NHA questions and answers for the test

A patient calls into the office to report that her medication is "not working." Which of the following responses should the medical assistant make?

"I will notify the provider about your situation."

A patient in the waiting room approaches a medical assistant and states, "I've been waiting 30 minutes to see my doctor. Can't you do something?" Which of the following responses by the assistant is an example of active listening?

"You sound frustrated about how long you've been waiting."

A patient expresses to a medical assistant that he would like to designate his daughter as his health care proxy. The assistant should inform him that which of the following is the minimum age to be eligible as a health care proxy?

18

A patient believes that her health care privacy has been violated. A medical assistant should know that the patient's complaint must be filed within how many days?

180.

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?

30 mm Hg above the radial pulse cessation

A medical assistant is preparing 1 g/kg of activated charcoal for a patient who weighs 176 lb. How many grams of charcoal should the assistant prepare?

79 g To convert from lb to kg, multiply 176 lb by 0.45. The correct answer is 79.2, which is rounded to 79. Since the preparation of activated charcoal is 1 g/kg, the ratio of grams of activated charcoal to the patient's weight in kg should be 1:1. Therefore, the amount of activated charcoal the assistant should prepare is 79 g.

In which of the following situations would a patient be allowed to refuse treatment?

A 13-year-old patient who has miscarried

When designating a medical power of attorney, a medical assistant should identify which of the following people as an acceptable choice for a health care proxy?

A member of the patient's faith community

Which of the following would be charted in the "objective" section when using the SOAP method?

A patient's blood pressure

Which of the following moral codes should a medical assistant reference when facing an ethical dilemma?

AMA Code of Ethics

A medical assistant is engaging in conversation with a patient who was recently terminated from the practice. The patient has come to the office and is demanding an explanation. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Acknowledge the patient's concern.

When communicating on the telephone with a patient, which of the following actions by a medical assistant demonstrates the use of appropriate technique for outgoing calls?

Allowing the patient to be the one to end the call

When performing a first aid procedure to control bleeding of a wound, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take?

Apply layers of sterile gauze

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who is frustrated and states, "My doctor doesn't have any idea how to treat my condition." Which of the following responses by the assistant is an example of therapeutic communication?

Are you saying that you don't think your provider knows how to help you?"

A medical assistant is checking in a patient who does not speak the same language as the assistant. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Ask a bilingual staff member to assist with communication..

A medical assistant is checking a patient's hearing using the Weber test. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Ask the patient if he hears the vibration louder in one ear than the other.

According to OSHA guidelines for universal precautions, which of the following types of patient contact would require a medical assistant to wear gloves, a mask, a face shield, and protective apparel?

Assisting a provider with the removal of a cyst.

A medical assistant should recognize that once advance directives are in place, they can be updated at which of the following times?

At any time

In which of the following locations should the inside address appear in a business letter?

Between the dateline and the salutation

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.

When using a centrifuge, a medical assistant must do which of the following to ensure safety and accuracy?

Cap the tubes to avoid emission of aerosols

A medical assistant should use which of the following solutions to prepare a patient's skin prior to drawing blood cultures?

Chlorhexidine

Which of the following is a step in the process of skin preparation prior to a surgical procedure?

Clean the surgical site with antiseptic.

A clinic schedules all cardiac patients on Mondays and Wednesdays and all oncology patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Which of the following types of scheduling is the clinic using?

Cluster scheduling

Which of the following is a medical assistant's role in pulmonary function testing (PFT)?

Coach the patient through the test.

When choosing a diagnosis code, a medical assistant should consider which of the following actions in order to avoid an insurance denial?

Coding to the highest level of specificity

A medical assistant is preparing a patient to have cryosurgery following an abnormal Papanicolaou test. Which of the following statements should the assistant make to explain the procedure?

Cryosurgery involves an extremely cold probe to freeze and kill abnormal cells."

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.

A medical assistant 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

Which of the following information should the medical assistant enter into the appointment calendar when scheduling a patient for a skin rash?

Daytime phone number

To be a successful member of a team, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take?

Demonstrate willingness to perform extra duties.

The Patients' Bill of Rights protects individuals from which of the following?

Denial of care due to the patient's age

A medical assistant is assisting a patient whose insurance does not cover immunizations. To which of the following community resources should assistant refer the patient?

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Which of the following items included on the CMS-1500 claim form should a medical assistant recognize as indicating the medical necessity of a procedure?

Diagnosis code

Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use for the routine cleaning of EKG cables?

Disinfection

During the admission process, a patient explains the manifestations of his chief complaint to the medical assistant. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Document the patient's concerns in the medical record

Which of the following is a formal authorization that identifies an individual as legally able to make decisions on behalf of a patient?

Durable power of attorney

A medical assistant sees a coworker take a pain medication from a locked cabinet. The assistant knows that the coworker is a single mother who has a child who was recently injured. Which of the following types of ethical situations does this problem create for the assistant?

Ethical distress

Which of the following organs is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen?

Gallbladder

Which of the following gives patients the rights over their health care information, including the right to receive a copy of their information, the right to ensure their medical records are correct, and the right to know who had access to their records?

HIPAA

A medical assistant should recognize that which of the following entities must adhere to HIPAA guidelines?

Health care clearinghouses

A medical assistant is collecting vital signs from a 6-year-old child. The assistant should recognize that which of the following vital signs is 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 130/min is the expected reference range for a 6-year old child.

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 cleaning an examination room after assisting a provider with a biopsy. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Hold sharps by the blunt end to avoid a needlestick injury.

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

Which of the following terms describes the body's internal adaptation and change to keep body functions in balance?

Homeostasis

At what time of day will a patient's body temperature be at its lowest?

In the morning

A medical assistant is administering heparin subcutaneously to a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Inject the medication slowly

A medical assistant receives a denial of payment for a patient's cholecystectomy. The reason stated is "noncovered service." If this procedure was deemed emergent by the provider, which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Instruct the patient to contact the insurer about the denial of payment

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 needs to type a professional business letter from the office. Which of the following formats is appropriate?

Keep flush with the left margin.

​Which of the following groups of EKG leads are bipolar?

Leads I, II, and III

A medical assistant should identify which of the following as the legal document that states the life-saving procedures a patient authorizes in the event he is incapable of verbalizing his desire for medical treatment?

Living will

A medical assistant witnesses a coworker knowingly commit an unlawful and wrongful act. The assistant should identify this act as which of the following types of negligence?

Malfeasance.

A medical assistant should recognize that which of the following provides instructions for an emergency medical technician to follow when transporting an elderly or critically ill patient?

Medical Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment

A medical assistant works at a practice that is 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 which of the following types of medical coverage?

Medicare

Which of the following cell structures is the source of energy for a cell?

Mitochondria

Which of the following dressings should a medical assistant use on a partial-thickness burn?

Non adherent dressing

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)

When measuring the vital signs of a 10-year-old child, a medical assistant recognizes indications of abuse. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Notify the child's provider.

A medical assistant is providing discharge instructions for a patient who is visually impaired. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Notify the patient when entering the room..

A medical assistant is entering patient data into an electronic medical record (EMR) system. Which of the following information should be entered into the Patient Demographics section of the EMR?

Occupation.

Employers are accountable for providing a safe and healthy workplace for employees by setting and enforcing standards. This environment is achieved by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. Which of the following regulatory agencies oversees this standard?

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Where should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V5?

On the left anterior axillary line, horizontal to V4

A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who has seasonal allergies. Which of the following health care providers should the assistant identify as being able to make a diagnosis and initiate the necessary treatment?

Physician assistant

A medical assistant left her computer unlocked with a patient's chart visible. Which of the following actions should the assistant take in the future to prevent unauthorized viewing of patient information?

Place privacy filters on the monitor screen

A medical assistant is administering an injection, and the patient faints. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Place the patient in a supine position.

A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory requisitions. For which of the following patient conditions should the assistant perform a capillary collection rather than a venipuncture?

Previous thromboses

A medical assistant has just received a derogatory e-mail from a dissatisfied patient. What action should the assistant take?

Print the e-mail and make notes about topics to be addressed prior to formulating a response.

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 elements is essential for successful teamwork?

Related short-term and long-term goals

A medical assistant is approached by a patient who is angry and yelling. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Remain calm.

In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place an 18 month old patient when administering ear drops to the right ear?

Right ear facing up with the earlobe pulled down and back. When administering ear drops to a child under the age of 3 years, the patient should be positioned with the ear facing up and the earlobe pulled down and back to allow medication to flow into the canal and reach the affected area.

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

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

A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has psoriasis to be examined by the provider. When inspecting the patient's skin lesions, the assistant should expect to observe which of the following characteristics?

Silvery, scaly

In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place a patient when obtaining a rectal temperature?

Sims' Sims' position is used for examining the rectum and vagina, performing enemas, and obtaining rectal temperatures.

A medical assistant is preparing a patient for an enema. In which of the following positions should the assistant place the patient for this procedure?

Sims' position

Where do cardiac electrical impulses originate in the heart?

Sinoatrial node

Which of the following is the correct device to perform a Pulmonary Function Test?

Spirometer

A medical assistant is checking in a patient who is hearing impaired. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Stand within the patient's field of vision.

A medical assistant is speaking with a patient. Which of the following might occur as a barrier to communication?

Stereotyping

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)

A patient informs a medical assistant that he gets headaches when he reads from a computer monitor. The assistant should place this information in which of the following locations when using the SOAP approach to organizing medical records?

Subjective

A medical assistant is performing an EKG on a patient. Which of the following describes the appropriate placement of the electrodes?

Tabs downward on the arm

When coding with the ICD-10-CM, where should the medical assistant begin the process of looking up a diagnosis code for breast cancer?

The Alphabetic Index

A medical assistant is preparing a business correspondence. Which of the following is a characteristic of the modified block letter style?

The complimentary closing is centered on the page.

What information is required for a pediatric patient that is not required of an adult patient?

The name of the patient's parent

Who must discuss the informed consent form with a patient prior to the patient signing?

The patient's physician

A medical assistant is reporting a patient fall that occurred in the front lobby of the clinic. What is the purpose of the assistant preparing an incident report?

To avoid future reoccurrences

A patient calls the clinic to cancel a post operative appointment and states that she will reschedule at a later date. For which of the following reasons should the medical assistant document this information on the patient's chart?

To prove that the office was not negligent

Which of the following parenteral medication routes should a medical assistant administer for a slow release of medication into the blood stream?

Transdermal

A medical assistant receives a telephone call from a patient who is hesitant about discussing a new medical concern unless the conversation is with a provider. The assistant should use which of the following techniques to address the patient's reluctance?

Use a reflective statement to recognize the patient's concerns

A patient arrives at the clinic with a tick bite on his leg. The provider asks a medical assistant to help remove the tick. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Use tweezers to pull the tick away from the skin slowly

A medical assistant is witnessing a patient sign an informed consent form. Which of the following is the responsibility of the assistant acting as a witness?

Validate the patient's signature

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

A medical assistant is explaining to a female patient how to collect a clean-catch urine specimen. Which of the following instructions should the assistant include?

With the labia spread, urinate a small amount into the toilet before collecting the sample

A medical assistant is assisting a provider with a gynecological examination on a patient. The patient says, "My religious beliefs do not allow me to use contraception." The assistant should expect the provider to make which of the following statements?

You have the right to make choices regarding your health

A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient who is scheduled for a standard 12-lead EKG. Which of the following statements should the assistant make?

You should refrain from talking during the procedure."

Which of the following readings would be a normal adult temperature?

​37° C A normal adult temperature is 98.6° F. This would equal 98.6° F. 37 × 9/5 = 66.6 (calculated by multiplying 37 by 9 and then dividing by 5. 37 × 9 = 333 ÷ 5 = 66.6) 66.6 + 32 = 98.6° F