OTA Ultimate Occupational Therapy Assistant 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An OTA is reviewing a client's chart and notices a wound on the client's sacrum during a dressing session. What is the FIRST action the OTA should take?
- Treat the wound immediately using available supplies
- Document the wound and continue with the session without telling anyone
- Notify the supervising OT and appropriate medical staff (Correct answer)
- Discharge the client and reschedule
Correct answer: Notify the supervising OT and appropriate medical staff
An OTA must immediately report unexpected clinical findings such as a wound to the supervising OT and relevant medical staff to ensure appropriate care.
Question 2: Which splint design is MOST appropriate to prevent a boutonniere deformity from worsening in a client with rheumatoid arthritis?
- Resting hand splint in functional position
- PIP joint extension splint (Correct answer)
- Wrist cock-up splint
- Dynamic finger flexion splint
Correct answer: PIP joint extension splint
A PIP joint extension splint maintains the proximal interphalangeal joint in extension, directly preventing progression of boutonniere deformity.
Question 3: A client with Parkinson's disease is having difficulty with micrographia. Which intervention BEST addresses this occupational performance issue?
- Provide a thicker-barreled pen and practice with larger letter templates (Correct answer)
- Restrict all handwriting activities to reduce fatigue
- Switch entirely to typing on a keyboard
- Use fine motor putty exercises without any writing practice
Correct answer: Provide a thicker-barreled pen and practice with larger letter templates
A thicker pen reduces grip effort and practicing with larger templates provides visual and motor cues to counteract micrographia in Parkinson's disease.
Question 4: When using a gait belt to assist a client with transfers, where should the OTA position themselves?
- Behind the client
- Directly in front of the client
- On the client's weaker or affected side (Correct answer)
- On the client's stronger or unaffected side
Correct answer: On the client's weaker or affected side
Standing on the client's weaker side allows the OTA to provide support where the client is most at risk for losing balance during a transfer.
Question 5: Which assessment is specifically designed to measure an older adult's ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)?
- Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
- Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (Correct answer)
- Barthel Index
- Glasgow Coma Scale
Correct answer: Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
The Lawton IADL Scale specifically assesses complex daily tasks such as managing finances, telephone use, and medication management in older adults.
Question 6: A pediatric client with autism spectrum disorder frequently elopes during therapy. Which environmental modification BEST addresses safety?
- Increase the number of therapists in the room
- Use visual schedules and structured predictable routines in the therapy space (Correct answer)
- Remove all toys to decrease stimulation
- Conduct therapy only in hallways with open space
Correct answer: Use visual schedules and structured predictable routines in the therapy space
Visual schedules and structured routines reduce unpredictability and anxiety that often trigger elopement behavior in children with ASD.
Question 7: An OTA notices a client's performance has plateaued and goals are no longer being met. What is the MOST appropriate next step?
- Continue the current plan and wait for spontaneous improvement
- Independently revise the treatment goals
- Communicate findings to the supervising OT for re-evaluation and plan modification (Correct answer)
- Discharge the client due to lack of progress
Correct answer: Communicate findings to the supervising OT for re-evaluation and plan modification
When progress plateaus, the OTA must communicate this to the supervising OT, who has the authority to reassess and modify the plan of care.
OTA Ultimate Occupational Therapy Assistant 3
An OTA is reviewing a client's chart and notices a wound on the client's sacrum during a dressing session.
What is the FIRST action the OTA should take?