Registration Assessments 2014

Practice questions: January 2014

This set contains 10 practice questions.

Questions 1-5 are example questions from Open Book papers. Questions 4 and
5 are calculation questions. The references that may be used are British
National Formulary 66th edition (September 2013) and BNF for Children 20132014. Please note that some of the questions will require the use of the
reference sources and others will not.

Questions 6 -10 are examples of Closed Book questions.

There are 4 types of questions used in the Registration Assessment. Some

practice sets contain examples of all 4 types, others do not. A sample paper
that is half the size of the actual Registration Assessment can be accessed at
http://www.pharmacyregulation.org/education/pharmacist-pre-registrationtraining/trainees/registration-assessment/assessment. This shows all 4 types
and the proportion in which they are used within the Assessment.

Copyright General Pharmaceutical Council 2014.

The content of this document is the property of the General Pharmaceutical Council
and may not be reproduced.
1

Directions for question 1. This question is followed by five suggested answers. Select
the best answer.
1.
To be legally valid, a written prescription for a prescription-only veterinary
(open medicine (POM-V) must include which one of the following?
book)
A

the professional qualifications of the prescriber

the words for animal treatment only

the weight of the animal for which the medicine is prescribed

the indication for the medicine

the words do not exceed the stated dose

Directions for questions 2 and 3. The following questions consist of a first statement
in the left-hand column followed by a second statement in the right-hand column.
Decide whether the first statement is true or false.
Decide whether the second statement is true or false.
Then choose:
A

if both statements are true and the second statement is a correct

explanation of the first statement

if both statements are true but the second statement is NOT a correct
explanation of the first statement

if the first statement is true but the second statement is false

if the first statement is false but the second statement is true

if both statements are false

Directions Summarised

A
B
C
D
E

First
Statement
True
True
True
False
False

Second
Statement
True
True
False
True
False

2nd statement is a correct explanation of the first

2nd statement is NOT a correct explanation of the first

2. (open book)
FIRST STATEMENT

SECOND STATEMENT

The following nicotine patches are

considered to be therapeutically
equivalent:
Nicotinell TTS 20
NiQuitin 21

Nicotinell TTS 20 and NiQuitin 21

patches release the same dose of
nicotine in mg per hour

Directions Summarised

A
B
C
D
E

First
Statement
True
True
True
False
False

Second
Statement
True
True
False
True
False

2nd statement is a correct explanation of the first

2nd statement is NOT a correct explanation of the first

Question 3 concerns the following scenario:

Mrs J calls into the pharmacy to query the tablets that you dispensed for her last
week and you realise that the wrong product has been supplied.
3. (open book)
FIRST STATEMENT

SECOND STATEMENT

A root cause analysis should be

undertaken

Your primary duty is to ensure that the

cause of the error is identified

Directions for questions 4 and 5. Each of the questions is followed by five suggested
answers. Select the best answer in each case.
4(Calc).

Drug X is principally excreted renally and is given by intravenous

infusion. The dosage recommendations are as follows:
Creatinine Clearance
(mL/min)
> 50
25-49
10-24
< 10

Dosage
5 mg/kg every 12 hours
2.5 mg/kg every 12 hours
2.5 mg/kg every 24 hours
1.25 mg/kg every 24
hours

Formula: Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) = 1.04 (140 - age) weight (kg)

Serum creatinine (micromol/L)
Mrs B is a 60-year-old female who weighs 50 kg. Her latest serum
creatinine level is 300 micromol/L. Which one of the following is the
most appropriate dose of drug X for Mrs B?
A

62.5 mg every 24 hours

125 mg every 24 hours

125 mg every 12 hours

150 mg every 12 hours

250 mg every 12 hours

Question 5(Calc) concerns the following extract from a prescription:

Betamethasone 0.1% eye drops
Put 2 drops into each eye every 2 hours for 18
hours, then put 2 drops into each eye qds for a
further 6 days, then 1 drop into each eye qds for a
further 7 days
5(Calc).

Which one of the following is the minimum number of 5 mL bottles

of betamethasone 0.1% eye drops that the patient will require for
the 14 day supply?
[15 drops = I mL]

2 bottles

3 bottles

4 bottles

5 bottles

6 bottles

Directions for questions 6 to 8. The following questions consist of a first statement in

the left-hand column followed by a second statement in the right-hand column.
Decide whether the first statement is true or false.
Decide whether the second statement is true or false.
Then choose:
A

if both statements are true and the second statement is a correct

explanation of the first statement

if both statements are true but the second statement is NOT a correct
explanation of the first statement

if the first statement is true but the second statement is false

if the first statement is false but the second statement is true

if both statements are false

Directions Summarised

A
B
C
D
E

First
Statement
True
True
True
False
False

Second
Statement
True
True
False
True
False

2nd statement is a correct explanation of the first

2nd statement is NOT a correct explanation of the first

Questions 6 to 8 concern the following scenario:

You are a pharmacist supplementary prescriber working with an independent prescriber
to improve the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Mrs A, who is 48 years old, is
referred to you by the independent prescriber for you to initiate metformin. Mrs A has not
taken metformin previously.
6. (closed book)
FIRST STATEMENT

SECOND STATEMENT

Hypoglycaemia is rarely a problem in

patients who are taking metformin

Metformin inhibits the production of

insulin in the pancreatic islet cells

7. (closed book)
FIRST STATEMENT

SECOND STATEMENT

Mrs A should have her dose of

metformin gradually increased

A gradual increase in dose of

metformin may reduce
gastrointestinal side-effects

During your consultation with Mrs A, she asks if you could also provide a repeat
prescription for amitriptyline which she uses for treating neuropathic pain.
Amitriptyline is unlicensed for this indication. The clinical management plan between
yourself and the independent prescriber covers the prescribing of oral hypoglycaemics
only for Mrs A.
8.
FIRST STATEMENT

SECOND STATEMENT

You should not prescribe amitriptyline

for Mrs A

A supplementary prescriber may only

prescribe licensed medicines for
licensed indications

Directions for questions 9 and 10 concern the following drugs used in the treatment
of gout.
A

allopurinol

colchicine

diclofenac

etoricoxib

febuxostat

Select, from A to E, which drug would be the most suitable choice:

9.
for the treatment of an acute attack of gout in a patient who has previously
(closed had a myocardial infarction
book)

10.
for the long term control of gout in a patient who has had a severe rash
(closed warranting withdrawal of allopurinol
book)