Get NHA Phlebotomy-Technician Exam Practice Questions - Real and Updated

Answer : C

For blood culture collection, the phlebotomist should document the site of collection. Blood cultures are often drawn from separate sites to help distinguish true bloodstream infection from contamination. Accurate site documentation supports interpretation if one bottle set grows organisms and another does not. It also provides traceability for collection quality, timing, and possible contamination review. Type of culture media is generally determined by the blood culture bottle system and laboratory protocol; it is not the key patient-specific documentation item in this question. Blood collection technique is expected to follow facility policy, but it is not typically the primary required field compared with date, time, collector identity, and site. Informed consent is not usually a separate required document for routine blood culture collection unless facility policy or special circumstances require it. Blood culture technique requires strict antisepsis, appropriate bottle preparation, correct order, sufficient volume, and avoidance of contamination. NHA CPT special collection content includes performing blood culture collections, blood culture locations, skin preparation, equipment, volume requirements, bottle preparation, and order of draw. Reference topics: Special Collections; blood culture collection; site documentation; contamination control.

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Answer : C

The phlebotomist should notify the nurse or provider according to facility policy. A competent adult patient has the right to refuse a blood draw, even when the test is ordered. Proceeding against the patient's refusal is unethical and can constitute battery. Asking a family member to pressure the patient is inappropriate because consent must come from the patient or legally authorized representative when applicable, not from coercion. Using a smaller needle does not address refusal unless the patient specifically refused because of needle size and then gives consent after discussion. The phlebotomist should remain professional, clarify the patient's concern within scope, avoid arguing, document or report the refusal as required, and allow authorized clinical personnel to follow up. This question tests patient rights, consent, communication, and scope of practice. Phlebotomy is invasive, so consent is not optional. The technician's authority ends where patient refusal begins unless a specific emergency or legal policy applies through authorized medical personnel. Reference topics: Patient Preparation; patient refusal; consent; patient rights; communication; documentation.

Answer : A

For antecubital venipuncture, the needle is inserted bevel up at approximately a 15 to 30 angle, with 30 commonly used as the upper accepted standard for routine venous access. From the options provided, 30 is the best answer. A 10 angle is usually too shallow for antecubital venipuncture and may cause the needle to skim the skin surface or fail to enter the vein lumen. A 45 angle is too steep and increases the risk of passing through the vein, causing hematoma, pain, or arterial/nerve injury depending on site depth and anatomy. A 25 angle can be clinically workable in some routine venipunctures, but this item is asking for the standard recognized insertion angle, and 30 is the expected test answer. Proper angle must be combined with vein anchoring, bevel-up orientation, stable equipment control, and avoidance of excessive probing. The NHA CPT outline specifically includes needle insertion, angle of needle insertion and withdrawal, and routine venipuncture technique. Reference topics: Routine Blood Collections; antecubital venipuncture; angle of needle insertion; needle withdrawal and safety.

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Answer : D

For a 3-year-old child, the correct capillary collection site is the middle finger. Finger puncture is appropriate for older infants and children when the finger pad is sufficiently developed, commonly using the middle or ring finger on the palmar surface. Heel puncture is primarily used for infants, especially newborns, because the recommended medial or lateral plantar heel area provides a safer capillary site before the fingers are large enough. The antecubital fossa is used for venipuncture, not capillary puncture. The vastus lateralis is an intramuscular injection site, not a blood collection site. Proper capillary technique requires warming if needed, cleaning and drying the site, using an appropriate-depth lancet, wiping away the first drop when required, avoiding excessive squeezing, and collecting in the correct order. In a child, site choice must protect bone, nerves, and tissue while obtaining an adequate specimen. Reference topics: Routine Blood Collections; dermal puncture; pediatric capillary collection; site selection; microcollection safety. NHA CPT content includes dermal puncture procedures and capillary collection site selection.

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Answer : B

If the sharps container is locked and cannot accept the used winged infusion set, the phlebotomist should obtain a new sharps container. A contaminated needle or winged infusion set must be discarded immediately into an approved sharps container that is puncture-resistant, leak-resistant, properly labeled or color-coded, closable, and accessible at the point of use. Unlocking or forcing a container is unsafe and may expose the technician to contaminated sharps. A trash container is never acceptable for needle disposal because it creates risk for housekeeping staff, patients, and other personnel. A biohazard bag is also incorrect because bags are for regulated soft biohazard waste, not sharps; needles can puncture the bag and cause injury. The correct action is to maintain control of the activated device safely and use an appropriate replacement sharps container. This is a direct OSHA and standard-precaution issue. Reference topics: Safety and Compliance; sharps disposal; safety-engineered devices; needlestick prevention; OSHA bloodborne pathogen precautions.

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