
  • Diuretics
    • Take doses in the morning or afternoon to avoid frequent urination symptoms at night
    • Provide K+ supplementation to compensate for decreased K+ levels
      • This does not remain true for K+ sparing diuretics
  • Hypertensive emergency
    • Blood pressure > 180/120 mmHg
    • Acute organ damage
    • IV medication used for treatment
      • Clevidipine, nicardipine, diltiazem, verapamil, enalaprilat, esmolol, labetalol, metoprolol tartrate, propranolol, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, chlorothiazide
    • Goal is to decrease blood pressure by < 25% within first hour
  • Hypertensive urgency
    • Blood pressure > 180/20 mmHg
    • No organ damages
    • Oral medication for treatment
  • Pregnancy
    • Treatment with labetalol, methyldopa or nifedipine XR

Treatments (non-pharmacological):

  • Lifestyle modifications
    • DASH diet, limit salt intake (<1,500 mg/day), exercise, limit alcohol consumption, maintain proper weight (BMI between 18.5 – 24.9)

Be on the look-out for our next review, which will focus on diabetes.

Best of luck,

Sam Tamjidi

RxPharmacist Team

References: Micromedex Solutions. Greenwood Village, CO: Truven Health Analytics. http://micromedex.com/. Accessed October 12, 2020.

A Brief Review on Hypertension for Pharmacists Read More »

Creating an edge over other PharmD graduates

It has always been my top-priority goal to gain experiences that would further my personal and professional development which made this position an especially enticing one. Throughout pharmacy school, my unique experiences in diverse work settings and industries helped create a necessary edge over other Doctor of Pharmacy graduates. Although my post-doctoral fellowship was cancelled due to COVID-19, RxPharmacist allowed me to continue to have a productive summer as I developed new skills to become a more marketable Doctor of Pharmacy graduate.

My experience aligned perfectly with my growth mindset as I grew to overcome obstacles that came with completing new projects. Beyond the expected technical skills from content creation and remote communication, I was also exposed to start-up culture and entrepreneurship. My cohort was able to participate in brainstorming sessions on business and marketing strategy that management provided instant feedback on. The mentorship and network development also made it easy for my cohort to connect and support each other in their career trajectory.

Through RxPharmacist, I improved my knowledge of NYS pharmacy law, technical writing, and the test prep start-up industry. I welcome any students and graduates with questions to contact me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-cheung/

-Joan Cheung

St. John’s University, 2020 PharmD Graduate

Creating an edge over other PharmD graduates Read More »

Networking, mentorship, and a preceptor that rocks!

If you are looking for a great opportunity to jump start your pharmacy career, while gaining valuable firsthand experience and mentorship from an amazing group of people, look no further! The summer graduate internship offered by RxPharmacist is a great program that I would highly encourage to any PharmD student.

When I first joined the team, I was not sure what to expect. I knew that I had a deep interest for medical writing and joining the RxPharmacist team seemed to be the perfect opportunity for post-grad. But, RxPharmacist is so much more than just writing MPJE guides. Being a summer intern afforded me the opportunity to work with amazing pharmacists and other recent graduates. The best part of the program was the mentorship and guidance that I received from my preceptor. While working and studying for your licensure exams FROM HOME, you will also be able to receive the support and guidance you need as you transition from being a student to a true professional!

I would strongly encourage any pharmacist student to consider internship opportunities with RxPharmacist. Not only would you be rewarded as you study for your licensure exams, but you would also be gaining valuable experience and insight to the world of medical writing, marketing, business strategy, and effective networking.

Nnenna I., 2020 RxPharmacist Graduate Summer Intern

Husson University, Class of 2020

Networking, mentorship, and a preceptor that rocks! Read More »

Intern Testimonial- Getting a helping Hand Among COVID-19

Prior to the completion of pharmacy school there were a lot of questions as to which direction of pharmacy I wanted to pursue. With the many conflicts surrounding job saturation and COVID-19, I was quick to realize it would be in my best interest to become more open-minded towards other career opportunities. Coming across the graduate intern position at RxPharmacist started off as nothing more than curiosity, but now, after completion of the program, I can say with full confidence it was one of the best life decisions I have ever made. 

At RxPharmacist, communication and support is transparent. You work with a team that truly cares about your performance and future career. Not only do they provide constant feedback on your work, but they also create the time to communicate with you to reflect on your resume and cover letter, while assisting you in expanding your professional network. The 10-week program is more than creating a study guide, it’s an opportunity to gain additional insight and hands-on skills that focus on medical writing, entrepreneurship, and marketing. 

The development of your very own study guide will not only aid yourself in passing the MPJE on the first try, but it will also support the pharmacy profession as a whole by helping all other newly graduates succeed as well. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I had with RxPharmacist and I highly recommend this to anyone seeking experience!

Sam T., 2020 RxPharmacist Graduate Intern

Mercer University, Class of 2020

Intern Testimonial- Getting a helping Hand Among COVID-19 Read More »

Supporting our pharmacy profession: Team Member Testimonial

My journey with RxPharmacist started with a post on my pharmacy class’s Facebook page asking for help to contribute to their Florida MPJE guide. I reached out and volunteered to help. This experience was very valuable as it helped me develop my writing skills, work within a team with other pharmacy graduates around the State of Florida, and helped me study for the MPJE exam. After I found out I passed the MPJE, there was no way I could take another one.

Little did I know, a year later, I would be moving to Washington, DC. I was researching online for study materials for the DC MPJE, but had little luck in finding materials. That is when I came across RxPharmacist again. I reached out asking if there were any DC MPJE study materials available. Fortunately, I was presented with an opportunity to author a DC MPJE Guide with RxPharmacist. I was already working as a pharmacist and my job was very demanding; however, the RxPharmacist team was very flexible with allowing me to write the guide at my own pace within the time frame requested. This opportunity closely aligned with my goals to help the pharmacy profession and improve my writing skills. Thank you RxPharmacist for another great experience! Best of luck to all current and future pharmacists on your MPJE exams!

Chrissy T., Pharm.D., 2020 Medical Writing Associate

University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Class of 2019

Supporting our pharmacy profession: Team Member Testimonial Read More »

What is the MPJE and What do I Need to Know?

WHAT IS THE MPJE?

The Multi-Prudence Jurisdiction Examination (MPJE) is a 120-question computer-based exam that uses adaptive testing response questions. For example, if you keep getting questions wrong then the computer will provide you questions that are statistically deemed “easier.”  It’s important to note that of the 120 questions on this exam, only 100 are used to calculate your final score. The remaining 20 questions are pretest questions that will not count into your MPJE score, but you won’t be able to tell which ones are pretest questions and which ones are not. The total testing time is two hours with NO breaks during the testing session so it’s important to take note of time. 

WHAT IS THE PASSING SCORE?

The passing scaled score is 75 with the minimum score being zero and maximum 100. The exam is divided into three major sections:

  • Pharmacy Practice- 83%
  • Licensure, registration, certification, operational requirements- 15%
  • General Regulatory Processes- 2%

WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL?

If you don’t pass the first time you still have 4 more attempts to pass you’re MPJE exam. A maximum of 5 tries per state to pass the MPJE is allowed. Hopefully you won’t fail the first time you take your MPJE but if you do, you need to wait 30 days per state until you can sit for the exam again to re-take. For the NAPLEX, it is a period of 45 days to wait before you can retake the exam again. 

Note that if your eligibility to sit for the NAPLEX or MPJE is going to expire within 10 business days then you won’t be able to pay and sit for the exam so make sure as soon as you get your authorization to test (ATT) letter that you book your appointment as soon as possible. 

IMPORTANT 2019-2020 UPDATES TO MPJE AND NAPLEX

The re-sit fees for the NAPLEX and MPJE are bumped up to $475 and $150 (YIKES that hurts!). If you miss your exam due to an emergency (whatever that means), then you can ask if you can re-sit to take your exam for a reduced fee of $170 for the NAPLEX or $100 for the MPJE. 

SOME MAJOR POINTS TO REMEMBER:

  • All questions are answered in order so there’s no going back
  • Lots of situational questions
  • Online registration costs $250.00 per examination
  • You will need to bring two forms of ID at Pearson Vue
  • At least one picture ID with signature (i.e. Driver’s License)
  • Other can be credit card with signature
  • 120 questions, 100 count towards your score
  • MUST complete 107 questions for examination to be scored
  • If you fail, you must wait 30 days to retake for the MPJE and 45 days for the NAPLEX
  • The MPJE doesn’t distinguish between state and federal laws, but answer each question based on state law
  • Any misconduct or inkling of misconduct is grounds for failure
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes early
  • Ensure to read EVERY SINGLE WORD!
    • They will try to trick you so make sure to answer the question they ask, and lookout for unusual words as triggers. 

BREAKDOWN OF FEES:

Total if you passed the first time: 

$250 MPJE ($150 + $100 application fee)

$575 NAPLEX ($475 + $100 application fee)

$825

Total if you failed but passed the second time: 

$500 MPJE ($250 x 2)

$1,150 NAPLEX ($575 x 2)

$1,650

As you can see, it really adds up if you don’t pass the first time so we hope that you pass the first time! This does not include the stress and wasted time either since you can’t start working until your licensed. We highly recommend reviewing the https://nabp.pharmacy/programs/mpje/ site and reading over the NAPLEX/MPJE registration bulletin. They provide a more specific overview of the exam, scheduling requirements, and a list of core competencies for you to understand. Don’t spend too much time on the core competencies, but more on understanding the laws, as there are many situational type questions.

About RxPharmacist 

RxPharmacist got created out of a calling to help a fellow classmate who failed his board exams, lost his job offer, and almost went homeless in not being able to gain employment as he had to wait 45 days before being able to sit and retake his board exams. Frustrated over the high cost of expensive study guides that were outdated, heavy in content, and weren’t focused on getting to the information needed to pass was the call to action that RxPharmacist has answered.

We are a group of volunteer pharmacists, paid pharmacy students, and mentors to our pharmacy profession driven by fellow pharmacy graduates and pharmacists just like you. We want to make a positive difference and disrupt the pharmacy test-prep industry but we need your help.

If you think you can help join our cause, feel free to shoot us over an email on how we can improve our services and products to help you. Even though this starter guide is basic in nature, we hope it can get you pointed in the right direction so you can start your journey in passing your MPJE board exams. Whether you are a fresh pharmacy graduate or a seasoned pharmacist getting licensed in another state, we’re excited you started your journey with us although it will be short-lived as we hope you will pass the first time! 

We all understand board studying for gaining your pharmacist licensure is not easy. We don’t want the stress and headaches of potential failing you’re MPJE get in the way of the career you want.

What is the MPJE and What do I Need to Know? Read More »

More than just a study guide…

When I graduated from pharmacy school just a few short months ago, I found myself in the same predicament that most other students find themselves in … what do I do now? I have my degree, I have a year’s worth of rotation experience, but I still have to pass my licensing exams and find a job. I applied to RxPharmacist and was given the opportunity to write the Maryland MPJE Guide. 

When I applied to be an intern for RxPharmacist, I knew that I would be writing a study guide, but I had no idea that I would receive so many other benefits. RxPharmacist thrives off of a spirit of mentorship and connection. I was able to get personalized career advice, resume and CV reviews, and the contact information of other pharmacists who could help me to achieve my goals. The individuals who I have had the pleasure to connect with during my internship truly do give back to the pharmacy profession by assisting new graduates in any way that they can. This experience has really inspired me to give back, as well, since I know what it’s like to be a struggling new pharmacy graduate with many questions, but not so many answers. 

Now that I am at the end of my official internship, I can say with confidence that this experience has provided me with invaluable skills for my future in pharmacy. I am proud to have produced an MPJE guide to help other Maryland graduates like myself to pass their exams on the first try. Furthermore, it has been amazing to have one-on-one career guidance, constructive feedback, and pharmacy advice in a safe space with a trusted pharmacist. I am extremely grateful to have been selected to continue RxPharmacist’s mission of giving back to the profession.

Best of luck to all the new pharmacy graduates!

Lauren A., Pharm.D., 2019 RxPharmacist Intern

Shenandoah University, Class of 2019

More than just a study guide… Read More »

What do our interns say about our program?

Being an intern for RxPharmacist has been one of the most rewarding opportunities I’ve had so far in my professional career. This internship was an effective and valuable transition between graduating pharmacy school and starting my current medical writing job. Not only is the internship remote (hello Work From Home!), but it is also flexible in the sense that you can learn about various different aspects of medical writing, entrepreneurship, marketing – you name it. I decided to focus on medical writing and marketing. Over the 10 weeks, I improved my medical technical writing, organization, and time management skills. I also learned about the world of start-up businesses and marketing, which was incredibly interesting and new to me. I supported the development of the Texas MPJE guide, which helped me pass my own board exam. Getting paid to pass your board exams seems too good to be true, but it is in fact a reality! Throughout the process, the team provided constant feedback and clear communication which helped me grow personally and professionally. I was also provided multiple networking opportunities, which opened the door to endless possibilities. I highly recommend applying for this internship because it is a great way to enter the “working world” after being in school for so many years. Trust me, the 10 weeks will fly by and you will come out of this internship ready to take on your next job!

-Nancy T., 2019 RxPharmacist Graduate Summer Intern

University of Texas at Austin, Class of 2019

What do our interns say about our program? Read More »

Intern Spotlight: The Value of a Good Internship

The idea of an internship is awesome. You basically get a trial run of anything you might want to try. You get the opportunity to meet people in a field and learn all about an industry that interests you.

But it does come at a cost- your time.

Your time is the most valuable thing you own; especially when you only have a few years of school and free summers before you need to make a career choice. Therefore, when picking an internship, it’s important to look for someone who values your time for what it’s worth; which is a hard concept to define. However, after working for a start-up like RxPharmacist, I began to see specifically what it looks like. See, a start-up, or any other small business, understands the  value in time because the truth is, time is more than just money for them. The time it takes to learn a new program determines whether or not it is worth the money. The time it takes to finish creating a product determines how many people you are willing to hire. A start-up constantly needs to prioritize things to ensure the best use of their time. Which is kind of like what a student does. You have unique qualities and traits that you want to market to everyone else, and you are paving a unique pathway to your future career. And what makes you unique? Your experiences; or in other words, how you spend your time.

With RxPharmacist, I was never stuck working in one area. I had the opportunity to learn and gain experience with website development, search engine optimization, competitive pricing, employee recruitment, and advertising. I worked directly with the CEO of a company and got a front row seat to the mechanics of how a business is managed and built from the ground up. I saw how a business plan was written and entered the vast world of business competitions- which are quite exciting. I learned the value of networking and building connections. I learned that the field of pharmacy is so much bigger than I had ever imagined and that your opportunities are only limited by your ambitions.

To top it off, I was able to work from home and created my own schedule so that I never had to waste any time with commuting! 

This internship has opened my eyes to so many opportunities; however, above all, I value this experience in particular because I learned what it means for someone to value my time. I was constantly encouraged with my school work and with applying for future internships. I was asked what interested me and what I wanted to learn about. I was given advice about the field of pharmacy and about working in general. Just recently, I mentioned I was considering getting a second degree and was immediately connected with someone who is currently working on that degree. The mentorship that I gained from this experience was invaluable, and I would encourage any student to seek out an opportunity such as this one. I can assure you, it is well worth your time.

Sincerely,

Madeline Wright

University of Florida College of Pharmacy

PharmD Candidate c/o 2022

Intern Spotlight: The Value of a Good Internship Read More »

How does RxPharmacist Create Study Guides?

You are probably wondering how does RxPharmacist create our study guides? It’s not easy. We dedicate at least 6-9 months to create just 1 of our study guides! This time period is spent on content creation, editing, calling up Board of Pharmacies for each respective state, and ensuring a high quality and up-to-date guide.

Each guide is created by a pharmacy graduate who recently passed their MPJE licensure exam the first time for that respective state or a seasoned pharmacist who recently passed their MPJE licensure exam the first time due to moving and finding another job in the other respective state. We dedicate more time with our pharmacy graduates as they are paired up with pharmacist preceptors that review their work week by week, with a careful eye on attention to detail, accuracy, and outside of the box questions that may show up on the exam. For the pharmacist, we also pair them with a fellow pharmacist that serves as a second pair of eyes in reviewing the content creation for accuracy and attention to details.

After this process, we also get our guides vetted through mostly pharmacy students to serve as our Beta test group to provide feedback and further assist us in creating our study guides.

The reason we focus on pharmacy graduates and pharmacists is to give back in supporting our pharmacy profession. The pharmacy graduates get paid to study which they need to do anyways to pass their board exam and may need financial help during their transition from pharmacy graduate to pharmacist. We support all of our pharmacy graduates with helping them access our network, reviewing their resume, testing their interviewing skills, and more to ensure they are successful in the workforce.

For the seasoned pharmacist, the same applies. They may have a life situation and need to move to another state and find another pharmacist job in that state. We support our pharmacists by giving them the opportunity to write a study guide to support them financially while connecting them with others in our network so they make an easy transition as they move to their new state of practice. We also provide resume, interviewing skills, and connections so they may also be successful in their careers.

As you can imagine the process is tedious and is meant to be symbiotic with always creating a win-win-win. The pharmacy graduate/pharmacist wins in financial support and job assistance, RxPharmacist wins in getting a new study guide to market to further support more students and pharmacists, and you win in getting a high quality guide. The end product is an affordable, high-quality, and up-to-date pharmacy test-prep study guides so you can pass the first time!

How does RxPharmacist Create Study Guides? Read More »

error: Content is protected !!
Popup Form

Want to get a free MPJE® or NAPLEX® cheat sheet? Subscribe to our email list!

By subscribing to this email list, you agree to our Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from us.

MPJE® is a registered trademark of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. RxPharmacist®, LLC. and its services are neither affiliated with nor endorsed by the NABP®. None of the trademark holders is affiliated with, and does not endorse RxPharmacist’s product/site.

0