Clinical Skills Flashcards

When assisting with a pelvic examination, the medical assistant should position the patient in which position?

Answer: Lithotomy

The lithotomy position, with feet in stirrups and hips at the table edge, is used for pelvic examinations.

A medical assistant is applying a sterile dressing. After opening the sterile field, which action would contaminate it?

Answer: Reaching across the sterile field to retrieve an item

Reaching across a sterile field causes contamination because non-sterile clothing or hands pass over sterile items.

Which action is appropriate when performing ear irrigation on an adult?

Answer: Pull the pinna up and back to straighten the ear canal

For adults, the pinna is pulled up and back to straighten the auditory canal for effective irrigation.

A patient reports their blood glucose reading was 245 mg/dL two hours after a meal. This value indicates:

Answer: Hyperglycemia

A 2-hour postprandial glucose above 200 mg/dL is diagnostic of hyperglycemia.

Which of the following is the FIRST step when using a glucometer to test a patient's blood glucose?

Answer: Verify the glucometer's quality control results are current

Quality control must be verified before patient testing to ensure glucometer accuracy.

When removing contaminated gloves, which technique is correct?

Answer: Grasp the outside of one glove and pull it off, then slide fingers under the second glove's cuff

The correct technique grasps the outside of the first glove to remove it, then slides clean fingers under the second glove's cuff to avoid contamination.

A medical assistant notes a patient's respiratory rate is 24 breaths per minute. This finding is documented as:

Answer: Tachypnea

Tachypnea refers to a respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute in adults.