Exam question structure

Heres a nice article I found on the structure of the prereg exam questions from the Chemist+Druggist webstie.... read it here

How much a pharmacy owner gets paid

A pharmacists salary in the UK is approxiamtely £33000 to £40000. Locum rates can range from £20 to £30 per hour, locums can earn excess of £50000 if they work full time. A pharmacy manager earns upto £38000 to £60000 depending on where they work. A preregistration trainee will earn from £16000 to £20000. So how much does a pharmacy owner get? A pharmacy owner will haev to pay the pharmacists and stll get enough for themselves.

Here are some rough calculations to show how they can afford it.

If you've read the drug tariff thoroughly you might know this information in more detail and with accurate figures, however I'll explain why pharmacists can earn so much, and how the pharmacy owner such as boots or independent pharmacy's can afford to pay high salary's? A pharmacist owner of the smallest pharmacy you can think of can earn over £60,000 easily.

Pharmacy's make most there money from generics, cause companies like sigma can sell the product at a price lower than the drug tariff (the drug tariff price is what the pharmacy gets paid for reimbursement of the item). The difference in price can range from a 90% discount to 0% discount. Some items pay off better than others....

Read my full article at http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/pharmacyjobs.htm

First Aid questions - Burns

QUESTION

Which of the following are inappropriate first aid procedures for a recently acquired blister burn on the palm of a hand?
1. apply a sterile, non-adhesive dressing
2. apply an antiseptic ointment
3. use a sterile needle to burst the blister

http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/firstaid.htm

Gout - A common exam question

QUESTION
a) Which of the following have an indication in acute gout?

1. allopurinol
2. colchcine
3. diclofenac

b) Which one of the following is not correct, with regard to gout treatment?

1. Allopurinol is not indicated for the treatment of an acute attack of gout
2. aspirin may be used for an acute attack of gout
3. colchicine can cause diarrhoea
4. patients with moderate renal impairement should not use probenecid
5. thiazide diuretics may precipitate gout

Find out what you need to know about gout at http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/gout.htm

Pharmacy - Insomnia

SYMPTOMS OF INSONMIA

Insomnia is described as the disturbance of sleep, either by delay in falling asleep, failure to maintain sleep, early waking, or in some extreme cases total absence of sleep.

read more about what prescription drugs are available here.....

http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/insomnia.htm

Change in pharmacy law, European prescriptions

Previously presciptions (private or NHS) were only valid if the doctor was registered in the UK. From 3rd of November 2008 prescriptions from European doctors will now be valid. For more information visit this link C&D

Performance Standards

One of the performance standards required by preregistration students by the RPSGB is to obtain sufficient knowledge and skills in first aid. Certified courses are available through the following links

For further information check out these links:
1) http://firstaid.about.com/od/cpr/ss/abcs.htm
2) http://www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=75758
3) www.sja.org.uk/

visit http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/firstaid.htm for more info in how to pass this performance standard.

Recommended Reading

1) Pass the Preregistration Pharmacy Exam by Chi-Loon Cheung A very useful book, has brief bullet point summaries on main points you need to know in the exam, and has many questions from pass exam papers to practice, and answers with explanation

http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/Books/Recommendedreading.htm

Abdominal Disorders

Gastric ulcer
Gastric ulcers occur when there is injury to the gastric endothelium. The pain of a gastric ulcer is specific and located at the upper abdominal area. Pain from gastric ulcers are usually relieved by eating.

http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/abdonimaldisorders.htm

Vitamin questions

Test how much you know about vitamins

Questions:
A: vitamin A
B: vitamin B12
C: vitamin C
D: vitamin D
E: vitamin E

Select, from A to E, which vitamin applies to the following statements.

1. Autoimmune gastritis results in malabsorption of this vitamin
2. Exists in vegetable oils
3. Increases intestinal absorption of calcium
4. Increases absorption of iron from plant sources
5. Synthesized in skin during exposure to sunlight.

These questions are based on the RPSGB preregistration exam.

FIND THE ANSWERS AT http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/Vitamins.htm

Rash and itching

Pharmacyknowledge.co.uk now has past exam questions with worked answers. More questions will be coming soon

1. Which TWO of these can OTC hydrocortisone cream be sold?
A. for nappy rash for an 18-month toddler
B. a rash from shaving on a man
C. a woman with a nickel allergy rash on her wrist
D. vulval rash and irritation from bubble bath on a woman
E. for insect bites on a 9 year old
F. A man who has been self treating with hydrocortisone for the last month.
G. A 42 year old man who developed a rash on his legs from gardening.

Find the answers and more questions at http://www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/rash.htm

Pharmacy Prereg exam 2008 Bumetanide infusion question

Site update
I've heard alot about this question causing problems. Here's my theory on the answer...

".........The question something like this:
Which of these are suitable infusion fluids for bumetanide:
1. Sodium chloride 0.18% and Glucose 4%
2. Sodium chloride 0.9%
3. Sodium lactate

Is the answer:
A. 1, 2 and 3 are correct
B. 1 and 2 are correct
C. 2 and 3 are correct
D. 1 only is correct
E. 3 only is correct

My theory
To help you look up it up in the BNF: (1) referenced in BNF inappendix 6 under bumetanide and (2) and (3) referenced in BNF under Sodium Chloride infusion chapter 9.2.2


1. MAYBE FALSE: cause "injudicious use of solutions such as sodium chloride 0.18% and glucose 4% may also cause dilutional hyponatreamia especially in children and elderly" quoted from the BNF. bumetide causes hyponatraemia, so....."

click to read more

Levonelle / Emergency After Pill / Emergency Contraception

Site updated: Emergency after pill

www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/otc.htm

Preview:
"......"Are you on any other medication or do you have any other medical conditions"
There are some medical conditions that may effect the absorption of levonorgestrel such as abdominal disorders such as Crohn's disease. Drug interactions occur with rifampicin and other enzyme inhibitors. Amoxicillin does not affect......"

"......IF THE PATIENT HAS LIED THEY MAY RESULT IN AN ATOPIC PREGNANCY, this means the foetus will grow in the wrong place. This is due to the medication causing the environment where the foetus grows to detach, in some cases the egg will pass out of the body with blood, in other cases the egg may still remain in the uterus and still grow but in the wrong location. If you think the patient may have lied in any way it may be worth giving this information to let them know the severity of misinformation......."

OTC section updated:
Emergency after pill:
- What question will be asked when buying emergency contraception?
- Why questions are asked?
- What are the risk factors are there in taking it?
- What happens if you lie?
- What other information do i need

Check out the new section Emergency Contraception at www.pharmacyknowledge.co.uk/otc.htm