Master NBCOT Exam: Essential
Questions for Aspiring OTRs.
A client's wrist and thumb joints are limited in range of motion, and the client complains
of some mild discomfort that affects the client's caregiving duties at home. The OTR®
wants to facilitate movement, increase circulation, and decrease pain. What would be
the MOST appropriate use of thermal modalities?
A. Use deep heat while stretching the client's stiff joints.
B. Use superficial heat before or during a passive stretch.
C. Use superficial heat or deep heat without stretching the client's stiff joints.
D. Use a different modality for this problem. -
\The right answer is B
Mild heat before or during a passive stretch will give the best results and increase range
of motion and circulation, because the heat will have a soothing effect and decrease
discomfort.
A: Deep heat is indicated for contractures, scarring, pain, and muscle spasms, not for
generalized stiffness.
C: Use of heat should always be paired with some type of movement, stretch, or
activity.
D: Heat is indicated when an OTR wants to increase motion and circulation and a client
complains of aching pain.
Retired NBCOT® Question
An OTR® is setting up a booth to promote occupational therapy services at a
community-sponsored health fair. A vendor has donated various therapy equipment and
product brochures for the OTR® to display. When reading one of the brochures, the
OTR® identifies a product promotion that claims to eliminate pain for any condition.
What is the BEST course of action for the OTR® to take regarding this printed
information?
A. Display only those products that are supported in occupational therapy literature by
evidence-based research.
B. Post a product disclaimer about the equipment at the booth that is visible to the
health fair attendees.
,C. Advise the company representative that the product information and equipment
cannot be displayed at the health fair.
D. Recognize that the claim is invalid and eliminate the printed product endorsement
from the booth. -
\The right answer is D
Practitioners are ethically obligated to report any acts that make false claims and must
not use such products or services in practice to refrain from any actions that may inflict
harm.
A: Products do not have to be supported in occupational therapy literature to be
incorporated in practice, though considering the evidence base is important.
B: Product disclaimer is not sufficient to avoid the use of products or services that make
false claims or may potentially inflict harm. The product or service may not be used in
practice at all.
C: The product should be reported to appropriate authorities who can take action with
the company representative.
What is included when using a top-down approach to reduce risks in jobs?
A. Work hardening program to increase endurance
B. Maintaining neutral spine alignment in lifting
C. Involving managers in work
simplification
D. Individual workstation ergonomic assessment -
\The right answer is C
A top-down approach includes systemwide changes and management support of the
change process.
A, B, D: These options are bottom-up approaches that focus on addressing the person's
risk for the job task.
A client with stroke is in inpatient rehabilitation, and at the start of the intervention
session the OTR®; is observing as the client sits at the dining table in a wheelchair. The
client's hips are extended, and the client is leaning on the unaffected left upper
extremity. What should the OTR's FIRST approach be?
A. Reposition the client in the wheelchair with hips flexed at 90° and the upper extremity
resting in the lap
,B. Transfer the client to another wheelchair that provides a lap tray for upper-extremity
support.
C. Transfer the client to a standard chair with arms for positioning in posterior pelvic tilt.
D. Complete the Berg Balance Scale to determine the client's postural needs -
\The right answer is A
Ideal seated posture for a client with hemiparesis is hips flexed at 90° with shoulders
over hips and arms relaxed in lap; the upper extremities should not be used to provide
support in sitting.
B: Clients with hemiparesis need frequent repositioning in sitting to maintain upright
posture; supine positioning does not facilitate the return of muscle strength for sitting
and should not be the first choice.
C: Changing the chair surface does not necessarily improve the client's positioning in
the chair.
D: The Berg Balance Scale is recommended as an evaluation tool for clients with
stroke, but assessment is not the appropriate first approach given the client's current
position. Correcting the client's positioning is first priority.
An OTR® has discontinued occupational therapy services with a client. A month after
the completion of services, the client and the OTR see each other unexpectedly at the
local grocery store. They both express interest in dating the other person. They start
dating within a month of this meeting at the grocery store.
A. This action is illegal and should be reported to the authorities immediately.
B. This action is within the occupational therapy ethical guidelines for the principle of
Nonmaleficence.
C. This action is within the occupational therapy ethical guidelines for the principle of
Beneficence.
D. This action may or may not be ethically appropriate and needs to be investigated
further. -
\The right answer is D
D: Principle 2, Nonmaleficence, states that occupational therapy personnel shall
intentionally refrain from actions that cause harm. Principle 2C states that practitioners
shall avoid engaging in any sexual relationship or activity with recipients of services.
Although the client and OTR are no longer in a professional relationship, Principle 2I
requires the OTR to "avoid exploiting any relationship established as an occupational
therapy clinician, educator, or researcher to further one's own physical, emotional,
financial, political, or business interests at the expense of recipients of services,
students, research participants, employees, or colleagues."
, A: Even if it were inappropriate for the OTA and the former client to begin dating, it
would not be illegal as long as it was consensual. More information is needed, however,
because State law may prohibit this interaction.
B: The OT and the client are no longer in a professional relationship, but further
investigation is warranted to ensure that the OT is not using his or her role in an
exploitative manner.
C: Beneficence is the principle that occupational therapy personnel shall demonstrate a
concern for the well-being and safety of the recipients of their services. It does not apply
in this scenario because the OT and the client are no longer in a professional
relationship.
A client with middle-stage Huntington's disease (HD) is displaying fatigue during lower
body dressing tasks. What would be an appropriate intervention strategy for the OTR®
to use with this client?
A. The OTR® should engage the client in an intense cardiovascular exercise routine.
B. The OTR® should encourage the client to take frequent breaks during lower body
ADL tasks.
C. The OTR® should train the client in the use of lower body adaptive equipment such
as a sock aid.
D. The OTR® should educate the client's caregivers on appropriate assistance to
provide to the client during dressing. -
\The right answer is B
Because the client's primary complaint is fatigue, taking rest breaks would be
appropriate.
A: Given that HD is a progressive loss of motor control, an intense exercise routine
would most likely be too difficult for the client.
C: Incoordination and decreased motor control would make learning adaptive
equipment difficult.
D: Although caregiver education would be important, encouraging independence in
ADLs as the client is able is still important to reduce caregiver burden and stress.
X- An OTR® is working with a client who is concerned about resuming sexual activity
after an amputation. What education strategy would be appropriate for the OTR to use
with this client?
A. Encourage the client's exploration of his or her "new" body.
Questions for Aspiring OTRs.
A client's wrist and thumb joints are limited in range of motion, and the client complains
of some mild discomfort that affects the client's caregiving duties at home. The OTR®
wants to facilitate movement, increase circulation, and decrease pain. What would be
the MOST appropriate use of thermal modalities?
A. Use deep heat while stretching the client's stiff joints.
B. Use superficial heat before or during a passive stretch.
C. Use superficial heat or deep heat without stretching the client's stiff joints.
D. Use a different modality for this problem. -
\The right answer is B
Mild heat before or during a passive stretch will give the best results and increase range
of motion and circulation, because the heat will have a soothing effect and decrease
discomfort.
A: Deep heat is indicated for contractures, scarring, pain, and muscle spasms, not for
generalized stiffness.
C: Use of heat should always be paired with some type of movement, stretch, or
activity.
D: Heat is indicated when an OTR wants to increase motion and circulation and a client
complains of aching pain.
Retired NBCOT® Question
An OTR® is setting up a booth to promote occupational therapy services at a
community-sponsored health fair. A vendor has donated various therapy equipment and
product brochures for the OTR® to display. When reading one of the brochures, the
OTR® identifies a product promotion that claims to eliminate pain for any condition.
What is the BEST course of action for the OTR® to take regarding this printed
information?
A. Display only those products that are supported in occupational therapy literature by
evidence-based research.
B. Post a product disclaimer about the equipment at the booth that is visible to the
health fair attendees.
,C. Advise the company representative that the product information and equipment
cannot be displayed at the health fair.
D. Recognize that the claim is invalid and eliminate the printed product endorsement
from the booth. -
\The right answer is D
Practitioners are ethically obligated to report any acts that make false claims and must
not use such products or services in practice to refrain from any actions that may inflict
harm.
A: Products do not have to be supported in occupational therapy literature to be
incorporated in practice, though considering the evidence base is important.
B: Product disclaimer is not sufficient to avoid the use of products or services that make
false claims or may potentially inflict harm. The product or service may not be used in
practice at all.
C: The product should be reported to appropriate authorities who can take action with
the company representative.
What is included when using a top-down approach to reduce risks in jobs?
A. Work hardening program to increase endurance
B. Maintaining neutral spine alignment in lifting
C. Involving managers in work
simplification
D. Individual workstation ergonomic assessment -
\The right answer is C
A top-down approach includes systemwide changes and management support of the
change process.
A, B, D: These options are bottom-up approaches that focus on addressing the person's
risk for the job task.
A client with stroke is in inpatient rehabilitation, and at the start of the intervention
session the OTR®; is observing as the client sits at the dining table in a wheelchair. The
client's hips are extended, and the client is leaning on the unaffected left upper
extremity. What should the OTR's FIRST approach be?
A. Reposition the client in the wheelchair with hips flexed at 90° and the upper extremity
resting in the lap
,B. Transfer the client to another wheelchair that provides a lap tray for upper-extremity
support.
C. Transfer the client to a standard chair with arms for positioning in posterior pelvic tilt.
D. Complete the Berg Balance Scale to determine the client's postural needs -
\The right answer is A
Ideal seated posture for a client with hemiparesis is hips flexed at 90° with shoulders
over hips and arms relaxed in lap; the upper extremities should not be used to provide
support in sitting.
B: Clients with hemiparesis need frequent repositioning in sitting to maintain upright
posture; supine positioning does not facilitate the return of muscle strength for sitting
and should not be the first choice.
C: Changing the chair surface does not necessarily improve the client's positioning in
the chair.
D: The Berg Balance Scale is recommended as an evaluation tool for clients with
stroke, but assessment is not the appropriate first approach given the client's current
position. Correcting the client's positioning is first priority.
An OTR® has discontinued occupational therapy services with a client. A month after
the completion of services, the client and the OTR see each other unexpectedly at the
local grocery store. They both express interest in dating the other person. They start
dating within a month of this meeting at the grocery store.
A. This action is illegal and should be reported to the authorities immediately.
B. This action is within the occupational therapy ethical guidelines for the principle of
Nonmaleficence.
C. This action is within the occupational therapy ethical guidelines for the principle of
Beneficence.
D. This action may or may not be ethically appropriate and needs to be investigated
further. -
\The right answer is D
D: Principle 2, Nonmaleficence, states that occupational therapy personnel shall
intentionally refrain from actions that cause harm. Principle 2C states that practitioners
shall avoid engaging in any sexual relationship or activity with recipients of services.
Although the client and OTR are no longer in a professional relationship, Principle 2I
requires the OTR to "avoid exploiting any relationship established as an occupational
therapy clinician, educator, or researcher to further one's own physical, emotional,
financial, political, or business interests at the expense of recipients of services,
students, research participants, employees, or colleagues."
, A: Even if it were inappropriate for the OTA and the former client to begin dating, it
would not be illegal as long as it was consensual. More information is needed, however,
because State law may prohibit this interaction.
B: The OT and the client are no longer in a professional relationship, but further
investigation is warranted to ensure that the OT is not using his or her role in an
exploitative manner.
C: Beneficence is the principle that occupational therapy personnel shall demonstrate a
concern for the well-being and safety of the recipients of their services. It does not apply
in this scenario because the OT and the client are no longer in a professional
relationship.
A client with middle-stage Huntington's disease (HD) is displaying fatigue during lower
body dressing tasks. What would be an appropriate intervention strategy for the OTR®
to use with this client?
A. The OTR® should engage the client in an intense cardiovascular exercise routine.
B. The OTR® should encourage the client to take frequent breaks during lower body
ADL tasks.
C. The OTR® should train the client in the use of lower body adaptive equipment such
as a sock aid.
D. The OTR® should educate the client's caregivers on appropriate assistance to
provide to the client during dressing. -
\The right answer is B
Because the client's primary complaint is fatigue, taking rest breaks would be
appropriate.
A: Given that HD is a progressive loss of motor control, an intense exercise routine
would most likely be too difficult for the client.
C: Incoordination and decreased motor control would make learning adaptive
equipment difficult.
D: Although caregiver education would be important, encouraging independence in
ADLs as the client is able is still important to reduce caregiver burden and stress.
X- An OTR® is working with a client who is concerned about resuming sexual activity
after an amputation. What education strategy would be appropriate for the OTR to use
with this client?
A. Encourage the client's exploration of his or her "new" body.
