PTCE Order Interpretation and Medication Preparation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A physician orders 250 mg of a medication to be given to a patient. The medication is available in 500 mg tablets. How many tablets should the pharmacy technician dispense?
- 1/2 tablet (Correct answer)
- 1 tablet
- 2 tablets
- 5 tablets
Correct answer: 1/2 tablet
To calculate the amount, divide the ordered dose by the available strength: 250 mg (ordered) / 500 mg (available) = 0.5. Therefore, the pharmacy technician should dispense 1/2 of a tablet.
Question 2: What is the correct interpretation of the following prescription? <br> "Amoxicillin 500 mg, take 1 capsule every 8 hours for 10 days."
- The patient should take 1 capsule once a day for 10 days
- The patient should take 1 capsule every 8 hours for 10 days (Correct answer)
- The patient should take 2 capsules every 8 hours for 10 days
- The patient should take 1 capsule twice a day for 10 days
Correct answer: The patient should take 1 capsule every 8 hours for 10 days
The prescription explicitly states "take 1 capsule every 8 hours for 10 days." This means the patient should take one capsule three times a day (24 hours divided by 8 hours) for the specified duration of ten days.
Question 3: A prescription reads "Lidocaine 5% cream, apply a thin layer to the affected area every 12 hours as needed for pain." How should the technician prepare this medication for the patient?
- Dispense a 5% solution of lidocaine
- Dispense a 5% cream for topical use (Correct answer)
- Dispense a 5% ointment for oral use
- Dispense a 5% patch for transdermal use
Correct answer: Dispense a 5% cream for topical use
The abbreviation "PO" stands for "per os," meaning by mouth or orally, and "once" indicates a single dose. Therefore, the order instructs to dispense a 150 mg oral tablet of Fluconazole to be taken one time only.
Question 4: A prescription is written for Digoxin 0.25 mg daily. The available tablet strength is 0.125 mg. How many tablets should be dispensed to fulfill a 30-day supply?
- 15 tablets
- 30 tablets
- 60 tablets (Correct answer)
- 120 tablets
Correct answer: 60 tablets
The patient needs 0.25 mg daily, and the available tablet strength is 0.125 mg. This means 2 tablets are required per day (0.25 mg / 0.125 mg = 2 tablets/day). For a 30-day supply, the total number of tablets needed is 2 tablets/day * 30 days = 60 tablets.
Question 5: If a prescription reads: <br> "Fluconazole 150 mg PO once" <br> How should the pharmacy technician interpret this order?
- Dispense a 150 mg oral tablet to be taken once (Correct answer)
- Dispense 150 mg oral suspension to be taken daily
- Dispense 150 mg injectable fluconazole to be taken once
- Dispense a 150 mg oral tablet to be taken daily
Correct answer: Dispense a 150 mg oral tablet to be taken once
Verifying the patient's name on the prescription label against their identity is a critical safety measure to prevent dispensing medication to the wrong person. This step is paramount in preventing medication errors and ensuring the right patient receives the correct treatment.
PTCE Order Interpretation and Medication Preparation 1
A physician orders 250 mg of a medication to be given to a patient.
The medication is available in 500 mg tablets.
How many tablets should the pharmacy technician dispense?