Practice Test Questions Flashcards
The lab report on a patient indicates a hemoglobin level of 7 g/dL. What is the first action to be taken?
Notify the provider
An MA is preparing a patient to have cryosurgery following an abnormal Papanicolaou test. What statement should they make to explain the procedure?
Cryosurgery involves an extremely cold prone to freeze and kill abnormal cells
What dressing should an MA use on a partial-thickness burn?
Nonadherent dressing
What position is appropriate for a pelvic exam?
Lithotomy
An MA receives a call from a patient requesting a refill for fentanyl patches for chronic pain. What action should the MA take?
Refer the patient’s request to the provider
An MA is preparing to create a report about patients who have a family history of breast cancer. What type of software will allow the assistant to sort, retrieve, and combine info for this report?
Database management
An MA receives a phone call from a patient who is hesitant about discussing a new medical concern unless the conversation is with a provider? What technique should be used to address the patient’s reluctance?
Use a reflective statement to recognize the patient’s concerns
Which lab results should the MA recognize as abnormal?
Sodium 138 mEq/L
RBC count 5.2/mm^3
Platelets 350/mm^3
Potassium 3 mEg/L
Potassium 3 mEg/L
What items in a medical office are considered administrative office supplies?
Letterhead, envelopes, and business cards
An MA is caring for a child who has varicella zoster virus. The MA should recognize that varicella is transferred through what mode of transmission?
Airborne
An MA is reviewing lab results that confirm a patient has varicella zoster virus. The MA should identify that this micro-organism causes what type of infection?
Chickenpox
An MA is caring for an infant who suddenly becomes unresponsive for unknown reasons. What action should be taken?
Initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation
A patient who has vulvovaginal candidiasis asks a medical assistant for more info about her infection. They should begin by explaining that candidiasis is what type of infection?
Fungai
An MA is reviewing lab requisitions. For what patient condition should they perform a capillary collection rather than a venipuncture?
Previous thromboses
An MA is talking with an older patient who has experienced several injuries at home over the past 6 months. The patient lives alone and has no family nearby. What response should be made to help ease the patient’s transition to assisted living or long-term care?
It seems like it is no longer safe for you to be at home alone. Let’s talk about other options.
An MA is preparing a patient for an enema. What position should the patient be placed in for this procedure?
Sims’ position
An MA must invert anticoagulant tubes to prevent what?
Clotting
An MA is checking a patient’s hearing using the Weber test. What action should be taken?
Ask the patient if he hears the vibration louder in one ear or the other
An MA is collection data from a patient who has cold sores on his lips. They should identify that which virus causes this condition?
Herpes simplex type 1
An MA is explaining to a female patient how to collect a clean-catch urine specimen. What instruction should be included?
With the labia spread, urinate a small amount into the toilet before collecting the sample
A primary care provider suspects that a patient has fibromyalgia. An MA should expect the provider to refer the patient to which specialist?
Rheumatologist
What action should the MA take when obtaining the length of an infant during a well-child visit?
Position the infant on his back
An MA is preparing to dispose of bandages that have been removed from a patient’s open wound. Per OSHA guideline, what action should they plan to take?
Place the bandages in a red biohazard bag
An MA is caring for a patient who’s experiencing chills, nausea, and dizziness. The patient’s face appears pale. The MA should recognize that the patient is exhibiting manifestations of what medical emergency?
Syncope
An MA is determining the amount a patient will be required to pay for a scheduled procedure that has an allowable amount of $200. The patient has a $20 copayment a 90/10 coinsurance, and has met his deductible. What is the total amount the patient will pay the provider for this procedure?
$40
An MA is scheduling diagnostic tests for a patient’s liver and pancreas. What system is being assessed?
Digestive
An MA is entering patient data into an EMR system. What info should be entered into the Patient Demographics section of the EMR?
Occupation
When assisting a provider with a punch biopsy of a mole, what tasks should an MA expect to perform?
Receive and prepare tissue specimens for processing
An MA is coding an office visit during which the provider reviewed the systems related to a patient’s chief complaint but didn’t discuss the patient’s family or social history. What procedure code should be used for this visit?
Expanded problem focused history
An MA is assisting a provider with the repair of a laceration on a patient’s head. The provider’s prescription for the procedure included an injection of 10 mL of lidocaine with epinephrine. The MA should recognize that the purpose of the epinephrine in the local anesthetic is what?
To reduce bleeding at the site
An MA is classifying services that a patient requires. They should identify what as an ancillary diagnostic service?
Pathology & Radiology
What refers to the range of fees charged by providers who have similar training and experience and practice in the same geographical area?
Customary
A patient is seen in an urgent care center for a laceration to the left foot. The provider evaluated the injury, determines sutures aren’t needed, applies a dressing, and releases the patient. What level of examination should be used for the procedural coding for this visit?
Problem focused examination
An MA should identify what as a characteristic of anorexia nervosa?
Excessive exercising
The Patient’s’ Bill of Rights protects individuals from what?
Denial of care due to the patient’s age
An MA is caring for a patient who had active tuberculosis. What piece of PPE must be used during the patient’s care?
N95 respirator
An MA is speaking with a patient who recently received a terminal diagnosis. The patient states, “I regret not taking better care of myself. Now, I won’t be able to accomplish what I wanted to do with my life.” The MA should identify that the patient is in which stage of grief?
Depression
An MA should insert the needle at which angle during a venipuncture?
15 degree angle
An MA should identify that what vitamins are fat soluble?
Vitamin A
An MA is preparing to assist a provider with suturing a wound. What item should be in the sterile field for this procedure?
Hemostat
An MA is preparing to calculate a patient’s heart rate from an EKG tracing. What method should they use for this calculation?
Divide 1500 by the number of small boxes between two R waves
An MA works at a practice that’s part of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). This designation means that the practice’s health care team will focus on improving care for patients who have what type of medical coverage?
Medicare
An MA is assisting a patient whose insurance does not cover immunizations. To which community resource should the assistant refer the patient?
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
In what scenario should an MA choose a CPT modifier?
For special circumstances applied to a procedure performed but the provider
To provide culturally competent care, what action should an MA take first when encountering patients?
Examine personal religious and cultural values and beliefs to identify any biases
A medical assistant is reviewing dietary minerals with a patient. The assistant should identify which of
the following minerals as being essential for blood cogulation.
Calcium
A medical assistant is collecting information from a patient prior to a physical examination. Which of the
following details disclosed by the patient should the assistant recognize as an indication of bulimia
nervosa?
Laxative use
Which of the following foods should a medical assistant recommend to a patient who needs to increase
her dietary intake of Vitamin A?
Oranges
A medical assistant is reviewing nutritional guidelines with a patient who is following a high-protein
diet. Which of the following statements should the assistant make?
“Without sufficient carbohydrates and fat, the body will burn protein for energy”
A medical assistant should identify that which of the following manifestations differentiates binge eating
disorder from bulimia nervosa?
Avoiding self-induced vomiting
A medical assistant is encouraging a patient to increase her intake of fiber. Which of the following foods
should the assistant recommend?
Apples
A medical assistant is reviewing a daily diet with a patient. Which of the following foods should the
assistant recommend to help the patient increase her intake of Vitamin D?
Fish
A medical assistant is reviewing the dietary intake of a patient who is lactose intolerant. Which of the
following foods should the assistant remind the patient to reduce or avoid?
Cream cheese
A medical assistant is explaining how to understand nutritional information on food labels to a patient. Which of the following statements should the assistant make?
“The amount of each nutrient is expressed in weight per serving and as a percentage of the daily value.”
A medical assistant is preparing a patient for an examination. Which of the following findings should the
assistant recognize as an indication of anorexia nervosa?
Protruding bones
To avoid having patients underestimate the specific amount of nutrients in a food product, a medical
assistant should remind patients to check which of the following labeling components?
Serving size
A medical assistant is providing patient education on bone loss and calcium regulation. Which of the
following supplements should the assistant recommend for the patient?
Vitamin D
A medical assistant is teaching a patient about the major food groups. Which of the following information about grains should the assistant include?
Grains help prevent and manage constipation.
A medical assistant is providing teaching to a patient about the importance of water intake. Which of the following information should the assistant include?
Water helps regulate body temperature
A medical assistant is educating a patient about how to interpret food labels. The assistant should inform
the patient that the FDA requires nutrition labels to include measurements of which of the following
nutritional elements?
Cholesterol
An MA is talking with a young adult patient who says he has found a partner he loves but
cannot seem to make a commitment to their relationship. The assistant should identify that the
developmental crisis this patient is experiencing is what?
Intimacy vs. isolation
An MA is discussing dietary concerns with a client who has heart disease. The client states, “I haven’t been as careful about salt and fat as I should be, but I have been exercising more than usual.”
The assistant should identify that this patient is using which defense mechanisms?
Compensation
An MA is talking with the parents of a 1-year-old infant about developmental achievements and milestones to expect. The assistant should be aware that, according to the infant’s developmental stage, a lack of achievement of the tasks of that stage can result in which outcome?
Suspiciousness
A patient who walks with difficulty as a result of nerve damage on one side of his body enters a clinic for
a first visit. After the patient identifies himself to the MA and states that he has an
appointment, what response should the assistant in the front office make?
“How can I make you more comfortable while you wait?”
An MA is observing a patient who is undergoing the Mini-Mental State Examination. To test
the patient’s ability to perform tasks in the area of language the examiner asks the patient to do what?
Name the three objects stated earlier
An MA is collecting initial data for an older adult patient at a clinic visit. What should would suggest that the patient needs a mental status evaluation?
The patient repeatedly asks the same question.
Which defense mechanism is characterized by a patient’s externalization of guilt, blame, or responsibility?
Projection
An MA is talking with an older adult patient who expresses frustration about having looked
forward to retirement but finds himself with “too much time on my hands.” Before responding, the
assistant should consider that _____ is one of the developmental tasks for this patient’s age group?
Having a sense of self-worth
The parent of a 5-year old child tells an MA that his daughter has begun sucking her thumb. He states, “She hasn’t done this since she was a baby.” The assistant should identify that the child is using which defense mechanism?
Regression
An MA is preparing a patient for a physical exam. The patient tells the assistant that
she is having serious problems at work, and she feels so much stress that she cannot focus on anything at work or at home. Based on the patient’s anxiety level, what should the assistant expect?
Rapid respiration
A patient who uses a wheelchair arrives at the office for an appointment and is visibly upset. Which method should the MA use to establish positive therapeutic communication with the patient?
Face the patient at eye level
An MA is talking with a patient whose brother died of heart disease 1 month ago. The patient
tells the MA that she blames herself because she should’ve persuaded her brother to take better
care of himself. The MA should identify that the patient is in which of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s stages of grief?
Depression
An MA is talking with a patient who just learned that she has advanced breast cancer. The patient says, “It’s just an infection. I’m way too young to have cancer!” Which action
should the MA take to help this patient during their stage of grief?
Reinforce education about the patient’s disease process.
According to Erikson’s psychological theory, an adolescent experiences what?
Identity vs. Role Confusion
An MA is preparing a patient for the Mini-Mental State Exam. The examiner names 3 objects and asks the patient to repeat them. In doing so, the examiner is asking the patient to
perform a task in which area?
Registration
An MA is collecting data from a patient who reports back pain. Which term should the MA use to describe the patient’s pain in the intake note?
Dorsal
Which body system contains cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle?
Muscular
What is used to indicate homeostais in the body?
Vital signs
What organ structure within the digestive system is primarily responsible for the
absorption of nutrients?
Small intestine
When considering the anatomy of the body, which statement is correct?
a. The heart is superficial to the ribs
b. The patella is distal to the tibia
c. The stomach is superior to the diaphragm
d. The thumb is lateral to the index finger
d. The thumb is lateral to the index finger
When pain signals are received by the brain, which body system is alerted to initiate a movement response?
Muscular
What body structure is part of both the digestive system and endocrine system?
Pancreas
What body system provides the framework to protect the body from pathogenic
organisms and maintin fluid balance?
Lymphatic system
What gland is part of both the immune system and the endocrine system?
Thymus
What gland in the endocrine system is located just below the larynx and consists of 2 lobes, one on each side of the trachea?
Thyroid gland
What is an example of connective tissue?
Blood
What body system works with the respiratory system to transport waste products from the body’s cells?
Cardiovascular
What plane divides the body into upper and lower portions?
Transverse
What body system experiences a decrease in activity caused by the sympathetic branch of the nervous system during “fight-or-flight response?
Digestive
An MA should recognize that ______ is the clinical purpose of contrast media
in diagnostic imaging?
Highlights the inner contours of body structures
What disease caused a historical pandemic that led to the creation of the first
vaccine?
Smallpox
What is an MA’s primary role for an MRI in the medical office setting?
Instructing the patient about examination preparations
What factor puts a patient at high risk of experiencing a cerebrovascular accident
(CVA)?
Sleep apnea
What condition is defined as a loss of bone density?
Osteoporosis
An MA is speaking with a patient who recently underwent a right-sided radical mastectomy
and lymphadenectomy. The assistant should inform the patient that ___ is a
manifestation of lymphedema?
Swelling of the right arm
A low-fiber, high-fat diet is a risk factor for what disease?
Colorectal cancer
What disease affects about 9% of the population in the U.S. and is characterized by
the body’s inability to produce sufficient insulin?
Diabetes mellitus
What factor puts a patient at high risk of developing coronary artery disease?
Smoking
An MA recommends the rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) method to a patient who calls the office to report an injury. What injury is the patient likely to have
sustained?
Ankle sprain
What is a risk factor for the development of congestive heart failure (CHF)?
Chronic hypertension
An MA should recognize that a worldwide, rapidly spreading novel infection can result in ___?
Pandemic
An MA is caring for a patient whose dietary choices have resulted in elevated uric acid
levels. As a result of these risk factors, the patient is at risk for developing what musculoskeletal disorder?
Gout
What condition is characterized by the top portion of the stomach protruding through
the diaphragm?
Hiatal hernia
What viral disease resulted in an epidemic in the U.S. and presents with symptoms that include weakness and paralysis of muscles, fever, and headache?
Polio
What structure in a human cell sorts and synthesizes glycoproteins?
Golgi aparatus
An MA should understand that ___ initiates the chain of infection?
Infectious agent
What component of the body’s cells helps propel substances through passageways in
the body?
Cilia
An MA should identify which microorganism as having a helpful function in the human body?
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Which structure in a human cell contains the cell’s genetic information?
Nucleus
An MA is talking with a patient who has Lyme disease. The MA should explain that ___ is the means of transmission of this infection?
Vector
An MA should identify which type of micro-organisms as a mold when it is multicellular?
Fungi
An MA should identify that which type of bacteria has a structure which a shape similar to a comma?
Vibrio
An MA is talking with a patient who has a vaginal yeast infection. The MA should explain that which micro-organism causes this type of infection?
Candida albicans
An MA is talking with a patient who has a new prescription for amoxicillin. The MA should explain that this medication will aid in the destruction of which type of
microorganisms?
Bacteria
An MA is talking with a patient who has a new diagnosis of mononucleosis. The MA should explain that which viruse causes this infection?
Epstein-Barr virus
Which component of the body’s cells plays a part in cell division?
Centriole
Which component of the body’s cells provides the energy the cells needs to perform its specific functions?
Mitrochondrion
An MA is talking with the parent of a child who has molluscum contagiosum warts. The MA should explain that ___ is the mode of transmission for this infection?
Contact
An MA is talking with a patient who just found out she has Pediculus humanus capitis. The MA should explain that this is an infestation of which multicelullar parasite?
Head lice
What action would an MA take to prevent accidents in the clinical setting?
Clean a spill on the hallway floor using a towel.
Which patient should an MA recognize as the top priority to receive immediate care?
a. A patient has sustained an animal bite on her left leg and has a low-frade fever.
b. A patient has had an episode of syncope, but he is responsive and able to answer
questions.
c. A patient has a laceration on her right forearm and is bleeding from the site.
d. A patient has epistaxis and is taking warfarin.
A patient has epistaxis and is taking warfarin.
A provider has instructed an MA to prepare a wound for suturing. When performing basic wound care, what step should they take to ensure proper cleansing of the wound area?
Wipe the center of the wound with an antiseptic swab, moving toward the edges in a circular motion.
What action should an MA take when closing the clinical area at the end
of the day?
Restock medical supplies in the examination room
An MA is assisting a provider with an adult patient who sustained a wound from a dirty metal
object. Which orders should they expect the provider to give to the patient?
“You should receive a tetanus booster if your last one was administered more than 5 years ago.”
An MA is preparing a patient for an exam. What is a component of the patient’s medical history?
Informed consent form
An MA is collecting a urine specimen from a patient for a drug screening. What action should be taken to adhere to the chain of custody for this specimen?
Send the specimen to the testing lab on the same day as the collection
An MA is checking a patient’s hearing using the Rinne test. What action should be taken?
Ask the patient to raise his hand when he no longer hears any sound
An MA is measuring a patient’s b/p with an aneroid sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. What action should be taken?
Make sure the midpoint of the patient’s arm is at the level of the patient’s heart
An MA in an acute care facility is checking in a patient who has a deep laceration. The patient tells the MA that he can’t accept blood transfusions due to his religious beliefs. What action should be taken?
Document the statement in the patient’s chart
What is a Source-Oriented Medical Record?
Patient info is arranged within the medical record according to who supplied the data—the patient, treating physician, specialist, hospital, lab, or other location. If a specific form is used to attach these documents to the medical record, it often contains a space for patient remarks, followed by a section for the physician’s comments.
What is a Problem-Oriented Medical Record?
Info includes the database of info about the patient and the patient’s condition, the problem list, the diagnostic and treatment plan, and progress notes.
