CCMA Exam review

Yellow

Sterile blood culture tube

Contains SPS which prevents blood from clotting and stabilizes bacterial growth

Laboratory Use: Blood or body fluid cultures

Light blue

Sodium citrate; prevents blood from clotting by removing calcium

Coagulation studies such as PT (prothrombin time) and INR (International Normalized Ratio) require blood collection in this color top tubes containing sodium citrate anticoagulant. The sodium citrate preserves coagulation factors while preventing clotting, allowing accurate measurement of clotting times

Laboratory Use: Coagulation testing

Royal blue

Sodium heparin (also sodium EDTA); inhibits thrombin formation to prevent clotting

Laboratory Use: Chemistry trace elements

Red

No additive

Laboratory Use: Serum tests; chemistry studies, blood bank, serology

Gold

No additive, but contains silica particles to enhance clot formation

Laboratory Use: Serum tests

Green

Heparin (sodium/lithium/ammonium); inhibits thrombin formation to prevent clotting

Laboratory Use: Chemistry tests

Favored when fast plasma chemistry results are needed because it requires no clotting time.

Light green

Lithium heparin and gel for plasma separation

Laboratory Use: Plasma determinations in chemistry studies

Lavender

EDTA; removes calcium to prevent blood from clotting

Is used for complete blood count testing because EDTA prevents blood clotting while preserving cell morphology for accurate cell counts and differential analysis.

Laboratory Use: Hematology tests

Gray

Potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride; removes calcium to prevent blood from clotting; fluoride inhibits glycolysis

Laboratory Use: Chemistry testing, especially glucose and alcohol levels

Beta-blockers

Lower HR and BP, treat hypertension (HTN), angina, arrhythmia

Ex: atenolol, metoprolol

ACE Inhibitors

Lower BP, kidney-protective in diabetes

Ex: lisinopril, enalapril

Loop diuretics

Block Na+ reabsorption in loop of Henle → increased urine output

Ex: furosemide

Statins

Inhibit HMG-CoA reductase → lower LDL cholesterol

Ex: atorvastatin, simvastatin

SSRIs

Increase serotonin availability → treat depression, anxiety

Ex: sertraline, fluoxetine

NSAIDs

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain relief), antipyretic (reduce fever) all by inhibiting COX

Ex: ibuprofen, naproxen

Anticoagulant

Reduce clotting, monitor INR and for bleeding

Ex: warfarin, heparin

Sulfonamides

Antibiotic class, flag for sulfonamide-allergic patients

Ex: Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP)

Five rights of medication administration

right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time

Adverse reactions

Includes side effects (predictable, dose-related), allergic/hypersensitivity (immune-mediated: hives, anaphylaxis), and toxic reaction (excess drug levels)

Brady-

slow

Tachy-

fast

hyper-

above

Hypo-

below

Sub-

Under

Intra-

Within

Poly-

Many

Dys-

Difficult or painful

-itis

Inflammation

-ectomy

Surgical removal

-plasty

Surgical repair

-scopy

Visual exam

-emia

Blood condition

-iasis

Condition of, abnormal of

nephr

Kidney

hepat

Liver

cardi

heart

gastr

stomach

term

skin

neur

nerve

oste

bone

hem

blood

NKA

No known allergies

PO

by mouth

SL

Sublingual (under tongue)

PRN

As needed

BID / TID / QID

twice / three / four times daily

RUQ

Right upper abdominal quadrant

Includes liver, gallbladder, right kidney, head of pancreas

LUQ

Left upper abdominal quadrant

Includes stomach, spleen, left kidney, tail of pancreas

RLQ

Right lower abdominal quadrant

Includes appendix, cecum, right ureter, right ovary (F)

LLQ

Left lower abdominal quadrant

Includes sigmoid colon, left ureter, left ovary (F)

Tendons

muscle to bone

Ligament

bone to bone

Voluntary muscle

Skeletal muscle

Smooth muscle

Organs

Systole

Contraction of heart

Top number of BP

Diastole

Relaxation of heart

Bottom number of BP

Insulin

Released by pancreas (beta cells)

Lowers blood glucose, promotes glucose uptake

Glucagon

Released by pancreas (alpha cells)

Raises blood glucose via glycogen breakdown

Cortisol

Released by adrenal cortex

Stress response, anti-inflammatory, raises blood glucose

Epinephrine

Released by adrenal medulla

Fight or flight, raises HR and BP, promotes bronchodilation

T3 / T4

Released by thyroid gland

Regulate metabolism, require iodine for synthesis

PTH

Released by parathyroid gland

Raises blood calcium, opposes calcitonin

ADH

Released by posterior pituitary

Promotes water retention in kidneys

Exocrine glands

Secrete through ducts (sweat, saliva, pancreatic enzymes)

Endocrine glands

Release hormones directly into bloodstream