NHA CET MAIN EXAMINATION TEST SET 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔When a patient has cognitive deficits, how should you ensure their understanding? -
✔✔Assess the patient's knowledge to determine health literacy and ability to understand
new information. Patients who have cognitive disabilities can require extra time to
ensure that they understand the procedure. Additionally, people who have sensory
impairments (vision impairment, hearing loss, dysphasia) can require additional
audiovisual media, such as written materials, pictures, or audio files. If the patient and
technician do not speak the same language, communicate through a trained interpreter.
All patients legally must have access to a trained interpreter who speaks their native
language. Avoid using family members as interpreters; they may not communicate
information accurately. Describe the purpose, length, and steps of the procedure as well
as any preparation for which the patient is responsible. Explain the patient's role during
the test, and information needed to follow up after the procedure. Answer any questions
the patient has, clarify any misinformation, and alleviate any fears.
✔✔How do you use therapeutic communication techniques? - ✔✔Most patients in the
ambulatory care setting are conscious and can communicate verbally. Use therapeutic
communication techniques. Ask "Can you please state your name and date of birth?"
rather than asking the patient to confirm stated information. If the patient is unable to
communicate—or has dementia or another condition that affects mental functioning—it
can be necessary to confirm identification another way. In these situations, encourage a
family member or caregiver to provide identification for the patient
✔✔therapeutic communication. - ✔✔Use of strategies incorporated through verbal and
nonverbal techniques to ensure a message is received, interpreted, and understood
correctly
✔✔Therapeutic communication - ✔✔To effectively communicate with patients and
caregivers, it helps to understand the communication cycle and diverse communication
styles. The communication cycle involves a message being sent by the sender, which is
decoded and interpreted by the receiver, who then sends a response back to the
original sender. If breakdowns occur at any of these stages, the patient might not
understand what the procedure is, what to expect, or how to follow up.
Miscommunication results in anxiety and lack of adherence before, during, or after the
procedure.
✔✔What information should a technician provide for the patient? - ✔✔Recognizing
various communication styles helps technicians approach each conversation. Some
patients are analytical and do not show emotion. It can be hard to interpret whether they
are anxious about the procedure. The technician should still offer information about how
long it takes to run the test, how many leads will be attached, and how the information
transfers through the leads. This can help patients better understand the procedure and
ask questions to make them more comfortable. Similarly, an intuitive communicator
,might not want details, but would like to see the big picture. The technicians might just
tell this patient that they are going to have the EKG, and have the provider discuss the
results and follow-up testing.
✔✔Explaining the procedure - ✔✔Prior to explaining the procedure, introduce yourself
(including your position within the organization) and state what will be done. An
appropriate introduction would be, "Good morning. My name is Jane Doe, and I am the
EKG technician that will be performing your electrocardiogram—or EKG—today." Some
patients are aware of the terminology and others are familiar with an abbreviation, so
using both can be beneficial in communicating. Because of the "electro," some patients,
especially children, express concern that they will be shocked during the procedure.
Explain that the procedure is harmless. The test records activity of the electrical system
within the heart. No electrical current is sent through the body during the procedure.
Instruct patients that the procedure only takes a few minutes. Ask if they need to use
the bathroom prior to starting the test. Remind them that they should not move or talk
once the leads are connected. Always ask the patient if there are any questions prior to
starting the procedure.
✔✔Therapeutic Communication line of function - ✔✔sender develops the message,
message encoded into transmittable format, message transmitted , receiver decodes
the message, receiver converts message into understanding, and feedback
✔✔message transmitted - ✔✔oral, written, symbolic, or nonverbal
✔✔Communication with patients - ✔✔Effective, positive relationships with patients and
their loved ones are built on trust and honesty. With health care becoming more
technologically complex, patients and families need to take an active role in health care
decisions. The following methods can increase trust and communication
✔✔⦁ Display professionalism - ✔✔Details include physical appearance, eye contact,
and displaying an understanding and knowledge of the situation. These can increase
patients' confidence in their care
✔✔⦁ Use active listening skills - ✔✔This involves recognizing messages that are being
sent through both verbal and nonverbal methods. Nonverbal communication consists of
the behaviors and elements of speech aside from the words used. Being aware of facial
expressions and body language will increase nonverbal listening skills.
✔✔⦁ Use skilled interviewing techniques - ✔✔Ask patients a variety of open-ended
questions that encourage them to provide detailed information. When performing an
EKG, ask questions such as, "What medications do you currently take?" and "Please
describe any chest pain or symptoms you are experiencing." Not only do these
questions help open communication by allowing the patient to explain information in
detail, they also provide a broader picture toward ensuring proper care can be
delivered.
, ✔✔Provide empathy - ✔✔Avoid jumping to conclusions or passing judgment. Rather,
strive to be empathetic and provide encouragement.
✔✔Practice collaboration - ✔✔Patients are more likely to respond positively to
recommendations and questions in collaborative settings. When the patient is part of
the health care team, communication is more effective and overall care improves.
✔✔Embrace technology - ✔✔Technology provides health care professionals many
ways to communicate with patients. However, don't overwhelm the patient. Select no
more than three communication channels, and use them well. If a patient is only
comfortable with one method, provide communication via that method.
✔✔An EKG technician greets a patient, takes the patient to the examination room, and
asks "Could you please state your name?" and "What medications do you take?" Which
of the following techniques is the technician using? - ✔✔Skilled interviewing; Reflection,
empathy, and active listening are also important for effective communication, but using
open-ended questions incorporates skilled techniques for interviewing
✔✔Communication with the provider - ✔✔EKG technicians screen the EKG to ensure
that the tracing is run correctly and can clearly be interpreted. They should also be able
to recognize gross abnormalities that would require an immediate communication with
the provider. If the patient exhibits pain, dyspnea, or other cardiac symptoms during the
procedure, running a rhythm strip and alerting the provider can track what might be
occurring. Record all signs and symptoms in the patient's chart and communicate them
to the provider. If a patient expresses that they do not want to have the test or has
questions that cannot be answered by the technician, alert the provider.
✔✔Communication with the patient - ✔✔All medical procedures require patient consent.
Implied consent is needed for most routine EKG testing. Implied consent may also be
used for unconscious patients and emergency situations. However, informed consent
must be obtained prior to a cardiac stress test due to the increased complications that
can occur. Review any documentation on screening tools with patients so they can best
adhere and the provider can get complete information from the testing. Documentation
in the electronic medical record (EMR) regarding the performance of the procedure and
patient tolerance is a good communication tool and validation for legal purposes
✔✔Communication with members of the health care team can be accomplished through
which of the following methods? (Select all that apply.) - ✔✔. Electronic health record
AND . Verbal exchange; Communication can take place via direct or indirect methods.
However, personal phones should not be used for patient communication. Also, sharing
with coworkers is on a need-to-know basis.
✔✔VITAL SIGNS - ✔✔Factors such as stress, food or liquid intake, medical conditions,
age, and physical activity can affect vital signs. It is extremely important to be proficient
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔When a patient has cognitive deficits, how should you ensure their understanding? -
✔✔Assess the patient's knowledge to determine health literacy and ability to understand
new information. Patients who have cognitive disabilities can require extra time to
ensure that they understand the procedure. Additionally, people who have sensory
impairments (vision impairment, hearing loss, dysphasia) can require additional
audiovisual media, such as written materials, pictures, or audio files. If the patient and
technician do not speak the same language, communicate through a trained interpreter.
All patients legally must have access to a trained interpreter who speaks their native
language. Avoid using family members as interpreters; they may not communicate
information accurately. Describe the purpose, length, and steps of the procedure as well
as any preparation for which the patient is responsible. Explain the patient's role during
the test, and information needed to follow up after the procedure. Answer any questions
the patient has, clarify any misinformation, and alleviate any fears.
✔✔How do you use therapeutic communication techniques? - ✔✔Most patients in the
ambulatory care setting are conscious and can communicate verbally. Use therapeutic
communication techniques. Ask "Can you please state your name and date of birth?"
rather than asking the patient to confirm stated information. If the patient is unable to
communicate—or has dementia or another condition that affects mental functioning—it
can be necessary to confirm identification another way. In these situations, encourage a
family member or caregiver to provide identification for the patient
✔✔therapeutic communication. - ✔✔Use of strategies incorporated through verbal and
nonverbal techniques to ensure a message is received, interpreted, and understood
correctly
✔✔Therapeutic communication - ✔✔To effectively communicate with patients and
caregivers, it helps to understand the communication cycle and diverse communication
styles. The communication cycle involves a message being sent by the sender, which is
decoded and interpreted by the receiver, who then sends a response back to the
original sender. If breakdowns occur at any of these stages, the patient might not
understand what the procedure is, what to expect, or how to follow up.
Miscommunication results in anxiety and lack of adherence before, during, or after the
procedure.
✔✔What information should a technician provide for the patient? - ✔✔Recognizing
various communication styles helps technicians approach each conversation. Some
patients are analytical and do not show emotion. It can be hard to interpret whether they
are anxious about the procedure. The technician should still offer information about how
long it takes to run the test, how many leads will be attached, and how the information
transfers through the leads. This can help patients better understand the procedure and
ask questions to make them more comfortable. Similarly, an intuitive communicator
,might not want details, but would like to see the big picture. The technicians might just
tell this patient that they are going to have the EKG, and have the provider discuss the
results and follow-up testing.
✔✔Explaining the procedure - ✔✔Prior to explaining the procedure, introduce yourself
(including your position within the organization) and state what will be done. An
appropriate introduction would be, "Good morning. My name is Jane Doe, and I am the
EKG technician that will be performing your electrocardiogram—or EKG—today." Some
patients are aware of the terminology and others are familiar with an abbreviation, so
using both can be beneficial in communicating. Because of the "electro," some patients,
especially children, express concern that they will be shocked during the procedure.
Explain that the procedure is harmless. The test records activity of the electrical system
within the heart. No electrical current is sent through the body during the procedure.
Instruct patients that the procedure only takes a few minutes. Ask if they need to use
the bathroom prior to starting the test. Remind them that they should not move or talk
once the leads are connected. Always ask the patient if there are any questions prior to
starting the procedure.
✔✔Therapeutic Communication line of function - ✔✔sender develops the message,
message encoded into transmittable format, message transmitted , receiver decodes
the message, receiver converts message into understanding, and feedback
✔✔message transmitted - ✔✔oral, written, symbolic, or nonverbal
✔✔Communication with patients - ✔✔Effective, positive relationships with patients and
their loved ones are built on trust and honesty. With health care becoming more
technologically complex, patients and families need to take an active role in health care
decisions. The following methods can increase trust and communication
✔✔⦁ Display professionalism - ✔✔Details include physical appearance, eye contact,
and displaying an understanding and knowledge of the situation. These can increase
patients' confidence in their care
✔✔⦁ Use active listening skills - ✔✔This involves recognizing messages that are being
sent through both verbal and nonverbal methods. Nonverbal communication consists of
the behaviors and elements of speech aside from the words used. Being aware of facial
expressions and body language will increase nonverbal listening skills.
✔✔⦁ Use skilled interviewing techniques - ✔✔Ask patients a variety of open-ended
questions that encourage them to provide detailed information. When performing an
EKG, ask questions such as, "What medications do you currently take?" and "Please
describe any chest pain or symptoms you are experiencing." Not only do these
questions help open communication by allowing the patient to explain information in
detail, they also provide a broader picture toward ensuring proper care can be
delivered.
, ✔✔Provide empathy - ✔✔Avoid jumping to conclusions or passing judgment. Rather,
strive to be empathetic and provide encouragement.
✔✔Practice collaboration - ✔✔Patients are more likely to respond positively to
recommendations and questions in collaborative settings. When the patient is part of
the health care team, communication is more effective and overall care improves.
✔✔Embrace technology - ✔✔Technology provides health care professionals many
ways to communicate with patients. However, don't overwhelm the patient. Select no
more than three communication channels, and use them well. If a patient is only
comfortable with one method, provide communication via that method.
✔✔An EKG technician greets a patient, takes the patient to the examination room, and
asks "Could you please state your name?" and "What medications do you take?" Which
of the following techniques is the technician using? - ✔✔Skilled interviewing; Reflection,
empathy, and active listening are also important for effective communication, but using
open-ended questions incorporates skilled techniques for interviewing
✔✔Communication with the provider - ✔✔EKG technicians screen the EKG to ensure
that the tracing is run correctly and can clearly be interpreted. They should also be able
to recognize gross abnormalities that would require an immediate communication with
the provider. If the patient exhibits pain, dyspnea, or other cardiac symptoms during the
procedure, running a rhythm strip and alerting the provider can track what might be
occurring. Record all signs and symptoms in the patient's chart and communicate them
to the provider. If a patient expresses that they do not want to have the test or has
questions that cannot be answered by the technician, alert the provider.
✔✔Communication with the patient - ✔✔All medical procedures require patient consent.
Implied consent is needed for most routine EKG testing. Implied consent may also be
used for unconscious patients and emergency situations. However, informed consent
must be obtained prior to a cardiac stress test due to the increased complications that
can occur. Review any documentation on screening tools with patients so they can best
adhere and the provider can get complete information from the testing. Documentation
in the electronic medical record (EMR) regarding the performance of the procedure and
patient tolerance is a good communication tool and validation for legal purposes
✔✔Communication with members of the health care team can be accomplished through
which of the following methods? (Select all that apply.) - ✔✔. Electronic health record
AND . Verbal exchange; Communication can take place via direct or indirect methods.
However, personal phones should not be used for patient communication. Also, sharing
with coworkers is on a need-to-know basis.
✔✔VITAL SIGNS - ✔✔Factors such as stress, food or liquid intake, medical conditions,
age, and physical activity can affect vital signs. It is extremely important to be proficient
