NRCMA Patient Intake 3

Question 1

Which pulse site is most commonly used during routine patient intake?

Accepted Answer

Radial artery at the wrist

Answer

Carotid artery in the neck

Answer

Femoral artery in the groin

Answer

Brachial artery in the upper arm

Question 2

A patient is unable to speak English and no interpreter is present. The BEST action for the medical assistant is to:

Accepted Answer

Use a qualified medical interpreter service or telephone interpretation line

Answer

Ask a bilingual family member present in the room to interpret

Answer

Use hand gestures and proceed with the intake as best as possible

Answer

Reschedule the appointment until an interpreter can be arranged

Question 3

When reviewing a patient's social history during intake, which of the following should the medical assistant document?

Accepted Answer

Tobacco use, alcohol use, recreational drug use, and occupation

Answer

Only tobacco use because it affects vital signs

Answer

Marital status and number of children only

Answer

Insurance information and emergency contact details

Question 4

A patient's oxygen saturation (SpO2) reads 91% on pulse oximetry. The medical assistant should:

Accepted Answer

Notify the provider immediately as this is below the normal range

Answer

Document it and continue the intake without concern

Answer

Recheck it on a different finger and document 95% if closer to normal

Answer

Only notify the provider if the reading drops below 85%

Question 5

During patient intake, the medical assistant asks about the patient's surgical history. The patient mentions an appendectomy 'years ago.' The medical assistant should:

Accepted Answer

Document the procedure and ask for any additional details the patient can recall, such as approximate year

Answer

Skip documentation since the patient does not remember the exact date

Answer

Only document surgeries performed within the last 5 years

Answer

Ask the patient to bring records from the surgeon before documenting

Question 6

The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires that a patient's protected health information (PHI) collected during intake be:

Accepted Answer

Used only for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations without additional authorization

Answer

Shared freely with any healthcare provider the patient has ever seen

Answer

Disclosed to employers upon their request

Answer

Posted in the waiting room for verification purposes

Question 7

Which respiratory rate is within the normal adult range and would be documented as such during intake?

Accepted Answer

16 breaths per minute

Answer

6 breaths per minute

Answer

28 breaths per minute

Answer

40 breaths per minute