NHA CCMA exam study prep

active listening

active listening

using techniques that allow the receiver to fully understand the message being communicated

open-ended questions

questions that lead to further explanation

restatement

repeating or paraphrasing information relayed by the sender to confirm accuracy

reflection

when the receiver focuses on the main idea of the message but incorporates feelings the sender might be exhibiting or possibly feeling

clarification

summarizing the information relayed by the sender to clear up any confusion

nonverbal communication

gestures and actions that leave interpretation up to the receiver

empathy

displaying an understanding of what the patient might be experiencing by imagining the experience is happening personally

sympathy

feeling compassion

intake process

the process of gathering initial patient information (also referred to as "rooming")

chief complaint

reason for the office visit

subjective information

information that is personal or what someone is feeling

objective information

information collected that is observed by someone other than the patient

allergy

adverse reaction caused by an antigen-antibody response

anaphylaxis

life-threatening allergic reaction that leads to circulatory collapse

audiometry

test to determine level of hearing

visual acuity test

use of tools such as a Snellen chart to screen for vision impairments

urinalysis

screening tool that evaluates the urine for the presence of dissolved substances and assists with diagnosis of medical conditions

anthropometric measurements

screening tests that include height and weight (as well as head circumference in infants)

vital signs

includes temperature

homeostasis

a state of equilibrium within the body

Denver Development Screening Test

a series of activities to determine the developmental stage of children

scoliosis screening

screening test for the abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

Mini-Mental State Examination

a tool used to determine the level of awareness of current events and recall of past events to screen for orientation or dementia

dementia

progressive deterioration in brain function that leads to confusion and disorientation

pyrexia

raised body temperature; fever

metabolism

the relationship of heat production and head loss in the body

average temperature

98.6 F

palpation

the act of touching

auscultation

listening

wheezing

a whistling sound heard on expiration that is the body's attempt to expel trapped air

rales

clicking or crackling sounds heard on inspiration that can sound moist or dry

rhonchi

common rattling snoring sounds often associated with chronic lung diseases

blood pressure

the pressure that is exerted by the blood against the walls of blood vessels

sphygmomanometer

instrument used to measure blood pressure that has a graduated scale for determining systolic and diastolic pressure by increasing and gradually releasing the pressure in the cuff

systolic pressure

the first sound heard during a blood pressure reading

diastolic pressure

the last sound heard during the blood pressure reading

Korotkoff sounds

the five phases of articular relaxation that are audible while obtaining a manual blood pressure

hypertension

blood pressure above the expected reference range

average heart rate

60-100 bpm

average respirations

12-20 bpm

average blood pressure

120/80 mmHg

pulse oximetry

procedure to ascertain the percentage of oxygen saturation in the blood

average pulse oximetry

>95%

1 kg is equal to

2.2 lbs

body mass index

a tool to screen patients and classify results into weight categories (normal \= 18.5-24.9; underweight \= <18.5; overweight \= \>24.9; obese \= 30.0+)

calculating BMI

(weight in kg / height in m^2) or (weight in lbs / height in in^2)(703)

orthopnea

difficulty breathing in any position other than standing or sitting

Fowler's

sitting position with the back of the exam table raised to a 90 degree angle (used for exams involving the eyes

Semi-Fowler's

seated leaning against the back of a table that has been raised to a 45 degree angle (used for exams involving the chest or shortness of breath)

Sims'

laying of the left side with the left leg slightly flexed and right leg fixed at a 90 degree angle (used for enemas or rectal exams)

knee-chest

prone and bent at the waist resting on the knees with the arms above the head (used for rectal exams or spinal adjustment)

jack-knife

lying over an exam table that is lifted in the middle (used for rectal exams or instrumentation)

lithotomy

lying flat on the table with buttocks at the end of the table and feet resting in stirrups (used for female pelvis exams)

dorsal recumbent

lying flat on the back with the knees bent (used for catheterizations or general examinations)

prone

lying flat on the abdomen with the arms above the head (used for exams involving the back of the body including the bottoms of the feet)

supine

lying flat on the back with the arms down to the side (used for exams involving the front of the body or the administration of CPR)

Trendelenburg

legs elevated above the head to force circulation to vital organs (used to treat shock)

needle gauges

dictates the width of the lumen; ranges from 14 to 31

intradermal injection

injection of medication just below the skin (needle gauge: 27 to 28; length: 3/8 inch; angle: 10 to 15 degrees)

subcutaneous injection

injection of medication into the fat beneath the dermis (needle gauge: 25 to 26; length: 1/2 inch

intramuscular injection

injection of medication into the muscle (needle gauge: 20 to 23; length: 1 to 3 inches; angle: 90 degrees)

intradermal injection sites

injected into the forearm or upper back (used for TB and allergy testing)

subcutaneous injection sites

injected into the upper outer arm

deltoid muscle injection

1 to 2 inches below the acromion (used to administer vaccines; do not exceed dosages of 1 mL; massage after procedure)

ventrogluteal muscle injection

between the thumb and index finger when placed on the iliac crest (used to administer deep IM injections or viscous medications)

vastus lateralis muscle injection

the mid to upper outer thigh (used to administer vaccines and medications for children <3 years old)

oral medication

in the mouth

buccal medication

between the cheek and gums

sublingual medication

under the tongue (commonly used for nitroglycerin tablets and sprays)

inhaled medication

breathed in through the lungs (delivered via inhalers or nebulizers)

topical medication

applied directly to the skin (used to treat local conditions)

mucosal medication

absorbed into and through mucous membranes (such as the nose

transdermal medication

applied directly to the skin for continuous absorption (commonly used for nicotine patches and hormone delivery)

triage

ranking based on the most critical to the least critical

automatic external defibrillator (AED)

an external device attached to the chest with which to shock the heart if in asystole or arrhythmia in hopes of restarting or reestablishing a normal heart rhythm

abrasion

superficial wound often affecting the knees or elbows

incision

open injury typically caused by a sharp object causing a straight cut

laceration

open injury that is jagged in nature and caused by a sharp object

puncture

open wound that is caused by an instrument that delivers a stab apply pressure if bleeding

contusion

closed injury

concussion

closed head trauma in which the brain has been jolted or shaken (measure vital signs and observe)

strain

stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon that connects a muscle to bone (prescribe rest

sprain

stretching or tearing of ligament that connects bone to bone (prescribe rest

fracture

break in bone (control bleeding

acute abdominal pain

general symptom that can be life-threatening (keep the patient NPO

bleeding emergencies

can occur internally or externally (apply pressure

burns

can be electrical

choking

caused by obstruction of the airway

diabetic emergencies

hyperglycemia-induced diabetic shock or hypoglycemia-induced insulin shock (administer insulin for diabetic coma or administer glucose for insulin shock)

eye and ear injuries

caused by foreign bodies or trauma (limit contact

seizures

can result from trauma or alterations in metabolism such as with fever (assist the patient to a lying position

stroke

results from hypoxia in the brain usually due to a blood clot

aphasia

inability to speak

dysphasia

difficulty speaking

signs of infection

redness and swelling around the site

emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

2 rescue breaths

cryosurgery

the process of exposing tissues to extreme cold temperatures to destroy cells using a canister of liquid nitrogen

colposcopy

using an instrument to inspect the vaginal area and cervix or the uterus and deliver treatments or perform diagnostic testing using a colposcope

electrosurgery

a pulse of electrical current is sent through tissue to cauterize (or burn) tissue

toenail removal

the provider partially or completely removes a toenail spur that is causing an ingrown toenail