Medical Assistant Certification Exam
What are the 4 parts to a patient's medical history? - Answer chief complaint (CC),
history of present illness (HPI), Past, Family and Social History (PFSH), and review of
systems (ROS)
Vital signs reflect the functions of what three body processes necessary for life? -
Answer body temperature, respiration and heart function
what are the 4 vital signs of body function? - Answer temperature, pulse, respiration and
blood pressure
Give the normal temp ranges for the following sites: rectal, oral, axillary and tympanic
membrane? - Answer rectal 98.6-100
oral 97.6-99.6
axillary 96.6-98.6
tympanic 9.8.6
febrile v afebrile - Answer febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is absence of fever
3 types of fever? - Answer intermittent, remittent and continuous
oral temperature is not taken from which patients? - Answer infants and children less
than 6 yo, patients who had face, neck nose or mouth surgery, those receiving oxygen,
patients w altered mental status and others
how long should you wait for patients who just finished eating drinking or smoking to
take temp? - Answer 30 minutes
What method of taking temp is the least accurate? - Answer axillary (underarm)
normal adult pulse range - Answer 60-100 BPM
what is the site most commonly used for taking pulse? - Answer radial artery in wrist
normal range for adults respiration? - Answer 12-20 per minute
what are 3 respiration rate abnormalities? - Answer apnea- temporary complete
absence of breathing
tachypnea- rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
What are to abnormalities in respiratory rhythm? - Answer Cheyne-Stokes- regular
pattern of irregular breathing rate
Orthopnea- difficult to breathe unless in upwright position
,what does depth of respiration refer to? - Answer amount of air that is inspired and
expired during respiration
what are three abnormalities in depth of respirations? - Answer hypoventilation-reduced
amt of air enters lungs
hypernea- abnormal inc in depth and rate of breathing
hyperventilation- increased amt of air entering lungs
Define blood pressure - Answer measurement of the amt of force exerted by the blood
on the peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in mmHg
BP consists of what 2 components? - Answer highest (systole) and lowest (diastole)
amt of pressure exerted during cardiac cycle
Name some common errors in blood pressure measurmens - Answer improper cuff
size, arm is not at heart level, cuff not deflated, improper cuff placement
anthropometric refers to what? - Answer comparative measurements of the bdoy
What are the 4 principles of physical examination? - Answer inspection, palpation,
percussion, ausculatationq
to make a diagnosis the physician utilizes what 3 sources? - Answer patient's health
history, physical exam, and lab tests
horizontal recumbent position - Answer used for most physical exams
dorsal recumbent position - Answer
fowler's position - Answer used to promote drainage or ease breathing
dorsal lithotomy position - Answer used for exam of pelvic orgns
prone position - Answer used to examine spine and back
Sim's position - Answer used for rectal examination
knee-chest position - Answer used for rectal and vaginal exams
trendelenburg position - Answer used for surgical procedures of pelvis and abdomen
Which organization is responsible for the identification of the various hazards present in
the workplace and for the creation of rules and regulation to minimize exposure to
hazards? - Answer Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
, What are the 3 categories for safety hazards? - Answer physical hazards, chemical
hazards, biological hazards
for an external hemorrhage how is bleeding controlled? - Answer elevating the affected
part above heart level and applying direct pressure to the wound
when does shock occur? - Answer when there is insuffcient return of blood flow to the
heart, resulting in inadequate supply of oxygen
what are the common symptoms of shock? - Answer pale, cold clammy skin, rapid weak
pulse, increased shallow breathing rate, expressionless face
first aid for shcok - Answer maintain an open airway, call for assistance, keep victim
lying dow, attempt to control cause of shock
what are agents? - Answer infectious microorganisms that can be classified into groups
portal of exit and portal of entry - Answer portal of exit is the method by which infectious
agent leaves its resevoir; portal of entry allows infectious agent access to suceptible
host
mode of transmition - Answer specific ways in which microorganisms travel from
resevoir to susceptible host. 5 main types: contact, droplet, airborne, common vehicle
and vectorborne
define medical asepsis - Answer the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms after
they leave the body
what procedure is used in medical aspesis using various chemicals that can destroy
pathogenic microorganisms? - Answer disinfection
what is the least expensive and most readily available disenfection? - Answer a 1:10
solution of household beach
4 methods of sterilization - Answer gas sterilization, dry heat sterilization, chemcial and
steam (autoclave)
what is the most important means of preventing the spread of infection? - Answer hand
washing
what are the 3 categories of isolation? - Answer contact precautions, airborne
precautions and droplet percautions
po (abb) - Answer by mouth/orally
pr (abb) - Answer per rectum
What are the 4 parts to a patient's medical history? - Answer chief complaint (CC),
history of present illness (HPI), Past, Family and Social History (PFSH), and review of
systems (ROS)
Vital signs reflect the functions of what three body processes necessary for life? -
Answer body temperature, respiration and heart function
what are the 4 vital signs of body function? - Answer temperature, pulse, respiration and
blood pressure
Give the normal temp ranges for the following sites: rectal, oral, axillary and tympanic
membrane? - Answer rectal 98.6-100
oral 97.6-99.6
axillary 96.6-98.6
tympanic 9.8.6
febrile v afebrile - Answer febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is absence of fever
3 types of fever? - Answer intermittent, remittent and continuous
oral temperature is not taken from which patients? - Answer infants and children less
than 6 yo, patients who had face, neck nose or mouth surgery, those receiving oxygen,
patients w altered mental status and others
how long should you wait for patients who just finished eating drinking or smoking to
take temp? - Answer 30 minutes
What method of taking temp is the least accurate? - Answer axillary (underarm)
normal adult pulse range - Answer 60-100 BPM
what is the site most commonly used for taking pulse? - Answer radial artery in wrist
normal range for adults respiration? - Answer 12-20 per minute
what are 3 respiration rate abnormalities? - Answer apnea- temporary complete
absence of breathing
tachypnea- rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
What are to abnormalities in respiratory rhythm? - Answer Cheyne-Stokes- regular
pattern of irregular breathing rate
Orthopnea- difficult to breathe unless in upwright position
,what does depth of respiration refer to? - Answer amount of air that is inspired and
expired during respiration
what are three abnormalities in depth of respirations? - Answer hypoventilation-reduced
amt of air enters lungs
hypernea- abnormal inc in depth and rate of breathing
hyperventilation- increased amt of air entering lungs
Define blood pressure - Answer measurement of the amt of force exerted by the blood
on the peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in mmHg
BP consists of what 2 components? - Answer highest (systole) and lowest (diastole)
amt of pressure exerted during cardiac cycle
Name some common errors in blood pressure measurmens - Answer improper cuff
size, arm is not at heart level, cuff not deflated, improper cuff placement
anthropometric refers to what? - Answer comparative measurements of the bdoy
What are the 4 principles of physical examination? - Answer inspection, palpation,
percussion, ausculatationq
to make a diagnosis the physician utilizes what 3 sources? - Answer patient's health
history, physical exam, and lab tests
horizontal recumbent position - Answer used for most physical exams
dorsal recumbent position - Answer
fowler's position - Answer used to promote drainage or ease breathing
dorsal lithotomy position - Answer used for exam of pelvic orgns
prone position - Answer used to examine spine and back
Sim's position - Answer used for rectal examination
knee-chest position - Answer used for rectal and vaginal exams
trendelenburg position - Answer used for surgical procedures of pelvis and abdomen
Which organization is responsible for the identification of the various hazards present in
the workplace and for the creation of rules and regulation to minimize exposure to
hazards? - Answer Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
, What are the 3 categories for safety hazards? - Answer physical hazards, chemical
hazards, biological hazards
for an external hemorrhage how is bleeding controlled? - Answer elevating the affected
part above heart level and applying direct pressure to the wound
when does shock occur? - Answer when there is insuffcient return of blood flow to the
heart, resulting in inadequate supply of oxygen
what are the common symptoms of shock? - Answer pale, cold clammy skin, rapid weak
pulse, increased shallow breathing rate, expressionless face
first aid for shcok - Answer maintain an open airway, call for assistance, keep victim
lying dow, attempt to control cause of shock
what are agents? - Answer infectious microorganisms that can be classified into groups
portal of exit and portal of entry - Answer portal of exit is the method by which infectious
agent leaves its resevoir; portal of entry allows infectious agent access to suceptible
host
mode of transmition - Answer specific ways in which microorganisms travel from
resevoir to susceptible host. 5 main types: contact, droplet, airborne, common vehicle
and vectorborne
define medical asepsis - Answer the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms after
they leave the body
what procedure is used in medical aspesis using various chemicals that can destroy
pathogenic microorganisms? - Answer disinfection
what is the least expensive and most readily available disenfection? - Answer a 1:10
solution of household beach
4 methods of sterilization - Answer gas sterilization, dry heat sterilization, chemcial and
steam (autoclave)
what is the most important means of preventing the spread of infection? - Answer hand
washing
what are the 3 categories of isolation? - Answer contact precautions, airborne
precautions and droplet percautions
po (abb) - Answer by mouth/orally
pr (abb) - Answer per rectum
