NRCMA Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: A

About 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate, such as 4 oz of juice: Correct. For a conscious patient, the 'rule of 15' calls for about 15 g of quick sugar and a recheck in 15 minutes.

An extra dose of the patient's own insulin from his bag: Incorrect. Insulin lowers glucose further and could make hypoglycemia worse.

A high-protein, high-fat snack such as a cheese sandwich: Incorrect. Fat and protein slow absorption; quick sugar is needed first.

Nothing by mouth until the provider can examine the patient: Incorrect. Delaying treatment of a conscious hypoglycemic patient can lead to loss of consciousness.

Hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) in a conscious patient: 15 g fast carbohydrate, recheck in 15 minutes, repeat if needed.

Answer: B

Colectomy: Incorrect. -ectomy means surgical removal; a colectomy removes all or part of the colon.

Colostomy: Correct. -stomy means creating a new opening; a colostomy brings the colon to the abdominal surface as a stoma.

Colotomy: Incorrect. -tomy means cutting into; a colotomy is an incision into the colon, not a lasting opening.

Coloplasty: Incorrect. -plasty means surgical repair or reshaping.

-ectomy = removal, -tomy = incision, -stomy = new opening, -plasty = repair.

Answer: A

Vitamins A, D, E and K: Correct. A, D, E and K dissolve in fat, are stored in the liver and fatty tissue, and can reach toxic levels in excess.

Vitamins B1, B6, B12 and C: Incorrect. B vitamins and vitamin C are water-soluble and mostly excreted in urine.

Vitamins A, C, D and folate: Incorrect. Vitamin C and folate are water-soluble.

Vitamins C, E, K and niacin: Incorrect. Vitamin C and niacin (B3) are water-soluble.

Fat-soluble: A, D, E, K ('ADEK'); water-soluble: B complex and C.

Answer: D

Lavender, light blue, gray: Incorrect. Drawing EDTA first can carry additive into the citrate tube and distort coagulation results.

Gray, lavender, light blue: Incorrect. Gray is drawn last in the standard order, and coagulation tubes come early.

Light blue, gray, lavender: Incorrect. EDTA (lavender) comes before the glycolytic inhibitor (gray) tube.

Light blue, lavender, gray: Correct. CLSI order: blood cultures, light blue, red/gold, green, lavender, gray. This limits additive carryover between tubes.

Order of draw (CLSI): cultures → light blue → red/gold → green → lavender → gray.

Answer: D

2 mL: Incorrect. This treats 0.25 g as 25 mg or divides the wrong way; 0.25 g equals 250 mg.

5 mL: Incorrect. 5 mL holds only 125 mg, half the ordered dose.

20 mL: Incorrect. 20 mL would give 500 mg, twice the ordered dose.

10 mL: Correct. 0.25 g = 250 mg; (250 mg ÷ 125 mg) × 5 mL = 10 mL.

Convert to matching units first (1 g = 1,000 mg), then use dose desired ÷ dose on hand × volume.

Answer: B

Smith, John A.: Incorrect. 'John' comes after the initial 'J' alone because a single letter is filed before a full name starting with that letter.

Smith, J.: Correct. 'Nothing before something': an initial alone is filed before any full name beginning with that letter.

Smith, Jonathan: Incorrect. 'Jonathan' comes after both 'J.' and 'John'.

Smithe, Ann: Incorrect. 'Smithe' comes after every 'Smith' because the surname is compared first.

Alphabetic filing: compare unit by unit (last name, then first, then middle); 'nothing comes before something.'