NHA Study Guide

A medical assistant is preparing a patient to have a 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 an kill abnormal cells."

Which of the following statement made by a new medical assistant, regarding an artifact, demonstrates a need for uther teaching?

"Electrical interference on the EKG is not caused by cell phones."

A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's medical 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

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 needle-stick injury.

Which of the following cardiac procedures is within a medical assistant's scope of practice and does not require a licensed technician or provider to assist or perform it?

Holter monitor application

A medical assistant is caring for an infant who suddenly becomes unresponsive for unknown reasons. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Initiate Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

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

Inject the medication slowly

Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic examination?

Lithotomy

Which of the following documents indicates how a patient's medical record is used and disclosed by a medical office?

Notice of Privacy Practice (NPP)

The laboratory reports on a patient indicates a hemoglobin level 7 g/dL. Which of the following is the first action from the medical assistant to take?

Notify the provider

A medical assistant is writing a piece of professional correspondence to consulting provider. In which of the following ways should the assistant record the date on the letter?

January 1, 2020

A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory results that confirm a patient has varicella zoster virus. The assistant should identify that this micro-organism causes which of the following types of infections?

Chickenpox

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

Chlorhexidine

Which of the following cell structures is instrumental in helping the body mobilize and secrete mucus form the respiratory tract?

Cilia

A medical assistant notice that the medical office is not providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff. Which of the following regulatory agencies should the assistant contact?

OSHA

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 the this incident?

OSHA Form 301

A medical assistant is scheduling a patient for an outpatient procedure. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first?

Obtain an oral or written order form the provider for the procedure

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

Occupation

A medical assistant works at an urgent care center that uses open hours scheduling. Which of the following describes this form of scheduling?

Patients arrive at their convenience and are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

A medical assistant is encouraging a patient to increase her intake of insoluble fiber to help prevent constipation and hemorrhoids. Which of the following foods should the assistant recommend as the best source of insoluble fiber?

Pears with skin

A medical assistant is responsible for cleaning the instruments used in a minor surgery. Which of the following is first step in the process?

Sanitation

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

A medical assistant is collecting information from a patient who reports persistent pain in the left upper quadrant. The assistant should note that this are contains which of the following organs?

Stomach

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 location when using the SOAP approach to organizing medical records?

Subjective

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who is experiencing chills, nausea, and dizziness. The patient's face appears pale. The assistant should recognize that the patient is exhibiting manifestations of which of the following medical emergencies?

Syncope

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

Which of the following pieces of legislation keeps health care staff safe from retaliation by their employers when they report cases of` patient neglect and abuse?

Whistleblower Protection Act

While measuring a patient's pulse, the medical assistant should recognize that which of the following patient factors can contribute to an erroneous pulse rate?

movement

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has terminal colorectal cancer with a life expectancy of 6 months. The patient states, "I don't know if it's time to begin hospice care yet." Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

"Hospice can help manage pain and comfort during the final months of your life."

At work, a medical assistant cared for a neighbor who sustained multiple injuries in a fall. After work, another neighbor ask the assistant what happened to the neighbor who fell. Following the American Association of Medical Assistants' (AAMA) Code of Ethics, Which of the following responses should the assistant make?

"I can't share any information about what happens at my job"

A patient tells a medical assistant that his provider's office is incompetent, as there is no improvement in his condition. Which of the following is an appropriate response for the assistant to make?

"I think that you feel that your treatment is not effective"

A medical assistant requests that a patient pay her insurance copayment at the time she arrives for her appointment. The patient becomes defensive and asks why and asks why she should pay for care she has not yet received. Which of the following responses should the medical assistant make?

"I understand you're concerned, so you're welcome to pay at the end your appointment."

Which of the following statements made by a medical assistant demonstrates an understanding of required patient identification techniques?

"I will ask the patient to state and spell her full name and provide her date of birth before administering vaccines."

A Medical assistant is talking with an older adult patient who has experience several injuries at home over the past 6 months. The patient lives alone and has no family nearby. Which of the following responses should the assistant make 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."

A patient asks a medical assistant to explain the difference between a liniment and a medicated lotion. Which of the following responses should the assistant make?

"Liniments contains a higher portion of oil than medicated lotions".

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 your gums and cheek"

A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about pulse oximetry. Which of the following statements should the assistant include in the teaching?

"Remove your nail polish before the test"

Which of the following instructions should a medical assistant give to a patient when administering an enteric-coated tablet?

"Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water"

A medical assistant is talking with a patient who reports forgetting whether she has taken her prescribed medication each day. Which of the following responses should the assistant make?

"Try putting your medication in a weekly medication dispenser for the upcoming week"

A medical assistant should insert the needle at which of the following angles during a venipuncture?

15 degree angle

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

"You should refrain from talking during the procedure."

A medical assistant is determining the amount a patient will be required to pay for a scheduled procedure that has an allowable amount of $200 co payment, a 90/10 coinsurance, and has met his deductible. What is the total amount the patient will pay the provider for this procedure?

$40

A medial assistant is reinforcing teaching about a cardiac event monitor with a patient. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the procedure?

'I will record any symptoms i experience in the event log"

A medical assistant is cleaning counter tops and other surfaces after a surgical procedure in a provider's office. Which of the following disinfectants should the assistant use for this purpose?

A 1:10 bleach and water solution

A medication container states there is 250 mg of medication in each scored tablet. The provider orders 375 mg. How many tablets should the medical assistant give the patient?

1.5 tablets

A medical Assistant is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection for a patient. Which of the following needle size should the assistant choose?

1/2-to 5/8 inch needle. 25 gauge

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who weighs 72 kg. What is this patient's weight in lb?

158.4 lb

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 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 caring for a 4-month-old infant who has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F. Which of the following is this temperature when converted to Celsius?

38 degrees Celsius

A medical assistant is administering an intramuscular injection into the gluteus medius of an adult patient. At which of the following angles should the assistant insert the needle?

90 degree angle

A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has bilateral below-the-knee amputation for an EKG. Which of the following sites the assistant select for electrode placement?

Abdomen

A medical assistant is preparing to file the paper chart for Mary St. Thomas. Where should this file be placed when filed along with the charts for Mary Perez, Elizabeth Saint, and John A. Thomas?

After Elizabeth Saint and before John A. Thomas

A medical assistant is caring for a child who has varicella zoster virus. The assistant should recognize that varicella is transferred which of the following modes of transmission?

Airborne

A Medical assistant is caring for a patient who has recently received a terminal diagnosis and is crying. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Allow the patient to cry.

A medical assistant is talking with a patient who is experiencing home displacement following a hurricane. To which of the following resources should the assistant refer the patient for information, support, and links to community service?

America Red Cross

Several patients arrive at a the same time requesting care. A medical assistant should recognize that which of the following patient's chief complaints is the priority for the provider to address?

An adult patient who is experiencing dyspnea and congestion

According to OSHA's guidelines for proper waste disposal, which of the following should a medical assistant place in a regular waste container?

An empty urine container

A medical assistant in an emergency clinic is admitting several patients. The assistant should recognize that the provider should see which of the following patient first?

An older adult patient who had diabetes and has a blood pressure of 80/42 mm Hg

A medical assistant is applying a trans-dermal patch for a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Apply the patch to the hairless are of the patient's skin

A medical assistant is performing a review of items in a clinic's inventory. How should the assistant classify dressings and bandages for inventory purposes?

As clinical supplies

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.

For a 12-lead EKG, which of the following is the correct placement for the V4 electrode?

At the fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line

A medical assistant is faxing a prescription to a patient's pharmacy. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Call the pharmacy to confirm receipt of the faxed prescription

Which of the following is the largest and uppermost section of the brain?

Cerebrum

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 medical assistant must invert anticoagulant tubes to prevent which of the following?

Clotting

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

Cluster scheduling

Which of the following is a medical assistant's role in pulmonary functions 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 entering a new prescription into a patient's electronic medical record (EMR). While entering the prescription, an alert notifying the assistant of a medication interaction appears on the screen. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Consult with the provider before continuing to process the prescription

When measuring a patient's respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?

Count the respiration while the patient thinks his pulse is being obtained.

Which of the following terms refers to the range for 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 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

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

Denial of care due to patient's age

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

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

A medical assistant 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 assistant should identify that the patient is in which of the following stages of grief?

Depression

To provide culturally competent care. Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take first when encountering patients?

Examine personal religious and cultural values and beliefs to identify any biases.

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

A medical assistant should identify which of the following as a characteristic of anorexia nervosa?

Excessive exercising

A medical assistant is scheduling diagnostic test for a patient's liver and pancreas. Which of the following system is being assessed?

Digestive

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

Disinfection

A medical assistant is preparing to calculate a patient's heart rate from an EKG tracing. Which of the following methods should the assistant use for this calculation?

Divide 1,500 by the number of small boxes between R waves.

A patient presents to an emergency department with a large laceration to the wrist that is bleeding profusely. Which of the followign actions should the medical assistant take first?

Do Gloves.

When completing documentation in a patient's paper medical record, a medical assistant realizes she made an error. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Draw a line through the error and initial it.

A medical assistant is coding an office visit during which the provider reviewed the system related to a patient's chief complaint but did not discuss the patient's family or social history. Which of the following procedure codes should the assistant use for the visit?

Expanded problem-focused history

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

Durable power of attorney

Which of the following additives should be used when performing a CBC?

EDTA

A medical assistant should understand that the chain of custody form is used for which of the following?

Ensuring that a specimen is packaged as directed

In which of the following scenarios should a medical assistant choose a CPT modifier?

For special circumstances applied to a procedure performed by the provider

A patient reports feeling depressed due to the recent loss of a partner. In which of the five stages of the grief process does depression presents itself?

Fourth

A patient who has vulvovaginal candidiasis ask a medical assistant for more information about her infection. The assistant should begin by explaining that Candidiasis is which of the following type of infections?

Fungal

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

According to the regulation of controlled substances, which of the following is true of a schedule I drug?

Have no accepted medical use

A medical assistant is monitoring an infant patient for microcephaly. Which of the following describes the anthropometric measurement that the assistant should perform?

Head Circumference

A medical assistant is collecting vitals 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 medical Assistant is preparing to assist a provider with suturing a would. Which of the following items should be in the sterile field for this procedure?

Hemostat

A medical assistant is collecting data from a patient who has cold sores on his lips. The assistant should identify that which of the following viruses causes this condition?

Herpes simplex type 1

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

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 should the assistant take?

Interpret a blue color as a positive result

Which of the following routes of administration should a medical assistant use when performing a tuberculin skin test?

Intradermal

A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has anemia for an examination by the provider. Which of the following manifestation should the assistant expect to find?

Irregular Heartbeats

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 items in the medical office are considered administrative office supplies?

Letterhead, envelopes, and business cards

A medical assistant is transcribing a prescription for magnesium sulfate into a patient's medical record. Which of the following should the assistant use to document this medication?

Magnesium Sulfate

A medical assistant is collecting blood samples to measure a patient's cholesterol levels. Which of the following actions should the assistant take before collecting the patient's blood?

Make sure the patient did not eat any food for the past 12 hr.

A medical assistant is testing a patient's visual acuity using a Snellen chart. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Make sure the patient does not lean forward during the test.

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

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has active tuberculosis. Which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used during the patient's care?

N95 respiratory

The medical assistant drops an instrument on the floor while setting up a sterile tray for a procedure. He picks up the instrument and places it back on the sterile field. A few days after the procedure, the patient calls the office, concerned that the are surrounding the procedure site is infected. Which of the following torts has the assistant committed?

Negligence

A medical assistant is classifying services that a patient requires. The assistant should identify which of the following as an ancillary diagnostic service?

Pathology

A medical assistant is preparing to dispose of bandages that have been removed form a patient's open wound. Per OSHA guidelines, which of the following actions should the assistant plan to take?

Place the bandages in a red bio-hazard bag

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 obtaining a blood pressure measurement form an adult patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?

Place the stethoscope's diaphragm over the patient's palpated artery.

Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when obtaining the length of an infant during a well-child visit?

Position the infant on his back

Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal?

Potassium 3 mEq/L

A medical assistant is preparing to administer a liquid, oral medication to a patient. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to ensure the correct dose is delivered?

Pour the medication to the prescribed dose in the medicine cup on a flat surface.

A medical assistant is performing an ear irrigation for an adult patient who has cerumen impaction. Which of the following steps should the assistant complete prior to administering the irrigation solution?

Pull the pinna of the ear up and back.

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 has derogatory e-mail form 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.

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

A patient presents to an office for treatment. After reading the consent form, she expresses concerns about the treatment. Who is responsible for counseling the patient?

Provider

Which of the following tests is granted waived status under Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA)?

Rapid Strep test

When assisting a provider with a punch biopsy of a mole, which of the following tasks should a medical assistant expect to perform?

Receive and prepare tissue specimens for processing.

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).

A medical assistant receives a fall from a patient requesting a refill for fentanyl patches for chronic pain. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Refer the patient request to the provider

A medical assistant observes a hematoma developing at the site of a venous blood draw. The assistant should do which of the following?

Release the tourniquet and stop the draw

A medical assistant is collecting a health history from an older adult patient who exhibits moderate hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Remain within the patient's view to allow lip-reading

A primary care provider suspects that a patient has fibromyalgia. A medical assistant should expect the provider to refer the patient to which of the following specialists?

Rheumatologist

A medical assistant is assisting a provider with an abdominal examination. When the provider palpates the major portion of the liver, the assistant should recognized that he is palpating which of the following abdominal quadrants?

Right upper

After a patient leaves an examination room, Which of the following action should a medical assistant take to prepare the examination table for the next patient?

Roll up the disposable paper on the table tightly and quickly.

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

In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place a healthy patient in preparation for a rectal examination?

Sims'

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?

Sinoartial Node

When coding witch the IDC-10-CM, Where should the medical assistant being the process of looking up a diagnosis code for breast cancer?

The Alphabetic index

An adolescent is covered by two insurance policies under her divorced parents who have birthdays in May and August and have joint Custody. Which policy is the primary policy for the adolescent?

The policy of the parent who has the earliest birth month

When removing sutures, why is it important for a medical assistant to place the removed sutures on a gauze pad?

To determine the number of sutures removed

A patient calls the clinic to cancel a postoperative appointment and states that she will schedule 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

A medical assistant is assisting a provider with the repair of a laceration on a patient's head. The provider's prescription for the procedure includes an injection of 10 mL of lidocaine with epinephrine. The assistant should recognize that which of the following is the purpose of epinephrine in the local anesthetic?

To reduce bleeding at the site

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 which 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 medical assistant is contacting a patient to schedule a repeat Papanicolaou test due to abnormal results. The assistant should identify that which of the following factors can interfere with the test results?

Using an over-the-counter vaginal creams prior to the test.

A medical assistant is performing a 12-lead EKG on a patient. Which of the following electrodes should the assistant place to the left of the sternum at the fourth intercostal space?

V2

A medical assistant should identify that which of the following vitamins is fat soluble?

Vitamin A

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 transcribing a prescription for a medical that a patient should take before meals. Which of the following abbreviations should the assistant use to indicate when the patient should take medication?

ac

A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's recent medical history and notes that she has a healing fracture of the distal femur. Where on the patient's body should the assistant expect to find the injury?

just above the knee

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

non-adherent dressing