AAMA CMA Practice Test

"Subcutaneous" begins with the Latin prefix sub-, which means "under" or "below." The other choices begin with Greek (hypo-), descriptive (hyper-), or directional (ab-) prefixes that do not meet the Latin criterion.

Open-ended questions prompt patients to describe their symptoms and concerns in their own words, producing richer and more comprehensive information. Closed yes/no questions, interruptions, and leading questions can restrict or bias the patient's responses and may omit important details.

BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²). Although it does not directly measure adipose tissue, it provides a quick, inexpensive estimate of overall body fatness and helps classify patients as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese-categories that correlate with chronic-disease risk. BMI does not determine basal metabolic rate, total body water, or lean-muscle distribution.

The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) is a standard tool used to quantify a patient's pain intensity. The patient is asked to rate their pain on a scale typically ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). This system is preferred because it provides an easy and quick method for patients to communicate the severity of their pain, which is crucial for effective pain management and treatment decisions.

The correct method for assessing respiration involves observing the chest rise and fall with each breath after measuring the pulse, without letting the patient know to prevent altering their natural breathing pattern. Counting how many times the chest rises in a minute will give the respiratory rate.

Holding the sterile drape above waist level and away from the body keeps it within the sterile zone and prevents accidental contact with non-sterile surfaces. This technique preserves the integrity of the sterile field until the drape is properly placed. In contrast, reaching across the field, letting the drape brush clothing, or shaking it can introduce contaminants through touch or air currents, compromising sterility.

The correct answer is 'Cholecystectomy.' This term is derived from the Greek words 'cholecyst,' meaning gallbladder, and 'ectomy,' meaning removal. The prefix 'laparo-' is often added if the procedure is performed laparoscopically as in 'laparoscopic cholecystectomy.' The incorrect options, while they relate to medical procedures involving the gallbladder, do not accurately describe its surgical removal. 'Cholecystitis' refers to inflammation of the gallbladder, not its removal. 'Cholelithotomy' describes the surgical removal of gallstones, and 'Cholangiography' is a diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize the bile ducts, not a surgical procedure.

Non-contact infrared temporal-artery thermometers are held a short distance from (or lightly scanned across) the forehead and use infrared sensors to estimate core temperature, eliminating the need for the probe to touch the skin. Tympanic and oral digital thermometers both require probe contact-inside the ear canal or mouth-and thus risk disturbing the patient and require probe covers. A sphygmomanometer measures blood pressure, not temperature.

A normal resting heart rate for adults is commonly defined as 60-100 beats per minute according to the American Heart Association and other clinical references. Values below this range represent bradycardia unless the individual is a well-conditioned athlete or taking rate-slowing medications; values above it represent tachycardia and may occur with fever, anxiety, or many pathological conditions. Therefore, the 60-100 bpm range is the only option that represents the accepted normal resting heart rate for the average healthy adult, whereas the other ranges are generally considered outside the normal limits.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) produces high-resolution images of soft tissues, making it the ideal modality for evaluating structural abnormalities in the brain that may explain chronic headaches and dizziness. A CT scan can image brain anatomy but is less sensitive to subtle soft-tissue changes and exposes the patient to ionizing radiation. Standard X-rays are primarily for bone visualization and provide almost no detail of intracranial structures. Ultrasound waves are largely blocked by the adult skull, so this modality is not suitable for routine brain imaging.

The correct position for a blood pressure reading involves the patient sitting comfortably with feet flat on the floor and back supported. Legs should not be crossed as this can increase systolic readings by 2mmHg to 8mmHg, potentially leading to an inaccurate diagnosis or treatment plan. The arm used to take the measurement should be supported at heart level to avoid the effects of gravity on the circulation of blood, which can also affect the reading.

A regular pulse rhythm means there is a consistent and predictable interval between each heartbeat. In this scenario, the even spacing between pulsations indicates a regular rhythm. An accelerated pace refers to the rate (tachycardia), not the rhythm. A weak pulse describes the amplitude or force, and a significantly varied timing describes an irregular rhythm.

The correct answer is to inflate the cuff to 20-30 mm Hg above the level where the radial pulse disappears. This technique is used to ensure the cuff is inflated high enough to occlude blood flow for an accurate reading, without being so high as to cause unnecessary patient discomfort or affect the measurement. Inflating only until the radial pulse is not felt might not be sufficiently high to occlude the brachial artery completely. Using a patient's previous blood pressure reading may lead to an inaccurate assessment if the patient's blood pressure has changed, and inflating to a default value of 180 mm Hg can be unnecessarily high for many patients and may cause pain or harm.

Open-ended questions invite the patient to respond in their own words and at length, promoting a fuller description of symptoms and concerns. Closed/direct, leading, and rhetorical questions restrict the response to brief or biased statements, so they do not capture as much detail.

A pulse oximeter uses light absorption at two wavelengths to estimate the percentage of hemoglobin molecules bound to oxygen in arterial blood, reported as the oxygen-saturation value (SpO2). Knowing this percentage helps clinicians detect hypoxemia and decide whether supplemental oxygen or other interventions are needed. The device may also display heart-rate information, but its principal purpose is oxygen-saturation monitoring; it does not directly measure carbon-dioxide concentration or blood pressure.

Open-ended questions, such as 'Can you tell me more about your symptoms?', encourage patients to share detailed information and tell their story in their own words. This is crucial for obtaining a complete health history. In contrast, closed-ended (or directive) questions, like 'Do you have pain?', limit the response to a simple 'yes' or 'no' and are used to gather specific facts rather than narrative details. Leading questions are generally avoided as they can bias the patient's answers.

"Have you been experiencing any dizziness or headaches?" seeks a specific, factual response that can be answered with a simple yes or no, so it is a closed (direct) question. Open-ended questions invite a narrative response (e.g., "Can you describe the headaches you have been having?"). Leading questions suggest a particular answer, and probing questions are follow-ups that explore a previous response in more depth.

Utilizing open-ended/exploratory questions invites patients to describe their symptoms in their own words, providing more detailed and relevant information, which is crucial for an accurate assessment and diagnosis. Closed/direct questions, while important for specific information, may limit the patient's responses and may miss nuanced details about their condition. Multiple choice and True/False questions are not appropriate for obtaining a history of present illness as they do not allow for elaboration on the patient's experiences and symptoms.

In patients with atrial fibrillation, irregular heart rhythms can make peripheral pulse assessment challenging. The peripheral pulses, like the radial or dorsalis pedis, may not provide an accurate reflection of the heart's activity due to a pulse deficit, where not all heartbeats are strong enough to be palpable at peripheral sites. The apical pulse, auscultated at the fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line, allows for direct assessment of heartbeats and is the most reliable for detecting all cardiac contractions, making it the most effective in evaluating rhythm and rate in atrial fibrillation.

Growth charts are the standard tool used by healthcare providers to track a child's growth pattern over time. By plotting the measurements of height, weight, and head circumference, providers can compare a child's developmental progress against established percentile rankings based on a reference population. This comparison is essential for identifying any potential growth abnormalities or health concerns.