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Test Your Pharmacist Competency Assessment Skills

Boost Your Pharmacy Knowledge With This Quiz

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art illustrating a quiz on Pharmacist Competency Assessment

Are you a pharmacy student or practicing pharmacist aiming to gauge your readiness? This Pharmacist Competency Assessment quiz features 15 thought-provoking multiple choice questions to sharpen your clinical decision-making and drug knowledge. Participants will uncover areas for improvement in pharmacology, patient counseling, and prescription review - and can customise every question in our editor for tailored practice. For added insights, check out similar challenges like the Medical Staff Competency Assessment Quiz and Medical Procedures Competency Quiz . Discover more quizzes designed to elevate your healthcare expertise.

Which term best describes the ratio between a drug's lethal dose in 50% of subjects and its effective dose in 50% of subjects?
Therapeutic index
Bioavailability
Half-life
Clearance
The therapeutic index is calculated as LD50/ED50 and indicates a drug's safety margin. A higher index means a wider safety margin and safer drug profile.
The half-life of a drug is defined as:
The time it takes for plasma concentration to decrease by 50%
The time to reach maximum concentration
The time to eliminate all drug from the body
The time for one full metabolic cycle
Half-life is the period required for the plasma drug concentration to fall by half. It helps determine dosing intervals and steady-state timing.
A major contraindication for prescribing isotretinoin is:
Pregnancy
Hypertension
Hyperlipidemia
Diabetes mellitus
Isotretinoin is a known teratogen and is strictly contraindicated in pregnancy. Patients must undergo regular pregnancy testing before and during therapy.
Which communication technique involves patients restating information to confirm understanding?
Teach-back
Motivational interviewing
Active listening
Closed-ended questioning
Teach-back asks patients to repeat information in their own words to ensure comprehension. It is effective in confirming understanding during counseling.
In pharmacy inventory management, FIFO refers to:
First in, first out
Fast inventory for orders
Frequent inspection for orders
First in, first order
FIFO means using the oldest stock first to minimize waste from expired products. It is a standard method for managing perishable inventory.
Combining warfarin with ibuprofen increases the risk of:
Bleeding
Hypertension
Renal failure
Hypoglycemia
Ibuprofen can displace warfarin from protein binding and inhibit platelet function, both of which increase bleeding risk. Monitoring INR closely is essential when NSAIDs are used.
Grapefruit juice can alter drug metabolism by:
Inhibiting CYP3A4 leading to increased drug levels
Inducing CYP2D6 reducing drug levels
Inhibiting CYP1A2 decreasing drug absorption
Inducing P-glycoprotein increasing drug clearance
Compounds in grapefruit juice inhibit CYP3A4 enzymes in the gut wall, which can increase systemic levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4. This interaction may lead to toxicity.
A prescription reads: "Amoxicillin 500 mg TID for 7 days. Dispense #14." What is the error?
Incorrect quantity dispensed
Wrong dose strength
Inappropriate duration
Ambiguous route of administration
TID for 7 days equals 21 doses, so 21 tablets should be dispensed, not 14. Accurate quantity prevents under-dosing and treatment failure.
Oxycodone is classified as which DEA schedule?
Schedule II
Schedule III
Schedule IV
Schedule V
Oxycodone has high abuse potential with accepted medical use, placing it in Schedule II. It requires strict prescribing and dispensing controls.
A pediatric patient weighing 20 kg requires a dosage of 10 mg/kg. What is the total dose?
200 mg
100 mg
20 mg
2 g
Dose is calculated by multiplying weight (20 kg) by 10 mg/kg, resulting in a 200 mg total dose. Accurate calculations are vital for pediatric safety.
Which abbreviation should be avoided in prescriptions due to risk of misinterpretation?
U (units)
mL
mg
BID
The letter U for units can be mistaken for zero or four, leading to dosing errors. Using the word "units" is recommended for clarity.
Under HIPAA, pharmacists must:
Protect patient confidentiality
Report all minor errors
Share records with family without consent
Publish patient data
HIPAA requires safeguarding patient health information and limiting disclosures. Confidentiality is a core legal obligation for pharmacists.
Which strategy helps prevent confusion between similar-looking drug names?
Tall man lettering
Barcode scanning
Pill splitting
Random storage
Tall man lettering uses uppercase letters to highlight differences in similar drug names. It reduces selection errors in dispensing.
What does "par level" in inventory management indicate?
Minimum quantity before reorder
Maximum storage capacity
Average daily usage
Expiry date threshold
Par level is the minimum stock amount that triggers reordering. Maintaining par levels prevents stockouts and overstock.
A patient with a documented penicillin allergy is prescribed cephalexin. The pharmacist should:
Verify cross-reactivity risk
Proceed without concern
Substitute with another penicillin
Increase the dose
Cephalosporins have a known but low cross-reactivity rate with penicillins. Verifying the allergy details helps prevent adverse reactions.
Rifampin administration may reduce the effectiveness of which medication class by inducing CYP3A4?
Oral contraceptives
Proton pump inhibitors
Beta-blockers
SSRIs
Rifampin is a potent CYP3A4 inducer, which accelerates metabolism of oral contraceptives and can lead to contraceptive failure. Alternative or additional contraception is advised.
When counseling a new diabetic patient on insulin administration, which question is most open-ended?
How would you plan to administer your insulin at home?
Did you understand the injection technique?
Will you take insulin before meals?
Do you know how to store insulin?
Open-ended questions like "How would you plan...?" encourage patients to explain their approach. This reveals their understanding and allows for targeted guidance.
To reduce dosing errors, prescriptions for micrograms should avoid using which notation?
μg
mcg
mg
mg/kg
The symbol "μg" can be misread as "mg," leading to a thousand-fold dosing error. Using the abbreviation "mcg" or writing out "micrograms" improves clarity.
A pharmacist refuses to dispense a valid prescription on moral grounds. Which ethical principle is most directly in conflict?
Patient autonomy
Nonmaleficence
Justice
Beneficence
Refusing a valid prescription on moral grounds conflicts with patient autonomy, which respects a patient's right to receive legally prescribed treatment.
In an automated dispensing cabinet, monthly reconciliation helps to:
Identify inventory discrepancies
Expedite prescription refills
Train new staff
Track patient satisfaction
Monthly reconciliation compares recorded inventory with physical counts to catch discrepancies. This process is essential for controlled substance accountability.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key pharmacology principles for safe dispensing
  2. Evaluate drug interactions and contraindications accurately
  3. Apply patient communication strategies during medication counseling
  4. Analyse prescription orders to detect potential errors
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of pharmacy legal and ethical standards
  6. Master inventory management practices in pharmacy settings

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the "Five Rights" of Medication Safety - Think of it as your superhero checklist: confirm the perfect match of patient, medication, dose, route and time to dodge any mishaps. This framework is your first line of defense! Read the AHRQ PSNet Primer
  2. Understand Common Dispensing Errors - It's like spotting goofs backstage: mislabeling, misdosage or mixing up names. By knowing these typical slip-ups, you can set up safeguards and keep your pharmacy acts flawless! Explore the NCBI Case Study
  3. Evaluate Drug Interactions and Contraindications - Treat this like curiosity meets caution: checking interactions helps you prevent surprise side effects. Use trusty databases and tools to keep your knowledge fresh and patients safe! Dive into the NCBI Reference
  4. Enhance Patient Communication Skills - Chatting with patients isn't just small talk - it's your secret weapon for adherence. Motivational interviewing transforms one-sided instructions into fun collaboration, boosting trust and treatment success! Review Motivational Interviewing Tips
  5. Analyze Prescriptions for Potential Errors - Think of yourself as a prescription detective: scrutinize every dosage, refill count and handwriting quirk. A simple double-check system can save the day and spare patients a lot of worry! Read the NCBI Detection Guide
  6. Stay Updated on Pharmacy Laws and Ethics - Keeping up with laws and ethics is like mastering a rulebook for superhero care. You protect yourself and your patients when you know the dos and don'ts of professional practice! Learn the Legal Basics
  7. Implement Effective Inventory Management - Running out of meds or hoarding them is a recipe for stress. With accurate records and stock checks, you'll keep shelves balanced and customers smiling - no frantic reorder calls needed! Check Inventory Best Practices
  8. Utilize Technology to Reduce Errors - Embrace the digital sidekick: e-prescribing and barcode systems zap human mistakes in a flash. Staying tech-savvy means faster, safer dispensing and more high-fives for accuracy! Discover Tech Solutions
  9. Engage in Continuous Education - Learning never stops in the pharmacy universe. Dive into workshops, webinars and journals to stay ahead of new drugs, therapies and best practices - your future self will thank you! Find Ongoing Training
  10. Develop Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills - When prescription puzzles show up, your analytical skills are the ultimate toolkit. Practice evaluating ambiguous cases and weighing pros and cons to make confident, patient-centered decisions. Sharpen Your Critical Skills
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