NRCMA Patient Intake 2

Question 1

A patient arrives and states they are allergic to penicillin. What is the medical assistant's BEST next step?

Accepted Answer

Document the allergy in the patient's chart and alert the provider

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Remove shoes and heavy outerwear before stepping on the scale

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Document the complaint using the patient's own words and notify the provider promptly

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Place the thermometer under the tongue and ask the patient to close their lips

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

It may indicate pregnancy, affecting medication choices and testing

Answer

A recent LMP six weeks ago may indicate pregnancy, which is critical for medication safety and appropriate clinical decisions.

(NRCMA) Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant Practice Test