AAMA CMA Practice Test

A resting heart rate for a healthy adult typically falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Lower rates are common in well-trained athletes, and rates can increase with fever, illness, or other medical conditions. The other presented ranges are considered abnormal for a resting heart rate in adults.

Wearing gloves when performing venipuncture is an example of aseptic technique as it provides a barrier between the healthcare worker's skin and potential pathogens. Disinfecting an examination table following patient use likewise is a part of aseptic technique, ensuring that pathogens are not transferred to subsequent patients. Using an alcohol-based hand rub is also a core element of medical asepsis, used to decontaminate hands when they are not visibly soiled. However, performing hand hygiene only before patient contact does not align with the principles of medical asepsis, as hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with a patient as well as after contact with any potentially contaminated surface to reduce pathogen transmission effectively.

Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar. Its primary function is to lower blood glucose levels by facilitating the transport of glucose from the bloodstream into the body's cells, where it is used for energy. The hormone that increases blood glucose levels by stimulating the liver to release stored glucose is glucagon.

The correct option is the one that includes the most complete information about the medication administration process. The 'right' documentation includes the medication name, dosage, route of administration, time given, and the signature of the person administering the medication. Incomplete records, incorrect information, or missing signatures can result in medication errors, lack of accountability, and legal issues.

Immediate commencement of chest compressions is crucial for a patient suffering from cardiac arrest; this action works to maintain blood circulation, providing essential oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues, particularly the brain and heart. Elevated positioning of the legs (Trendelenburg position) is not recommended as it has not been proven beneficial in the event of cardiac arrest and can hinder resuscitative efforts. Waiting for EMS without providing immediate intervention could result in a poorer outcome for the patient due to lack of oxygen delivery to crucial organs. Checking for blocked airways is also important, but only after chest compressions have been initiated if you are alone, according to the American Heart Association's guidelines.

The patient's payment of $50 exceeds their determined responsibility of $30, which creates a $20 credit balance on their account. The proper and legally required action is to refund this overpayment to the patient. While a practice might offer to apply the credit to future services, this can only be done with the patient's agreement; the primary obligation is to return the money. Transferring the credit to another account or writing it off as an adjustment are incorrect and unethical procedures.

Used blood collection needles are considered sharp biohazardous waste and must be disposed of in a sharps container. This container is specifically designed to safely contain needles and other sharp medical instruments to prevent needle-stick injuries and cross-contamination. It is usually puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and labeled with a biohazard symbol. The incorrect options listed are not designed for the containment of sharps and could pose a risk to healthcare workers and patients.

Shock is a life-threatening medical condition where the circulatory system fails to provide adequate oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues and vital organs. Immediate medical intervention is necessary to prevent serious health consequences or death. The other options provided do not accurately depict the condition of shock. 'Cardiac arrest' is a sudden loss of heart function, 'hypertension' refers to high blood pressure, and 'aneurysm' is an abnormal bulge in the wall of a blood vessel.

For an average-sized adult receiving an intramuscular injection, a 1 to 1.5-inch needle length is commonly used, with needle gauge typically ranging from 22 to 25 depending on the viscosity of the medication. A 22 gauge is preferred for more viscous medications to facilitate easier flow, whereas a 25 gauge can be used for less viscous solutions, balancing medication delivery with patient comfort.

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.

To prevent payment denial for an elective surgical procedure, a medical assistant must obtain prior authorization or precertification from the patient's insurance company. This guarantees that the procedure is covered under the patient's benefit plan. Failure to obtain this authorization can result in the insurance company refusing to pay for the procedure, potentially leaving the patient with a significant out-of-pocket expense.

Submitting a claim without prior authorization usually leads to automatic claim rejection because the insurance company has not agreed to cover the costs in advance. Notifying the physician's office of the patient's eligibility does not ensure that specific procedures are covered, which is why prior authorization is important, even if the patient is eligible.

Schedule II medications require strict inventory control because of their high potential for abuse and dependence. The medical assistant should ensure that the inventory is accurate and the medication is securely stored in a locked cabinet. Incorrect answers would either represent security measures for less-controlled substances or fail to comply with regulatory requirements for Schedule II drugs.

Checking for responsiveness and calling for help is the immediate next step when you find an unresponsive patient, provided the scene is safe. If the patient does not respond, you should then call for emergency medical services (EMS) prior to initiating any other intervention. Checking for breathing and a pulse simultaneously is done as part stable patient assessment, but it does not precede the urgency of calling for EMS. Administering CPR comes after calling EMS unless you are alone, then you should perform CPR immediately after calling for help and verifying the patient is unresponsive and not breathing or not breathing normally. Initiating chest compressions should not be the immediate next step without first assessing responsiveness and breathing and calling for help.

Suture scissors, also known as stitch scissors or suture removal scissors, have a small hook on one of the blades, which is specifically designed to slide under sutures to lift and cut them without harming the patient's skin. Other types of scissors may not have this hook and could potentially cause injury if used for suture removal.

Ensuring the test site is clean and devoid of any lotions or creams is critical. If the site is contaminated with substances that could interfere with the test, it could cause a false positive or false negative result by either triggering a reaction by itself or by preventing a reaction from an allergen. Cleansing with alcohol removes these contaminants. Proper patient identification is essential in all procedures but does not directly influence the accuracy of the intradermal test results. While minor bleeding may occur, it does not typically impact the test outcome unless significantly altering the test site's appearance. Similarly, applying a bandage is not related to the accuracy of the results, as the reading is based on the skin's response.