9 Comprehensive Practice Questions and Review
Review core pharmacy technician responsibilities, medication safety, federal controlled-substance rules, calculations, product integrity, recalls, and patient confidentiality.
Scope and safe practice
Pharmacy technician certification topics include medications, federal requirements, patient safety and quality assurance, and order entry and processing. Federal requirements are summarized here; state laws may be stricter. Technicians should refer clinical questions, unclear orders, and suspected errors to the pharmacist rather than making independent clinical decisions.
Medication names and uses
Medication knowledge includes generic and brand names, therapeutic classes, uses, dosage forms, routes, storage needs, and important risks. Match medications by their names and therapeutic classes; do not infer a medication’s purpose from its name alone.
Lisinopril is an used for conditions including hypertension. Atorvastatin lowers cholesterol, omeprazole reduces stomach acid, and albuterol is a bronchodilator. These examples illustrate why medication identity and therapeutic class matter when processing orders.
Interactions and high-alert medications
When a patient taking warfarin presents a new prescription for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, pause processing and alert the pharmacist. This combination may increase bleeding risk. The technician should not independently change the warfarin dose or tell the patient to stop taking it; the pharmacist assesses the possible interaction.
Insulin is a in community and ambulatory care settings because an error can cause serious harm. Follow local safeguards, which may include careful product and strength checks, barcode procedures, and pharmacist verification. High-alert status signals a need for extra care, not that an error has necessarily occurred.
Controlled-substance requirements
Under the federal rules summarized here, prescriptions cannot be refilled. Authorized Schedule III and IV prescriptions may be refilled up to five times within six months. Federal law permits compliant electronic prescriptions for controlled substances, while additional state requirements may apply.
Do not assume that federal requirements are the only applicable rules. Check the relevant state requirements and pharmacy procedures.
Dose and calculations
Show units in calculations and verify the dose, concentration, quantity, and instead of estimating. For a prescribed dose of and an oral liquid labeled per , calculate the volume as follows:
The milligram units cancel, leaving milliliters. Use an appropriate oral measuring device.
For a prescription for capsules with directions to take capsule twice daily, daily use is capsules, so the supply is days. For variable, as-needed, tapering, or otherwise unclear directions, do not guess; refer the calculation to the pharmacist or follow pharmacy procedure.
Unclear orders and escalation
If an order says “Take as directed” but no schedule or duration is available in the prescription or approved records, do not enter a standard schedule, ask the patient to choose one, or invent directions to complete a required field. Hold the order and refer it to the pharmacist for clarification. An incomplete or ambiguous prescription must be clarified through the pharmacist and prescriber as appropriate before it is processed for dispensing.
Potential interactions, unclear orders, abnormal doses, suspected errors, and clinical questions should be paused and referred to the pharmacist.
Suspect products and DSCSA
If a received prescription-drug package has suspicious packaging or does not match expected product identifiers, quarantine it and follow the pharmacy’s investigation procedure. Under the , pharmacies must have procedures to quarantine and investigate suspect prescription drugs so potentially illegitimate products are not dispensed. Escalate the concern according to pharmacy policy; do not put the product into regular stock or dispense it while the concern remains unresolved.
Recall classifications
A indicates a reasonable probability that use of or exposure to the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. It is the most serious recall classification. Class II recalls involve possible temporary or medically reversible consequences, or a remote probability of serious harm; Class III recalls are not likely to cause adverse health consequences. Follow the recall notice and pharmacy procedures for affected lots.
Preventing selection errors
To reduce selection errors involving , verify the complete drug name, strength, and dosage form. Do not rely on package color, only the first few letters of a name, or storage of similar products together for convenience. Barcode checks, separated storage, and other system safeguards can help prevent errors.
Patient confidentiality
Handle patient information confidentially. Before disclosing protected information, verify identity and authority and follow applicable privacy law and pharmacy policy. A caller’s familiarity with the patient, knowledge of the patient’s date of birth, or claim to be a friend does not by itself establish that disclosure is appropriate. When unsure, ask the pharmacist.
Suspected errors and reporting
If a prescription label names a different drug from the product selected, stop the dispensing process, secure the prescription, and immediately alert the pharmacist. The pharmacist should assess the discrepancy and direct correction, communication, and any required documentation. Do not give the prescription to the patient, change the label without checking the prescription, or return the product to stock without documenting the discrepancy.
Report errors and near misses through the pharmacy’s process. Reporting helps identify and reduce hazards. Also follow procedures for recalls, suspicious products, restricted medications, confidentiality, and safe handling.