SCMA SCMA Basic 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing a capillary blood draw from a finger, which area should be avoided?
- Lateral aspect of the third finger
- Center of the fingertip (Correct answer)
- Medial aspect of the fourth finger
- Lateral aspect of the fourth finger
Correct answer: Center of the fingertip
The center of the fingertip should be avoided because it contains more nerve endings and less tissue depth, increasing pain and risk of bone injury.
Question 2: Which of the following is the correct order for removing personal protective equipment (PPE) after patient care?
- Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection (Correct answer)
- Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
- Gown, gloves, mask, eye protection
- Gloves, goggles, gown, mask
Correct answer: Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
The CDC recommends removing gloves first, then gown, then mask or respirator, then eye protection to minimize self-contamination.
Question 3: A patient's chart is subpoenaed for court proceedings. What is the medical assistant's responsibility?
- Provide a photocopy to the requesting attorney immediately
- Notify the physician and follow the practice's legal protocol (Correct answer)
- Refuse to release records without the patient's written consent
- Forward the original chart to the courthouse
Correct answer: Notify the physician and follow the practice's legal protocol
A subpoena is a legal order, so the medical assistant must notify the physician and follow the practice's established legal protocol for responding.
Question 4: Which muscle is the preferred site for intramuscular injection in infants under 12 months?
- Deltoid
- Vastus lateralis (Correct answer)
- Dorsogluteal
- Ventrogluteal
Correct answer: Vastus lateralis
The vastus lateralis (anterolateral thigh) is preferred for IM injections in infants because it has adequate muscle mass and no major nerves nearby.
Question 5: What does the medical abbreviation 'NPO' instruct the patient to do?
- Take medications with minimal water only
- Nothing by mouth (Correct answer)
- No physical outdoor activity
- Not provide oral consent
Correct answer: Nothing by mouth
NPO stands for 'nil per os,' a Latin phrase meaning nothing by mouth, typically ordered before surgery or certain diagnostic tests.
Question 6: When scheduling appointments, which patient should be given priority?
- A patient requesting a routine annual exam
- A patient with mild seasonal allergies
- A patient reporting chest pain and shortness of breath (Correct answer)
- A patient requesting a medication refill
Correct answer: A patient reporting chest pain and shortness of breath
Chest pain and shortness of breath are potential emergency symptoms requiring immediate triage and prioritization over routine visits.
Question 7: The prefix 'brady-' in medical terminology means:
- Fast
- Slow (Correct answer)
- Abnormal
- Painful
Correct answer: Slow
The prefix 'brady-' means slow, as in bradycardia (slow heart rate) or bradypnea (slow breathing rate).
SCMA SCMA Basic 2
When performing a capillary blood draw from a finger, which area should be avoided?