MCA Medical Assistant Certification Exam 1 || With Questions & Solutions (Rated A+)
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Course
CMA - Certified Medical Assistant
Institution
CMA - Certified Medical Assistant
MCA Medical Assistant Certification Exam 1 || With Questions & Solutions (Rated A+)
MCA Medical Assistant Certification Exam 1 || With Questions & Solutions (Rated A+)
A pt is diagnosed with severe hyponatremia. The nurse realizes this pt will mostly likely need which of the following precautio...
, MCA Medical Assistant Certification
Exam 1 || With Questions & Solutions
(Rated A+)
A pt is diagnosed with severe hyponatremia. The nurse realizes this pt will mostly
likely need which of the following precautions implemented?
1. seizure
2. infection
3. neutropenic
4. high-risk fall - ANSWER - Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Severe hyponatremia can lead to seizures. Seizure precautions such as
a quiet environment, raised side rails, & having an oral airway at the bedside would
be included.
Rationale 2: Infection precautions not specifically indicated for a pt with
hyponatremia.
Rationale 3: Neutropenic precautions not specifically indicated for a pt with
hyponatremia.
Rationale 4: High-risk fall precautions not specifically indicated for a pt with
hyponatremia.
A pt is diagnosed with hypokalemia. After reviewing the pt's current medications,
which of the following might have contributed to the pt's health problem?
1. corticosteroid
2. thiazide diuretic
3. narcotic
4. muscle relaxer - ANSWER - Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Excess potassium loss through the kidneys is often caused by such
meds as corticosteroids, potassium-wasting diuretics, amphotericin B, & large doses
of some antibiotics.
Rationale 2: Excessive sodium is lost with the use of thiazide diuretics.
Rationale 3: Narcotics do not typically affect electrolyte balance.
Rationale 4: Muscle relaxants do not typically affect electrolyte balance.
A pt prescribed spironolactone is demonstrating ECG changes & complaining of
muscle weakness. The nurse realizes this pt is exhibiting signs of which of the
following?
1. hyperkalemia
2. hypokalemia
3. hypercalcemia
4. hypocalcemia - ANSWER - Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Hyperkalemia is serum potassium level greater than 5.0 mEq/L.
Decreased potassium excretion is seen in potassium-sparing diuretics such as
spironolactone. Common manifestations of hyperkalemia are muscle weakness &
ECG changes.
Rationale 2: Hypokalemia is seen in non-potassium diuretics such as furosemide.
Rationale 3: Hypercalcemia has been associated with thiazide diuretics.
,Rationale 4: Hypocalcemia is seen in pts who have received many units of citrated
blood & is not associated with diuretic use.
* - ANSWER - *
When caring for a pt diagnosed with hypocalcemia, which of the following should the
nurse additionally assess in the pt?
1. other electrolyte disturbances
2. hypertension
3. visual disturbances
4. drug toxicity - ANSWER - Answer: 1
Rationale 1: The pt diagnosed with hypocalcemia may also have high phosphorus or
decreased magnesium levels.
Rationale 2: The pt with hypocalcemia may exhibit hypotension, & not hypertension.
Rationale 3: Visual disturbances do not occur with hypocalcemia.
Rationale 4: Hypercalcemia is more commonly caused by drug toxicities.
** - ANSWER - **
When analyzing an arterial blood gas report of a pt with COPD & respiratory
acidosis, the nurse anticipates that compensation will develop through which of the
following mechanisms?
1. The kidneys retain bicarbonate.
2. The kidneys excrete bicarbonate.
3. The lungs will retain carbon dioxide.
4. The lungs will excrete carbon dioxide. - ANSWER - Answer: 1
Rationale 1: The kidneys will compensate for a respiratory disorder by retaining
bicarbonate.
Rationale 2: Excreting bicarbonate causes acidosis to develop.
Rationale 3: Retaining carbon dioxide causes respiratory acidosis.
Rationale 4: Excreting carbon dioxide causes respiratory alkalosis
The nurse is caring for a pt diagnosed with renal failure. Which of the following does
the nurse recognize as compensation for the acid-base disturbance found in pts with
renal failure?
1. The pt breathes rapidly to eliminate carbon dioxide.
2. The pt will retain bicarbonate in excess of normal.
3. The pH will decrease from the present value.
4. The pt's oxygen saturation level will improve. - ANSWER - Answer: 1
Rationale 1: In metabolic acidosis compensation is accomplished through increased
ventilation or "blowing off" C02. This raises the pH by eliminating the volatile
respiratory acid & compensates for the acidosis.
Rationale 2: Because compensation must be performed by the system other than the
affected system, the pt cannot retain bicarbonate; the manifestation of metabolic
acidosis of renal failure is a lower than normal bicarbonate value.
Rationale 3: Metabolic acidosis of renal failure causes a low pH; this is the
manifestation of the disease process, not the compensation.
Rationale 4: Oxygenation disturbance is not part of the acid-base status of the pt
with renal failure.
, When caring for a group of pts, the nurse realizes that which of the following health
problems increases the risk for metabolic alkalosis?
1. bulimia
2. dialysis
3. venous stasis ulcer
4. COPD - ANSWER - Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Metabolic alkalosis is cause by vomiting, diuretic therapy or nasogastric
suction, among others. A pt with bulimia may engage in vomiting or indiscriminate
use of diuretics.
Rationale 2: A pt receiving dialysis has kidney failure, which causes metabolic
acidosis.
Rationale 3: A venous stasis ulcer does not result in an acid-base disorder.
Rationale 4: The pt diagnosed with COPD typically has hypercapnea & respiratory
acidosis.
The nurse is caring for a pt who is anxious & dizzy following a traumatic experience.
The arterial blood gas findings include: pH 7.48, PaO2 110, PaCO2 25, & HCO3 24.
The nurse would anticipate which initial intervention to correct this problem?
1. Encourage the pt to breathe in & out slowly into a paper bag.
2. Immediately administer oxygen via a mask & monitor oxygen saturation.
3. Prepare to start an intravenous fluid bolus using isotonic fluids.
4. Anticipate the administration of intravenous sodium bicarbonate. - ANSWER -
Answer: 1
Rationale 1: This pt is exhibiting signs of hyperventilation that is confirmed with the
blood gas results of respiratory alkalosis. Breathing into a paper bag will help the pt
to retain carbon dioxide & lower oxygen levels to normal, correcting the cause of the
problem.
Rationale 2: The oxygen levels are high, so oxygen is not indicated, & would
exacerbate the problem if given. Intravenous fluids would not be the initial
intervention.
Rationale 3: Not enough information is given to determine the need for intravenous
fluids.
Rationale 4: Bicarbonate would be contraindicated as the pH is already high.
A pt is prescribed 20 mEq of potassium chloride. The nurse realizes that the reason
the pt is receiving this replacement is
1. to sustain respiratory function.
2. to help regulate acid-base balance.
3. to keep a vein open.
4. to encourage urine output. - ANSWER - Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Potassium does not sustain respiratory function.
Rationale 2: Electrolytes have many functions. They assist in regulating water
balance, help regulate & maintain acid-base balance, contribute to enzyme
reactions, & are essential for neuromuscular activity.
Rationale 3: Intravenous fluids are used to keep venous access not potassium.
Rationale 4: Urinary output is impacted by fluid intake not potassium.
An elderly pt does not complain of thirst. What should the nurse do to assess that
this pt is not dehydrated?
1. Ask the physician for an order to begin intravenous fluid replacement.
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