Math Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians 4th Edition Beale
Test Bank
Chapter 01: Abbreviations, Symbols, and Basic Mathematical Skills for Health
Occupations
Beale: Math Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians, 4th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
- When patients are completely unable to swallow food or medicine orally, they are referred to
as
a. ivo.
b. npo.
c. po.
d. pre op.
ANS: B
npo is the abbreviation for nothing by mouth. po is by mouth, pre op means before surgery,
and ivo is not used as a medical abbreviation.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions - Ointment can be abbreviated as
a. oint.
b. lot.
c. ung.
d. oint or ung.
ANS: D
Both oint and ung are abbreviations for the word ointment. Lot is lotion.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions - Which of the following abbreviations refers to a dosage form of a drug?
a. ac
b. pc
c. bid
d. tab
ANS: D
A tablet is a dosage form. ac, pc, and bid refer to directions—before meals, after meals, and
two times a day.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions
- To indicate high blood pressure, which of the following symbol and abbreviation should be
used?
a. Elev. BP
b. BP
c. BP
d. HBP
ANS: B
The up arrow is the proper symbol for elevated and BP is the correct abbreviation for blood
pressure. The down arrow would indicate low blood pressure. HBP for high blood pressure is
sometimes used but has many other meanings as well. Elev. BP is not a recommended
abbreviation.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions - What is the abbreviation for drops?
a. drp
b. dps
c. gtt
d. ds
ANS: C
gtt is the medical abbreviation for drop or drops. None of the other choices are valid.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions - What is the medical abbreviation for pound?
a. pd
b. lb
c. #
d. lb or #
ANS: D
Either lb or # may be used for pound; however # may also be used for number which could be
confusing. Also take care with lb that the l does not get confused for a one. pd is not
appropriate.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions
- What is the abbreviation for four times a day?
a. X 4 d
b. bid
c. tid
d. qid
ANS: D
qid means four times a day whereas tid means three times a day and bid means two times a
day. X 4 d means “times four days.”
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions - The abbreviation ASAP means
a. as soon as possible.
b. immediately.
c. quickly.
d. as soon as possible or immediately.
ANS: A
ASAP means as soon as possible and is not as urgent as STAT, which is immediately.
Quickly is not applicable.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions - What is the abbreviation for a sufficient quantity?
a. hs
b. qs
c. qd
d. qs ad
ANS: B
qs means sufficient quantity while hs means bedtime, qd means daily, and qs ad means, “add a
sufficient quantity to make.”
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions
- Which of the following would direct a patient to take three doses per day?
a. bid
b. tid
c. q8h
d. tid and q8h
ANS: D
Both tid, meaning three times a day, and q8h, meaning every 8 hours, require a patient to
receive medication three times in a 24-hour period. Bid means two times a day.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions - Which of the following is not considered a dosage form?
a. tab
b. susp
c. po
d. ung
ANS: C
Tablets, suspensions, and ointments are all dosage forms but po (oral) is a route of
administration.
DIF: Recall
OBJ: ASHP Objective: 2.5 (Remembering) Demonstrate basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology
and pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role.
MSC: PTCB Blueprint: 4.2 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig
codes (e.g., b.i.d., t.i.d., Roman numerals), abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols for days
supply, quantity, dose, concentration, dilutions - Which of the following is the symbol (on the ISMP List of Error-Prone Abbreviations,
Symbols, and Dose Designations) for dram?
a.
b.
c. dr
d. drm
ANS: B
The symbol is for dram and is on the ISMPs List of Error-Prone Abbreviations, Symbols,
and Dose Designations. The list recommends using the metric system instead of the
apothecary system. dr is a recommended abbreviation for dram. is the apothecary symbol
for ounce.