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Punjab PSEB Matric NSQF Health Care study materials
Punjab PSEB Matric NSQF Health Care study resources

Punjab PSEB Matric NSQF Health Care practice questions

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Question 1Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Under the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, into which colour-coded container should used, contaminated sharps such as needles and scalpel blades be discarded?

  1. Red bag
  2. Blue bag
  3. White translucent puncture-proof container Correct answer.
  4. Yellow bag

Explanation

Sharps must never be placed in soft bags because they can pierce the plastic and injure handlers. The rules require used needles, blades and other sharps to go into a white translucent, puncture-proof, leak-proof container that is labelled with the biohazard symbol. Yellow, red and blue bags are used for other categories of waste such as human anatomical waste, contaminated recyclables and glass respectively.

Question 2Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A health care worker is about to shift a patient from a bed to a wheelchair. Which action best protects both the worker and the patient?

  1. Twist the trunk while lifting so the patient lands on the chair
  2. Bend at the waist, keep feet together and pull the patient quickly
  3. Keep feet apart, bend the knees, hold the patient close and move smoothly Correct answer.
  4. Ask the patient to grip the worker's neck and lift with straight legs

Explanation

Safe patient handling keeps the load close to the body, uses the strong leg muscles and avoids twisting the spine. A wide, stable base with flexed knees reduces the strain on the lower back. Twisting or jerky pulling movements are common causes of musculoskeletal injury to caregivers.

Question 3Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which set of vital signs is recorded as normal for a healthy resting adult?

  1. Pulse 95/min, respiration 8/min, temperature 35 C
  2. Pulse 120/min, respiration 24/min, temperature 38.5 C
  3. Pulse 48/min, respiration 10/min, temperature 39.5 C
  4. Pulse 72/min, respiration 16/min, temperature 37 C Correct answer.

Explanation

A resting adult normally has a pulse of about 60 to 100 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 12 to 20 breaths per minute and an oral temperature near 37 degrees Celsius. Only the set of 72, 16 and 37 falls inside all three ranges. The other sets contain values that indicate bradycardia, tachycardia, fever or hypothermia.

Question 4Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Hand hygiene with soap and water is specifically required, rather than alcohol-based hand rub, in which situation?

  1. Before entering a clean ward corridor
  2. After removing clean, unused gloves
  3. When hands are visibly soiled with blood or body fluids Correct answer.
  4. After touching intact skin of a patient

Explanation

Alcohol rubs are ineffective when organic matter such as blood, pus or faeces is present because the alcohol cannot reach the skin surface. Visible soiling therefore demands washing with soap and water, followed by drying. In the other listed situations an alcohol-based formulation is acceptable when hands are not visibly dirty.

Question 5Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

What is the main purpose of the cold chain in a health care facility?

  1. To keep vaccines and sera within their required temperature range until use Correct answer.
  2. To cool patients during high fever
  3. To store blood at room temperature before transfusion
  4. To freeze all medicines so that they last longer

Explanation

The cold chain is a linked system of refrigerators, cold boxes and vaccine carriers that keeps heat-sensitive products such as vaccines and sera between about 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. Breaking the chain can make a vaccine ineffective even though it looks normal. Freezing damages some vaccines, and blood has its own separate storage requirements.

Question 6Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient suddenly collapses and is unresponsive with no normal breathing. After calling for help, what should the health care worker do next?

  1. Place the patient in the recovery position and wait
  2. Start chest compressions at the centre of the chest at 100 to 120 per minute Correct answer.
  3. Give two rescue breaths before any compressions
  4. Give the patient water to drink

Explanation

In cardiac arrest, high-quality chest compressions must begin immediately at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute with adequate depth. Compressions restore some circulation to the brain and heart until a defibrillator arrives. Rescue breaths are given in a 30:2 ratio after compressions have started, and the recovery position is only for a breathing patient.

Question 7Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which document records the details of a patient's admission, nursing observations and treatment in a hospital ward?

  1. The purchase invoice of the pharmacy
  2. The equipment maintenance log
  3. The staff duty roster
  4. The patient's case sheet or hospital record Correct answer.

Explanation

The case sheet is the legal clinical record of a patient's admission, assessment, observations and care. It supports continuity of care and provides evidence if the record is needed for legal or audit purposes. The other documents relate to supplies, staffing and equipment rather than the individual patient.

Question 8Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which statement correctly describes the role of an NSQF Health Care assistant in a hospital ward?

  1. Diagnose diseases and prescribe medicines independently
  2. Provide basic patient care and assist nurses under supervision Correct answer.
  3. Perform major surgery without a surgeon present
  4. Approve the hospital's annual budget

Explanation

The Health Care vocational role is to support qualified staff by giving basic nursing care such as bed-making, feeding assistance, hygiene and vital sign recording under supervision. Diagnosis, prescribing and surgery are reserved for registered professionals with the required qualifications. Budget approval belongs to hospital administration.

Question 9Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient on bed rest develops a reddened area over the sacrum that does not blanch on pressure. What is the most appropriate first nursing action?

  1. Keep the area moist and covered with a tight bandage
  2. Apply a hot water bottle directly to the red patch
  3. Massage the reddened area firmly to improve circulation
  4. Relieve pressure on the area and reposition the patient regularly Correct answer.

Explanation

A non-blanching red area over a bony prominence is an early pressure ulcer, and the key intervention is to remove the pressure by regular repositioning and use of pressure-relieving support. Massaging damaged tissue causes further harm, and heat or tight bandaging worsens skin breakdown. Skin should be kept clean and dry, not moist.

Question 10Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A caregiver sustains a needle-stick injury from a used needle. Which sequence of actions is correct?

  1. Wash the wound with soap and water, report immediately and follow post-exposure prophylaxis protocol Correct answer.
  2. Ignore the injury if the needle looked clean
  3. Squeeze the wound hard, apply antiseptic and continue working without reporting
  4. Suck the wound to remove blood and cover it with a plaster

Explanation

After a sharps injury the wound should be washed gently with soap and running water, and the incident must be reported at once so that risk assessment and post-exposure prophylaxis can begin promptly. Squeezing, sucking or scrubbing the wound can increase tissue trauma and is not advised. Even an apparently clean needle carries risk and must be reported.

Question 11Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Why is the axillary route sometimes preferred over the oral route for measuring temperature in a small child?

  1. The oral route requires no thermometer
  2. The axillary route is always more accurate than the oral route
  3. The axillary route measures core temperature directly
  4. The oral route is unsafe or unreliable in an uncooperative or unconscious child Correct answer.

Explanation

Oral temperature needs the mouth closed and the tongue in place, which a young, restless or unconscious child cannot reliably maintain. The axillary route avoids the risk of biting or aspirating a thermometer and is safer in such children. It is not more accurate than oral measurement, and neither route measures core temperature directly.

Question 12Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is prescribed 500 mg of a drug, and the available tablet strength is 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets should be given?

  1. One tablet
  2. Half a tablet
  3. Four tablets
  4. Two tablets Correct answer.

Explanation

The dose required is divided by the strength of one tablet: 500 mg divided by 250 mg equals 2. Therefore two tablets supply the prescribed dose. Checking the calculation against the prescription before administration is an essential safety step.

Question 13Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which practice best prevents cross-infection when a sterile dressing is changed?

  1. Touching the sterile dressing surface with bare fingers
  2. Reusing the same dressing pack for the next patient
  3. Talking over the open wound without a mask
  4. Using clean gloves and placing the sterile dressing with forceps or sterile gloves Correct answer.

Explanation

Sterile technique requires that the sterile dressing never contact ungloved hands or non-sterile surfaces. Sterile forceps or sterile gloves maintain the sterile field and prevent organisms from entering the wound. Single-use packs must not be reused between patients, and talking or coughing over a wound can contaminate it.

Question 14Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient with diabetes reports sweating, trembling and confusion. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

  1. Withhold all food and fluids until the doctor arrives
  2. Give an insulin injection immediately
  3. Give a rapid-acting oral glucose source if the patient can swallow safely Correct answer.
  4. Start chest compressions

Explanation

Sweating, tremor and confusion in a diabetic patient suggest hypoglycaemia, which is corrected by giving fast-acting sugar such as glucose tablets or sweetened fluid if swallowing is safe. Insulin would lower blood glucose further and is dangerous. If the patient cannot swallow or is unconscious, urgent medical help and intravenous glucose are needed.

Question 15Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

What is the correct way to dispose of a used disposable syringe and needle after giving an injection?

  1. Break the needle off and throw it in a dustbin
  2. Flush the syringe down the toilet
  3. Drop the needle and syringe into a puncture-proof sharps container without recapping Correct answer.
  4. Recap the needle carefully and place it in the general waste bin

Explanation

Recapping is the commonest cause of needle-stick injuries, so the used needle should be dropped directly into a rigid sharps container without recapping. The container must be puncture-proof and clearly labelled. General waste, breaking needles and flushing them all create injury and infection risks for waste handlers and the public.

Question 16Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is receiving oxygen therapy through a nasal cannula. Which safety measure is essential?

  1. Post no-smoking signs and keep the area free of ignition sources Correct answer.
  2. Keep the patient near an open flame to warm the oxygen
  3. Increase the flow rate whenever the patient feels breathless without an order
  4. Smear petroleum jelly around the nostrils

Explanation

Oxygen supports combustion, so any spark or flame near the delivery system can cause a fire. No-smoking signs and removal of ignition sources are therefore mandatory. Petroleum-based ointments near the oxygen mask or cannula also increase fire risk, and flow rates must follow a doctor's prescription.

Question 17Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which of the following best describes the purpose of informed consent before a minor surgical procedure?

  1. It allows the nurse to perform the operation independently
  2. It confirms that the patient understands the procedure, risks and alternatives and agrees voluntarily Correct answer.
  3. It transfers legal responsibility from the surgeon to the patient
  4. It guarantees that the procedure will succeed

Explanation

Informed consent is the patient's voluntary agreement after receiving adequate information about the procedure, its risks, benefits and alternatives. It protects patient autonomy and does not transfer the surgeon's legal duty or guarantee the outcome. Only the qualified surgeon performs the operation.

Question 18Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is on a low-sodium diet. Which food choice is most suitable?

  1. Pickles and papad with every meal
  2. Packet soup and salted biscuits
  3. Processed cheese and salted butter
  4. Fresh fruit and unsalted cooked vegetables Correct answer.

Explanation

A low-sodium diet avoids added salt and foods preserved with salt. Fresh fruit and unsalted vegetables are naturally low in sodium and are therefore suitable. Pickles, papad, processed cheese, salted butter, packet soup and salted biscuits are all high in sodium and should be restricted.

Question 19Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which observation should be reported immediately as a warning sign of deterioration in a hospitalised patient?

  1. A single oral temperature of 37.1 C
  2. A pulse of 76 per minute after rest
  3. A blood pressure of 118/76 mmHg
  4. A fall in oxygen saturation to 88 percent on room air Correct answer.

Explanation

Oxygen saturation below about 90 percent on room air indicates hypoxaemia and is an early warning sign that needs prompt assessment. The other values are within normal adult ranges. Early reporting of abnormal vital signs allows timely intervention and prevents deterioration.

Question 20Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Why must a specimen for culture be collected before the first dose of an antibiotic?

  1. Antibiotics make the specimen change colour
  2. Antibiotics increase the growth of all bacteria equally
  3. Specimens collected later cannot be transported
  4. Antibiotics can suppress the organism and give a false negative result Correct answer.

Explanation

Antibiotics in the bloodstream may kill or inhibit the causative organism, so a specimen taken after the first dose can fail to grow the pathogen. Collecting before therapy improves the chance of identifying the organism and its sensitivity. Colour change and transport are not the reason for this timing rule.

Question 21Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is receiving a blood transfusion and develops chills, fever and flank pain soon after it starts. What should the worker do first?

  1. Slow the transfusion and continue observing
  2. Increase the flow rate to finish the unit quickly
  3. Give the patient a hot water bottle and continue
  4. Stop the transfusion immediately and inform the doctor Correct answer.

Explanation

Fever, chills and flank pain during transfusion suggest an acute haemolytic reaction, which can be life-threatening. The transfusion must be stopped at once, the line kept open with normal saline using new tubing, and the doctor informed immediately. Continuing or speeding up the transfusion can worsen the reaction.

Question 22Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

In a health care setting, which action best breaks the chain of infection at the portal of entry?

  1. Covering a surgical wound with a sterile dressing Correct answer.
  2. Boiling drinking water
  3. Vaccinating health care workers
  4. Isolating patients with airborne infection

Explanation

The portal of entry is the site through which an organism enters a susceptible host, such as a surgical wound or an intravenous line site. Keeping a wound covered with a sterile dressing blocks this portal. Vaccination improves host resistance, isolation interrupts transmission and boiling water addresses the reservoir and mode of transmission.

Question 23Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient's prescription reads 1000 mL of normal saline over 8 hours using a giving set that delivers 15 drops per mL. What is the correct drip rate per minute?

  1. About 15 drops per minute
  2. About 21 drops per minute
  3. About 45 drops per minute
  4. About 31 drops per minute Correct answer.

Explanation

The drip rate equals total volume multiplied by the drop factor, divided by total time in minutes. Here 1000 mL times 15 drops per mL equals 15000 drops, and 8 hours equals 480 minutes, giving about 31 drops per minute. This calculation prevents fluid overload or under-infusion.

Question 24Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis is being cared for in a general ward. Which combination of precautions is appropriate?

  1. Airborne precautions with a negative-pressure room and N95 respirator for staff Correct answer.
  2. Standard precautions only, with no special room
  3. Droplet precautions with a surgical mask for the patient during meals only
  4. Contact precautions with gloves only

Explanation

Tuberculosis is transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei that remain suspended and travel long distances, so airborne precautions are required. This means a negative-pressure or well-ventilated isolation room and a fit-tested N95 respirator for staff entering. Gloves alone or a mask only at mealtimes do not protect against airborne transmission.

Question 25Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient with a nasogastric tube is due for a feed. Which check must be completed before the feed is started?

  1. Flush the tube with air at high pressure
  2. Confirm tube placement and check the residual volume as per protocol Correct answer.
  3. Place the patient flat on the back during the feed
  4. Give the feed rapidly to save time

Explanation

Before any nasogastric feed, tube position must be confirmed by the approved method, and residual gastric volume is checked according to protocol to reduce the risk of aspiration. The patient should be nursed with the head elevated during and after feeding. Rapid feeding and a flat position increase the risk of aspiration and discomfort.

Question 26Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A health care assistant is asked to record a patient's pulse. Which two findings must always be recorded along with the rate per minute?

  1. Height and body weight
  2. Rhythm and volume Correct answer.
  3. Colour of the nail beds and skin temperature
  4. Blood pressure and respiratory rate

Explanation

A pulse is documented as rate per minute together with its rhythm (regular or irregular) and volume or strength, because an irregular or thready pulse can indicate a serious problem even when the rate is normal. Skin colour and blood pressure are separate observations, not part of the pulse record itself.

Question 27Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

While counting a patient's respirations, the health care assistant should ideally observe the chest movement without telling the patient that breathing is being counted. What is the main reason for this?

  1. Counting silently is required by hospital accounting rules
  2. Patients are usually embarrassed by chest movement
  3. Respirations must always be counted before the pulse
  4. Awareness makes many patients alter their rate and depth, giving a false reading Correct answer.

Explanation

Breathing is partly under voluntary control, so a patient who knows it is being counted may consciously change the rate or depth. Counting unobtrusively, often while still appearing to hold the wrist for pulse, gives a truer resting respiratory rate.

Question 28Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is prescribed a tablet to be given 'sublingually'. Where should the health care assistant place the tablet?

  1. Between the cheek and gum
  2. Under the tongue until it dissolves Correct answer.
  3. Crushed and mixed with curd
  4. Swallowed whole with a glass of water

Explanation

Sublingual means under the tongue, where the drug is absorbed through the thin oral mucosa directly into the bloodstream, giving rapid onset and avoiding first-pass liver metabolism. The tablet must not be swallowed or crushed unless specifically prescribed that way.

Question 29Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which statement correctly describes the purpose of the 'five rights' of medication administration?

  1. They are the five steps for sterilising reusable glass syringes
  2. They describe the five positions used for giving injections
  3. They list the five medicines a ward must always keep in stock
  4. They are a checking framework to confirm the right patient, drug, dose, route and time before giving a medicine Correct answer.

Explanation

The five rights form a safety checklist: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route and right time. Following them systematically reduces medication errors, and many services add right documentation and right to refuse as further checks.

Question 30Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is on strict fluid balance monitoring. Which entry belongs on the intake side of the chart?

  1. Vomit collected in a bowl
  2. Fluid drained from a nasogastric tube
  3. Urine passed into a bedpan
  4. A cup of tea taken by mouth Correct answer.

Explanation

Intake means fluid entering the body, including oral drinks, feeds, intravenous fluids and fluids given through tubes. Urine, vomit, drain output and tube aspirate are all measured as output.

Question 31Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which item of personal protective equipment is worn to protect the health care worker's eyes from splashes of blood or body fluids during a procedure?

  1. A cloth apron
  2. Cotton gloves
  3. A surgical cap
  4. Goggles or a face shield Correct answer.

Explanation

Eyes and the mucous membranes of the face are portals of entry for blood-borne pathogens, so goggles or a face shield are worn whenever splashing is likely. Gloves protect the hands and an apron protects clothing, but neither shields the eyes.

Question 32Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

When lifting a heavy patient from a bed to a chair, which technique best protects the health care worker's back?

  1. Bend at the waist and twist the trunk while lifting
  2. Keep the feet together and reach forward with straight legs
  3. Bend the knees, keep the back straight, hold the load close and lift using leg muscles Correct answer.
  4. Lift quickly with a jerking movement to get it over with

Explanation

Good body mechanics keep the load close to the body, use the strong leg muscles by bending the knees, and avoid twisting the spine. This reduces the compressive and shear forces on the lower back that cause injury.

Question 33Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

What is the main purpose of the 'R' in the RICE first-aid approach for a sprained ankle?

  1. Remove the shoe and walk on the ankle to test it
  2. Run the joint through its full range of movement
  3. Rest the injured part to limit further damage Correct answer.
  4. Rub the joint firmly to improve circulation

Explanation

In RICE, R stands for rest: the injured limb is rested and protected from further use so that bleeding and tissue damage are not worsened. The other letters are ice, compression and elevation.

Question 34Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is admitted with severe diarrhoea and vomiting. The doctor orders oral rehydration solution. Which instruction should the health care assistant give the patient about taking it?

  1. Stop the solution once the first loose stool has passed
  2. Take small frequent sips steadily, and continue even as thirst eases Correct answer.
  3. Take it only when the patient feels very thirsty
  4. Drink as much as possible in one go as fast as possible

Explanation

Oral rehydration solution is most effective when taken in small, frequent sips, which improves absorption and reduces vomiting. It should be continued steadily rather than only when thirsty, because thirst is a late and unreliable guide to dehydration.

Question 35Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is prescribed a hot water bottle to relieve abdominal cramp. Which precaution is most important?

  1. Leave it in place overnight without checking the skin
  2. Fill the bottle completely to the top with boiling water
  3. Wrap the bottle in a cloth and check the skin frequently Correct answer.
  4. Apply it directly to bare skin for maximum effect

Explanation

Heat application can cause burns, especially where sensation is reduced or skin is thin, so the source is wrapped in a cloth and the skin inspected regularly. Direct contact, boiling water and unsupervised long application all raise the risk of thermal injury.

Question 36Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is to be repositioned regularly to prevent pressure ulcers. Which schedule is most appropriate for a patient at high risk who is unable to move independently?

  1. Reposition at planned regular intervals, with the interval set by assessed risk and skin condition Correct answer.
  2. Reposition only when the patient complains of discomfort
  3. Reposition only after a pressure ulcer has already formed
  4. Reposition once every shift regardless of risk

Explanation

Repositioning is planned at regular intervals, and the interval is individualised according to assessed risk, skin tolerance and the support surface used. Relying on complaints is unsafe because patients with reduced sensation or consciousness may not feel or report discomfort.

Question 37Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient's urine is noticed to be dark, cloudy and foul-smelling, and the patient reports burning on passing urine. What is the most appropriate action for the health care assistant?

  1. Discard the sample and wait for the next routine ward round
  2. Record the observations and report them promptly to the nurse in charge Correct answer.
  3. Advise the patient to drink less fluid to concentrate the urine
  4. Ignore it because urine appearance varies during the day

Explanation

Cloudy, offensive urine with burning suggests urinary tract infection, which needs assessment and likely treatment. The assistant's role is to observe accurately, document and report promptly rather than to interpret or treat independently.

Question 38Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient who has had a stroke has difficulty swallowing. Which action is most appropriate before offering oral fluids?

  1. Prop the patient flat and offer a full glass of water
  2. Confirm that a swallow assessment has been done and follow the recommended texture and posture Correct answer.
  3. Give thin fluids quickly to test whether the patient can cope
  4. Assume the patient can swallow if they are awake and talking

Explanation

After a stroke, dysphagia must be assessed before anything is given by mouth, because aspiration can cause pneumonia or airway obstruction. The assistant should follow the assessed recommendations on fluid thickness and upright posture, and never test swallowing informally.

Question 39Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is prescribed a drug by intramuscular injection. Which site selection principle is correct?

  1. Choose the nearest bony prominence to the skin surface
  2. Choose a site with adequate muscle bulk, away from major nerves and blood vessels Correct answer.
  3. Use the same site for every injection to keep a record simple
  4. Always use the most painful site to improve absorption

Explanation

Safe intramuscular injection requires adequate muscle mass and avoidance of major nerves, blood vessels and bone. Repeated use of one site causes tissue damage and poor absorption, so sites are rotated.

Question 40Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is being helped to walk for the first time after several days of bed rest. Which action is most important for safety?

  1. Give the patient a hot drink and then start walking immediately
  2. Assess for dizziness and stand the patient up slowly with support nearby Correct answer.
  3. Ask the patient to walk unaided to build confidence quickly
  4. Remove the call bell so it does not get in the way during walking

Explanation

Prolonged bed rest causes postural hypotension, so the patient should be assessed for dizziness and mobilised slowly with assistance available. Falls during first mobilisation are common when the patient is rushed or left unsupported.

Question 41Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient in a hospital bed is at risk of falling. Which combination of measures best reduces that risk?

  1. Raise the bed to maximum height so the patient can see the ward
  2. Leave the room dark and the door closed so the patient sleeps
  3. Keep the bed at a low height with side rails as assessed, keep the call bell within reach and check the patient frequently Correct answer.
  4. Restrain the patient to the bed frame with cloth ties

Explanation

Fall prevention combines a low bed height, appropriate use of side rails based on individual assessment, easy access to the call bell and frequent observation. Physical restraint is not a substitute for supervision and carries its own serious risks.

Question 42Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient with a colostomy needs a bag change. Which action best protects the skin around the stoma?

  1. Cut the wafer opening much larger than the stoma to allow air circulation
  2. Clean gently, dry thoroughly and fit a correctly sized wafer so no skin is exposed to stool Correct answer.
  3. Scrub the stoma vigorously with antiseptic until it bleeds
  4. Apply the new bag over wet skin to improve adhesion

Explanation

Stoma skin care aims to keep the surrounding skin clean, dry and protected from effluent. A correctly sized opening prevents stool from contacting skin, which would cause excoriation and poor adhesion.

Question 43Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A health care assistant notices that a colleague is about to give a medicine to the wrong patient. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

  1. Report the colleague to the police immediately
  2. Wait until the drug has been given and then report it
  3. Interrupt politely and check the patient's identity band and prescription before the medicine is given Correct answer.
  4. Say nothing because the colleague is senior

Explanation

Preventing a medication error requires stopping the administration and verifying identity against the band and prescription. Speaking up promptly protects the patient, and the event should then be reported through the correct clinical channel.

Question 44Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is prescribed a clear fluid diet. Which set of items is appropriate?

  1. Boiled rice, dal and chapati
  2. Clear broth, strained fruit juice, jelly and water Correct answer.
  3. Fried vegetables and buttered toast
  4. Milk, custard and ice cream

Explanation

A clear fluid diet consists of liquids that leave little residue in the gut and are transparent at body temperature, such as clear broth, strained juice, jelly and water. Milk, solids and fatty foods are excluded because they require digestion and leave residue.

Question 45Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient needs a specimen of sputum for testing. Which instruction gives the best quality sample?

  1. Collect the sample after starting antibiotics
  2. Collect material coughed up from deep in the chest, ideally early in the morning, into a clean container Correct answer.
  3. Spit saliva from the mouth into the container
  4. Breathe onto the container surface to collect droplets

Explanation

A useful sputum specimen comes from the lower respiratory tract, so the patient is asked to cough deeply, preferably on waking when secretions have accumulated. Saliva is not sputum and breathing onto a surface collects nothing diagnostic.

Question 46Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is receiving a nebuliser treatment. Which action by the health care assistant is most appropriate during and after the treatment?

  1. Sit the patient upright, observe breathing, and clean the mask and chamber after use Correct answer.
  2. Leave the patient alone and return when the machine switches off
  3. Reuse the same mask for several patients without cleaning
  4. Add extra medicine to the chamber to make the treatment stronger

Explanation

Nebulised drugs can cause bronchospasm, tachycardia or dizziness, so the patient is sat upright and observed during treatment. Equipment is cleaned after use to prevent transmission of organisms between treatments.

Question 47Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient has been prescribed a liquid medicine measured in millilitres. Which measuring device gives the most accurate dose?

  1. A household teaspoon
  2. An ordinary drinking glass
  3. An oral syringe or a graduated medicine cup marked in millilitres Correct answer.
  4. A dessert spoon

Explanation

Household spoons vary widely in volume, so doses measured with them are inaccurate, especially for children and potent drugs. A graduated oral syringe or a cup marked in millilitres delivers the prescribed volume reliably.

Question 48Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient's temperature is recorded as 38.9 degrees Celsius. The patient feels hot and has a mild headache but is alert and drinking. Which response by the health care assistant is most appropriate?

  1. Apply ice packs to the whole body and cover the patient with heavy blankets
  2. Give an antipyretic from the ward stock without a prescription
  3. Record the value and take no further action because a fever is harmless
  4. Report the temperature, encourage fluids, and follow the care plan for monitoring and comfort measures Correct answer.

Explanation

A raised temperature must be documented and reported so that the cause can be assessed and treated. Meanwhile fluids and comfort measures are appropriate, but medicines must be given only on prescription, and extreme cooling measures can cause shivering and further heat production.

Question 49Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A patient is receiving intravenous fluid through a peripheral cannula. The health care assistant notices swelling, coolness and pain around the cannula site, and the drip has slowed. What does this suggest and what should be done?

  1. The patient is dehydrated; give extra oral fluids and continue
  2. The tubing needs to be flushed with air to clear it
  3. Fluid is leaking into the tissues; stop the infusion and report immediately Correct answer.
  4. The cannula is working well; increase the flow rate

Explanation

Swelling, coolness and pain around a cannula with a slowing drip indicate that fluid is entering the tissues rather than the vein. The infusion must be stopped and the problem reported so the cannula can be assessed and resited.

Question 50Health Care (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A health care assistant is caring for two patients: one with an open, discharging wound and one recovering from surgery with a fresh abdominal incision. Which principle best guides the order and organisation of care?

  1. Care for the patient with the fresh incision first, and use gloves and hand hygiene between all contacts Correct answer.
  2. Care for the discharging wound first because it needs more attention
  3. Care for both patients together without changing gloves
  4. Use the same gloves for both patients to save supplies

Explanation

Organising care so that the patient most vulnerable to infection is seen first, combined with hand hygiene and glove changes between patients, reduces the transfer of organisms. Shared gloves or shared care sessions defeat standard precautions.