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100+ Free NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Practice Questions
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At a dispensing accuracy station you receive a prescription that reads 'frusemide 40mg, take ii mane'. How many tablets should the patient take and when?
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Sample NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1At an OSCE counselling station, you supply a new prescription for inhaled salbutamol (Ventolin) MDI to an adult with newly diagnosed asthma. Which single instruction is MOST important to confirm the patient can perform correctly before they leave?
A.Use the inhaler only when wheezing is severe enough to wake them at night
B.Store the inhaler in the refrigerator between uses
C.Shake the inhaler, breathe out, then inhale slowly and deeply while pressing the canister, and hold breath ~10 seconds
D.Take two puffs four times daily regardless of symptoms
Explanation: Salbutamol is a short-acting beta-agonist reliever taken as needed; correct MDI technique (shake, full exhalation, slow deep inhalation coordinated with actuation, then a breath-hold) is the key counselling point because poor technique is the commonest reason for apparent treatment failure. Demonstrating and having the patient teach-back the technique is a core OSCE skill.
2A woman presents with a prescription for combined oral contraceptive pills. During counselling she asks what to do if she misses one active pill by 18 hours. What is the correct advice?
A.Stop the pack and restart a new pack at the next period
B.Take the missed pill as soon as remembered and continue the rest as usual; no extra precautions needed
C.Take two pills now and use condoms for the next 7 days regardless
D.Discard the remainder of the pack and use only condoms for the cycle
Explanation: For a combined oral contraceptive, one missed pill (taken less than 24 hours late, i.e. fewer than 48 hours since the last pill) means take the missed pill as soon as possible, continue the rest as normal, and no additional contraception or emergency contraception is needed. Clear, calm missed-pill counselling is a frequent OSCE scenario.
3You are counselling a patient starting warfarin. Which lifestyle point is the MOST appropriate to emphasise to support stable INR control?
A.Avoid all foods containing any vitamin K permanently
B.Stop warfarin on any day they drink alcohol
C.Double the dose on days they eat salad
D.Keep dietary vitamin K intake (e.g. green leafy vegetables) consistent rather than making sudden large changes
Explanation: Warfarin's effect depends on vitamin K balance; large, sudden swings in vitamin K intake destabilise the INR. The correct counselling message is consistency, not avoidance. Patients should also report new medicines and signs of bleeding, and attend INR monitoring.
4A patient collecting metformin asks why they should take it with or after food. What is the BEST explanation to give?
A.Taking it with food reduces gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhoea
B.Food activates the tablet coating so it works
C.Food is required to prevent hypoglycaemia from metformin
D.Metformin must be taken with food or it will not be absorbed at all
Explanation: Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal upset, especially when starting or increasing the dose; taking it with or after food, and using slow titration, improves tolerability. Metformin alone rarely causes hypoglycaemia, so that is not the reason.
5A patient is prescribed an SSRI (citalopram) for depression and asks how soon they will feel better. Which counselling point is MOST accurate and important?
A.It works within a few hours like a sleeping tablet
B.Mood benefit usually takes 2-4 weeks; do not stop suddenly, and report worsening mood or suicidal thoughts early
C.They can stop it abruptly once they feel better with no problems
D.It is addictive and should be taken only when feeling low
Explanation: SSRIs typically take 2-4 weeks for a meaningful antidepressant effect; patients need this set expectation to avoid premature discontinuation. Early monitoring for worsening mood or suicidal ideation (especially in the first weeks and in younger patients) and advice not to stop abruptly to avoid discontinuation symptoms are key safety messages.
6When counselling a patient on a glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) sublingual spray for angina, what should you tell them to do if chest pain is not relieved after the first dose?
A.Lie flat and wait an hour before any further dose
B.Take ten doses rapidly until pain stops
C.Take a second dose after 5 minutes; if pain persists after a total of about 10-15 minutes or three doses, call 111 (emergency)
D.Switch immediately to aspirin only and avoid further GTN
Explanation: GTN can be repeated at about 5-minute intervals; if chest pain is not relieved after the recommended repeats (commonly a third dose / ~10-15 minutes), the patient should call emergency services as it may signal a myocardial infarction. Sitting rather than standing helps avoid GTN-induced hypotension and fainting.
7A parent collects amoxicillin oral suspension for a child. Which storage and use instruction is correct to include?
A.Store the reconstituted suspension in the fridge, shake well before each dose, and discard any remaining after the stated number of days
B.Store at room temperature for 6 months and use as needed
C.Freeze the suspension to make it last longer
D.Stop the antibiotic as soon as the child seems better, even if doses remain
Explanation: Reconstituted amoxicillin suspension is typically refrigerated, must be shaken before each dose for an even concentration, and discarded after the labelled period (commonly 7-14 days depending on product). Completing the prescribed course as directed is also appropriate antibiotic stewardship counselling.
8You are counselling a patient newly prescribed alendronate (a bisphosphonate) for osteoporosis. Which administration instruction is essential to prevent oesophageal injury?
A.Take with a hot drink to improve absorption
B.Take last thing at night lying down with a small sip of water
C.Crush and mix into milk for easier swallowing
D.Take with a large glass of plain water on rising, remain upright for at least 30 minutes, and take nothing else by mouth in that time
Explanation: Oral bisphosphonates can cause oesophagitis if they linger in the oesophagus. The standard instruction is to take the tablet whole with a full glass of plain water on an empty stomach, stay upright (sitting or standing) for at least 30 minutes, and avoid food, drink, or other medicines in that interval to maximise absorption and minimise irritation.
9A patient starting an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) preventer such as fluticasone asks how to avoid oral thrush. What is the BEST advice?
A.Hold the breath for 60 seconds after each puff
B.Take the preventer only when symptomatic
C.Rinse and spit with water after each dose and consider using a spacer
D.Always take it with an oral antifungal
Explanation: Local deposition of inhaled corticosteroid in the mouth and throat predisposes to oral candidiasis and dysphonia; rinsing the mouth (and spitting) after use and using a spacer reduce oropharyngeal deposition. ICS preventers are taken regularly, not just when symptomatic.
10A patient prescribed isotretinoin (oral) for acne is a woman of childbearing potential. Which counselling point is the MOST critical safety message?
A.Avoid sunlight only because of mild photosensitivity
B.Effective contraception is mandatory before, during, and for a period after treatment because of severe teratogenicity
C.Take it on an empty stomach for best effect
D.It is safe in pregnancy if the dose is low
Explanation: Isotretinoin is a potent teratogen; pregnancy prevention is the central safety requirement, with reliable contraception required before, throughout, and for the specified time after stopping, plus pregnancy testing per the programme. Other counselling (dry skin/lips, take with food, monitor mood and lipids) is important but secondary to pregnancy prevention.
About the NZ Pharmacy Intern OSCE Practice Questions
Verified exam format metadata for Pharmacy Council of New Zealand Assessment Centre (Intern) OSCE Examination is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.