RMA Patient Care and Safety 2

Question 1

A patient in the waiting room suddenly loses consciousness and collapses. What is the FIRST action the medical assistant should take?

Accepted Answer

Assess responsiveness by tapping the patient's shoulder and calling their name

Answer

The first step in responding to a collapsed person is to assess responsiveness — tap the shoulder firmly and call the patient's name before initiating any further action, as the patient may simply have fainted.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a 'never event' in healthcare as defined by the National Quality Forum (NQF)?

Accepted Answer

Surgery performed on the wrong patient or wrong body part

Answer

Wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-patient surgeries are classified as 'never events' — serious preventable adverse events that should never occur with proper safety protocols like the Universal Protocol (surgical time-out).

Question 3

A patient is being prepared for a procedure requiring contrast dye. Which patient history finding is MOST important to report to the physician BEFORE the procedure?

Accepted Answer

History of shellfish or iodine allergy

Answer

Iodine-based contrast media can trigger anaphylaxis in patients with iodine or shellfish allergies; this must be reported to the physician before administration so appropriate precautions or an alternative contrast agent can be selected.

Question 4

When transferring a patient from a wheelchair to an examination table, which of the following principles should guide the medical assistant's technique?

Accepted Answer

Use the patient's strong side as the pivot side; stand on the patient's weak side for support

Answer

Using the patient's stronger side as the pivot provides the maximum stability and active patient participation; the medical assistant stands on the weaker side to provide support and prevent falls during the transfer.

Question 5

A patient reports they are allergic to penicillin. Which other class of antibiotics has a known cross-reactivity risk due to a shared beta-lactam ring structure?

Accepted Answer

Cephalosporins (e.g., cephalexin)

Answer

Cephalosporins share the beta-lactam ring structure with penicillins, creating a potential (though low, approximately 1–2%) cross-reactivity risk in penicillin-allergic patients that must be considered before prescribing.

RMA Practice Test

RMA Practice Test

RMA Patient Care and Safety 2