NCMA CPCM CERTIFICATION 2026
STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has emphysema and is receiving
mechanical ventilation. The client appears anxious and restless, and the
high-pressure alarm is sounding. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first? Answer: Instruct the client to allow the machine to
breathe for them.
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who has a family history of colorectal
cancer. To help mitigate this risk, which of the following dietary
alterations should the nurse recommend? Answer: Add cabbage to the
diet.
◉ A home health nurse is assigned to a client who was recently
discharged from a rehabilitation center after experiencing a right-
hemispheric stroke. Which of the following neurologic deficits should
the nurse expect to find when assessing the client? (Select all that apply.)
Answer: Visual spatial deficits, Left hemianopsia, One-sided neglect
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has viral pneumonia. The client's
pulse oximeter readings have fluctuated between 79% and 88% for the
last 30 min. Which of the following oxygen delivery systems should the
nurse initiate to provide the highest concentration of oxygen? Answer:
Nonrebreather mask
,◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has bilateral pneumonia and an
SaO2 of 85%. The client has dyspnea with a productive cough and is
using accessory muscles to breathe. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first? Answer: Place the client in high-Fowler's
position.
◉ A nurse is planning care for a client who has extensive burn injuries
and is immunocompromised. Which of the following precautions should
the nurse include in the plan of care to prevent a Pseudomonas
aeruginosa infection? Answer: Avoid placing plants or flowers in the
client's room.
◉ An older adult client is brought to an emergency department by a
family member. Which of the following assessment findings should
cause the nurse to suspect that the client has hypertonic dehydration?
Answer: Urine specific gravity 1.045
◉ A nurse in an emergency department is reviewing the provider's
prescriptions for a client who sustained a rattlesnake bite to the lower
leg. Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse expect?
Answer: Administer an opioid analgesic to the client.
◉ A nurse is assessing a client who has had a suspected stroke. The
nurse should place the priority on which of the following findings?
Answer: Dysphagia
, ◉ A nurse is teaching a young adult client how to perform testicular
self-examination. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include? Answer: Roll each testicle between the thumb and fingers.
◉ A nurse is providing instructions to a client who has type 2 diabetes
mellitus and a new prescription for metformin. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
Answer: "I should take this medication with a meal."
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who has venous insufficiency about self-
care. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an
indication that the client understands the teaching? Answer: "I will wear
clean graduated compression stockings every day."
◉ A nurse is assessing a client who has acute cholecystitis. Which of the
following findings is the nurse's priority? Answer: Tachycardia
◉ A nurse is reviewing the health record of a client who is scheduled for
allergy skin testing. The nurse should postpone the testing and report to
the provider which of the following findings? (Click on the "Exhibit"
button for additional information about the client. There are three tabs
that contain separate categories of data.) Answer: Current medications
◉ A nurse is caring for a group of clients. The nurse should plan to
make a referral to physical therapy for which of the following clients?
Answer: A client who is receiving preoperative teaching for a right knee
arthroplasty
STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has emphysema and is receiving
mechanical ventilation. The client appears anxious and restless, and the
high-pressure alarm is sounding. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first? Answer: Instruct the client to allow the machine to
breathe for them.
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who has a family history of colorectal
cancer. To help mitigate this risk, which of the following dietary
alterations should the nurse recommend? Answer: Add cabbage to the
diet.
◉ A home health nurse is assigned to a client who was recently
discharged from a rehabilitation center after experiencing a right-
hemispheric stroke. Which of the following neurologic deficits should
the nurse expect to find when assessing the client? (Select all that apply.)
Answer: Visual spatial deficits, Left hemianopsia, One-sided neglect
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has viral pneumonia. The client's
pulse oximeter readings have fluctuated between 79% and 88% for the
last 30 min. Which of the following oxygen delivery systems should the
nurse initiate to provide the highest concentration of oxygen? Answer:
Nonrebreather mask
,◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has bilateral pneumonia and an
SaO2 of 85%. The client has dyspnea with a productive cough and is
using accessory muscles to breathe. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first? Answer: Place the client in high-Fowler's
position.
◉ A nurse is planning care for a client who has extensive burn injuries
and is immunocompromised. Which of the following precautions should
the nurse include in the plan of care to prevent a Pseudomonas
aeruginosa infection? Answer: Avoid placing plants or flowers in the
client's room.
◉ An older adult client is brought to an emergency department by a
family member. Which of the following assessment findings should
cause the nurse to suspect that the client has hypertonic dehydration?
Answer: Urine specific gravity 1.045
◉ A nurse in an emergency department is reviewing the provider's
prescriptions for a client who sustained a rattlesnake bite to the lower
leg. Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse expect?
Answer: Administer an opioid analgesic to the client.
◉ A nurse is assessing a client who has had a suspected stroke. The
nurse should place the priority on which of the following findings?
Answer: Dysphagia
, ◉ A nurse is teaching a young adult client how to perform testicular
self-examination. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include? Answer: Roll each testicle between the thumb and fingers.
◉ A nurse is providing instructions to a client who has type 2 diabetes
mellitus and a new prescription for metformin. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
Answer: "I should take this medication with a meal."
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who has venous insufficiency about self-
care. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an
indication that the client understands the teaching? Answer: "I will wear
clean graduated compression stockings every day."
◉ A nurse is assessing a client who has acute cholecystitis. Which of the
following findings is the nurse's priority? Answer: Tachycardia
◉ A nurse is reviewing the health record of a client who is scheduled for
allergy skin testing. The nurse should postpone the testing and report to
the provider which of the following findings? (Click on the "Exhibit"
button for additional information about the client. There are three tabs
that contain separate categories of data.) Answer: Current medications
◉ A nurse is caring for a group of clients. The nurse should plan to
make a referral to physical therapy for which of the following clients?
Answer: A client who is receiving preoperative teaching for a right knee
arthroplasty
