NRCMA Patient Intake 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient arrives and states they are allergic to penicillin. What is the medical assistant's BEST next step?
- Document the allergy in the patient's chart and alert the provider (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient to remind the provider themselves
- Only document if the patient has had a reaction in the past year
- Record it in the visit notes but not the allergy section
Correct answer: Document the allergy in the patient's chart and alert the provider
All reported allergies must be documented in the designated allergy section and communicated to the provider to prevent adverse events.
Question 2: When measuring a patient's weight during intake, the medical assistant should ask the patient to:
- Remove shoes and heavy outerwear before stepping on the scale (Correct answer)
- Keep all clothing on for consistency between visits
- Weigh themselves and report the number
- Step on the scale immediately upon arrival without any preparation
Correct answer: Remove shoes and heavy outerwear before stepping on the scale
Removing shoes and heavy outerwear ensures the most accurate weight measurement and reduces variability between visits.
Question 3: A patient's chief complaint is recorded as 'chest pain.' The medical assistant should:
- Document the complaint using the patient's own words and notify the provider promptly (Correct answer)
- Diagnose the cause and document accordingly
- Ask the patient to wait until the provider is available before documenting
- Only document if the pain is rated 7 or higher on the pain scale
Correct answer: Document the complaint using the patient's own words and notify the provider promptly
Chief complaints are recorded verbatim in the patient's own words, and chest pain requires prompt provider notification due to potential urgency.
Question 4: Which of the following is the correct method for taking an oral temperature?
- Place the thermometer under the tongue and ask the patient to close their lips (Correct answer)
- Place the thermometer under the tongue with the mouth open
- Place the thermometer between the cheek and gum
- Ask the patient to hold the thermometer in their hand for 60 seconds
Correct answer: Place the thermometer under the tongue and ask the patient to close their lips
The thermometer is placed sublingual (under the tongue) with lips closed to trap body heat for an accurate reading.
Question 5: A patient states their last menstrual period (LMP) was six weeks ago. This information is MOST important to communicate to the provider because:
- It may indicate pregnancy, affecting medication choices and testing (Correct answer)
- It is standard demographic information with no clinical significance
- It is only relevant if the patient is over 40 years old
- It determines which insurance plan the patient should use
Correct answer: It may indicate pregnancy, affecting medication choices and testing
A recent LMP six weeks ago may indicate pregnancy, which is critical for medication safety and appropriate clinical decisions.
Question 6: When documenting a patient's medication list during intake, the medical assistant should record:
- Prescription medications, OTC medications, vitamins, and supplements (Correct answer)
- Only prescription medications prescribed by this practice
- Only medications taken daily, not as-needed medications
- Medications the patient takes more than once per day
Correct answer: Prescription medications, OTC medications, vitamins, and supplements
A complete medication reconciliation includes all prescription drugs, OTC medications, vitamins, and supplements to identify potential interactions.
Question 7: A patient's blood pressure reads 158/96 mmHg during intake. The medical assistant should:
- Document the reading, recheck per protocol, and notify the provider (Correct answer)
- Ignore it and let the provider take a new reading during the exam
- Tell the patient their blood pressure is dangerously high and call 911
- Only notify the provider if the reading exceeds 180/110 mmHg
Correct answer: Document the reading, recheck per protocol, and notify the provider
An elevated BP reading should be documented, rechecked according to office protocol, and reported to the provider for clinical evaluation.
NRCMA Patient Intake 2
A patient arrives and states they are allergic to penicillin.
What is the medical assistant's BEST next step?