AMCA CERTIFICATION TEST - MEDICAL ASSISTING STUDY GUIDE
Which of the following is considered a parasitic infection?
malaria
Aspirin and acetaminophen are examples of:
analgesics and antipyretics
This unit in the hospital is run by physicians and experts in the field of musculoskeletal disorders of bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons, what department is this?
rheumatology
MSDS information includes:
general and emergency information
The physician prescribes a buccal medication. The medical assistant should instruct the patient to:
place the medication between the lower teeth and cheek
Which of the following is the best specimen to test for levels of iron in the blood?
the one collected in the tube that contains EDTA
All pathogens are:
microbes that can cause disease
Every prescription for a controlled substance requires the physicians signature and a ___?
DEA
When using a no. 10 envelope, where should the address be placed?
10 lines down the from the top and 2 inches from the left edge of the envelope
What drug prevents the action of another drug or chemical?
antagonist
Co-insurance is calculated based on a:
percentage of charge
Muscles that act on the knee joint exhibit two actions:
flexion and extension
A structure that is composed of two or more tissue types is called a/an:
organ
Cellular respiration is a function of the:
mitochondria
Somatic tremor is the result of:
muscle movement
The smallest structural unit of the nervous system is the:
neuron
A patient came into the doctor's office with chest pain and shortness of breath. Which position is the best to help him breathe better?
fowler's
The primary function of the nervous system is:
to detect changes in the internal and external environment and respond appropriately
Mr. Smith is suffering from an enlargement of the bones in the entire skull as well as in the hands and feet, in addition to thickening of the skin. Mr. Smith is suffering from what?
acromegaly
The functional unit of the kidney is the:
nephron
Which of the following types of gloves can be decontaminated and reused if they show no signs of deterioration after use?
utility
After obtaining an ECG tracing, a medical assistant would be expected to?
observe the tracing for quality and decide if another tracing may be required
There are two types of civil actions against healthcare providers for injuries. The first one is lack of informed consent and the second one is:
violation of standard of care
Dr. Jones and Dr. Brown decide to share a practice. Together, they share patients, expenses, profits and assets. Which type of medical practice is this?
group practice
What is the appropriate test used for heparin therapy?
APPT
A provider withdraws from the care of a patient without reasonable notice of discharge is considered:
abandonment
Which agency regulates the Controlled Substances Act?
DEA
Defamation through spoken statements is known as:
slander
Insulin syringes are calibrated in:
units
Which of the following is NOT true regarding HIPPA laws?
few boundaries are set on the use and release of health records
To determine our ventricular pulse, the EKG technician would:
calculate the spacing between the QRS complexes
PHI stands for:
protected health information
Which situation would a medical assistant's signature be required?
on an informed consent document
The Privacy Rule gives patients the right to:
access their medical record
A patient has an oral temperature of 100.8 F. The medical term for this is:
pyrexia
Which of the following is correct regarding contact transmissions?
it involves contaminated instruments, needles, or contaminated hands that are not washed
Which of the following precautions require special air handling and ventilation?
airborne precautions
Important information a patient should know about immunizations would be that:
they are prophylactics against deadly diseases
What is the process used to wash and remove blood and tissue from medical instruments called?
sanitization
While taking a patient's medical history for active tuberculosis, what type of PPE is required?
mask
Most exposures to HIV in healthcare settings are the result of:
accidental needle sticks
The four symptoms of inflammation are erythema, edema, pain, and:
heat
A tympanic temperature means the body temperature is measured:
at the eardrum
A pulse site used to measure blood pressure is:
brachial
What is the correct way to calculate pulse pressure?
the number found when subtracting the diastolic from the systolic
Which of the following procedures can be performed by a medical assistant?
intramuscular injection
Post- prandial means:
after a meal
A round, raised skin lesion with itching that is a positive sign of reaction to allergic testing is a:
papule
You're to draw the blood of a patient. After reviewing the lab order, you realize that you need to draw a CBC w/diff (complete blood count with differential) on your patient. Knowing that this test is drawn in a lavender top-tube, which lab department would this go to for processing?
hematology
The patient information sheet contains:
patient's personal and insurance information
Which of the following drug administration routes is the most appropriate for a patient who has nausea and vomiting?
rectal
The medical assistant is to collect a Phrothrombine time (PT) test, a complete Blood Count (CBC), and a fasting Blood Sugar (FBS). What is the correct order of draw?
light-blue (PT), lavender (CBC), grey (FBS)
The information of blood cells is defined as:
hematopoiesis
The primary purpose of wearing gloves during phlebotomy procedures is to protect the:
phlebotomist from exposure to the patient's blood
What is the best location to check the pulse of an adult who is unconscious and not breathing?
at the carotid artery of the neck
The act of listening for sounds made by internal organs to aid in the diagnosis of certain disorders is called:
auscultation
When a blood pressure cuff is deflated, the first tapping sound is the ___ pressure.
systolic
The body organ targeted by HBV is the:
liver
A female patient came into the office for her scheduled routine physical. You are measuring the patient's vital signs. Which part of the brain is responsible for the temperature regulation?
hypothalamus
What position should the patient be placed in when performing an ECG?
supine
Which mode of infection transmission occurs from touching contaminated linens?
indirect contact
Which of the following is the most common means of transmitting pathogens?
touching
When a patient fails to show for their appointment, the event must be:
documented in the patient's chart
Notifiable infection must be reported to:
Center for Disease Control
A quantitative test is one that:
tests for the presence and amount of substance in sample
The interval between exposure to infection and the appearance of the first symptom is called:
incubation period
Complete destruction of all forms of microbial life is:
sterilization
A patient is a having a seizure. Which of the following is the most appropriate step for the medical assistant to take to protect the patient?
loosen clothing around the patient's neck
Most specialists are paid by MCOs using which of the following methods?
fee-for-service
Which of the following is classified as abnormally rapid, deep, or labored breathing?
tachypnea
The invoice for the monthly rent of the building where the medical office is located,, is typically handled by which department?
accounts payable
What drug enhances the effects of another drug?
synergistic
When using a venterogluteal approach to give an intramuscular injection in the buttock area, what is the muscle the medication goes in?
gluteus medius
A baby's pulse and respirations are:
faster than an adults
Which of the patient's limbs serves as an electrical ground?
right leg
Another name for chest leads is:
precordial
When the body has had adequate rest and no food for at least 12 hours, it is said to be in:
basal state
What organ's main function is to eliminate excess water and waste products from the body?
kidneys
A murmur is an abnormal sound that may indicate:
valvular heart disease
How many electrodes are used as a part of a 12-Lead EKG?
10
The amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute is called:
cardiac output
Sinus ___ is a slow dysrhythmia.
bradycardia
When a person stays in the same position all the time, pressure causes the skin to:
weaken and become necrotic
A normal resting heart rate for the average adult is:
60-100 BPM
Automaticity refers to:
the ability of certain myocardial cells to produce an electrical impulse without the need for outside nerve stimulation
Collection devices used in skin punctures are called:
capillary tubes
Normal sinus rhythm has a heart rate of ___ beats per minute:
60 to 100
What is the function of the large intestine (aka colon)?
absorb water
No anticoagulants are found in which of the following tubes?
red-topped
Without a clot activator, whole blood typically clots in ___ minutes.
30 to 60
Thixotropic gel, found in the SST red gray marbled-topped vacutainer tube:
is less dense than red blood cells but more dense than serum
Which of the following procedures is appropriate for preparing blood and other potentially infectious materials for transport?
placing the materials in a leak-proof container during colleciton
The normal volume of urine produced by an adult in a 24-hour period generally does not exceed:
2000 mL
The patient's specimen is lipemic. This is usually an indicator that the patient is:
not fasting
Which of the following tests is not a part of complete blood count?
activated partial thromboplastin time
The boundaries for the approved area in performing heel punctures are:
the medial line extending from the great toe and lateral line extending from the fourth and fifth digit
What is the best sample for the determination of blood pH and blood gases?
atrial blood
The ability to identify with someone else's feelings is called:
empathy
How far above the site of draw is the tourniquet placed?
3-4 inches
A female patient came into the clinic for a follow-up after a right sided mastectomy with some removal of lymphoid tissue. What is the name of the condition that makes blood draw on the right arm not recommended?
lymphostasis
Which of the following is correct for ending a venipuncture procedure?
remove the tourniquet, remove the tube, remove the needle, and apply pressure
Which of the following is known as swimmer's ear?
otitis externa
Which of the following should be used to chill a specimen as it is being transported?
crushed ice
The medical assistant was sent to the ward to draw blood for coagulation studies, which of the following is correct about this draw?
before drawing the specimen, make sure the patient has fasted for 12 hours
The tube of choice for glucose testing is:
grey-top tube
The function of the platelet is to:
cause the blood to clot
The three kinds of blood cells are:
erythrocytes, thrombocytes, luekocytes
The hormone tested for pregnancy tests is:
HCG
When performing a dermal puncture and the lancet hits the bone, what is the potentially serious fatal bone infection that could occur?
osteomyelitis
You're performing a venipuncture procedure on a patient, the needle appears to be inside the vein but yet, no blood is flowing into the tube. What should you do?
switch the tubes
Which of the following vacutainer tubes is routinely used for hematology testing?
lavender-topped tubes
If a laboratory test requires serum, which vacutainer tube is the tube of choice?
red-topped tubes
Sodium Citrate is the additive in what color tube?
light blue
A fluctuating fever that returns to or below baseline then increases again is:
intermittent
Identify the tubes needed to collect a PT, STATl ytes, and BC in the proper order of collection.
yellow, light-blue, and PST
A female patient came into the emergency room with her husband. She was suffering from severe shortness of breath. She appeared to be unable to take in sufficient oxygen. What is the color of the skin and nail beds?
bluish
Which choice is a typical educational for elderly patients to prevent disease?
annual flu pneumonia vaccination and information
Asystole:
produces a complete cessation of cardiac output
A patient came to the clinic for a low-grade fever of one month duration. As part of the laboratory work-up, the physician ordered erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR). What color tube would be used for this test?
lavender-top tube
An obese patient was sent to the laboratory for a complete blood count. Which of the following veins is most likely to be the only one that the phlebotomist can palpate?
cephalic vein
Two employees discussing a patient diagnosis on a hospital elevator with other people present is a violation of:
patient confidentiality
A patient has been taking aspirin for arthritis. Which of the following is most likely to be affected by it?
bleeding time
If a finger is "excessively" milked during a skin puncture, the result will be:
hemolysis and contamination of the specimen with tissue fluids
You're the only CMAC on the night shift. You receive orders for all of the following tests within minutes of one another. Which test has the greatest collection priority?
STAT electrolytes in the ER
The phenylketonuria (PKU) test is used to diagnose deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase, the most common clinically encountered inborn error of metabolism. It is performed on:
blood drawn from a newborns heel
Samples appear to have been mislabeled and mixed on two patients. Each outpatient has orders for both blood and urine test, so there were two samples for each. What would be the best course of action?
recollect all four samples from the patients
What specimens require protection from light?
bilirubin
Which of the following are also referred to as serum separator tubes (SST)?
red/gray-top tubes
Which of the following specimens are best utilized to measure clotting factors?
plasma
Which of the following is a standard speed for an EKG machine?
25mm/second
When would a phlebotomist use a multiple-sample needle?
when more than one tube of blood is to be collected
A collection tube containing an anti-coagulant must be inverted how many times?
eight times
Identify the rhythm that will often produce an irregular rhythm.
sinus dysrhythmia
Which limb sensor is the reference or ground electrode?
right leg
One method to calculate heart rate from an EKG strip is to:
count the small boxes between the R-R interval and divide by 1500
A 45 year-old man comes in for a stress test. His resting blood pressure is 120/80. During the stress test, his blood pressure dropped to 95/55 and his skin is cold and clammy. What is the best course of action?
stop the test immediately
The Q wave, if present, is always:
negative
The main purpose of PPE is to:
provide the employee a barrier against infection
Hypotension is defined as:
systolic pressure below 90 and diastolic pressure below 60mmHg
The acronym used to remember the actions to take when using a fire extinguisher is:
ACT
Narrowing of the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle is called:
mitral stenosis
Which of the following supplies blood to the heart muscle?
coronary arteries
The layer of the heart that is responsible for contraction and relaxation is known as the:
myocardium
A 67 year-old man is diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation and is treated with Warfarin (Coumadin). What is the characteristic of Atrial Fibrillation?
P waves are absent
A patient has a possible corneal abrasion and needs a referral. Which specialty is a physician that deals with eye injury and disease?
ophthamologist
A phlebotomist enters a room to draw blood on a patient who is hospitalized with an infected wound. The site of the wound and any of its bandages are considered which link in the chain of infection?
portal of exit
Two premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) in a row are called a/n ____ of PVCs.
couplet
A pounding or racing of the heart, that the patient is aware of his/her own heartbeat is called a/n:
palpitation
Which of the following cannot be handled by the medical assistant?
patient requesting emergency medical advice
Issues relating to medical advances come under the heading of:
bioethics
A female patient came into the emergency room due to vaginal bleeding. What is the name of the instrument used to hold open the wall of the vagina?
speculum
A monitor that a patient wears for 24 hours is called a/n:
holter
In a standard 12-Lead ECG, the measurement of current that the heart muscle produces between the right arm electrode and left arm electrode is known as the:
standard limb lead I
What is the name of the heart valve that separates the right atrium and right ventricle?
tricuspid
Which of the following is an example of a biohazard?
splashing of blood when a cap is removed
How do you know when you have achieved adequate ventilation for a patient when doing CPR?
rise of the chest
What is the minimum number of electrodes that may be attached to the patient for Holter Monitoring?
5 electrodes
Tachycardia is a pathology that damages mainly the:
heart muscle
The national health insurance plan for Americans aged 65 and older is:
medicare
Which of the following requires that all employees receive workplace hazard training?
hazard communication standard
Which body system has the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas as accessory organs?
digestive
Regulation of the heart rate, speed of electrical conduction, and strength of contraction are influenced by the brain via the ____ nervous system.
automatic
A 67 year-old man comes into the doctor's office for a regular checkup. The doctor orders an EKG to be done on the patient. There is a junctional escape beat noticed by you. What is the origin of this rhythm?
AV node
Which chest lead is placed on the right sterna border in the 4th intercostal space?
V1
What is the name of the law that protects health care workers who gave aid during the time of an accident?
Good Samaritan Law
The contraction phase of the heartbeat is called:
systole
The correct lead from the center of the heart to the positive pole of the leg is:
AVF
The correct lead from the right arm to the leg is:
II
A blood sample is collected from a patient and the plasma is a pink to red color. Which of the following is most likely the cause?
hemolysis
Which drug is used as an anticoagulant?
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Which is the most common route of administration of nitroglycerin?
sublingual
Your patient is experiencing chest pain and has a heart rate of 132 beats per minute. You attach the ECG monitor and see a fast, regular rhythm with a round upright P wave that precedes each QRS complex. The QRS complexes are 0.10 seconds in duration. This patient is experiencing:
sinus tachycardia
Veterans with service related disabilities are eligible for care under which of the following programs:
CHAMPVA
___ is usually sponsored and partially paid by an employer.
Group Health Insurance
Health policies that concern a patient's constitutional right to privacy, informed consent and confidentiality are part of:
Patient's Bill of Rights
Family members, such as spouse or children that are covered under the member's insurance policy are know as ___?
dependents
A physician, specialist or any person that provides medical care is known as the ___?
provider
The term ____, refers to the list of charges for each of the provider's services.
fee schedule
A ___ is a set amount that the patient may be required to pay the provider before they can receive benefits.
Copayment
The insurance carrier is allowed to use any method to determine the amount for a service, also known as the ___?
allowed amount
Which of the following statements is true under the doctrine of respondeat superior?
the physician is responsible for any errors made by the medical staff.
Information given by a patient to a medical personnel that cannot be disclosed without consent constitutes:
privileged communication
The method of scheduling in which one patient is scheduled for a specific appointment time is known as:
single booking
____, also known as POMR, is a method of tracking the patient's problems during the time they are receiving medical care.
problem-oriented medical record
Another term for outpatient care is:
ambulatory care
The best way to handle a "difficult" or "bad" patient is to:
help the patient to feel in control of the situation
Which of the following is an example of negative kinesics?
frowning
Which of the following skills would not be an appropriate expectation of the competent medical assistant?
diagnosing common patient symptoms
The mental and emotional condition, enthusiasm, loyalty, or confidence of an individual or group with regard to function or tasks at hand is called:
morale
When medical assistants are able to adapt to various situations, they are considered to be:
flexible
One mental health illness that can hinder patient education is:
Alzheimer's disease
Which of the following is an example of proxemics?
facial expressions
Which is an example of a recommended preventive procedure?
childhood immunizations
Which of the following types of filings systems requires a cross reference files?
numeric
Before developing a medication schedule, you should evaluate the patient's:
daily routine
During assessment, the best source from which to obtain patient information is the:
medical record
Verbal facial expressions or body language, such as a nod of understanding, are called:
feedback
The principle advantage of using the WAVE method when designing the scheduling process is that it:
allows flexibility to accommodate the unpredictable
What does the "inside address" in a typewritten letter need to include?
the name and address of the person receiving the letter
The amount that an insurance company may say is not allowed and not the responsibility of the patient, for a contracted physician, would be identified as ____ on the patient's account?
an adjustment
The patient complains that it hurts when they swallow. This type of complaint is considered:
subjective
Telephone etiquette involves:
keeping your statements simple and to the point
The term used to describe sophisticated and highly complex care is:
tertiary care
This is a federal program that provides medical care for the indigent:
Medicaid
The term used to indicate that something lies near the surface is:
superficial
Which of the following involves a soaking or wiping process that inhibits the activity of disease-causing organisms?
disinfection
Which of the following liquids is used in an autoclave to sterilize instruments and supplies?
distilled water
What is the name of the test that checks for visual acuity?
snellen
What is the pacemaker of the heart?
SA node
An EKG machine is also called an:
electrocardiograph
Name the 2 types of EKG machines:
single channel and multichannel
When we do an EKG, we are looking at the heart from:
12 different points of view or angles
What is the purpose of the gel on the electrodes?
to read the heart's electricity and to amplify the waveforms
When the SA node is stimulated, what mechanical action happens in the heart?
atria contract
Define ischemia:
lack of blood supply
Define arrhythmia:
abnormal cardiac rhythm (think a=without, without rhythm)
A 6 second strip in Lead II is called a:
rhythm strip
Which 3 leads (views) are the augmented leads?
AVR, AVF, AVL
What are the leads RA, LA, RL, LL collectively called?
limb leads
Where is V1 placed?
4th intercostal space on the right sternum
Where is V2 placed?
4th intercostal space on the left sternum
Where is V3 placed?
between v2 and v4
Where is V4 placed?
mid-clavicular line on the left side, 5th intercostal space
Where is V5 placed?
anterior axillary left side, 5th intercostal space
Where is V6 placed?
mid-axillary line on the left side, 5th intercostal space
What does the T wave represent?
ventricular repolarization
What does the QRS complex represent?
ventricular depolarization
What does the P wave represent?
atrial depolarization
An evaluation or depression of the ST segment can indicate what?
ischemia or injury to the heart muscle
What is the "normal" heart rhythm?
normal sinus rhythm
What is the normal heart rhythm that is greater than 100 BPM?
sinus tachycardia
What is a "flat line" rhythm?
asystole