Mini Question Bank

So here's the mini question bank I promised. Try and bullet point a few things you would like to say in answer to each of the questions and go over a few with a friend as a mock interview. But Do NOT memorise. You want to come across genuine!

Question Bank:

1.      The first and most important question – Why this trust or area (if the interview is for more than one hospital in an area)?

2.      Why hospital pharmacy?

3.      Compare community and hospital pharmacy roles. How are these similar and how are they different?

4.      What animal would you be and how do the characteristics apply to pre reg?

5.      Describe a time you worked in a team outside of your undergraduate course. What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them?

6.      What is expected of the pre reg year? What are the standards and how will you achieve them?

7.      A nurse shows you a patient drug chart with vancomycin and is confused about the dosage what do you do?

8.      What is medicines optimisation and how would you carry this out?  

9.      How would you save the NHS money?

10.  A patient scenario where you will be required to counsel or reassure a patient. This will be with an actor playing the patient. E.g. role play: a patient not willing to take their statin. Another patient not willing to take their antibiotics because they want to drink at their birthday party in a few days or they are afraid of antibiotic resistance. A patient who doesn’t want to start on ACE inhibitors because they feel fine and don’t believe they need it. (don’t forget to introduce yourself)

11.  What is the Carter report?  How will you apply this in pre reg?

12.  Scenario: You are working in a bakery when a bride orders a gluten free cake for her wedding day. You realise a couple of hours before she is to collect the order that the cake made is not gluten free. It takes 72 hours to make a new cake and the wedding is that day. What would you do?

13.  Senario: You will be given a drug chart or record of the patient’s current medication along with a patient history and asked to optimise the patient’s medication. (this will be without a drug chart so know common interactions and dosage)

14.  Describe the different roles within the pharmacy team? This was also assessed in some interviews through a prioritisation scenario. E.g. you are a pre reg trainee and the team leader for the day. There is a new locum (who is not used to the hospital environment), a pharmacy technician and dispenser with you. A doctor needs info about patient, there are 3 prescriptions waiting to be dispensed and a nurse waiting at the hatch. Delegate tasks and know everyone's role.

15.  You would be asked about key government policies and reforms.

16.  Describe a time you went the extra mile for someone.

17.  What knowledge do you have of the pre reg year?

18.  Recent pharmacy news that has caught your attention

19.  Recent pharmacy policy and guideline NICE / journal/ news

20.  New drugs that you have read about

21.  Any work experience and what you have learnt from it.

22.  Do you partake in any extracurricular activities? What skills have you learnt through this?

23.  Any accomplishments and successes you are proud of.

24.  How do you deal with problems and overcome them (may be asked through a scenario)

25.  Describe a strength you have and a weakness.

Things to think about before the interview:

·         Personal spec and job description – Hw o you meet these and what is your evidence for this.

·         Why should they pick you? What do you have to offer as an applicant and how do these relate to pre reg.

·         Knowledge of the area of work

·         What has motivated you to apply?

·         What are the required roles and responsibilities within the team you wish to join?

All the best!

S.