Canada PCOC case studies
Canada PCOC · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Pharmacy Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (often called the PEBC Pharmacist Qualifying Examination) is the national entry-to-practice assessment that candidates must pass to be eligible for pharmacist licensure in Canada. It is aimed at graduates of Canadian pharmacy programs and internationally educated pharmacists who need to demonstrate that they can practise safely and independently at the Canadian standard. The Canada PCOC case studies are 5 cases and about 2,444 words.
1Older Adult With Heart Failure, CKD, and New NSAID Use
An 82-year-old woman (weight 62 kg) with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF 30%), atrial fibrillation, stage 3b chronic kidney disease (baseline eGFR 42 mL/min/1.73 m²), and knee osteoarthritis presents to your community pharmacy with a 3-week history of increasing knee pain. She has been taking ibuprofen 400 mg three times daily, often with meals.
532 words, about 3 min2Opioid Toxicity in Advanced Cancer With Renal Impairment
A 64-year-old man (weight 70 kg) with metastatic pancreatic cancer and chronic kidney disease (eGFR 42 mL/min/1.73 m²) is followed by your palliative home-care team. His pain regimen is hydromorphone controlled-release 6 mg every 12 hours plus hydromorphone immediate-release 2 mg every 4 hours as needed.
542 words, about 3 min3Lithium Toxicity Triggered by NSAID, Thiazide, and Dehydration
A 57-year-old woman with bipolar I disorder takes lithium carbonate 900 mg at bedtime; her most recent level was 0.82 mmol/L two months ago. She also takes hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg daily for hypertension and started ibuprofen 400 mg three times daily 10 days ago for low back pain.
432 words, about 2 min4Suspected Altered Controlled Prescription Presented by a Third Party
A 34-year-old man presents at 8:45 p.m. to your community pharmacy with a paper prescription for oxycodone 20 mg tablets, quantity 120, one tablet every 4 hours as needed for pain, for his 78-year-old grandmother.
478 words, about 2 min5Pregnancy, Valproate, and Urgent Interprofessional Communication
A 29-year-old woman with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy has been seizure-free for 2 years on valproate 750 mg twice daily. She comes to your pharmacy with a positive home pregnancy test (estimated 6 weeks) and asks whether she should stop valproate immediately.
460 words, about 2 min