Patient Safety & Quality Assurance — Pharmacy Technician Practice Test

This Pharmacy Technician Patient Safety & Quality Assurance practice set has 55 practice questions based on the official exam materials, each with an instant explanation.

Sample questions

Three questions from the Patient Safety & Quality Assurance bank with the correct answer and an explanation. The practice quiz above draws 30 questions at random from the same bank.

1. Which of the following is classified as a high-alert medication because an error can cause serious patient harm?

   • Insulin — Correct answer
   • Acetaminophen
   • Amoxicillin
   • Multivitamin

   Explanation: Insulin is a high-alert medication — dosing errors can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia (Source: PTCE Domain 3 — High-Alert Medications).

   Handbook: Patient Safety — High-Alert Medications

2. Heparin is considered a high-alert medication primarily because of the risk of which adverse outcome?

   • Serious or fatal bleeding — Correct answer
   • Mild drowsiness
   • Dry mouth
   • Photosensitivity

   Explanation: Heparin is an anticoagulant, and dosing errors can lead to serious or fatal hemorrhage (Source: PTCE Domain 3 — High-Alert Medications).

   Handbook: Patient Safety — High-Alert Medications

3. Warfarin requires high-alert handling because of its narrow therapeutic index and interaction with which routine test used to monitor its effect?

   • INR (International Normalized Ratio) — Correct answer
   • Hemoglobin A1c
   • Serum creatinine
   • Complete blood count only

   Explanation: Warfarin is an anticoagulant monitored by INR; a narrow therapeutic index means small dose changes can cause bleeding or clotting risk (Source: PTCE Domain 3 — High-Alert Medications).

   Handbook: Patient Safety — High-Alert Medications