Name that Assessment
Transfers
Vitals Gone Wild
Diagnosis Danger Zone
Reflex Roulette
100

This cognitive screening assessment is commonly used to identify delirium and cognitive impairment in adults.

What is the MoCA?

100

A therapist attempts a transfer while:

  • bed height is low
  • wheelchair unlocked
  • catheter line tangled

Identify TWO immediate safety concerns.

  • Fall risk
  • Line dislodgement
  • Poor therapist body mechanics
  • Wheelchair instability
100

A COPD patient’s oxygen saturation drops from 96% to 85% during dressing.

What is the OT’s PRIORITY response?

What is terminate or modify activity and assess recovery response?

100

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is experiencing an active flare.

Are resistive gripping activities appropriate?

No. Increasing risk of inflammation and joint stress. 

100

Retention of ATNR most directly impacts which school-related skill?

What is handwriting/crossing midline?

200

An OT needs to determine whether a patient’s inability to dress is due primarily to visual perceptual deficits rather than strength deficits following CVA.

Which assessment category is MOST appropriate?

What is a visual perceptual assessment?

200

A patient with right-sided weakness should generally transfer toward this side.

What is the unaffected side?

200

A patient reports dizziness after supine-to-stand transfer. BP drops significantly.

What condition should the OT suspect?

What is orthostatic hypotension?

200

A SCI patient develops:

  • pounding headache
  • flushing
  • elevated BP

What medical emergency should be suspected?

What is autonomic dysreflexia?

200

A child breaks crayons frequently and uses excessive force during writing tasks.

Which sensory system may be contributing MOST?

What is proprioceptive processing?

300

An OT selects this assessment to evaluate sensory processing patterns in children with ASD.

What is the Sensory Profile?

300

This body mechanics error MOST increases therapist injury risk.

What is twisting while lifting?

300

During therapy, a patient with COPD states:
“I can’t catch my breath.”

You observe:

  • accessory muscle use
  • SpO2 dropping from 93% → 86%
  • increasing anxiety

What breathing strategy could the OT coach immediately?

What is pursed-lip breathing?

300

A patient post-total hip replacement crosses their legs while seated.

Which precaution may be violated?

What is hip adduction & internal rotation precautions?

300

A child frequently switches hands during coloring and avoids bilateral activities.

Why should this concern OT beyond handwriting?

What is impact on bilateral coordination, praxis, and ADL participation?

400

A patient with RA demonstrates severe hand deformities. Which assessment best measures hand dexterity and fine motor coordination?

What is the Nine Hole Peg Test?

400

A patient with posterior hip precautions leans forward to stand. Which precaution is being violated?

What is hip flexion beyond 90 degrees?

400

A patient becomes suddenly confused during treatment and demonstrates:

  • slurred speech
  • facial droop
  • inability to follow commands

What should the OT do FIRST?


What is terminate treatment and seek immediate medical assistance?

400

A child with ASD suddenly screams and hides during group treatment after lights dim and music begins.

Why is calling this “bad behavior” poor clinical reasoning?

What is failure to recognize sensory processing/modulation contributions?

400

A student states:
“Primitive reflexes don’t matter in older children.”

Why is this inaccurate?

What is retained reflexes can continue impacting posture, coordination, attention, and participation?

500

A patient demonstrates poor ADL performance despite adequate ROM and strength.

Name TWO non-musculoskeletal domains the OT should further assess.

Possible answers:

  • Cognition
  • Vision/perception
  • Sensation
  • Psychosocial status
  • Motor planning
  • Executive functioning
500

A TBI patient impulsively attempts standing during a transfer despite instructions. What is the MOST appropriate OT response?

What is providing close guarding/contact guard and simplifying one-step directions while ensuring safety?

500

A patient with a cardiac history is participating in upper body dressing training. Mid-session the patient reports:

  • “heavy pressure” in the chest
  • nausea
  • pain radiating into the jaw
  • increasing fatigue

OT decides to end session. 

What documentation phrase would be MOST appropriate to document?

What is:
“Treatment terminated immediately secondary to patient-reported chest pressure and associated symptoms; nursing/medical staff notified immediately.”

500

A student aggressively stretches a patient with increasing flexor tone following acute CVA.

Why may this worsen the situation?

What is rapid stretching may increase spasticity/tone?

500

A child demonstrates:

  • exaggerated startle responses
  • emotional overreactions to unexpected noises
  • difficulty remaining calm during transitions
  • poor balance during movement activities
  • sensory overresponsivity in busy environments

The OT suspects retention of which primitive reflex?

What is the Moro reflex?

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