Final PCT Practice Test

A medical assistant is performing spirometry testing for a patient who has shortness of breath. Which of the following results of the spirometry test indicates a successful maneuver?

A fast and steady flow with no variability

A medical assistant is explaining a venipuncture procedure to a patient. Which of the following statements should the assistant make?

"I'll be collecting a blood sample from you today. There will be a small stick in your arm."

A medical assistant is providing instruction to a patient on how to take an extended-release medication PO. Which of the following statements made by the patient indicates a need for further testing?

"I can crush or chew the pill if it is too hard for me to swallow."

A medical assistant discovers a garbage can fire has started in the break room of the medical office. According to the RACE acronym for emergency response, which of the following actions should the assistant take first?

Evacuate staff and patients from the immediate area.

A medical assistant is assisting a patient who is obese with an insulin injection. Which of the following is the correct angle for this patient's injection?

90 Degree's

Which of the following is outside of a medical assistant's scope of practice?

Order additional laboratory tests to confirm the patient's condition.

A medical assistant is assisting in the treatment of a patient who experienced a chemical burn. Which of the following steps should the assistant take?

Remove any chemical-covered clothing

A medical assistant is assisting with the examination of an older adult patient who has a curvature of the thoracic spine. Which of the following terms should the assistant use when documenting this finding in the patient's medical record?

Kyphosis

When unloading an autoclave machine, a medical assistant notices spots on the instruments. The assistant should recognize that this is a result of which of the following?

Mineral deposits from tap water

A medical assistant in an outpatient facility is preparing a patient for a venipuncture. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to confirm the patient's identify?

Ask the patient to state her full name & date of birth.

Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to verify the quality of venipuncture supplies before beginning a blood draw?

Inspect the integrity of the needle's seal

Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a patient is having discomfort & difficulty breathing?

Dyspnea

A medical assistant is collecting data from a patient who is experiencing heatstroke. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect to find?

Hot Skin

A patient requests a female provider to perform her examination due to a religious conviction. A female provider is not available. Which of the following is the appropriate response by the medical assistant?

Assist the patient in locating a provider to accommodate the patient's needs.

A medical assistant is reviewing the laboratory results of a patient who has the Epstein-Barr virus. The assistant should identify that this micro-organism can cause which of the following conditions?

Mononucleosis

The primary code in the CPT coding system consists of how many digits?

Five Digits

A medical assistant has a request to collect routine CBC from a healthy 10-month-old infant. Which of the following is the most appropriate collection site?

Left Heel

A medical assistant has a blood pressure cuff inflated & partially opens the valve to deflate as he listens with a stethoscope. When should he read the diastolic pressure?

When the sound disappears.

Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use to confirm a patient's understanding of insulin administration?

Observe the patient as she performs a self-demonstration.

A medical assistant is measuring a patient's blood pressure with an aneroid sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Make sure the midpoint of the patient's arm is at the level of the patient's heart.

Which of the following is a CLIA-waived laboratory test?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test

Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take to safeguard a patient's protected health information?

Log off to computers when not is use

During a routine venipuncture, the patient becomes pale & diaphoretic. What condition is most likely to occur in this patient?

Syncope

A medical assistant is using a scale with a height bar to measure a patient's height. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Lower the horizontal bar gently so that it rests on the top of the patient's head.

A medical assistant is administering eye ointment to a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Apply a thing ribbon of ointment along the conjunctvial sac.

A medical assistant is preparing a patient for a physical examination & is helping the patient into the dorsal recumbent position. The assistant should identify that this position is described by which of the following?

Lying face up, with the legs bent & feet flat on the table.

A medical assistant is checking a patient's hearing using the Rinne test. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Ask the patient to raise his hand when he no longer hears any sound.

A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about the self-administration of insulin injections. Which of the following patient statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?

"I will roll the bottle between my hands before drawing the medication."

Which of the following tasks is within the scope of practice for a medical assistant in a clinical setting?

Removing sutures from a healing laceration

A medical assistant is preparing sterilization for hemostats before an invasive procedure. Which of the following techniques should the assistant use?

Autoclave

A medical assistant is reviewing the medical history of a patient who regularly comes into contact with coal & wood dust. The assistant should recognize that this patient is at an increased risk for developing which of the following disorders?

Emphysema

Which of the following groups of EKG leads are bipolar?

Leads I, II, & III.

A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has psoriasis to be examined by the provider. When inspecting the patient's skin lesions, the assistant should expect to observe which of the following characteristics?

Silver, scaly.

A medical assistant is preparing a CMS-1500 insurance claim form for a patient who was treated for a burn injury. Which of the following pieces of information is required on the form?

Current procedural terminology code

A medical assistant is caring for patient who has come in contact with concrete debris. Upon inspection of the eye, the assistant sees debris on the surface of the sclera. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Irrigate the eye starting at the inner canthus & flowing to the outer canthus.

A medical assistant is preparing to sanitize contaminated equipment. Which of the following pieces of equipment can a medical assistant sanitize & reuse without needing to disinfect or sterilize it?

Otoscope

A patient contacts the facility to report a burn injury to her right arm. A medical assistant should identify which of the following pieces of information as necessary when screening for a possible emergency situation?

The cause of the patient's burn

A medical assistant is reporting a patient fall that occurred in the front lobby of the clinic. What is the purpose of the assistant preparing an incident report?

To avoid future re-occurrences

Which of the following laboratory values should a medical assistant immediately report to a patient's provider?

Blood glucose 500 mg/dL

A medical assistant is preparing to perform a capillary collection from an older adult patient who has poor circulation in his hands. Which of the following techniques should the assistant use to increase circulation at the collection site?

Warm the patient's hand

A medical assistant is preparing 1 g/kg of activated charcoal for a patient who weighs 176 lb. How many grams of charcoal should the assistant prepare?

79 g

At what time of day will a patient's body temperature be at its lowest?

In the morning

Which of the following terms describes the body's internal adaption & change to keep body functions in balance?

Homeostasis

A patient arrives at the clinic with a tick bite on his leg. The provider asks a medical assistant to help remove the tick. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Use tweezers to pull the tick away from the skin slowly.

A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who has seasonal allergies. Which of the following health care providers should the assistant identify as being able to make a diagnosis & initiate the necessary treatment?

Physician Assistant

Which of the following organs is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen?

Gallbladder

A medical assistant needs to remove all living micro-organisms from a contaminated towel clamp. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to cleanse the instrument?

Sterilization

When performing a first aid procedure to control bleeding of a wound, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take?

Apply layers of sterile gauze

A medical assistant is witnessing a patient sign an informed consent form. Which of the following is the responsibility of the assistant acting as a witness?

Validate the patient's signature

According to OSHA guidelines for universal precautions, which of the following types of patient contact would require a medical assistant to wear gloves, a mask, a face shield, and protective apparel?

Assisting a provider with the removal of a cyst.

In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place a patient when obtaining a rectal temperature?

Sims'

In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place and 18-month-old patient when administering ear drops to the right ear?

Right ear facing up with the earlobe pulled down & back.

Where should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V5?

On the left anterior axillary line, horizontal to V4

Which of the following information should the medical assistant enter into the appointment calendar when scheduling a patient for a skin rash?

Daytime phone number

A medical assistant is administering an intramuscular immunization to a patient. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take?

Cleanse the site in a circular motion from the center outward.

A provider asks a medical assistant to reinforce teaching with a patient about her new diagnosis. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Document the patient's response to the teaching

A medical assistant is administering an intradermal injection for allergy testing. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Locate the area two to three finger-widths below the antecubital space

A provider requests a medical assistant to initiate a referral for a patient to a mental health facility. Which of the following pieces of information is required for the assistant to include in the initial referral.

Diagnosis

A medical assistant is checking a patient out of the clinic. In which of the following documents should the assistant locate information about provider referrals or follow-up appointment requests for the patient?

Encounter form

A medical assistant is drawing five blood collection tubes. When should the assistant release the tourniquet?

Within 1 min of application

A medical assistant receives a call from a patient who is irate about a letter she received from her insurance carrier denying a claim. Which of the following statements should the assistant make?

"Let's see if there is something we can do at out end. I'll ask our claims specialist to review the claim."

Which of the following steps for a fingerstick should a medical assistant complete first?

Confirm the correct identity of the patient

A medical assistant is performing hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub. The assistant should recognize that which of the following information about alcohol-based hand rubs is correct?

Alcohol-based hand rub should be applied to one hand and then rubbed between both hands.

A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about lifestyle modifications to help regulate his hypertension. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the teaching?

"I only smoke a half a pack each day, so I'll just cut it out completely."

As a medical assistant is collecting a blood sample, the patient begins to faint. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take to help ensure the patient's safety?

Position the patient flat on her back.

Which of the following cell structures is the source of energy for a cell?

Mitochondria

Prior to a patient's follow-up appointment, which of the following information should a medical assistant report to the provider?

Recent laboratory results

A medical assistant is collecting a urine specimen from a patient for a drug screening. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to adhere to the chain of custody for this specimen?

Send the specimen to the testing laboratory on the same day as the collection

Which of the following types of appointment systems allows flexibility to allow the most consistent patient flow?

Wave scheduling

A patient is entitled to which of the following medical records?

List of medications with diagnosis

A medical assistant is preparing a patient for a procedure to have a mole excised. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Cleanse the site with surgical soap and an antiseptic

Which of the following body systems should be evaluated for a diagnosis of pyloric stenosis?

Gastrointestinal

A medical assistant is preparing the room for a patient's general physical examination. The assistant should recognize that which of the following instruments should be available to the provider for the examination?

Otoscope

A medical assistant receives a phone call from a parent of a child who has possibly ingested a household cleaner. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Contact the local poison control center

A medical assistant should follow chain of custody guidelines for which of the following types of laboratory results?

Parentage testing

Which of the following should a medical assistant identify as the purpose of a Category II code in procedural coding?

Tracks provider performance measures

A patient arrives at a clinic with a bill for x-rays that were required due to an injury at the patient's place of employment. The patient has private insurance and is eligible for workers' compensation. The assistant should recognize that which of the following parties is responsible for payment of this bill?

Paid in full by workers' compensation

A medical assistant in an acute care facility is checking in a patient who has a deep laceration. The patient tells the assistant that he cannot accept blood transfusions due to his religious beliefs. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Document the statement in the patient's chart

A medical assistant is reviewing the list of medications a patient reports currently taking. The assistant should recognize that which of the following medications is available in a sublingual form?

Nitroglycerin

A pharmacist calls the clinic to confirm an e-prescription request to fill a patient's medication order. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Verify the order with the provider prior to confirming the e-prescription

Which of the following methods is used to notify the provider of the denial of a claim by an insurance carrier?

Remittance advice

Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode & results in the tracing going into the margins of the paper?

Interrupted baseline

Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use to put a 7-year-old child at ease prior to administering an injection?

Explain the procedure to the child in simple steps

A medical assistant is asked to assist a provider with an orthopedic examination. Which of the following instruments should the assistant prepare for the examination?

Goniometer

When speaking with a patient who has moderate hearing loss & reads lips, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to aid in communication with the patient?

Use hand gestures

A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the simplified letter style. Which of the following features should the assistant use?

A subject line is all capital letters

In which of the following locations should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V4?

The fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line

A medical assistant us preparing to use a glucometer to measure a patient's blood glucose level. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Obtain the blood sample after inserting the test strip into the glucometer.

A medical assistant is to use the Snellen chart to test an adult patient's visual acuity. The assistant should instruct the patient to stand which of the following distances away?

20 feet

When performing diagnostic coding, how many characters are used to provide the highest level of specificity with an ICD-10-CM code?

Seven characters

A pulse oximeter can register an artificially low oxygen saturation measurement for a patient who has which of the following conditions?

Cold fingers

When should the code on glucose cuvettes be compared to the code on the glucometer?

Before a patient is tested

A medical assistant is making a new sign-in sheet for the patients who have appointments that day. Which of the following information should the sign-in sheet include?

Provider's name

A medical assistant observes a provider failing to perform hand hygiene before beginning to remove sutures from a patient's hand. The patient's hand later becomes infected. The assistant should identify which of the following legal torts has occurred?

Negligence

A medical assistant is completing a progress note using the SOAP format. Which of the following patient information should the assistant include in the assessment section?

Diagnosis

A medical assistant has requested a re-authorization for a patient's referral to a specialist. Which of the following is a reason for the claim submitted by the specialist to be denied?

The service is provided after the expiration date

A medical assistant is administering cough syrup to a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

View the medication cup at the eye level when pouring

A medical assistant is using a butterfly needle set to obtain a blood sample from a vein in a patient's hand. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Hold the needle by its wings

A medical assistant should complete documentation in a patient's medical record at which of the following times?

Immediately following a procedure

A medical assistant is monitoring a patient during a stress test. The patient becomes increasingly short of breath & tachycardic. Abnormalities appear in his EKG rhythm. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first?

Discontinue the test.