Medical Assistant Procedures and Responsibilities, Exams of Nursing

Download Medical Assistant Procedures and Responsibilities and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity! NHA CCMA Practice test questions Improved Version of 2024 Acustomary fee is a range of fees charged by providers who have similar training and experience and practice in the same geographical area. Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a patient is having discomfort and difficulty breathing? - ✔✔Dyspnea. Dyspnea is a term used to indicate that a pt is experiencing difficult or painful breathing Which of the following tests is granted waived status under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)? - ✔✔Rapid strep test. A characteristic of anorexia nervosa? - ✔✔Excessive exercise Other symptorms include self-starvation excessive fear of gaining weight, and ritualistic eating behaviors a MA is contacting a patient to schedule a repeat Papanicolaou test due to abnormal results. The assistant should identify that which of the following factors can interfere with the test results? - ✔✔Using an over-the-counter vaginal cream prior to the test. A pt should avoid using over-the-counter vaginal creams prior to the test a MA is preparing a community resource library. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first? - ✔✔Comple a list of local community agencies. The first step the MA should take is to research identify and create a list of available local community resources and services a MA is preparing to create a report about patients who have a family history of breast cancer. Which of the following types of software will allow the assistant to sort. retrieve, and combine information for this report? - ✔✔Database management. The MA should use a database management system to sort and retrieve information quickly. A database allows the MA to track specific information and create customized applications to sort the information and create reports. A medical assistant discovers a garbage can fire has started in the break room of the medical office. According to the RACE acronym for emergency response. which of the following actions should the assistant take first? - ✔✔Evacuate staff and patients from the immediate area. A medical assistant has a blood pressure cuff inflated and partially opens the valve to deflate as he listens with a stethoscope. When should he read the diastolic pressure? - ✔✔When the sound disappears. The assistant should measure the patient's diastolic A medical assistant is administering an intramuscular injection into the gluteus medius of an adult patient. At which of the following angles should the assistant insert the needle? - ✔✔90°angle A 90° angle is used primarily for intramuscular injections in adult patients. A medical assistant is administering Heparin subcutaneously to a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Inject the medication slowly. Heparin needs to go into the fat layer under the skin. Pinch the skin lightly and put the needle in at a 45º angle. Push the needle all the way into the skin. Let go of the pinched skin. Inject the heparin slowly and steadily until it is all in. leave the needle in for 5 seconds A medical assistant is applying a transdermal patch for a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Apply the patch to a hairless area of the patient's skin. Body hair can interfere with the distribution of the medication to the skin. The lower abdomen or upper arm are good location choices for a transdermal patch. A medical assistant is assisting a provider with an abdominal examination. When the provider palpates the major portion of the liver, the assistant should recognize that he is palpating which of the following abdominal quadrants? - ✔✔Right upper. The right upper quadrant contains the major portion of the Iiver. It is also the quadrant that contains the gallbladder A medical assistant is assisting a provider with the repair of a laceration on a patient's head. The provider's prescription for the procedure includes an injection of 10 ml of lidocaine with epinephrine, the assistant should recognize that which of the following is the purpose of epinephrine in the local anesthetic? - ✔✔To reduce bleeding at the site. Reducing the bleeding makes it easier for the provider to see the laceration during the repair. Epinephrine is a vasoconstrictor. Its inclusion in the anesthetic reduces bleeding and prolongs the anesthetic's effects. A medical assistant is assisting with the physical examination of a patient who has scabies. Besides gloves which of the following pieces of PPE should the assistant wear - ✔✔Gown A Medical Assistant is caring for a 4-month-old infant who has a temperature of 100.4 F. Which of the following is this temperature when converted to Celsius? - ✔✔38 C Formula (100.4°F − 32) × 5/9 = 38°C A medical assistant is caring for a child who has varicella zoster virus. The assistant should recognize that varicella is transferred through which the following modes of transmission? - ✔✔Airborne. Varicella zoster virus, also known as chickenpox is spread by airborne and contact transmission. Contaminated particles can be inhaled through tiny droplets that are exhaled by the infected person A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has terminal colorectal cancer with a life expectancy of 6 months. The patient states, "I don't know if it's time to begin hospice care yet." Which of the following statements should the assistant make? - ✔✔"Hospice can help manage your pain and comfort during the final months of your life A medical assistant is caring for a patient who is 5'7 tall. Which of the following is the patient's height in centimeters? - ✔✔170 cm. Formula multiply the length value by 30.48 A medical assistant is caring for a patient who is experiencing chills, nausea, and dizziness. The patient's face appears pale. The assistant should recognize that the patient is exhibiting manifestations of which of the following medical emergencies? - ✔✔Syncope. Syncope is usually caused by a sudden loss of blood flow to the brain. The patient can experience chills, nausea, dizziness and numbness in the extremities. A pale appearance is also a common manifestation. A medical assistant is caring for an infant who suddenly becomes unresponsive for unknown reasons, Which of the following actions outside of the expected reference range for this patient and should be reported to the provider? - ✔✔Heart rate 140/min A heart rate of 140/min is outside of the expected reference range for a 6-year-old child. A heart rate ranging from 70 to 130min is the expected reference for a 6-year old child. A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the simplified letter style. Which of the following features should the assistant use? - ✔✔A subject line in all capital letters A medical assistant is discussing information with a patient about a new medication that the provider prescribed. Which of the following actions should the assistant take - ✔✔Reinforce teaching about the frequency of medication admintstration. The assistant shoud reinforce information with the patient about new prescriptions and how to take them. When a patient does not understand the directions for taking a medication this increases the risk that the desired treatment outcome will not be achieved. A medical assistant is disposing of the syringe and needle she used to Inject a seasonal influenza vaccine. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take? - ✔✔Drop the syringe, needle first, into the biohazardous sharps container A medical assistant is encouraging a patient to increase her intake of insoluble fiber to help prevent constipation and hemorrhoids. Which of the following foods should the assistant recommend as the best source of insoluble fiber - ✔✔Pears with skin. A medium pear with skin contains 4 g of insoluble fiber per serving A medical assistant is entering a new Rx Into a patient's electronic medical record (EMR). While entering the Rx, an alert notifying the assistant of a medication interaction appears on the screen. Which of the follawing actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Consult with the provider before continuing to process the Rx. If an alert appears while entering a Rx into an EMR the assistant should recognize that the provider needs to be consulted due to the medication's potential interactions with other medications or certain foods. A medical assistant is explaining a venipuncture procedure to a patient. Which of the following statements should the assistant make? - ✔✔I'll be collecting a blood sample from you today. There wil be a small stick in your arm. A medical assistant is explaining to a female patient how to collect a clean-catch urine specimen. Which of the following instructions should the asistant include - ✔✔With the labia spread urinate a small amount into the toilet before collecting the sample A medical assistant is measuring a patient's oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Check capillary refill in the patients finger. A medical assistant is measuring the circumference of an infant's head Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Place the zero mark of the measuring tape against the infant's forehead A medical assistant is measuring the vital signs of an adult patient. The assistant should identify which of the following blood pressure readings as Stage 2 hypertension? - ✔✔150/95 mm Hg. Stage 2 hypertension is indicated by a systolic pressure of greater than 140 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure of greater than 90 mm Hg A medical assistant is monitoring an infant patient for microcephaly. Which of the following describes the anthropometric measurement that the assistant should perform? - ✔✔Head circumference. Microcephaly refers to an abnormally small head. A medical assistant is obtaining a blood pressure measurement from an adult patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure an accurate reading? - ✔✔Place the stethoscope's diaphragm over the patient's palpated artery. A medical assistant is performing a fecal occult blood test using a guaiac card. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Interpret a blue color as a positive result. A medical assistant is preparing to administer a liquid, medication to a patient. Which of the following methods should the assistan use to ensure the correct dose is delivered? - ✔✔Pour the medication to the prescribed dose in the medicine cup on a flat surface. A medical assistant is preparing to assist a provider with suturing a wound. Which of the following items should be in the sterile field for this procedure? - ✔✔Hemostat. A medical assistant is preparing to calculate a patient's heart rate from an EKG tracing Which of the following methods should the assistant use for this calculation? - ✔✔Divide 1500 by the number of small boxes between two R waves. Use this 1500 method to calculate a full cardiac cycle. A medical assistant is preparing to file the paper chart for Mary St. Thomas. Where should this file be placed when filed along with the charts for Mary Perez, Elizabeth Saint, and John A. Thomas? - ✔✔After Elizabeth Saint and before John A. Thomas. The chart of Mary St. Thomas fits alphabetically after Elizabeth Saint and before John A. Thomas because the "St." should be filed as if spelled out as "Saint. A medical assistant is preparing to perform a capillary collection from an older adult patient who has poor circulation in his hands. Which of the following techniques should the assistant use to increase circulation at the collection site? - ✔✔Warm the patient's hand. This can help increase circulation and bring capillaries to the surface of the hand. A medical assistant is reinforcing instructions with a patient about how to take a buccal tablet. Which of the following instructions should the assistant give the patient? - ✔✔"Place the tablet between your gums and cheek. A buccal tablet acts faster than oral tablets because it does not need to pass through the GI tract to be absorbed. A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching about a cardiac event monitor with a patient. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the procedure? - ✔✔"I will record any symptoms I experience in the event log." This statement indicates an understanding of the procedure. The patient should update the event log with any irregular symptoms he experiences during cardiac event monitoring. A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about pulse oximetry. Which of the following statements should the assistant include in the teaching? - ✔✔"Remove your nail polish before the test" There is a light on the oximetry probe that measures a patient's pulse and oxygen saturation, nail polish can affect the reading if it interferes with the light A medical assistant is reinforcing teachìng with a patient about the self- administration of insulin injections. Which of the following patient statements Indicates an understanding of the teaching? - ✔✔"I will roll the bottle between my hands before drawing the medication" A medical assistant is removing sutures from a patient who has a laceration on his left lower leg. After setting up the sterile field, which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔LIft the first knot away from the skin. This allows room for the assistant to sip one tip of the suture scissors under the suture. A medical assistant is responsible for cleaning the instruments used in a minor surgery. Which of the following is the first step in this process? - ✔✔Sanitization. Sanitization is the first step of cleaning instruments. All instruments that come into contact with a pt's skin should be sanitized before proceeding with disinfection and sterilization A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's medical history prior to the patient's appointment. Which of the following laboratory results indicates the need to schedule an extension of the current visit? - ✔✔Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL This fasting blood glucose level is above the expected reference range. 70 to 99 mg/dL is considered normal. 100 to 125 mg/dL is considered prediabetes and anything over 126 mg/dL is considered diabetes my life." The MA should identify that the pt is in which of the following stages of grief? - ✔✔Depression A medical assistant is talking with a patient who is experiencing home displacement following a hurricane. To which of the following resources should the assistant refer the patient for information, support and links to community services? - ✔✔American Red Cross A medical assistant is talking with a patient who reports forgetting whether she has taken her prescribed medication each day. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? - ✔✔Try putting your medications in a weekly medication dispenser for the upcoming week. The assistant is responsible for providing encouragement and guidance for patients when discussing medication compliance. Suggesting the use of a tool designed for maintaining medication compliance is within the assistant's scope of practice. A medical assistant is testing a patient's visual acuity using a Snellen chart. Which of the following actions should the assistant take - ✔✔Make sure the patient does not lean forward during the test. A medical assistant is transcribing a prescription for magnesium sulfate into a patient's medical record. Which of the following should the assistant use to document this medication? - ✔✔Magnesium Sulfate. No abreviations A medical assistant is using a butterfly needle set to obtain a blood sample from a vein in a patient's hand. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Hold the needle by its wings. Holding the butterfly needle by its wings helps the Medical Assistant control the needle A medical assistant is using a scale with a height bar to measure a patient's height. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Lower the horizontal bar gently so that it rests on the top of the patients head A Medical Assistant is writing a piece of professional correspondence to a consulting provider. In which of the following ways should the assistant record the date on the letter? - ✔✔January 1, 2021. A medical assistant must invert anticoagulant tubes to prevent which of the following? - ✔✔Clotting A medical assistant needs to remove all living micro-organisms from a contaminated towel clamp. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to cleanse this instrument? - ✔✔Sterilization. Sterilization destroys all microbial life, including bacterial spores through physical or chemical methods. This is the method the assistant should use to cleanse the towel clamp. A medical assistant observes a hematoma developing at the site of a venous blood draw. The assistant should do which of the following? - ✔✔Release the tourniquet and stop the draw. Once a hematoma begins stop the draw to prevent further damage. Apply pressure to the area to prevent further hematoma development A medical assistant receives a call from a patient requesting a refill for fentanyl patches for chronic pain. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ✔✔Refer the patient's request to the provider. The assistant should recognize fentanyl as a Schedule Il drug that requires a written prescription from the provider. The first step when reviewing a refill request es to contact the provider. a Medical Assistant receives a phone call from a patient who seems anxious about the results of a test. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? - ✔✔"I know you are concerned about your test results, we will call you as soon as your results come in." The response shows empathy and active listening skills on the part of the assistant which communicates to the patient that the MA recognices his emotions. Empathy allows the assistant to validate the patient's emotions without becoming unprofessional and losing objectivity. A medical assistant receives a small laceration on her arm from the sharps container plastic lid. Which documentation should the assistant complete as a result of this incident? - ✔✔OSHA Form 301 The MA should recognize that in instances in which a pt is eligible for workers comp. the workers comp. should be accepted as payment in full by the clinic. Any remaining balance should be written off by the clinic. Therefore, neither the pt nor the pt's private insurance should be billed A patient asks a Medical Assistant to explain the difference between a liniment and a medicated lotion. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? - ✔✔Liniments contain higher portion of oil than medicated lotions. A patient reports getting a bill that includes services she did not receive. Which of the following actions should a MA take to reconcile these charges? - ✔✔Review that days encounter forms to determine if another patient received the services. The purpose of the encounter form is to account for current charges, payments and balances for each pt. The MA can review these documents to determine that the pt was seen on the indicated date of service and what services the pt received A patient requests a female provider to perform her examination due to a religious conviction. A female provider is not available. Which of the following is the appropriate response by the medical assistant? - ✔✔Assist the patient in locating a provider to acommodate the patient's needs A patient tells a medical assistant that his provider's office is incompetent as there is no improvement in his condition. Which of the following is an appropriate response for the assistant - ✔✔"I think that you feel that your treatment is not effective". This response validates the pt's feelings A provider examines an older adult patient who is disabled and has a lesion on her arm A medical assistant should anticipate a referral for this patient to which of the following ancillary services? - ✔✔Home health care. Home health care organizations provide assistance with medications wound care and other services that need to be provided in a patients place of residence A provider has requested a dissecting instrument on a sterile tray that a medical assistant is preparing. Which of the following instruments should the assistant include on the tray? - ✔✔Scissors Scissors are considered cutting and dissecting instruments because they include a sharp blade or surface that can cut, dissect, or scrape. A provider has requested a dissecting instrument on a sterile tray that a medical assistant is preparing. Which of the following instruments should the assistant include on the tray? - ✔✔Scissors. Scissors are considered cutting and dissecting instruments because they include a sharp blade or surface that can cut dissect or scrape. A provider places an open sharps container in the linen hamper by mistake. Which of the following is the appropriate action for the medical assistant to take? - ✔✔Dispose of the linen hamper contents as a biohazard. A provider prescribes oxycodone for a patient after abdominal surgery. Which of the following describes this type of medication? - ✔✔Oxycodone is a Schedule II control substance According to OSHA guidelines for universal precautions, which of the following types of patient contact would require a medical assistant to wear gloves, mask, a face shield, and protective apparel? - ✔✔Assisting a provider with the removal of a cyst. OSHA designates assisting with minor surgical procedures as a category 1 task which means the Medical Assistant is at risk for exposure to blood, bodily fluids, body tissues and the possibity of splashes and spills. These tasks require an MA to wear complete PPE According to the regulation of controlled substances, which of the following is true of a Schedule I drug? - ✔✔Have no accepted medical use Schedule I drugs have been deemed to have a high potential for abuse, are unavailable for prescription refills, are not available OTC and are not accepted for medical use. Possession of these drugs is illegal. After a patient leaves an examination room, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to prepare the examination Largest and uppermost section of the brain? - ✔✔Cerebrum It's divided into lobes and separated into the right and left hemisphere Located in the center of the cerebrum near the superior portion of the brain stem, this is where the thalamus and hypothalamus are located. Controls sensory neurons and the autonomic nervous system - ✔✔Diencephalon Located inferior to the cerebellum, controls reflexes, plays vital role in respiration, heart rate, blood pressure and the wake/sleep cycle - ✔✔Brainstem Located inferior to the occipital lobe and is in control of balance, posture and muscle coordination - ✔✔Cerebellum medical assistant is preparing a patient who has congestive heart failure (CHF) for an examination by the provider. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect? - ✔✔Shortness of breath. Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema. Normal range for hemoglobin - ✔✔For men 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL For women 12.0 to 15.5 g/dL Order of cleaning instruments after minor surgery - ✔✔1 sanitization 2 disinfection 3 sterilization Platelets value within the expected reference range - ✔✔130 to 400/mm3. Preparing to apply ointment to several abrasions on a patient's leg. Which of the following supplies should the medical assistant use to remove the medication from the jar? - ✔✔A tongue blade. Prior to a patient's follow-up appointment which of the following information should a medical assistant report to the provider? - ✔✔Recent laboratory results. Report recent lab results prior to the pt's visit so the provider can review them with the pt during the follow-up Red blood cell count expected reference range - ✔✔For a male patent is 4.7 to 6.1/mm3 For a female patient is 4.2 to 5.4/mm3. Sent patients whose insurance don't cover immunizations to - ✔✔HHS - department of Health and Human Services Several patients arrive at a clinic at the same time requesting care. A medical assistant should recognize that which of the following patient's chief complaints is the priority for the provider to address? - ✔✔An adult patient who is experiencing dyspnea and congestion. Dyspnea, or difficulty breathing coupled with congestion can be a sign of a life-threatening medical emergency. Sodium level expected reference range - ✔✔135 to 145 mEq/L The 5 stages of grief - ✔✔denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance The medical assistant drops an instrument on the floor while setting up a sterile tray for a procedure. He picks up the instrument and places it back on the sterile field. A few days after the procedure, the patient calls the office, concerned that the area surrounding the procedure site was infected. Which of the following torts has the assistant committed? - ✔✔Negligence resulting in harm to a patient. Medical negligence, also known as malpractice, is a tort in which a medical professional did not perform an essential action or performed an improper one, resulting in harm to a patient. The assistant's failure to mantain a aterile field was a negligent act, resulting in the patients infection When performing the palpatory method for obtaining blood pressure, which of the following indicates the level at which the medical assistant should inflate the cuff? - ✔✔30mm Hg above the radial pulse cessation. The palpatory method requires the assstant to anflate the cuff 30 mm Hg above the cessation of the radial pulse. Where do cardiac electrical impulses originate in the heart? - ✔✔SinoAtrial node -SA node Impulses are initiated in the sinoatrial node and are then conducted to the atrioventricular node. -AV node Where should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V5? - ✔✔On the left midaxiliary line, horizontal to V4 Which af the following information should the MA enter into the appointment calendar when scheduling a patient for a skin rash? - ✔✔Daytime phone number. The MA should enter the pt's name, daytime phone number and a brief description of the purpose of the pt's visit Which of the following actions should a Medical Assistant take to verify the quality of venipuncture supplies before beginning a blood draw? - ✔✔Inspect the integrity of the needle's seal Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when abtaining the length of an infant during a well-child visit? - ✔✔Position the infant on his back. On an examination table with a paper cover and then draw a line on the paper at the infants head and a line at the heel of the extended legs Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when obtaining the length of an infant during a well-child visit? - ✔✔Position the infant on his back. Place the infant on his back on an examination table with a paper cover, and then draw a line on the paper at the infant's head and a line at the heel of the extended legs. which of the following actions should the medical assistant take when obtaining the head circumference of an infant? - ✔✔Record the measurement to the nearest 0.6 cm (1/4 in). Which of the following additives should be used when performing a CBC? - ✔✔EDTA. EDTA is the proper additive for hematology studies. Which of the following cardiac procedures is within a medical assistant's scope of practice and does not require a licensed technician or provider to assist or perform it? - ✔✔Holter monitor application. A holter monitor is a system for recording cardiac activity for 24 hr or longer, It is within an assistants scope of practice to place and remove a Holter monitor Which of the following cell structures is instrumental in helping the body mobilize and secrete mucus from the respiratory tract? - ✔✔Cilia. Cilia are hair-like projections found in the lungs that are capable of movement and are instrumental in helping with mobilizing and secreting mucus from the respiratory tract. Which of the following cell structures is the source of energy for a cell? - ✔✔Mitochondria. Which of the following documents indicates how a patient's medical records will be used and disclosed by a medical office? - ✔✔Notice of Privacy Practices -NPP Which of the following dressings should a medical assistant use on a partial-thickness burn? - ✔✔Non-adherent dressing. This type of dressing allows the wound to be exposed to air and heal. which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results in the tracing going into the margins of the paper? - ✔✔Interrupted baseline. This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/t Which of the following laboratory values should a Medical Assistant immediately report to a patient's provider? - ✔✔Blood glucose 500 mg/dL This blood glucose level is higher than the expected reference range of 70 to 110 mg/dL Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by an insurance carrier? - ✔✔Remittance advice. A remittance advice document itemizes all paid, denied and allowable charges for a patient. This document notifies the provider of any and all claim denials Which of the following parenteral medication routes should a medical assistant administer for a slow release of medication into the blood stream? - ✔✔Transdermal. Transdermal patches are infused with medication that is slowly absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream. Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic examination? - ✔✔Lithotomy. Which of the following routes of administration should a medical assistant use when performing a tuberculin skin test? - ✔✔Intradermal. Intradermal route of administration applies the medication to the epidermal layer of the skin and allows for subsequent evaluation of the reaction to the tuberculin testing agent. Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use for the routine cleaning of EKG cables? - ✔✔Disinfection. This is the proper technique to use when cleaning EKG cables. Disinfection is effective on surfaces that come in contact with micro- organisms and will not damage EKG cables Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use to confirm a patient's understanding of insulin administration? - ✔✔Observe the patient as they perform a self-demonstration. Having the pt physicaly demonstrate their understanding of insulin administration allows the assistant to evaluate their comprehension Which of the following terms refers to the range of fees charged by providers who have similar training and experience and practice in the same geographical area? - ✔✔Customary