PTCB Practice Test 3: Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

A laminar flow hood must be cleaned regularly to maintain sterility. Failing to do so can compromise compounded medications and patient safety.

Temperature deviations affect vaccine potency. The manufacturer must confirm if the vaccine is still usable.

Incorrect dosage instructions on a prescription can lead to serious harm and must be reported as a medication error.

ISMP maintains a list of high-alert medications, which have a high risk of causing harm if used incorrectly, helping pharmacies implement safety measures.

Medication appearance changes should always be investigated to rule out dispensing errors or manufacturer changes. The pharmacist should verify the correct medication before the patient takes it.

Laminar airflow hoods must be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol in a back-to-front motion to maintain sterility and prevent contamination.

Medication errors must be corrected and documented, even if the patient has not received the drug, to ensure accountability and prevent future mistakes.

Allopurinol hypersensitivity can be life-threatening. Immediate prescriber notification and documentation are essential to prevent severe allergic reactions.

Proper hygiene practices prevent contamination of medications, ensuring product safety and patient health.

Using an alcohol-based disinfectant prevents cross-contamination between medications and ensures hygiene in medication dispensing.

Unlabeled syringes pose serious safety risks. Proper disposal and documentation prevent accidental administration.

Ibuprofen can worsen kidney disease. The prescriber must confirm whether an alternative is needed.

Barcode scanning and double verification are the most effective ways to reduce dispensing errors by ensuring accurate medication matching.

Pharmacy technicians must immediately correct the error and inform the pharmacist to prevent harm before the patient receives the medication.

Spironolactone increases potassium, which can raise digoxin toxicity risk. Verification ensures patient safety.

A combination of Tall Man lettering and barcode scanning significantly reduces LASA medication errors by improving visibility and verification accuracy.

Levothyroxine overdose can cause serious cardiovascular effects. The pharmacist must assess the severity and notify the prescriber for corrective action. Documentation ensures future prevention.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) maintains a list of LASA medications to help healthcare professionals prevent medication errors caused by similar drug names.

Vancomycin dosing errors can cause nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Verification ensures patient safety.

Barcode scanning verifies medication accuracy by matching it to the prescription, reducing dispensing errors and improving patient safety.

Tall Man lettering highlights differences in LASA drug names to reduce errors (e.g., traZODone vs. traMADol). This strategy enhances readability and minimizes medication mix-ups.

Any patient concerns about medication appearance should be verified to rule out dispensing errors and ensure patient safety.

Chemotherapy drugs require strict aseptic handling. Any contamination can compromise sterility and patient safety, necessitating disposal.

Auxiliary labels provide safety instructions such as “Take with food” or “May cause drowsiness,” ensuring proper medication use and reducing errors.

Separating LASA medications prevents accidental mix-ups, significantly reducing medication dispensing errors.

Prescribing errors occur when a physician prescribes a drug inappropriately, such as prescribing a medication to which the patient is allergic.

Patients with opioid use disorder require careful medication management. The pharmacist must assess the appropriateness of oxycodone and consider alternatives if necessary.

System-based errors involve factors like poor pharmacy layout or unclear labeling, leading to mistakes in medication dispensing.

Metronidazole suspension must be shaken properly to ensure uniform drug distribution. Dispensing without proper mixing can lead to incorrect dosing.

Cutting fentanyl patches can lead to uncontrolled drug release, increasing overdose risk. The pharmacist must provide guidance.

Levothyroxine dosing errors can cause serious thyroid imbalances. Verification ensures the correct dose is given.

Adverse drug reactions must be documented and reported to the prescriber to assess the severity and adjust therapy.

Proper hand hygiene prevents contamination and maintains a sterile environment, reducing the risk of infections and ensuring medication integrity.

Expired controlled substances must be disposed of properly using DEA-approved methods to prevent diversion.

Insulin errors can lead to serious consequences. Reporting the error ensures the correct insulin is dispensed.

Unusual dosing for pediatric patients should always be verified with the prescriber before dispensing to prevent overdosing.

Insulin stability depends on proper storage conditions. The manufacturer should confirm whether the vials are still effective before dispensing.

Medication reconciliation ensures an accurate and complete medication history, preventing drug interactions and duplicate therapy errors.

Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning small dosing variations can cause severe bleeding or clotting risks, making it a high-alert medication.

Cleaning equipment with alcohol between uses prevents cross-contamination and ensures the purity of compounded medications.

A near-miss occurs when an error is caught before reaching the patient, allowing corrective action before harm occurs.

Metformin and methimazole are LASA drugs with different uses. Verification with the prescriber ensures the correct medication is dispensed and prevents serious patient harm.

Skipping barcode scanning increases the risk of errors. Reporting to the pharmacist ensures compliance with safety protocols and patient safety.

Medication reconciliation ensures a complete and accurate patient medication history to prevent drug interactions and duplication errors.

Medication error reporting helps identify risks, improve procedures, and prevent future errors, ensuring better patient safety without focusing on blame.

An investigation into how the error occurred is necessary before reporting it as a medication error. The pharmacist must review the case to ensure corrective action.

Extended-release tablets often have an outer shell that does not dissolve. Patients should be educated on medication absorption to prevent unnecessary concerns.

A near-miss occurs when a medication error is identified and corrected before reaching the patient, preventing potential harm.

Doses that are inappropriate for a patient’s age require pharmacist intervention to prevent adverse effects and dosing errors.

Dispensing the wrong medication (e.g., amoxicillin instead of amlodipine) is a medication error that can lead to serious health risks and must be reported.