A 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
(SOB)
Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema
When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a medical assistant
take to ensure an accurate reading? - Count the respiration's while the patient thinks his pulse is being
obtained.
In order to obtain the most accurate reading, the assistant should count the respirations without the
patient being aware that his breathing is being assessed. The patient can easily control or alter breathing
patterns when he is conscious that the assistant is paying attention to his respirations.
Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal? -
Potassium 3 mEq/L
This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
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 medical assistant is replacing a sharps container in an examination room and receives a small
laceration on her arm from the plastic lid. Which of the following types of documentation should the
assistant complete as a result of this incident? - OSHA Form 301
The assistant should recognize that the OSHA Form 301 is an incident report used when reporting details
about a work-related injury or illness.
A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's 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 of 70 to 130 mg/dL. The assistant
should notify the provider and schedule an extension of the patient's visit.
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 you or gums
and cheek."
The assistant should instruct the patient to place the buccal tablet between his gums and his cheek. A
buccal tablet acts faster than oral tablets because it does not need to pass through the gastrointestinal
tract to be absorbed.
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 patient is experiencing difficult or painful breathing.
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 positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam? - Lithotomy
The lithotomy position is appropriate for pelvic examinations.
Which of the following cardiac procedures is within a medical assistants 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 assistant's
scope of practice to place and remove a Holter monitor.
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
Interrupted baseline is caused by an electrical disconnection or a detached electrode and results in the
tracing moving into the margins of the paper.
A medical assistant receives a telephone 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'll call you as soon as your results come in."
This response shows empathy and active listening skills on the part of the assistant, which communicates
to the patient that the assistant recognizes his emotions. Empathy allows the assistant to validate the
patient's emotions without becoming unprofessional and losing objectivity. This response is an example of
an appropriate way to communicate with the patient.
A medical assistant is assisting with the physical examination of a patient who has scabies. Besides
gloves, which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment should the assistant wear? -
Gown
Scabies requires contact precautions; therefore, the assistant should wear gloves and a gown. Other
patient conditions that require contact precautions include hepatitis A, rotavirus, and herpes zoster
(shingles).
A patient loses consciousness. The EKG reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which of the following actions
should a medical assistant take first? - Call for help and begin CPR
According to the American Heart Association's resuscitation guidelines, the assistant should call for help
and perform CPR immediately after witnessing a cardiac arrest.
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.
In the simplified letter style, the subject line is in all capital letters and replaces the salutation.
Where should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V5? - On the left anterior axillary line,
horizontal to V4.
This is the proper placement for lead V5.
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
When making this conversion, the assistant should first convert 5' 7'' to 67 inches. Next, the assistant
should convert inches to centimeters by multiplying by 2.54. The result is 170.18 cm, which rounds to 170
cm.
, Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use when bandaging a wound? - Wrap
the wound from distal to proximal
Wounds should always be wrapped from distal to proximal.
Which of the following is outside of a medical assistant's scope of practice? - Order additional
laboratory tests to confirm the patient's condition.
It is outside of a medical assistant's scope of practice to order additional laboratory tests without a
provider's prescription.
A patient is seen in an urgent care center for a laceration to the left foot. The provider evaluates the injury,
determines sutures are not needed, applies a dressing, and releases the patient. Which of the following
levels of examination should a medical assistant use for the procedural coding for this visit? - Problem
focused examination.
Problem-focused examinations are limited to the single body area or system mentioned in the chief
complaint.
Prior to a patient's follow-up appointment, which of the following information should a medical assistant
report to the provider? - Recent laboratory results.
The assistant should report recent laboratory results to the provider prior to the visit so the provider can
review them with the patient during the follow-up appointment.
A medical assistant is reviewing a provider's instructions as the patient is preparing to leave the office.
The provider recommends that the patient purchase an over-the-counter antitussive, but the patient tells
the assistant that she does not know what an antitussive is. Which of the following responses should the
assistant make? - "It is a medication that suppresses the cough reflex."
An antitussive suppresses the cough reflex. One of the active ingredients used in antitussive medications
is dextromethorphan.
A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about the use and care of a transdermal patch.
Which of the following instructions should the assistant include in the teaching? - Select a different
application location for each new patch.
The assistant should instruct the patient to rotate the location of application for each new patch to help
avoid skin irritation. Areas of excess body hair and scaring should be avoided in order to maximize
medication absorption.
In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place a healthy patient in preparation for a
rectal examination. - Sims'
The Sims' position is appropriate for a rectal examination.
Which of the following steps for a finger stick should a medical assistant complete first? - Confirm the
correct identity of the patient.
The assistant should confirm the patient's identity before preparing for the fingerstick procedure.
Which of the following cell structures is instrumental in helping the body mobilize and secrete mucus from
the respiratory tract? - Cilia
the provider. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect? - Shortness of breath
(SOB)
Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema
When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a medical assistant
take to ensure an accurate reading? - Count the respiration's while the patient thinks his pulse is being
obtained.
In order to obtain the most accurate reading, the assistant should count the respirations without the
patient being aware that his breathing is being assessed. The patient can easily control or alter breathing
patterns when he is conscious that the assistant is paying attention to his respirations.
Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal? -
Potassium 3 mEq/L
This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
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 medical assistant is replacing a sharps container in an examination room and receives a small
laceration on her arm from the plastic lid. Which of the following types of documentation should the
assistant complete as a result of this incident? - OSHA Form 301
The assistant should recognize that the OSHA Form 301 is an incident report used when reporting details
about a work-related injury or illness.
A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's 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 of 70 to 130 mg/dL. The assistant
should notify the provider and schedule an extension of the patient's visit.
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 you or gums
and cheek."
The assistant should instruct the patient to place the buccal tablet between his gums and his cheek. A
buccal tablet acts faster than oral tablets because it does not need to pass through the gastrointestinal
tract to be absorbed.
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 patient is experiencing difficult or painful breathing.
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 positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam? - Lithotomy
The lithotomy position is appropriate for pelvic examinations.
Which of the following cardiac procedures is within a medical assistants 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 assistant's
scope of practice to place and remove a Holter monitor.
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
Interrupted baseline is caused by an electrical disconnection or a detached electrode and results in the
tracing moving into the margins of the paper.
A medical assistant receives a telephone 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'll call you as soon as your results come in."
This response shows empathy and active listening skills on the part of the assistant, which communicates
to the patient that the assistant recognizes his emotions. Empathy allows the assistant to validate the
patient's emotions without becoming unprofessional and losing objectivity. This response is an example of
an appropriate way to communicate with the patient.
A medical assistant is assisting with the physical examination of a patient who has scabies. Besides
gloves, which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment should the assistant wear? -
Gown
Scabies requires contact precautions; therefore, the assistant should wear gloves and a gown. Other
patient conditions that require contact precautions include hepatitis A, rotavirus, and herpes zoster
(shingles).
A patient loses consciousness. The EKG reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which of the following actions
should a medical assistant take first? - Call for help and begin CPR
According to the American Heart Association's resuscitation guidelines, the assistant should call for help
and perform CPR immediately after witnessing a cardiac arrest.
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.
In the simplified letter style, the subject line is in all capital letters and replaces the salutation.
Where should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V5? - On the left anterior axillary line,
horizontal to V4.
This is the proper placement for lead V5.
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
When making this conversion, the assistant should first convert 5' 7'' to 67 inches. Next, the assistant
should convert inches to centimeters by multiplying by 2.54. The result is 170.18 cm, which rounds to 170
cm.
, Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use when bandaging a wound? - Wrap
the wound from distal to proximal
Wounds should always be wrapped from distal to proximal.
Which of the following is outside of a medical assistant's scope of practice? - Order additional
laboratory tests to confirm the patient's condition.
It is outside of a medical assistant's scope of practice to order additional laboratory tests without a
provider's prescription.
A patient is seen in an urgent care center for a laceration to the left foot. The provider evaluates the injury,
determines sutures are not needed, applies a dressing, and releases the patient. Which of the following
levels of examination should a medical assistant use for the procedural coding for this visit? - Problem
focused examination.
Problem-focused examinations are limited to the single body area or system mentioned in the chief
complaint.
Prior to a patient's follow-up appointment, which of the following information should a medical assistant
report to the provider? - Recent laboratory results.
The assistant should report recent laboratory results to the provider prior to the visit so the provider can
review them with the patient during the follow-up appointment.
A medical assistant is reviewing a provider's instructions as the patient is preparing to leave the office.
The provider recommends that the patient purchase an over-the-counter antitussive, but the patient tells
the assistant that she does not know what an antitussive is. Which of the following responses should the
assistant make? - "It is a medication that suppresses the cough reflex."
An antitussive suppresses the cough reflex. One of the active ingredients used in antitussive medications
is dextromethorphan.
A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about the use and care of a transdermal patch.
Which of the following instructions should the assistant include in the teaching? - Select a different
application location for each new patch.
The assistant should instruct the patient to rotate the location of application for each new patch to help
avoid skin irritation. Areas of excess body hair and scaring should be avoided in order to maximize
medication absorption.
In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place a healthy patient in preparation for a
rectal examination. - Sims'
The Sims' position is appropriate for a rectal examination.
Which of the following steps for a finger stick should a medical assistant complete first? - Confirm the
correct identity of the patient.
The assistant should confirm the patient's identity before preparing for the fingerstick procedure.
Which of the following cell structures is instrumental in helping the body mobilize and secrete mucus from
the respiratory tract? - Cilia
