NHI Patient Care & Medical Assisting Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a subjective finding that a medical assistant would document in a SOAP note?
- Blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg
- Patient reports throbbing headache for two days (Correct answer)
- Redness and swelling noted around the incision site
- Temperature of 101.2°F
Correct answer: Patient reports throbbing headache for two days
Subjective data is what the patient reports and cannot be objectively measured, such as pain or symptoms.
Question 2: A patient weighing 220 lbs needs medication dosed at 5 mg/kg. What is the patient's weight in kilograms?
- 88 kg
- 100 kg (Correct answer)
- 110 kg
- 484 kg
Correct answer: 100 kg
To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2: 220 ÷ 2.2 = 100 kg.
Question 3: When documenting a medication error, the medical assistant should:
- Correct the original entry by erasing it
- Leave the chart blank and report verbally only
- Write over the original entry with correction fluid
- Draw a single line through the error, initial, date, and write 'error' (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Draw a single line through the error, initial, date, and write 'error'
Proper error correction in medical records requires a single line through the mistake, initials, date, and the word 'error' — never erasure or correction fluid.
Question 4: The medical assistant is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection into the deltoid muscle. What is the maximum volume typically administered at this site?
- 0.5 mL
- 1 mL (Correct answer)
- 2 mL
- 5 mL
Correct answer: 1 mL
The deltoid muscle can typically accommodate a maximum of 1 mL for IM injections due to its smaller muscle mass.
Question 5: Which of the following actions demonstrates correct hand hygiene technique per CDC guidelines?
- Scrubbing hands for at least 10 seconds with soap and water
- Using alcohol-based hand rub when hands are visibly soiled
- Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- Rinsing hands with water only between patient contacts
Correct answer: Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
The CDC recommends scrubbing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively reduce pathogens.
Question 6: A patient presents with a laceration requiring closure. The provider orders a local anesthetic. Which medication is most commonly used for local anesthesia in minor office procedures?
- Morphine sulfate
- Lidocaine (Correct answer)
- Diazepam
- Ketorolac
Correct answer: Lidocaine
Lidocaine is the most widely used local anesthetic for minor office procedures due to its rapid onset and effectiveness.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a spirometry test?
- Measures electrical activity of the heart
- Evaluates kidney function through urine output
- Measures lung capacity and airflow (Correct answer)
- Assesses muscle strength and coordination
Correct answer: Measures lung capacity and airflow
Spirometry measures the amount and speed of air a patient can inhale and exhale, used to diagnose respiratory conditions.
NHI Patient Care & Medical Assisting Techniques 3
Which of the following is an example of a subjective finding that a medical assistant would document in a SOAP note?