Free · 2026 · 20% of the NHA CPT Phlebotomy Patient Preparation practice questions

What the NHA CPT exam tests in Patient Preparation

• Communication and professionalism: introducing yourself (name, title, department), explaining the procedure, active listening and open-ended questions, nonverbal communication, cultural, religious, psychosocial and economic considerations, gender identity and pronoun use, language barriers and interpreters, patients with hearing, vision or cognitive impairment, children and older adults
• Orders and requisitions: required fields (patient demographics, ordering provider, diagnosis code, tests ordered, priority), STAT, ASAP, routine and timed orders, ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and medical necessity, insurance verification and copayments, registration and new patient accounts, EHR data entry
• Patient identification: two identifiers, active identification, inpatient ID bands, outpatients, unidentified emergency patients, children and patients who can't communicate, resolving discrepancies, privacy during identification
• Consent: informed, expressed and implied consent, patient refusal, minors and patients who cannot consent (parents and legal guardians)
• Testing requirements and patient variables: fasting, basal state, medications, diurnal variation and timing of draws, allergies (latex, adhesive, antiseptics), history of fainting, recent surgery, mastectomy, fistulas and grafts, IV lines, age and physical or mental condition
• Patient positioning for venipuncture and capillary collection; matching the collection tube to the ordered test; minimum and maximum blood volume
• Site selection following CLSI standards: antecubital veins (median cubital, cephalic, basilic; H and M patterns), hand veins, sites to avoid (scars, burns, hematomas, edema, IV arm, fistula, mastectomy side, sclerosed veins), nearby nerves and arteries; vascular anatomy of the arm, hand and foot
• Non-blood specimens: instructing patients on random and first-morning urine, clean-catch midstream urine, 24-hour urine, stool, sputum and semen collection

High-yield patient preparation facts

• Requisition must include: full name, DOB, MRN or ID, ordering provider, tests, priority, collection date and time, ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (medical necessity), billing and insurance information, special instructions (fasting, timed, line draw).
• No valid order = no draw. If anything is missing or unclear, call the provider's office.
• ICD-10-CM = diagnoses (letter first, 3-7 characters). CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes = procedures and services. HCPCS Level II = supplies and some services for Medicare.
• ABN (Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage): given to a Medicare patient BEFORE a test Medicare may not cover; the patient chooses and signs.
• Outpatient front desk: register new patients (demographics, insurance card, photo ID), verify insurance, collect copays per policy, enter data accurately in the EHR or LIS.
• Introduce yourself: knock, then give name, title and department. Explain the procedure and roughly how long it takes. Say 'a quick pinch,' never 'this won't hurt.'

The full Phlebotomy High-Yield Cram Sheet comes with full prep.

Common patient preparation traps

• Room or bed number is never an identifier; the ID band must be ON the patient.
• Ask the patient to state their name; don't ask a yes/no question.
• No band or any mismatch: don't draw; involve the nurse.
• Rolling up a sleeve = implied consent; a competent adult's refusal must be honored and documented.
• STAT before ASAP before routine.
• Median cubital first, basilic last; the basilic lies near the brachial artery and median nerve.
• Never the fistula arm; below an IV only if unavoidable, after the infusion is stopped.
• Edema dilutes; fist pumping raises potassium.

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