Medical Assistant Certification Exam
Questions And Answers Latest Update
2024/2025
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
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Schoolflix. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $13.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.