SmarterMA Terms Flashcards
“Ac”
“Before meals” (“ante cibum”)
“Pc”
“After meals”
“Bid”
Two times daily
“Tid”
Three times daily
“Qid”
Four times daily
Qh
Every hour
Q4h
Every 4 hours
Q8h
Every 8 hours
Q12h
Every 12 hours
Qd
Every day
“PRN”
As needed (“pro re nata”)
“Stat”
Immediately, ASAP
AM
Morning
PM
Evening
“gtt”
Drops
“Po”
By mouth
“Pr”
Rectally, dosage route
“Pv”
Vaginally, dosage route
“Otic”
In the ear, dosage route
“Opth”
In the eye, dosage route
“Sol”
Solution
“Tab”
Tablet
“Qs”
As much as is needed
“Sig”
Write (on the label)
SubQ/SQ/SC
Subcutaneous
“Supp”
Suppository
“Sl”
Sublingual
“Top”
Topical, dosage route
Absorption
(Medication pathways)
Process by which a drug enters the bloodstream after administration
Distribution
(Medication pathways)
The process by which a drug is transported throughout the body via the circulatory system
Metabolism
(Medication pathways)
The process by which the body breaks down a drug into smaller components, making it easier to eliminate from the body
Excretion
(Medication pathways)
The process by which a drug and its metabolites are eliminated from the body
Hemoptysis
Coughing up of blood
Hematesis
Vomiting up of blood
Hematuria
Blood in the urine
Amenorrhea
Absence of a menstrual period
Menarche
The first menstrual period
Dysmenorrhea
Severe cramping during menstrual periods
Tardive
Slow onset of symptoms
Nosocomial
Diseases acquired while in a healthcare setting
Ischemia
Restriction of oxygen-rich blood to a part of the body
Hypertrophy
The enlargement of an organ or tissue
Hypotrophy
The underdevelopment of an organ or tissue
Necrosis
Death of a cell or tissue
Sign
Objective, observable by others (ex. fever, rash, et.)
Symptom
Subjective, self-reported by the patient (ex. pain, nausea, et.)
Sign v Symptom
Signs are objective while symptoms are subjective
“Sx”
Symptoms
“nsf”
No significant findings
“ns”
No-show
“Pe”
Physical exam
“Sob”
Shortness of breath
Pharmacokinetics
The branch of pharmacology concerned with how the body moves drugs through the body
Pharmacotherapeutics
The study of how medications are used to treat medical conditions (the effectiveness and safety of drug treatments)
Pharmacodynamics
Studies the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action (how drugs affect the body)
Pharmacogenetics
The study which combines pharmacology and genomics to understand how an individual’s genes affect their response to drugs
Myalgia
Muscular pain
Malaise
The general feeling of discomfort and fatigue when sick
Neuropathy
Conditions which affect the nerves
Neuralgia
Severe, shooting, or stabbing pain that occurs along the course of a nerve
Diaphoresis
Extreme sweating
Anhidrosis
Lack of sweating
Ascites
The abnormal fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
Parenteral
A route of medication administration which bypasses the digestive tract (commonly via injection)
Epistaxis
Nose bleed
Antineoplastics
A class of drugs designed to treat cancer by slowing down the growth and spread of cancer cells
Antipyretics
A class of drugs which reduce fevers (anti-fever meds)
Drug Schedule I
Not acceptable for medical use; high potential for abuse
Drug Schedule II
Acceptable for medical use; high potential for abuse
Drug Schedule III
Acceptable for medical use; lower potential for abuse
Drug Schedule IV
Acceptable for medical use; lower potential for abuse
Drug Schedule V
Acceptable for medical use; lowest potential for abuse
A BMI less than 18.5 is considered…
Underweight
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered…
Normal weight
A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered…
Overweight
A BMI greater than 30 is considered…
Obese
A BP <120/<80 is considered…
Normal
A BP of 120-129/<80 is considered…
Elevated
A BP of 130-139/80-89 is considered…
Stage I Hypertension
A BP of >140/>90 is considered…
Stage II Hypertension
A BP of >180/>120 is considered…
Hypertensive Crisis
“-pathy”
Relating to disease (suffix)
Dysuria
Painful urination
“-emia”
Relating to a blood condition (suffix)
“-ole”
Refers to something small (suffix)
Mnemonic for blood draw order
Your Brother Robert Gives Lovely Gifts
How many electrodes are required for a 12-lead EKG?
10 leads.
Mnemonic for capillary blood draw order
Gasp, Lucy GreetS Ozzy’s Son
Gasp = Blood gases (green, lithium heparin)
Lucy = Lavender
GreetS = Green (sodium heparin)
Ozzys = Other additives (grey)
Son = Serum tubes (yellow/gold/red)
Which administration route is utilized to complete a Mantoux (PPD) test?
Intradermal injection
When collecting a capillary sample for a peripheral blood smear, what guidelines should be kept in place?
- Wipe the initial drop of blood with gauze and use the second drop of blood
- Puncture the skin perpendicular to the grooves of the fingerprint to form a blood drop
- Puncture the middle or ring fingers
- Touch the blood to the slide between 0.5 to 1.0 inches from the end of the slide
An interrupted baseline EKG artifact made up of a disruption of the tracing and a flat line are indicative that…
An EKG lead has been disconnected
A somatic tremor EKG artifact made up of jagged, up-and-down spikes is indicative of…
Excessive patient movement
Weber test for audition
1) Place a vibrating tuning fork on the patient’s forehead or head
2) Ask the patient to indicate when they hear the sound equally in both ears
3) If the sound is heard more loudly in one ear, it may indicate an issue with that ear
Rinne test for audition
1) Place a vibrating tuning fork on the patient’s mastoid bone (behind the ear)
2) Ask the patient to indicate when they can no longer hear the sound equally
3) Hold the tuning fork in front of the patient’s ear and ask them to indicate when they can no longer hear the sound
4) Compare the length of time the sound was heard by the patient when it was placed on the bone versus when it was held in front of the ear
5) If the sound is heard longer when the tuning fork is held on the patient’s mastoid bone (behind the ear) or if heard longer when the tuning fork is in front of the ear but not twice as long, it may indicate an issue with the ear
When processing a urine specimen, which factors must be considered?
- Ideal volume of 30-45 mL
- Patient should not flush the toilet
- Temperature should be recorded within 4 minutes to ensure freshness
When processing a urine specimen, which factors must be considered?
- Ideal volume of 30-45 mL
- Patient should not flush the toilet
- Temperature should be recorded within 4 minutes to ensure freshness
A newborn screening card should be collected when?
Between 24 and 48 hours of birth. This allows the baby to have already eaten and stabilized.
In an obese patient, which vein is typically the only one which can be palpated and is considered the second best site for venipuncture?
Cephalic vein
How many times should an EDTA tube be flipped?
8-10 times.
“Yellow, Lavender, Green, and Grey, flip them 8 to 10 today!”
What could be the cause of AC interference on an EKG?
Cell phone use due to the electrical interference.
How long should one wait before checking the results of an allergen scratch test?
15-20 minutes.
How far apart should individual allergens be tested during an allergen scratch test?
1-2 inches apart
Which bandaging technique is used to wrap a sprained ankle?
Figure 8 technique
What is an example of a blood draw that must be placed on ice within 30 minutes of collection?
Arterial blood gases (ABG), lactic acid, ammonia, pyruvate
What are factors to consider during an at-home semen specimen collection?
- Patients should abstain from ejaculation for 2-7 days prior to collection
- Use of a sterile container
- Avoid condom use to collect sperm as they likely have spermicides
- The sample should be kept warm and protected from light
- Specimen must be analyzed within 1 hour of collection
If a patient cannot tell the difference between red and green, what tool should be used to assess this?
Ishihara chart
What is a Snellen chart used for?
The Snellen chart is used to measure visual acuity at a distance of 20 feet.
What is impedance audiometry utilized for?
Impudence audiometry assesses the function of the middle ear and hearing
What is a tonometer utilized for?
A tonometer is utilized to measure the pressure inside of the eye (intraocular pressure)
What is an Ishihara chart utilized for?
The Ishihara chart is utilized to evaluate a patient’s color vision.
How long is urine collected during a urine creatinine test?
For a urine creatinine test, urine is collected for 24 hours.
What test result does warfarin administration affect?
PT/INR (Prothrombin time/International Normalized Ratio)
True/False: Allowing an alcohol rub to dry before inserting a needle is critical to preventing hemolysis.
True.
What is the dimension of a standard calibration square on an EKG sheet?
10 mm height x 5 mm width
How much does one large box measure on an EKG?
0.2 seconds
How much does one small box measure on an EKG?
0.04 seconds
What is the normal setting for the standardization mark on an EKG print out?
10 mm/mV
Airborne transmission precaution should be followed by a medical assistant when handling which of the following patients?
1) Measles
2) MRSA
3) Mumps
4) Meningitis
1) Measles
When a medical assistant is instructing a patient on a 24-hour urine collection. Which instructions should the assistant provide?
The first void in the morning should be discarded.
The collected urine should be kept refrigerated.
All samples should be placed into the same container.
“Problem focused” examination
Limited examination of specific body area mentioned in the chief complaint
Ex.: examining a sprained ankle only
“Expanded problem focused” examination
Limited examination of specific area mentioned in chief complaint as well as related systems
Ex.: examining a sprained ankle and assessing related leg movement
“Detailed” examination
Extended examination of specific body area and related systems, as well as past and present medical history
Ex.: examining a sprained ankle, leg movement, and reviewing past ankle injuries
“Comprehensive” examination
General examination of multiple symptoms
Ex.: full physical exam
What is the minimum amount of time a medical assistant should recommend a patient to keep their bandage on after a venipuncture?
15 minutes.
During a peak flow test, the patient…
Exhales forcefully; measures the capacity of the lungs
What instructions should the medical assistant include while directing a patient on collecting a sputum specimen for laboratory testing?
The specimen should be collected right after waking up as sleep allows time for mucus to build up and accumulate.
Specimen should be collected before eating, or several hours after eating to prevent cross-contamination. Same applies to drinking to avoid diluting the sputum.
When should a medical assistant aliquot a serum specimen?
Immediately after centrifugation.
After completing a venipuncture, how long is it necessary to monitor the venipuncture site after releasing pressure and placing a bandage to check for any bleeding?
5 to 10 seconds.
At what angle is an arterial venipuncture performed?
45°
How long should a urine pregnancy test take for a result?
3 minutes.
What does a normal tympanogram produce on its graph?
A peaked line is indicative of a normal tympanogram reading with normal middle ear pressure and function.
Tympanometry is a diagnostic test of the movement of the eardrum in response to changes in air pressure to assess for fluid buildup or the presence of an infection.
When performing an EKG on a patient with breast implants, in what area should the CCMA place the chest leads V4, V5, and V6?
The CCMA should place chest leads V4, V5, and V6 closer towards the midaxillary line to place leads further from the breast implants and avoid interference.
How long should a serum specimen tube be allowed to clot before centrifugation?
30 minutes.
