NCCT Study Guide)NCCT Phlebotomy Exam Study Guide: Questions & Answers: Guaranteed APlus Guide

NCCT Phlebotomy Exam Study Guide : Question s & Answers What item is more commonly found on a phlebotomy tray? (Ans- multi -sample needle Of the choices provided, only the multi -sample needle would be commonly found on a phlebotomy tray. The typical length of such a needle varies from 1 to 1.5 inches, much longer than the 5/8 inch needle commonly used for injections. Neither sterile water no r saline are used in typical phlebotomy procedures, but do have other uses. Sterile water may be used in rehydrating a medication for injection. Normal saline (0.90% solution of Sodium Chloride or NaCl) may be used intravenously (IV). After the phlebotomist puts on latex gloves and ties a non -latex tourniquet on the patient's arm, the patient indicates that he is highly allergic to latex. What is the phlebotomist's best course of action? (Ans- Remove the tourniquet, wash hands, change to non -latex gloves and use a new tourniquet. The key here is not to expose the patient to latex. The phlebotomist should remove the tourniquet that is on the patient (taking care not to touch the patient with anything latex). Washing the hands removes any residual latex that may be on the skin. Non -latex gloves should then be put on, and a new non-latex tourniquet should be used. What artery provides direct blood flow to the foot? (Ans- dorsalis pedis The dorsalis pedis artery is located on the upper surface (dorsal region) of the foot, and provides direct blood flow to the foot. The popliteal artery is located behind the knee, the brachial artery is in the arm, and the femoral artery is in the thigh. The medical assistant is educating the patient on fasting diet requirements prior to a glucose tolerance test. What is the minimum time frame the patient must remain NPO before the start of the test? (Ans- 8-12 hours To ensure accuracy of the blood test results, the patient must remain NPO for 8-12 hours prior to the test. Gum chewing, eating mints, and/or smoking are not allowed. Sips of water may be permitted depending on the provider NPO policy. What action should the medical assistant take to make a vein more prominent when attempting to select a venipuncture site? (Ans- Apply a warm compress to the area for 5 minutes The medical assistant should apply a warm compress to the area for 5 minutes. Warm moist heat promotes circulation and vasodilation and will help make the vein more visible. Tapping the arm or dangling the arm will not cause the vein to be as prominent as applying a warm compress. Applying firm pressure to the arm will occlude the blood flow and will not make the vein more prominent . The phlebotomist needs to draw routine labs. The skin preparation for this procedure would be. (Ans- Cleanse the site by using a circular motion from center to periphery Phlebotomists cleanse the selected venipuncture site before routine lab draws. Cleansing is accomplished by moving the alcohol pad in a circular motion from the center to the periphery of the puncture site. The alcohol pad is sterile at first touch to the patient's skin and thereafter will contain surface bacteria from the skin. If a blood culture is ordered, disinfection is required before the collection; disinfection devices can vary among institutions, but often include an isopropyl pad and povidone iodine swab and possibly the PREP method (70% isopropyl/10% acetone scrub and povidone iodine dispenser). Total sterilization of the skin is not possible. When performing a skin puncture on an infant what is the preferred site? (Ans- The plantar surface of the heel The heel of an infant is the recommended skin puncture site. Avoid puncturing the bone by targeting the plantar surface. Draw an imaginary line starting in the middle of the big toe to the back of the heel. Then draw another imaginary line between the smal l toes to the back of the heel. The proper collection sites will be the fleshy portions outside those lines and below where the arch meets the heel. The anteromedial aspect, lateral surfaces and plantar curvature do not provide good flesh for a proper collection. When performing a CBC on a six year old, the parent insists upon using an anesthetic at the venipuncture site. Which would be correct? (Ans- EMLA What is the first step in performing a venipuncture? (Ans- identify the patient To prevent error and maintain a culture of safety, at least 2 identifiers (ex. full name and date of birth) must be verified prior to performing a procedure. What is the proper way to identify a patient prior to performing a venipuncture? (Ans- Ask the patient to state his/her full name and DOB and compare to the chart. Before a venipuncture, the medical assistant should ask the patient to state his/her full name and DOB (comparing what is stated to what is written in the chart or on a wrist band patient identifier). This minimizes the risk for mis-identification errors b ecause it cross -checks what the patient says against written documentation. This provides a verified identity so that all tubes collected will be associated with the correct patient (provided the medical assistant labels them properly). Using the guidelines for any method of venipuncture, what action should the medical assistant perform directly after confirming patient identity? (Ans- Review the requirements for collecting and handling the blood specimen as ordered by the physician To ensure accuracy and quality, it is important to anticipate your needs before beginning the actual venipuncture (i.e. tube color/size, minimum acceptable blood volume, whether or not the specimen needs to be placed on ice). Therefore, the medical assista nt would identify the patient, then review the requirements for collecting and handling the blood specimen as ordered by the physician. Next, assemble the appropriate equipment and select the proper evacuated tubes for test to be performed. Then, apply the tourniquet and thoroughly palpate the selected vein. Finally, position the patient's arm and cleanse the site with an antiseptic wipe, then proceed with the venipuncture protocol. What should be avoided as a form of patient identification? (Ans- insurance number An insurance number is not a common means of positive patient identification (entire families can share the same insurance policy number). Patients must be positively identified for medical services, whether they have insurance or not. Insurance informatio n is necessary for billing purposes. The only true unique identifier listed among these choices is the social security number. Patient name and date of birth are also commonly used to confirm identification. Name the two most used patient identifiers. (Ans- Patient's name/date of birth Name and DOB are most often used as positive patient identifiers as they are easily documented and work for inpatients or outpatients. Bed numbers