Question 1

The medical assistant needs to eliminate barriers that impede communication. Which of the following is an example of a communication barrier?

Accepted Answer

Communication in the dealing with clients and members of the health care team is necessary to provide adequate and efficient care. Cultural differences between clients and nursing staff may be barriers to communication because clients may attach different meanings to verbal and nonverbal communication. An interpreter can help the staff in dealing with this problem. Use of accepted medical abbreviations facilitates understanding. Silence is a therapeutic approach in communication. Just being with the client shows that you care.

Question 2

Anita overheard a co-worker saying that the nurse assigned to their floor is having an illicit affair with a physician. Anita then informs the supervisor of this information. Which of the following statements best describe the situation?

Accepted Answer

To gossip means to spread rumors or talk about the private matters of others. It is unprofessional and hurtful. To avoid being a part of gossip:
§Remove yourself from a group or situation where gossip is occurring.
§Do not make or repeat any comment that can hurt a person, family member, co-worker, or your employer.
§Do not make or repeat any comment that you do not know to be true.
§Do not talk about patients, residents, visitors, families, co-workers, or your employer at home or in social settings.

Question 3

Kristine (RN) is orienting Shella, the new certified medical assistant, to the unit. Kristine mentions that sometimes clients who don't speak English are admitted to their unit. In communicating with these clients, Shella is aware that she should:

Accepted Answer

It is best to ask the nurse to have an interpreter present when communicating with clients who speak a different language. Choice A is an ineffective way to communicate. Choice C violates privacy and does not ensure correct translation.

Question 4

Situation: Judy Montgomery, an 85-year-old client with Alzheimer's disease, developed a serious complication of pneumonia and is now attached to a respirator. Knowing that for a comatose client, hearing is the last sense to be lost. As Judy's medical assistant all through her stay in the hospice, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

Speak softly then hold her hands gently. Hearing is one of the last functions lost. Always assume that the person can hear. Speak in a normal voice. Provide reassurance and touch the client by holding her hands gently. This is one way of allowing the client to feel that you are with her.

Question 5

You are resigning from your work as a medical assistant. What is the most appropriate action for you to take?

Accepted Answer

Whatever the reason for resigning, you need to tell your employer. Do not leave a job without notice. The most appropriate way of doing this is to write a resignation letter indicating your reason for leaving, last date you will work, and gratitude to the employer for the opportunity to work in the agency.

Question 6

The stages of grieving identified by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross are:

Accepted Answer

The exact order of Kubler-Ross' stages of grieving are as follows:
1. Denial
§Client refuses to believe that loss is happening.
§Is unready to deal with practical problems.
§May assume artificial cheerfulness.
2. Anger
§Client or family may direct anger at a nurse or hospital about matters that normally would not bother them.
3. Bargaining
§Seeks to bargain to avoid loss.
§May express feeling of guilt or fear of punishment for past sins, real or imagined.
4. Depression
§Grieves over what has happened and what cannot be.
§May talk freely or may withdraw.
5. Acceptance
§Comes to terms with loss
§May have decreased interest in surroundings.

Question 7

The first stage of pressure ulcer formation is:

Accepted Answer

The first stage of pressure ulcer formation is a non blanch able, erythematic area of intact skin. The stages of pressure ulcer formation are as follows:
§STAGE 1: The skin is red. The color does not return to normal when the skin is relieved of pressure. The skin is intact.
§STAGE 2: The skin cracks, blisters, or peels. There may be a shallow crater.
§STAGE 3: The skin is gone. Underlying tissues are exposed. The exposed tissue is damaged. There may be drainage from the area.
§STAGE 4: Muscle and bone are exposed and damaged. Drainage is likely.

Question 8

The medical assistant is caring for a client with delirium when the client says, "Look at the spiders on the wall." What should the medical assistant say to the client?

Accepted Answer

The medical assistant should say, "I can see the spiders on the wall, but they are not going to hurt you." Clients with delirium sometimes experience hallucinations. It is appropriate to acknowledge the feelings of the client and to present reality initially. Do not argue with the person. Reassure him/her; tell the client that you will provide protection from harm.

Question 9

What does SCM stand for?

Accepted Answer

The term SCM stands for sternocleidomastoid.
The sternocleidomastoid is a long muscle in the neck that turns the head from side to side. There are two, one on each side, and when both engaged, the head is pulled forward and down. SCM tension can cause headaches and requires a careful approach when massaging.

Question 10

During Clarice's orientation to the home facility, the nurse supervisor emphasized that health team members communicate with each other to give coordinated and effective care to their clients. To communicate, Clarice should do all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

In order to communicate effectively, the medical assistant should use words that mean the same thing to the sender and the receiver. Avoid words with more than one meaning. Other guidelines to follow are:
Use familiar words. Do not use terms unfamiliar to the client and family.
Be brief and concise. Do not add unrelated or unneeded information. Stay on the subject. Avoid wandering in thought. Do not get wordy.
Give information in a logical and orderly manner. Organize your thoughts. Present them step by step.
Give facts, and be specific. You report a pulse rate of 110. It is more specific and factual than saying the "pulse is fast."

Question 11

In order to maintain the workload near the center of gravity to prevent muscle strain and fatigue, the medical assistant should do which of the following when moving a client or heavy object?

Accepted Answer

Carry the object close to the body. Other correct principles of body mechanics are:
 - Keep the objects close to your body when you lift, move, or carry them
 - Avoid unnecessary bending and reaching; raise the bed so it is close to your waist
 - Face you work area and stand close to avoid overreaching and straining your back muscles

Question 12

I'm the longest muscle in the body. I like to abduct, flex and rotate in my spare time. What is my name?

Accepted Answer

My name would be sartorius muscle.
The Sartorius muscle is the longest in the body. It helps to flex the knee and hip joints, and rotates the hip.

Question 13

Which of the following symptoms indicates hyperglycemia?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) are: weakness; drowsiness; thirst; very dry mouth; hunger; frequent urination; leg cramps; flushed face; sweet breath odor; slow, deep and labored respirations; rapid, weak pulse; low blood pressure; dry skin; blurred vision; headache; nausea and vomiting; convulsions; coma.

Question 14

What is the heel bone called?

Accepted Answer

The heel bone is technically called the calcaneus.
It is the largest of the foot bones. The Achilles tendon attaches to the calcaneus.

Question 15

If a client comes to you with balance issues, then they are probably having problems with what system?

Accepted Answer

Poor balance is a sign of problems in the vestibular system. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, is the balancing mechanism of the body. It helps create spatial awareness and keeps you from falling flat on your face. Vertigo is a result of vestibular malfunctioning.

Question 16

Which of the following is a correct statement about binders?

Accepted Answer

T-binders secure dressings in place after rectal and perianal surgeries. The double T-binder is generally used for male patients, while the single T-binder is generally used for female patients. A breast binder is specifically used to support the breasts after breast surgery, not by breastfeeding mothers. Straight abdominal binders are applied with the person supine. A straight abdominal binder is secured in front of the body by safety pins, Velcro, zippers, hooks, or other closures. The top part is at the person's waist. The lower part is over the hips.

Question 17

Older persons are prone to stomachaches and bloating. Which of the following foods are avoided, since they are gas-forming?

Accepted Answer

Cauliflower should be avoided with older clients. Other examples of gas-forming foods are beans, cabbage, radishes, and cucumbers.

Question 18

Your level of health and vitality is least influenced by what?

Accepted Answer

Your level of health and vitality are most influenced by your level of nutrition, mood, and immune system. Food is important for providing the basic building blocks of life, so healthy diet will improve your chances of living a happier and healthier life. Mood can affect physical health as well, and mood disorders can often include ysmptoms such as poor sleep, fatigue, and mental fogginess. The immune system protects the body from disease, so a properly functioning immune system is key to physical health.

Question 19

Not only responsible for well-defined biceps, this system is needed for several other body systems to function properly.

Accepted Answer

The muscular system is not only what gym rats proudly show-off; with its three kinds of muscle tissue it is needed in almost all body functions. Visceral or smooth muscle is the muscle cells found in hollow organs and blood vessels. Nonstriated (non-banded) muscle is innervated by the nerves that control involuntary movement. Constriction of blood vessels, the peristalsis in the digestive track, and uterine contractions are examples of this. Skeletal muscle tissue is responsible for movement and posture. It is striated (banded) and under voluntary control. Cardiac muscle tissue is what forms the heart walls. It is a specialized striated muscle cell under involuntary control.

Question 20

What does the bladder store?

Accepted Answer

The bladder stores urine.
It is collected from the kidneys and kept there until it can be disposed of. The bladder is expandable.

Quiz 6: Medical Assisting