BCNP case studies
BCNP · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Board-Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP®) designation is awarded by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) to pharmacists who meet the specialty's eligibility requirements and achieve a passing score on the Nuclear Pharmacy specialty certification examination. It is intended for pharmacists practicing in nuclear pharmacy and radiopharmaceutical settings, including centralized commercial radiopharmacies, hospital and academic nuclear pharmacies, PET and theranostics operations, and quality, regulatory, and radiation safety roles. The Nuclear Pharmacy Specialty Council develops standards and eligibility requirements, develops examinations and passing standards, and reviews and approves professional development programs used for recertification. The examination content outline is produced through a job analysis, or role delineation study, involving a panel of 15-20 subject matter experts representing the specialty; those experts identify the competencies required for safe and effective practice, and board-certified pharmacists validate them through a survey. The BCNP case studies are 5 cases and about 2,637 words.
1Eluting a Generator After a Holiday Weekend
A hospital nuclear pharmacy receives a 1,110 MBq (30 mCi) Mo-99/Tc-99m generator on Friday at 08:00. The previous elution was performed Thursday at 08:00, giving 24 hours of ingrowth.
537 words, about 3 min2Dose Calibrator Constancy Failure Before a Pediatric Study
A nuclear pharmacy performs its daily dose-calibrator constancy test at 07:00 using a Cs-137 reference source. The measured value is 8% below the expected value; the facility's action limit is ±5%.
492 words, about 2 min3Pregnancy Inquiry at the Radiopharmacy Window
A 29-year-old woman arrives for a scheduled Tc-99m MDP bone scan for evaluation of low back pain. At the radiopharmacy window, the technologist asks standard screening questions.
504 words, about 3 min4Kit Preparation With a Short-Lived Generator Eluate
A nuclear pharmacy prepares a Tc-99m sulfur colloid kit for same-day lymphoscintigraphy. The eluate available was eluted 12 hours ago and has been sitting in the lead pig.
487 words, about 2 min5Spill of Tc-99m Eluate in the Hot Lab
During a generator elution, a vial containing approximately 3,700 MBq (100 mCi) of Tc-99m in 5 mL is dropped on the hot lab floor. About 2 mL spills; the rest remains in the broken vial.
617 words, about 3 min