MCQ Quiz: Managing Self

“Managing Self” is a foundational skill for success, not just in the demanding environment of pharmacy school, but throughout a healthcare career. This topic, a core module in the Personal and Professional Development curriculum, goes beyond clinical knowledge to focus on essential personal skills like self-awareness, time management, and stress resilience. This quiz will test your knowledge on these vital concepts that contribute to building a strong professional identity and preventing burnout.

1. “Managing Self” as a professional competency primarily refers to:

• a. The ability to manage a pharmacy’s inventory.
• b. The ability to understand and regulate one’s own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in different situations.
• c. The process of managing other people on a team.
• d. The skill of managing a patient’s medication regimen.

Answer: b. The ability to understand and regulate one’s own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in different situations.

2. Which of the following is a key component of effective time management?

• a. Multitasking on several complex assignments at once.
• b. Prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance.
• c. Waiting until the last minute to begin studying for an exam.
• d. Focusing only on tasks you enjoy.

Answer: b. Prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance.

3. The process of developing a professional identity involves:

• a. Passing all your exams.
• b. Getting a white coat.
• c. Internalizing the values, ethics, and norms of the pharmacy profession.
• d. Memorizing the top 200 drugs.

Answer: c. Internalizing the values, ethics, and norms of the pharmacy profession.

4. According to the curriculum, identifying your “Strengths and opportunities for growth” is part of developing:

• a. Clinical knowledge
• b. Self-awareness
• c. A patient care plan
• d. A research protocol

Answer: b. Self-awareness

5. Which of the following is a healthy and effective strategy for managing stress?

• a. Procrastinating on assignments.
• b. Regular physical activity.
• c. Increasing caffeine intake.
• d. Isolating yourself from friends and family.

Answer: b. Regular physical activity.

6. The “Managing Self” module is a specific learning module in which course?

• a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1
• b. PHA5104 Sterile Compounding
• c. PHA5703 Pharmacy Law and Ethics
• d. PHA5784C Patient Care 4

Answer: a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1

7. The “Urgent/Important Matrix” is a time management tool that helps you:

• a. Decide what tasks to do first.
• b. Schedule tasks.
• c. Delegate tasks.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

8. A student who understands their own biases and how they might affect patient interactions is demonstrating:

• a. Self-awareness
• b. Clinical skill
• c. Arrogance
• d. Apathy

Answer: a. Self-awareness

9. Burnout in healthcare professionals is often characterized by:

• a. Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.
• b. High energy levels and increased job satisfaction.
• c. A strong desire to take on more work.
• d. Feeling perfectly balanced between work and life.

Answer: a. Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.

10. Which of the following is NOT a core component of “Managing Self” as outlined in the curriculum?

• a. Time Management
• b. Stress Management
• c. Strengths and opportunities for growth
• d. Pharmacoeconomic Analysis

Answer: d. Pharmacoeconomic Analysis

11. The concept of professionalism is a key topic within the Personal and Professional Development course series.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

12. “SMART” goals are a tool for effective planning. The “S” stands for:

• a. Simple
• b. Strategic
• c. Specific
• d. Standard

Answer: c. Specific

13. A key aspect of developing resilience is:

• a. Avoiding all challenges and difficult situations.
• b. The ability to adapt and recover from stress and adversity.
• c. Never making a mistake.
• d. Working alone without any support.

Answer: b. The ability to adapt and recover from stress and adversity.

14. A pharmacist who remains calm and empathetic when dealing with a frustrated patient is demonstrating effective:

• a. Inventory management
• b. Self-regulation and professionalism
• c. Clinical knowledge
• d. Dispensing accuracy

Answer: b. Self-regulation and professionalism

15. Counseling patients on lifestyle modifications, a skill taught in labs, also requires the pharmacist to practice good self-management.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

16. Mindfulness is a stress management technique that involves:

• a. Thinking about multiple tasks at once.
• b. Focusing on past regrets.
• c. Paying attention to the present moment without judgment.
• d. Planning for future worries.

Answer: c. Paying attention to the present moment without judgment.

17. The “Time Management” lecture is part of the Personal and Professional Development curriculum.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

18. A student who recognizes they struggle with a certain therapeutic area and seeks out extra help is demonstrating:

• a. Weakness
• b. Self-awareness and a commitment to excellence.
• c. Procrastination
• d. A lack of professionalism.

Answer: b. Self-awareness and a commitment to excellence.

19. Which of the following is a common symptom of chronic stress?

• a. Improved sleep
• b. Headaches and fatigue
• c. Enhanced immune function
• d. Increased concentration

Answer: b. Headaches and fatigue

20. The curriculum includes a transcending concept on stress as it relates to behavioral health.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

21. A key to avoiding burnout is:

• a. Working more hours than anyone else.
• b. Never taking a vacation.
• c. Setting healthy boundaries between work/school and personal life.
• d. Taking on every extra project offered.

Answer: c. Setting healthy boundaries between work/school and personal life.

22. Professional identity formation is a process that:

• a. Ends on the first day of pharmacy school.
• b. Continues throughout one’s entire career.
• c. Is only important for physicians.
• d. Is determined by your grades alone.

Answer: b. Continues throughout one’s entire career.

23. Which of the following is an effective time management strategy?

• a. Checking emails every 5 minutes.
• b. Breaking large projects down into smaller, manageable tasks.
• c. Saying “yes” to every request.
• d. Doing the easiest tasks first, regardless of their importance.

Answer: b. Breaking large projects down into smaller, manageable tasks.

24. An active learning session on professionalism is part of which course?

• a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5784C Patient Care 4
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1

25. The pharmacist’s ability to manage their own stress can directly impact:

• a. Their ability to provide safe and effective patient care.
• b. Their communication with patients and colleagues.
• c. Their overall job satisfaction and career longevity.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

26. The “S” in SMART goals stands for Specific. What does the “M” stand for?

• a. Meaningful
• b. Motivating
• c. Measurable
• d. Mandatory

Answer: c. Measurable

27. Self-reflection is a critical tool for:

• a. Blaming others for your mistakes.
• b. Identifying areas for personal and professional growth.
• c. Avoiding difficult tasks.
• d. Procrastinating.

Answer: b. Identifying areas for personal and professional growth.

28. The PPD course series focuses on foundational concepts like professionalism and self-awareness.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

29. An example of an unhealthy coping mechanism for stress is:

• a. Talking with a friend or mentor.
• b. Engaging in a hobby.
• c. Using alcohol to unwind after a difficult day.
• d. Going for a run.

Answer: c. Using alcohol to unwind after a difficult day.

30. The “Stress Management” lecture is part of the Personal and Professional Development curriculum.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

31. In the Urgent/Important Matrix, tasks that are “Urgent and Important” should be:

• a. Done first.
• b. Scheduled for later.
• c. Delegated to someone else.
• d. Ignored.

Answer: a. Done first.

32. A “growth mindset,” an important aspect of managing self, is the belief that:

• a. Your intelligence and abilities are fixed and cannot be changed.
• b. Your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.
• c. You should never fail.
• d. Only innate talent matters.

Answer: b. Your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.

33. Exhibiting professional behaviors is a defined Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA).

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

34. Maintaining good physical health (diet, exercise, sleep) is a key part of:

• a. Effective stress management.
• b. Maintaining the energy to manage a demanding schedule.
• c. Overall well-being.
• d. All of the above.

Answer: d. All of the above.

35. A pharmacist who is emotionally exhausted and cynical about their work may be experiencing:

• a. A normal day.
• b. Burnout.
• c. High professional satisfaction.
• d. A lack of clinical knowledge.

Answer: b. Burnout.

36. The “A” in SMART goals stands for:

• a. Ambitious
• b. Achievable
• c. Academic
• d. Approximate

Answer: b. Achievable

37. Developing a strong support network of peers, mentors, and family is a strategy for:

• a. Avoiding work.
• b. Building resilience and managing stress.
• c. Cheating on exams.
• d. It is not a useful strategy.

Answer: b. Building resilience and managing stress.

38. The lecture “Strengths and opportunities for growth” is part of which course?

• a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1

39. A key time management skill is the ability to:

• a. Say “yes” to every request.
• b. Politely say “no” to tasks that are outside your priorities or capacity.
• c. Work continuously without breaks.
• d. Check your phone every two minutes.

Answer: b. Politely say “no” to tasks that are outside your priorities or capacity.

40. An active learning session covering professionalism is part of which course?

• a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1
• b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
• c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
• d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2

Answer: a. PHA5021C Personal and Professional Development 1

41. The concept of “Managing Self” is linked to professionalism because:

• a. A professional must be able to manage their own conduct, time, and stress to provide effective care.
• b. The two concepts are unrelated.
• c. Only managers need to learn this skill.
• d. Professionalism is only about appearance.

Answer: a. A professional must be able to manage their own conduct, time, and stress to provide effective care.

42. Which of the following is a proactive time management strategy?

• a. Responding to tasks only as they become emergencies.
• b. Planning out your week in advance.
• c. Starting a large project the night before it is due.
• d. Having no schedule at all.

Answer: b. Planning out your week in advance.

43. A pharmacist’s ability to maintain composure and think clearly during a medical emergency is a direct result of effective:

• a. Inventory management
• b. Stress management and emotional regulation
• c. Billing practices
• d. Marketing

Answer: b. Stress management and emotional regulation

44. The PPD courses are designed to run over multiple semesters, indicating that professional development is:

• a. A quick process.
• b. A continuous, ongoing process.
• c. Only for first-year students.
• d. Not important after graduation.

Answer: b. A continuous, ongoing process.

45. Which of the following best describes the relationship between stress and performance?

• a. Any amount of stress decreases performance.
• b. An optimal level of stress can improve performance, but too much stress is detrimental.
• c. The more stress, the better the performance.
• d. Stress and performance are unrelated.

Answer: b. An optimal level of stress can improve performance, but too much stress is detrimental.

46. Recognizing your own limits and knowing when to ask for help is a sign of:

• a. Weakness
• b. Self-awareness and professionalism
• c. Incompetence
• d. Laziness

Answer: b. Self-awareness and professionalism

47. “Time Management” is a lecture in the PPD 1 course.

• a. True
• b. False

Answer: a. True

48. An active learning session on self-management is part of which course module?

• a. Module 1.2: Managing Self
• b. Module 1.1: Professionalism
• c. Module 1.3: Introduction to IPE
• d. Module 1.4: Oath of a Pharmacist

Answer: a. Module 1.2: Managing Self

49. The overall goal of “Managing Self” is to:

• a. Develop personal skills that support professional competence, well-being, and a sustainable career.
• b. Eliminate all stress from your life.
• c. Become a perfect student with no flaws.
• d. Have more free time than anyone else.

Answer: a. Develop personal skills that support professional competence, well-being, and a sustainable career.

50. The ultimate reason to learn about “Managing Self” in pharmacy school is to:

• a. Become a resilient and effective pharmacist who can provide high-quality patient care without experiencing burnout.
• b. Pass the PPD course.
• c. Be able to manage other people better.
• d. Create the perfect study schedule.

Answer: a. Become a resilient and effective pharmacist who can provide high-quality patient care without experiencing burnout.