A14

Checking calculations assignment This assessment is designed to allow the learner to demonstrate their competence towards the following learning outcomes at the level listed:

Learning outcome Level 41 – Accurately perform pharmaceutical calculations to ensure the safety of people

Does

51 - Check their own and others’ work effectively Does

• This assessment should be started after module 3 learning has been completed • This assessment should be submitted according to your training plan

How to submit this assessment? Log in to your Buttercups Course site now at www.buttercups.co.uk and upload an electronic copy of your answers to your e-portfolio.

Recommended resources for this assessment Calculator British National Formulary Module 3 course materials

A46

Rules and Regulations for this Assessment

This assessment is a set of 5 Scenarios.

You may use other reference sources for research in your answers but they must be referenced in line with our Buttercups plagiarism policy.

You will be granted two submissions to meet the learning outcomes for this assessment.

Your Buttercups tutor will assess your answers against a standardised assessment guidance to determine if you have been successful in demonstrating the learning outcomes assessed in this assessment.

If the assessment does not meet the required standard, your tutor will provide guidance on which learning outcomes have not been met and why. You will then agree a time to resubmit your assessment to your tutor.

If on resubmission you still have not met all the learning outcomes for your assessment, Buttercups will set an alternative assessment to be completed and agree a deadline date with you. You will only have one attempt at the alternative assessment. Should you be unsuccessful this time, you will not be able to complete the course.

Should you believe you have been affected by extenuating circumstances during this assessment, you must complete an extenuating circumstances form to submit to your tutor prior to them assessing your work. This is available in the learner handbook.

Assessment Outline

Scenario 1

You have been asked to check the work of a trainee member of dispensing staff. They have dispensed the following prescriptions. Show your working out to check the calculations of the dispenser. Indicate whether the item has been dispensed correctly against the prescription and if the calculations have been performed correctly.

1.1 Is there a dispensing error on the prednisolone?

1.2 Show the calculations you have used to check this prescription for Luis Albert.

Flucloxacillin suspension

1.3 Is there a dispensing error on the flucloxacillin?

1.4 Show the calculations you have used to check this prescription for Abdul Majid.

Scenario 2

Dabigatran has been prescribed for a patient on orthopaedic ward, following knee replacement surgery. The patient is to have the medicine in their locker and to take home following discharge. You have been asked to check the dose and dispensed items.

2.1 Is there a dispensing error? 2.2 Is the dose correct?

2.3 Show the calculations you have used to check this prescription.

Scenario 3

You are working in a pharmacy aseptic unit.

A batch of 10 ranitidine 50mg in 20ml sodium chloride 0.9% intravenous injections are to be made. You have been asked to check the items in the work tray ready for transfer into the CIVAs room for preparation.

The tray contains: 10 x ranitidine 50mg/2ml (2ml) ampoules 10 x filter needles - to draw up ranitidine from glass ampoules 10 x 20ml syringes - to draw up ranitidine and diluent 3 x 50ml sodium chloride 0.9% solution for injection vial – diluent used to make up to required final volume 4 x B Braun Mini-Spikes® - to draw up from vial of diluent

3.1 Are the items in the tray sufficient to make the product in question? If not detail what is wrong. Show your working out.

Scenario 4

You are working in a pharmacy.

A nurse calls to confirm a dose of gentamicin for a patient she is preparing an injection in clinic for. The patient is prescribed 5mg/kg in three divided doses. He weighs 84kg and the gentamicin she has on the ward comes in 80mg/2ml (2ml) vials. The nurse wants to draw up 3.5ml per dose.

4.1 What dose does the patient require? Show your working out.

4.2 Is the volume the nurse wants to draw up correct? Show your working out.

Scenario 5

You are working in a pharmacy and have been asked to work out an estimated creatinine clearance for a patient and then confirm the dose of medicine they require.

Patient is a female, aged 65 and weighs 60kg with a serum creatinine level of 80micromol / litre.

The medicine she requires has the following dose adjustments based on creatinine clearance:

• It can be given at full dose for a creatinine clearance of 90ml/min or above • It required a 50% dose reduction for a creatinine clearance between 50-89ml/min • It cannot be given if the creatinine clearance is below 49ml/min.

5.1 Work out the patients estimated creatinine clearance (ml/min) using the patient details above. Show all your working out.

5.2 Based on your calculation at 5.1 what dose would the patient receive? 100%, 50% or can they not have the medicine at all?