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NPA Viewpoint: take control of learning

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NPA Viewpoint: take control of learning

The National Pharmacy Association’s free online Assess & Learn module can help pharmacy support staff to take control of their own learning and make sure that their skills are up to date and fresh

The Assess & Learn module, which can be accessed by visiting npa.co.uk/assessandlearn, requires pharmacy support staff to answer multiple choice questions about numerous day-to-day scenarios that they will encounter in a typical community pharmacy. The user will receive instant feedback on the answers they give and the scenarios cover:

Questioning, counselling and communication

  • Pain
  • Colds, coughs and hayfever
  • Indigestion, heartburn and constipation
  • Women’s health, men’s health and family planning
  • Holiday healthcare and first aid
  • Skin and feet
  • Mouth, eyes and ears
  • Healthy living, natural remedies and vitamins
  • Pet medicines

The Assess & Learn module is based on the National Pharmacy Association’s (NPA’s) medicine counter assistant (MCA) Interact course and is suitable for support staff members who have completed an accredited qualification. It is part of a suite of free rapid learning modules that the NPA has developed for its members. Other modules include Drug Tariff, Continuing Professional Development, Prescription Exemptions and many more pharmacy practice related topics.

Questions from the Assess & Learn module include: A woman enters the pharmacy and mentions that she suffers from an itchy nose and itchy, watery eyes when walking her dog each evening. She has not had these symptoms previously but knows that it is the time of year when her partner usually gets hayfever. Which one of the following medicines could be supplied on a prescription to address her symptoms of hayfever?

  • Cetirizine hydrochloride 10mg tablets (Piriteze)
  • Ipratropium bromide nasal spray (Rinatec)
  • Sodium cromoglicate 2% eye drops (Opticrom)
  • Xylometazoline hydrochloride 0.1% nasal spray (Otrivine)

A woman enters the pharmacy and would like some medicine for her mother, who is complaining of a dry cough, which she has had for a couple of days. She is not known to have any medical conditions and does not take any prescribed medication on a regular basis. Which one of the following is a soothing agent, mainly used in mixtures for a dry, tickly cough and can be found in combination with honey and lemon?

  • Pholcodine
  • Glycerin
  • Dextromethorphan
  • Guaifenesin

Mr Wilson comes into the pharmacy and informs you that he has recently bought two pets – a cat and a dog. His friend has told him that he will need to go and purchase something from the pharmacy to worm his pets. He wants your advice on the matter. Which one of the following products would you recommend to Mr Wilson to treat worms in his pets?

  • Drontal tablets
  • Ovex suspension
  • Vermox suspension
  • Ovex tablets
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