Florida Pharmacy Technician Certification Practice Test

Which action is appropriate if a Pharmacy Technician is unsure about a medication-related question?

1. Provide the patient with their best guess

2. Politely decline to answer and refer the patient to the Pharmacist

3. Look it up in the reference manual

4. Ask another technician for their input

The correct answer is: Politely decline to answer and refer the patient to the Pharmacist

When a Pharmacy Technician is uncertain about a medication-related question, referring the patient to the Pharmacist is the most appropriate action. This choice ensures that the patient receives accurate and reliable information, as Pharmacists are highly trained professionals with extensive knowledge of medications, their uses, potential side effects, and interactions. It upholds the standards of patient safety and care, allowing for guidance from someone equipped to handle complex or nuanced inquiries. While looking up the information in a reference manual is another useful approach, it may not be immediate, and the Pharmacist can provide an authoritative answer directly. Providing the patient with a guess could lead to misinformation, which could have harmful consequences. Asking another technician for their input may not guarantee accuracy either, as they might not have the necessary knowledge to address the question appropriately. Thus, directing the patient to the Pharmacist is the best way to ensure that the patient receives the correct and evidence-based information they need.