2024 NCCT Practice Exam - Questions, Answers and Rationales

2024 NCCT Practice Exam - Questions, Answers and Rationales A medical assistant is hired at a Family Medical Practice. According to OSHA requirements the medical assistant must be offered a vaccine within 10 days of hire, free of charge. The medical assistant knows that this vaccination is to protect him from which of the following? A. Haemophilus influenza B. Hepatitis B C. Tetanus D. Varicella Rationale: All health care employees are required to have access to the Hepatitis B injection. All employers must offer the series of injection with no cost to employees within 10 days of employment. Employees can decline their right to the vaccination, but must sign denial form. When preparing liquid medications for administration, the medical assistant should check the medication and expiration date, then place the cap with attached dropper face A. down and read the volume at the bottom of the meniscus. B. up and read the volume at the bottom of the meniscus. C. up and read the volume at the top of the meniscus. D. down and read the volume at the top of the meniscus. Rationale: With the container on a flat surface, dropper up, read the medication volume at the lowest point of the concave curve of the meniscus. When preparing to assist the physician with collection of a deep wound culture, the medical assistant should have which of the following available? A. bacterial culture swabs B. cotton tipped swabs C. blood culture media D. viral transport media Rationale: When helping with a deep wound culture, the medical assistant needs to have bacterial culture swabs available in order to try to identify what bacteria is causing the infection. Bacteria causing infection in a deep wound would likely be anaerobic (because oxygen is not prevalent in a deep wound). For this reason, it is important to make sure the bacterial swab is collected and transported in the appropriate swab system to sustain anaerobic bacteria. Blood culture media is taken by performing a venipuncture to see if an infection is present. Since the physician is looking for a bacterial infection, the viral transport media would not be used, and cotton tipped swabs would not be the appropriate swab to use since the goal is to determine what kind of bacteria is causing the infection. The medical assistant witnesses the medical office receptionist taking money from the cash drawer. The receptionist learns the medical assistant saw her and asks her not to tell the office manager, as it was to pay for her electric bill. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take? A. Tell the receptionist that she will not tell as long as the money is put back in one week B. Tell the office manager about the incident and request that confidentiality be maintained C. Tell other employees in the office so it will get back to the office manager D. Tell the receptionist that she understands why she is taking the money Correct response: Rationale: The medical assistant has a legal and ethical responsibility to the employer to uphold the highest professional standards. This includes communicating with leadership if unethical behavior is witnessed. In this situation, the best choice for the MA would be to tell the office manager about the incident and request that confidentiality be maintained. The other options in this question, though some may seem compassionate and sympathetic toward a coworker, do not follow ethical practice standards. The adult patient has a puncture wound on the sole of the right foot due to stepping on a nail in a construction area. Which of the following immunizations is particularly important for the medical assistant to ask about while taking the patient's history? A. Td B. PCV C. DTaP D. HepB Correct response: Rationale: Td = Tetanus booster recommended every 10 years. If a person has a deep or contaminated wound, a booster may be prescribed if it has been more than 5 years since the last dose. DTaP series is completed during the childhood immunization schedule. Adults should receive a one-time dose of Tdap if they have not received a previous dose. Tetanus is a neuromuscular disease, also known as lockjaw, preventable with immunization. When performing a 12-lead ECG, which of the following positions demonstrates correct lead placement? A. V4 is placed left midclavicular 5th intercostal space B. V5 is paced left midclavicular 4th intercostal space C. V5 is placed left midaxillary 5th intercostal space D. V4 is placed left midclavicular 4th intercostal space Rationale: The precordial chest lead is positioned at the apex of the heart, where the apical pulse is auscultated and Point of Maximal Impulse (PMI) can be felt. V4 is placed on the left midclavicular 5th intercostal space, at the mitral valve (left ventricular) area. Which of the following pieces of equipment should the medical assistant anticipate using when taking a patient's blood pressure? A. sphygmomanometer B. pulse oximeter C. otoscope D. speculum Rationale: A sphygmomanometer is used to auscultate and measure blood pressure readings. An otoscope is used to examine the ear, a speculum is used to examine body cavities, and a pulse oximeter is used to see what a person's oxygen saturation is in the body. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take first after coming in direct contact with a patient's blood via needlestick injury? A. Apply pressure at the site to stop bleeding. B. Flush the area with water and thoroughly wash it. C. Obtain the Hep B vaccine if not currently immunized. D. Inform the patient about the incident. Rationale: Immediately after a needlestick injury, wash or clean the injury at the needle stick site with soap and water and/or flush mucous membranes. Bleeding could be a good thing, as it serves to help flush pathogens out rather than keep them in the wound. Depending on Hepatitis B vaccination status, it might be necessary to continue the shots (but that would not be the first action after a needlestick). There would be no need to alarm the patient in this case. However, it may be necessary to inform the patient later. A patient is discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of HIV and MRSA and comes to the office for a follow-up appointment. What is the best method the medical assistant could use to clean the nasal speculum, forceps, and hemostat used in the exam? A. disinfect with 70% isopropyl alcohol B. disinfect with sodium hypochlorite (1:10) C. chemical sterilization D. steam sterilization