Page 1 of 214
NCCT SURGICAL TECH PRACTICE EXAM PREP |
FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS | BRAND NEW!
When managing multiple incoming calls, the medical assistant
should handle which of the following calls first?
A. A patient calling to schedule a follow-up visit for uncontrolled
pain after hip surgery.
B. A neurologist seeing a patient on consult.
C. A patient calling to cancel today's appointment for a needle
biopsy of a breast mass.
D. A lawyer with a subpoena asking for patient information. - ✔✔✔
Correct Answer > Correct response:
A neurologist seeing a patient on consult.
Rationale: The medical assistant's main priority is to handle the
most urgent call promptly. A neurologist calling to report on a
referred patient would take priority over anyone scheduling or
cancelling an appointment. The other calls can be put on hold or
they can opt to have their names and phone numbers taken for
calls to be returned and handled when time permits. A lawyer
with a subpoena can also wait for a return call until all other
priorities have been handled.
,Page 2 of 214
The medical assistant witnesses the medical office receptionist
taking money from the cash drawer. The receptionist learns the
medical assistant saw her and asks her not to tell the office
manager, as it was to pay for her electric bill. Which of the
following actions should the medical assistant take?
A. Tell the receptionist that she will not tell as long as the money
is put back in one week
B. Tell the office manager about the incident and request that
confidentiality be maintained
C. Tell other employees in the office so it will get back to the
office manager
D. Tell the receptionist that she understands why she is taking
the money - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Correct response:
Tell the office manager about the incident and request that
confidentiality be maintained
Rationale: The medical assistant has a legal and ethical
responsibility to the employer to uphold the highest professional
standards. This includes communicating with leadership if
unethical behavior is witnessed. In this situation, the best choice
for the MA would be to tell the office manager about the incident
and request that confidentiality be maintained. The other options
in this question, though some may seem compassionate and
sympathetic toward a coworker, do not follow ethical practice
standards.
,Page 3 of 214
Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take
when disposing of a needle following a venipuncture?
A. Recap the needle and place it immediately in a sharps
container.
B. Recap the needle and place it on the blood collection tray.
C. Place the needle with safety device activated immediately in a
sharps container.
D. Push the needle guard over the needle until it clicks and then
place in a biohazard bag. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Correct response:
Place the needle with safety device activated immediately in a
sharps container.
Rationale: To minimize risk of needlestick exposure and/or injury,
the medical assistant should place the needle with safety device
activated immediately in a sharps container. Recapping the
needle increases the risk of an accidental needlestick and is not
recommended (if the needle has a needle guard, it should be
activated to minimize risk). All needles should be promptly
disposed of in a sharps container, not in a biohazard bag or on
the blood collection tray.
While emptying the autoclave, the medical assistant notices that
the wrapped instruments are damp. The medical assistant should
A. leave the instruments in the autoclave and run the cycle again.
B. remove the instruments and place them on the Mayo stand for
surgery.
, Page 4 of 214
C. remove the instruments and set them on the counter to dry.
D. leave the instruments in the autoclave with the door slightly
open to finish drying. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Correct response:
leave the instruments in the autoclave with the door slightly
open to finish drying.
Rationale: Microorganisms can enter through a moist wrap,
which is why it is not advisable to touch or move the contents of
an autoclave before they have had sufficient time to dry. Leave all
contents in the autoclave and crack to door to allow them to air
dry appropriately.
A patient expresses cultural beliefs about an alternative method
of pain management that differs from the medical assistant's
own view. How should the medical assistant respond?
A. "The physician does not recommend that approach."
B. "Tell me more about how this approach has worked for you."
C. "Standard pharmaceutical methods of pain management are
proven to be more effective."
D. "Perhaps you should see a neurologist." - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
Correct response:
"Tell me more about how this approach has worked for you."
Rationale: A respectful approach enhances patient-centered
care, displays professionalism, and shows appreciation for
diversity. The medical assistant should have the patient tell them
more about their approach and how it has worked for them. The
NCCT SURGICAL TECH PRACTICE EXAM PREP |
FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS | BRAND NEW!
When managing multiple incoming calls, the medical assistant
should handle which of the following calls first?
A. A patient calling to schedule a follow-up visit for uncontrolled
pain after hip surgery.
B. A neurologist seeing a patient on consult.
C. A patient calling to cancel today's appointment for a needle
biopsy of a breast mass.
D. A lawyer with a subpoena asking for patient information. - ✔✔✔
Correct Answer > Correct response:
A neurologist seeing a patient on consult.
Rationale: The medical assistant's main priority is to handle the
most urgent call promptly. A neurologist calling to report on a
referred patient would take priority over anyone scheduling or
cancelling an appointment. The other calls can be put on hold or
they can opt to have their names and phone numbers taken for
calls to be returned and handled when time permits. A lawyer
with a subpoena can also wait for a return call until all other
priorities have been handled.
,Page 2 of 214
The medical assistant witnesses the medical office receptionist
taking money from the cash drawer. The receptionist learns the
medical assistant saw her and asks her not to tell the office
manager, as it was to pay for her electric bill. Which of the
following actions should the medical assistant take?
A. Tell the receptionist that she will not tell as long as the money
is put back in one week
B. Tell the office manager about the incident and request that
confidentiality be maintained
C. Tell other employees in the office so it will get back to the
office manager
D. Tell the receptionist that she understands why she is taking
the money - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Correct response:
Tell the office manager about the incident and request that
confidentiality be maintained
Rationale: The medical assistant has a legal and ethical
responsibility to the employer to uphold the highest professional
standards. This includes communicating with leadership if
unethical behavior is witnessed. In this situation, the best choice
for the MA would be to tell the office manager about the incident
and request that confidentiality be maintained. The other options
in this question, though some may seem compassionate and
sympathetic toward a coworker, do not follow ethical practice
standards.
,Page 3 of 214
Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take
when disposing of a needle following a venipuncture?
A. Recap the needle and place it immediately in a sharps
container.
B. Recap the needle and place it on the blood collection tray.
C. Place the needle with safety device activated immediately in a
sharps container.
D. Push the needle guard over the needle until it clicks and then
place in a biohazard bag. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Correct response:
Place the needle with safety device activated immediately in a
sharps container.
Rationale: To minimize risk of needlestick exposure and/or injury,
the medical assistant should place the needle with safety device
activated immediately in a sharps container. Recapping the
needle increases the risk of an accidental needlestick and is not
recommended (if the needle has a needle guard, it should be
activated to minimize risk). All needles should be promptly
disposed of in a sharps container, not in a biohazard bag or on
the blood collection tray.
While emptying the autoclave, the medical assistant notices that
the wrapped instruments are damp. The medical assistant should
A. leave the instruments in the autoclave and run the cycle again.
B. remove the instruments and place them on the Mayo stand for
surgery.
, Page 4 of 214
C. remove the instruments and set them on the counter to dry.
D. leave the instruments in the autoclave with the door slightly
open to finish drying. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Correct response:
leave the instruments in the autoclave with the door slightly
open to finish drying.
Rationale: Microorganisms can enter through a moist wrap,
which is why it is not advisable to touch or move the contents of
an autoclave before they have had sufficient time to dry. Leave all
contents in the autoclave and crack to door to allow them to air
dry appropriately.
A patient expresses cultural beliefs about an alternative method
of pain management that differs from the medical assistant's
own view. How should the medical assistant respond?
A. "The physician does not recommend that approach."
B. "Tell me more about how this approach has worked for you."
C. "Standard pharmaceutical methods of pain management are
proven to be more effective."
D. "Perhaps you should see a neurologist." - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
Correct response:
"Tell me more about how this approach has worked for you."
Rationale: A respectful approach enhances patient-centered
care, displays professionalism, and shows appreciation for
diversity. The medical assistant should have the patient tell them
more about their approach and how it has worked for them. The
