Test Prep Test Prep Certifications NCMA Questions & Answers

• Question 181:

  Tachypnea is generally defined as a patient taking more than __________ breaths per minute.

  A. 20

  B. 25

  C. 15

  D. 30

  Correct Answer: A

  A normal healthy adult will take between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. Any more than this is defined as tachypnea and is a cause for concern that should be reported to a physician. However, you should take external factors into consideration, for example if the patient just climbed stairs to reach the examination, and be aware that newborn infants normally breathe at up to 44 breaths per minute.

• Question 182:

  Which of these is the most common and effective place to read a pulse?

  A. Carotid artery

  B. Femoral artery

  C. Radial artery

  D. Brachial artery

  Correct Answer: C

  The pulse is usually measured from the radial artery, on the side of the wrist nearest the thumb. However, if there are reasons preventing taking a reading from here (for example if the patient has both wrists in casts) there are other points from which the pulse may be taken.

• Question 183:

  A normal pulse rate for a healthy adult should be between __________.

  A. 60?00 BPM

  B. 50?10 BPM

  C. 70?0 BPM

  D. 80?20 BPM

  Correct Answer: A

  The normal range for the pulse rate of a healthy adult is between 60?00 beats per minute. Any pulse rate outside this range should be reported to a physician. However, you should be aware that a pulse rate outside this range can still be healthy, for example a very fit athlete may have a pulse rate as low as 40 BPM.

• Question 184:

  If a patient has a problem such as deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism they may need a drug to stop the blood thickening, this is called an __________.

  A. Antihistamine

  B. Antipsychotic

  C. Antitussive

  D. Anticoagulant

  Correct Answer: D

  When a patient's blood is clotting too quickly, which can cause DVT or pulmonary embolism, they may

  need an anticoagulant to slow this process.

  Common anticoagulants include Coumadin (aka Warfarin) and Heparin.

• Question 185:

  In order to prescribe controlled substances a medical practitioner needs a license from __________.

  A. The FDA

  B. The DEA

  C. The FBI

  D. The AMA

  Correct Answer: B

  A license from the DEA is required for all persons prescribing controlled substances.

  The license lasts for three years (though it can be taken away at any time for malpractice) and costs $731.

• Question 186:

  Some simple tests fall under waivers from __________ bodies.

  A. AMA

  B. FDA

  C. CLIA D. SMB

  Correct Answer: C

  A number of simple tests fall under the provisions of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments 1988; these are tests that are judged to be simple enough to be performed by staff with basic training or even at home. This does not mean that they are immune to error or that error could not have serious diagnostic consequences; the same amount of care should be taken with them as with any other testing procedure.

• Question 187:

  To ensure accuracy in testing all equipment must be properly __________.

  A. Calibrated

  B. Cleaned

  C. Catalogued

  D. Costed

  Correct Answer: A

  However accurate a testing apparatus may be, it will not produce a correct result unless it has been calibrated properly prior to use. Always check apparatus is properly calibrated using manufacturer instructions, and regularly recheck calibration throughout testing.

• Question 188:

  When drawing blood from a patient, you can make the veins in their arm become more prominent by asking them to __________.

  A. Point their arm towards the floor

  B. Breathe rapidly

  C. Hold their breath

  D. Clench their fist

  Correct Answer: D

  When a patient clenches their fist the amount of blood flowing into the hand is temporarily decreased by the contraction and so blood builds up further up the arm, making veins more prominent and so easier to see.

• Question 189:

  What is a centrifuge used for in phlebotomy?

  A. Separating blood

  B. Freezing blood

  C. Sterilizing blood

  D. Disposing of blood

  Correct Answer: A

  When blood has been drawn from a patient, it is often put through a centrifuge before testing.

  This separates blood cells from the liquid (plasma) in which they are suspended, so they can be more

  easily counted and tested.

• Question 190:

  Which of these fluids presents the greatest risk of HIV infection to medical workers?

  A. Saliva

  B. Blood

  C. Semen

  D. Mucus

  Correct Answer: B

  Blood is the most likely way for a medical worker to become accidentally contaminated with HIV.

  Although HIV can be spread accidentally in other ways, it is very difficult to become infected through saliva

  and mucus.