CMA Practice Test 1
This is a timed quiz. You will be given 60 seconds per question. Are you ready?
Who should explain the costs of their care to a patient?
Medical staff are not expected to explain care costs to a patient, this is the job of administrative staff. If this is part of your job, you should be aware that it is vital that a patient understands all costs involved and any alternatives that may be available to them.
Which of these is the most common and effective place to read a pulse?
The pulse is usually measured from the radial artery, on the side of the wrist nearest the thumb. However, if there are reasons preventing taking a reading from here (for example if the patient has both wrists in casts) there are other points from which the pulse may be taken.
To ensure accuracy in testing all equipment must be properly…?
However accurate a testing apparatus may be, it will not produce a correct result unless it has been calibrated properly prior to use. Always check apparatus is properly calibrated using manufacturer instructions, and regularly recheck calibration throughout testing.
Which of the following would be a direct result of lipid depletion in the human body?
Lipid production does not directly affect the amount of and/or rate of protein synthesis. The permeability of the cellular membrane may increase, not decrease, with a depletion of lipids as fewer lipids are made to replace damaged phospholipids. The last two answer options are inaccurate, as lipids would not be sent to the cell’s cytoplasm nor exchanged for proteins. Lipids, however, are the precursors to many hormones in the body and with a depletion of lipids, this would result in a decrease in hormones like estrogen, therefore "The decrease in the amount of estrogen produced." is the correct answer.
If the name of a condition ends with the suffix “-itis”, what does that indicate?
-Itis is a suffix that derives from Greek and means being inflamed. Examples are colitis (inflamed colon), appendicitis (inflamed appendix), laryngitis (inflamed larynx).
If a patient makes his/her condition worse by ignoring medical advice, that may be considered:
When a patient ignores medical advice, for example does not take prescribed drugs, and so makes his/her condition worse, that may be considered contributory negligence. This means some responsibility for the deterioration lies with the patient, and may count in favor of a medical practitioner in a lawsuit.
Which of these fluids presents the greatest risk of HIV infection to medical workers?
Blood is the most likely way for a medical worker to become accidentally contaminated with HIV. Although HIV can be spread accidentally in other ways, it is very difficult to become infected through saliva and mucus.
What does the word “antenatal” mean?
Ante is Latin for before and natal means birth, so antenatal refers to pre-birth events. Examples are antenatal clinic (clinics for pregnant women) and antenatal class (classes preparing for birth).
Which of these is most important when dealing with medical records?
All of these elements are important, but when dealing with medical records confidentiality is paramount. Always make sure that records are not being disclosed to an unauthorized entity, and check with the office handbook and other staff when in doubt.
A normal pulse rate for a healthy adult should be between…?
The normal range for the pulse rate of a healthy adult is between 60 – 100 beats per minute. Any pulse rate outside this range should be reported to a physician. However, you should be aware that a pulse rate outside this range can still be healthy, for example a very fit athlete may have a pulse rate as low as 40 BPM.
Under what circumstances should a patient's blood be considered infective or infectious?
No matter what a patient's individual status or why they are in hospital, their blood should always be handled as if it has the potential to cause infection. Exactly the same procedures must be followed when taking and handling blood from every patient.
Which of these is the only risk a computer cable may not present?
Electrical equipment cables are one of the major causes of workplace accidents. They should be regularly inspected to make sure there is no fraying of the outer casing, which could cause electrocution or fire, and careful attention must be paid to their routing: ideally all cables should travel through secure housing to ensure they cannot cause a trip risk.
If a patient cancels an appointment it is essential that you…?
A patient may cancel an appointment for many reasons and sometimes may forget to reschedule, which could result in them missing vital treatment. Always ask if they need to reschedule and if in doubt consult with the appropriate physician.
Which of the following would be a categorized as a flat bone?
A flat bone is defined as a bone that provides muscular attachment and also serves to protect the body's vital organs or sensitive areas. The vertebrae and mandible are both irregular bones. The femur is a long bone. Therefore, the correct answer is [D], the scapula, which in fact is an example of a flat bone.
Some simple tests fall under waivers from which of these bodies?
A number of simple tests fall under the provisions of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments 1988; these are tests that are judged to be simple enough to be performed by staff with basic training or even at home. This does not mean that they are immune to error or that error could not have serious diagnostic consequences; the same amount of care should be taken with them as with any other testing procedure.
If a patient has a problem such as deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism they may need a drug to stop the blood thickening. This is called an…?
When a patient's blood is clotting too quickly, which can cause DVT or pulmonary embolism, they may need an anticoagulant to slow this process. Common anticoagulants include Coumadin (aka Warfarin) and Heparin.
Which of these is the only one entitled to immediate access to patient medical records?
All of these entities are entitled to patient medical records under certain circumstances and if all proper conditions have been fulfilled. The patient's physician is the only one of these who is entitled to immediate access.
In order to prescribe controlled substances a medical practitioner needs a license from…?
A license from the DEA is required for all persons prescribing controlled substances. The license lasts for three years (though it can be taken away at any time for malpractice) and costs $731.
Freud’s theory that patients may deceive themselves about the seriousness of their illness is known as what?
Denial is a process whereby patients pretend to themselves that their illness is not as serious as they have been told to try to protect themselves from psychological harm. One of the jobs of a medical practitioner is to gently lead a patient towards understanding of the true nature of their illness.
Having your hands in your pockets when talking to a patient may be regarded as what?
Any impression of being casual in front of a patient, such as having hands in pockets, may lead the patient to believe you don’t care about their case. Try to make a good impression as you would at an interview or other formal occasion.