NRCMA Practice Exam 02
100 multiple-choice practice questions • Correct answers highlighted in green
Instructions: Select the single best answer. Review the green answer strip and rationale beneath each question.
Clinical Procedures
1. A pulse oximeter estimates:
A. Blood glucose
B. Body mass index
C. Urine concentration
D. Peripheral oxygen saturation
Correct answer: D. Peripheral oxygen saturation
Pulse oximetry estimates oxygen saturation.
2. When documenting vital signs, staff should:
A. Copy the previous visit’s values
B. Round values to normal ranges
C. Wait until the end of the week
D. Record measured values promptly and accurately
Correct answer: D. Record measured values promptly and accurately
Accurate, timely documentation supports care.
3. If a reading seems inconsistent, the assistant should:
A. Guess a more likely value
B. Ignore it
C. Use another patient’s reading
D. Recheck using correct technique and report concerns
Correct answer: D. Recheck using correct technique and report concerns
Unexpected measurements should be verified.
4. Which device measures body temperature?
A. Stethoscope
B. Otoscope
C. Sphygmomanometer
D. Thermometer
Correct answer: D. Thermometer
A thermometer measures temperature.
5. Before using equipment, staff should confirm it is:
A. The newest-looking model only
B. Owned by another patient
C. Not in need of inspection
D. Clean, functional, and appropriate for the task
Correct answer: D. Clean, functional, and appropriate for the task
Equipment checks reduce preventable errors.
6. A patient reports dizziness during a procedure. The assistant should:
A. Tell the patient to ignore it
B. Continue without checking
C. Ask them to leave alone
D. Pause, protect the patient, assess, and alert clinical staff
Correct answer: D. Pause, protect the patient, assess, and alert clinical staff
New symptoms require attention and possible escalation.
NRCMA Original Practice Material Page 1
, 7. A good way to confirm identity is to use:
A. Room number alone
B. A visitor’s guess
C. Appearance alone
D. Two approved identifiers
Correct answer: D. Two approved identifiers
Two identifiers help prevent wrong-patient errors.
8. Before a procedure, the assistant should first:
A. Skip identity checks
B. Use another patient’s chart
C. Begin without preparation
D. Verify the patient and explain the procedure
Correct answer: D. Verify the patient and explain the procedure
Identity checks and explanation support safe care.
9. For a routine blood pressure reading, the patient should ideally be:
A. Standing with arm overhead
B. Seated with legs crossed and arm unsupported
C. Lying with arm hanging down
D. Seated with back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level
Correct answer: D. Seated with back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level
Correct positioning improves measurement accuracy.
10. A patient becomes faint during a blood draw. The assistant should:
A. Continue filling tubes
B. Ask the patient to stand
C. Leave the patient alone
D. Stop, protect the patient, and summon help as needed
Correct answer: D. Stop, protect the patient, and summon help as needed
Patient safety takes priority.
Phlebotomy & Specimens
11. Lavender-top hematology tubes commonly contain:
A. Distilled water only
B. No additive in all cases
C. Alcohol
D. EDTA
Correct answer: D. EDTA
Lavender tubes commonly use EDTA; follow current lab guidance.
12. The order of draw helps reduce:
A. Need for patient identification
B. Need for gloves
C. All clotting
D. Additive carryover between tubes
Correct answer: D. Additive carryover between tubes
Order of draw reduces additive contamination.
13. An unlabeled specimen should be:
A. Labeled from memory
B. Sent without reporting
C. Given another patient’s label
D. Handled under rejection/recollection policy; never guessed
Correct answer: D. Handled under rejection/recollection policy; never guessed
Never guess a specimen’s identity.
14. To reduce hemolysis, the collector should:
A. Shake tubes vigorously
B. Force blood through the needle
C. Use any equipment regardless of size
D. Use appropriate equipment and avoid forceful transfer or shaking
Correct answer: D. Use appropriate equipment and avoid forceful transfer or shaking
Proper collection and handling reduce hemolysis.
NRCMA Original Practice Material Page 2
100 multiple-choice practice questions • Correct answers highlighted in green
Instructions: Select the single best answer. Review the green answer strip and rationale beneath each question.
Clinical Procedures
1. A pulse oximeter estimates:
A. Blood glucose
B. Body mass index
C. Urine concentration
D. Peripheral oxygen saturation
Correct answer: D. Peripheral oxygen saturation
Pulse oximetry estimates oxygen saturation.
2. When documenting vital signs, staff should:
A. Copy the previous visit’s values
B. Round values to normal ranges
C. Wait until the end of the week
D. Record measured values promptly and accurately
Correct answer: D. Record measured values promptly and accurately
Accurate, timely documentation supports care.
3. If a reading seems inconsistent, the assistant should:
A. Guess a more likely value
B. Ignore it
C. Use another patient’s reading
D. Recheck using correct technique and report concerns
Correct answer: D. Recheck using correct technique and report concerns
Unexpected measurements should be verified.
4. Which device measures body temperature?
A. Stethoscope
B. Otoscope
C. Sphygmomanometer
D. Thermometer
Correct answer: D. Thermometer
A thermometer measures temperature.
5. Before using equipment, staff should confirm it is:
A. The newest-looking model only
B. Owned by another patient
C. Not in need of inspection
D. Clean, functional, and appropriate for the task
Correct answer: D. Clean, functional, and appropriate for the task
Equipment checks reduce preventable errors.
6. A patient reports dizziness during a procedure. The assistant should:
A. Tell the patient to ignore it
B. Continue without checking
C. Ask them to leave alone
D. Pause, protect the patient, assess, and alert clinical staff
Correct answer: D. Pause, protect the patient, assess, and alert clinical staff
New symptoms require attention and possible escalation.
NRCMA Original Practice Material Page 1
, 7. A good way to confirm identity is to use:
A. Room number alone
B. A visitor’s guess
C. Appearance alone
D. Two approved identifiers
Correct answer: D. Two approved identifiers
Two identifiers help prevent wrong-patient errors.
8. Before a procedure, the assistant should first:
A. Skip identity checks
B. Use another patient’s chart
C. Begin without preparation
D. Verify the patient and explain the procedure
Correct answer: D. Verify the patient and explain the procedure
Identity checks and explanation support safe care.
9. For a routine blood pressure reading, the patient should ideally be:
A. Standing with arm overhead
B. Seated with legs crossed and arm unsupported
C. Lying with arm hanging down
D. Seated with back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level
Correct answer: D. Seated with back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level
Correct positioning improves measurement accuracy.
10. A patient becomes faint during a blood draw. The assistant should:
A. Continue filling tubes
B. Ask the patient to stand
C. Leave the patient alone
D. Stop, protect the patient, and summon help as needed
Correct answer: D. Stop, protect the patient, and summon help as needed
Patient safety takes priority.
Phlebotomy & Specimens
11. Lavender-top hematology tubes commonly contain:
A. Distilled water only
B. No additive in all cases
C. Alcohol
D. EDTA
Correct answer: D. EDTA
Lavender tubes commonly use EDTA; follow current lab guidance.
12. The order of draw helps reduce:
A. Need for patient identification
B. Need for gloves
C. All clotting
D. Additive carryover between tubes
Correct answer: D. Additive carryover between tubes
Order of draw reduces additive contamination.
13. An unlabeled specimen should be:
A. Labeled from memory
B. Sent without reporting
C. Given another patient’s label
D. Handled under rejection/recollection policy; never guessed
Correct answer: D. Handled under rejection/recollection policy; never guessed
Never guess a specimen’s identity.
14. To reduce hemolysis, the collector should:
A. Shake tubes vigorously
B. Force blood through the needle
C. Use any equipment regardless of size
D. Use appropriate equipment and avoid forceful transfer or shaking
Correct answer: D. Use appropriate equipment and avoid forceful transfer or shaking
Proper collection and handling reduce hemolysis.
NRCMA Original Practice Material Page 2
