Are you ready for the new NBCOT®* scenario style questions?

“This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” – Taylor Swift

The new year brings new changes to the NBCOT exam format. As part of the new format, students will be tested on their ability to make informed decisions effectively in real-world scenarios through six-option multi-select scenario sets. 

To assist you in achieving your resolution of exam success, TrueLearn’s OTR SmartBank has all the updates to aid in your preparations.

Get a sneak peek of the latest updates with this sample question…

Try Out This Scenario Set Question

A lineman for a local telecommunications company climbed a 50-foot pole to complete a routine repair. The lineman was wearing proper harnessing and a helmet. A large gust of wind blew, and the lineman lost balance. The safety harness failed, and the lineman fell 50 feet to the ground. The lineman was unconscious and transported to the local trauma emergency center. 

In the emergency center, the lineman regained consciousness and the Glascow Coma Scale score was 3. The lineman underwent surgery to repair the right hip and the right shoulder. The lineman participated in acute care rehabilitation followed by a 14 day stay in inpatient rehabilitation. The lineman is then referred for outpatient occupational therapy services.

The client continues to be limited with cognitive functions. The client is approved for 3 more visits with the expectation that the client will return to work full time and without restrictions. Based on the client’s identified limitations, which recommendation is appropriate?

• Update the plan of care to include 10 – 12 additional visits, using workers compensation insurance, to focus on cognitive rehabilitation factors
• Encourage the client to return to work and provide documentation that the client meets all job requirements for safe return
• Recommend the client not return to the previous job as a lineman due to safety concerns
• Provide documentation that includes objective performance measures and comprehensive information regarding cognitive limitations that impact safety
• Discontinue the client’s occupational therapy services immediately due to lack of workers compensation coverage
• Discuss the workers compensation limitations with the client and have the client determine next steps to address cognitive limitations

Show The Answer Key

Answer Key: C, D, F

Answer Explanation

Based on the client’s limitations and concerns regarding safety, the occupational therapy practitioner is required to make appropriate recommendations based on the AOTA Code of Ethics principle of nonmaleficence. Nonmalfience encourages the occupational therapy practitioner to make recommendations that refrain from causing harm, injury, or wrongdoing. Recommending the client not return to the previous job as a lineman due to safety concerns is appropriate. The AOTA Code of Ethics principle of veracity requires accurate, comprehensive, and objective information to be conveyed through documentation. The occupational therapy practitioner is required to provide this comprehensive documentation that includes objective performance measures and comprehensive information regarding cognitive limitations that impact safety. Based on the AOTA Code of Ethics principle of autonomy, the occupational therapy practitioner should engage the client in the decision-making process. The client benefits from understanding the workers compensation insurance limitations as well as the impaired client factors, specifically cognitive factors, that impact a safe return to work. Encouraging the client to determine how to proceed is essential. The principle of autonomy encourages client to express personal views, opinions, and make decisions regarding care based on values and beliefs.

**To provide content that best aligns with the latest format, this question, similar to the scenario set items on the NBCOT, is just a sample of the multi-part question.

Get All The Updates To Outperform

This year is sure to be the best year yet. With the newest editions that follow the latest NBCOT exam format, you will be equipped with all of the tools you need to ensure you reach your exam goals and beyond in 2024. This includes…

1. New OTR Exam Content Outline: New categorization aligned to the OTR® exam content outline in our OT SmartBank.
2. Leverage Scenario-Based Items: Scenario sets like the ones that will be seen on the OTR® exam in 2024 will be available for quizzes. 
3. Option to Add-On Mock Exam: With the number of total questions on the OTR® exam increasing from 170 to 180, the predictive assessment will align to match the new exam length starting in 2024. All assessments will include 3 scenario sets too.
4. Picmonic Memory Anchors: Integrated within TrueLearn’s answer explanations, Picmonic’s audiovisual mnemonic video lessons includes 510+ videos covering 5,000+ need-to-know facts.

*NBCOT® and OTR® are registered trademarks owned by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. TrueLearn is not affiliated with or endorsed by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.