Part B

In this part of the test, there are six short extracts relating to the work of
health professionals. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, or C) which you
think fits best according to the text.

1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?

A. Some syringes can contain a mixture of two different medications.
B. Needles must never be broken after administering medications.
C. Two syringes of the same type cannot have different medications.

Aseptic Technique

Aseptic technique must be used when handling syringes and needles. The needle, the
tip and hub, the inside of the barrel, and the plunger must be kept sterile at all
times. Contamination of the plunger will contaminate the solution or medication as
the plunger goes down the barrel. All syringes should be labelled with the name of
the medication. If two or more syringes of the same type but containing different
solutions or medications are being used, they must be clearly labelled to prevent
confusion. If a needle is broken, it must be accounted for in its entirety.
Bending, shearing, breaking, or recapping contaminated needles is strictly
prohibited.

2. Which of the following can be understood from the text?

A. Face masks may be worn only when instructed by a nurse of a member of the
infection control team.
B. It is necessary for all hospital staff and visitors to follow additional
infection prevention precautions before entering the hospital premises.
C. Wearing face mask might not be required at all times.

Infection Prevention and Control

Each year, an excess of £1 billion is spent by NHS on healthcare-associated

infection. This is an infection that was neither present nor incubating at the time
of contact with the healthcare facility. All staff have a duty to protect patients
from harm and ensure colleagues, patients and visitors take infection prevention
seriously. It is necessary to apply standard precautions of infection at all times.
Additional precautions may be required in certain circumstance, and these will be
advised by a nurse in charge or a member of the infection control team. For
instance, certain conditions may require a face mask to be worn.

3. The email is reminding staff

A. that there have been breaches of confidence in the recent times.
B. the need for care while transmitting confidential information.
C. how to use the triple check method of using the fax machine.

To: All Staff

Subject: Faxing Confidential Information

Please note the following:

Take safety measures before faxing confidential information. A fax cover sheet
should contain instruction that the faxed material is to be given only to the named
recipient. Consent is needed from the client to fax information. Check that the fax
number is correct, check the number on the display of the machine after dialling,
and check a third time before pressing the "send" button. Follow up with the agency
receiving the fax to assure that the private records are received and placed in a
secure location as soon as the fax has been sent.

4. The passage supports the statement that

A. Patients and medical personnel should use the same language.
B. Some words may be interpreted differently by non-medical people.
C. Patients should be explained about anginas and migraines.

Clear Communication
Medical personnel are so immersed in jargon that it becomes part of their daily
speech. The patient may not understand the words or may have a different idea of
their meaning. Technical words such as myocardial infarction are in obvious need of
avoidance or explanation. Consider also terms such as exacerbate, chronic, numb,
and sputum - these may seem obvious in meaning to you but not to the patient. You
may think that some terms such as angina and migraine are so well-known that they
don't need explanation, but these are very often misinterpreted.

5. The passage suggests which of the following?

A. Older people prefer physical examination.
B. Symptoms in older people are not always typical.
C. Physical examination is the way to gain additional history.

Physical Examination
Many individuals perceive a comprehensive physical examination to be an intrusive
event that is best avoided if possible. However, for older people, in whom the
'typical' presentations of illness may be subtle or unusual, a thorough physical
examination is a cornerstone of assessment. The value of a thorough physical
examination can be underestimated by healthcare professionals, but may be highly
regarded as a therapeutic benefit by patients. Talking to the patient during the
examination is also a method of reassurance, while potentially gaining additional
history and most of all, engendering trust. The key message is the value of a
comprehensive, holistic and unrushed examination.

6. Before dispensing medicine, nurses

A. must contact the pharmacist.
B. are expected take written permission from the doctor.
C. must have had additional training.

Role of the Pharmacist

The pharmacist is legally responsible for the supply and distribution of drugs in
accordance with the law. However, in some cases, nurses who have had additional
training may dispense medicines, if this is in line with the hospital policy and
with the written instructions of a medical practitioner. The role of a pharmacist
also includes that of being a resource person for medicine information, and they
are responsible for checking that any newly prescribed medicine will not interact
dangerously with, or nullify, any existing medication.