MAP 105 CLO 6 Mastery Review

A patient presents to the urgent care office reporting a burn that occurred a few minutes ago from hot coffee. The left wrist is painful, red, swollen and has blisters. The medical assistant takes the patient directly to an exam room. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take next?

• Apply a sterile dressing to the area.

• Place the wrist under cool running water.

• Have the patient put on a gown.

• Apply an ointment to the area.

Answer explanation

This scenario describes the burn and symptoms in detail. The burn site should be placed under cool running water to both soothe and clean the area. The physician will then evaluate the burn and determine the course of treatment.

During a routine visit, a petite female patient becomes very distraught while discussing the recent death of her husband. She suddenly faints. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take next?

• Protect the patient from injury.

• Draw blood for laboratory tests.

• Notify the physician.

• Activate EMS.

Answer explanation

Protecting the patient is the ultimate priority here. Quickly and carefully lay the patient flat (in the supine position) with her head lower than her feet. Once you have tended to the patient, stay with her to eliminate the potential for any injuries. Then call the physician or other medical personnel to alert them to your situation.

After receiving the MMR vaccine, a 12-month old begins to experience coughing, wheezing, and labored breathing. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take?

• Call the Poison Control Center immediately.

• Initiate chest compressions, followed by rescue breaths.

• Perform the Heimlich maneuver.

• Obtain epinephrine and oxygen and await physician's orders.

Answer explanation

In the event of an allergic reaction, the medical assistant should obtain epinephrine and oxygen and wait for the physician’s orders. Epinephrine is a medication given during allergic reactions, and oxygen is needed since the child is wheezing and has labored breathing. A shot check should always be performed and documented 20 minutes following an immunization injection to assess for signs of allergic reaction.

An adult patient sitting in the waiting area, with a known history of epilepsy, begins having apparent tonic-clonic movement of the arms and legs. How should the medical assistant respond?

• Restrain the patient and hold extremities down.

• Provide glucose immediately.

• Place a tongue depressor in the patient's mouth to maintain an open airway.

• Move the patient to the floor and clear surrounding objects.

Answer explanation

The medical assistant should move the patient to the floor and clear surrounding objects in order to protect the patient from injury. Nothing should be placed in the patient’s mouth, because they could choke on it, and the patient shouldn’t be restrained because this could cause further injury.

A patient enters the clinic and collapses on the floor. The medical assistant should _____.

• call 911

• yell for help stat

• calmly page the provider and immediately check the patient's airway

• send a waiting patient to the back office to summon help

Answer explanation

Medically speaking, a collapse does not necessarily mean a sudden, unconscious fall to the ground. It can mean a range of dramatic changes in one’s consciousness and behavior. If you see someone who has collapsed, the safest thing to do is to remain calm and notify the doctor as quickly as possible. Meanwhile check the patient’s breathing; activate 911 and begin CPR if necessary.

Which of the following conditions has the highest emergency priority?

• Cessation of breathing

• Loss of consciousness

• Bleeding

• shock

Answer explanation

In a medical office this is referred to as triage, the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. As with any emergency medical condition, the first priority is to assess a person's airway (is the airway open), breathing (is the patient breathing), and circulation (is there excessive bleeding and heart beat). A problem in any of these areas may be fatal if not corrected.

The medical assistant comes across a man on the floor in the lobby the man is not breathing and there is no pulse. What should the medical assistant do next?

• Start compressions

• Leave and call for help

• Apply AED

• Wash your hands

When assessing an infant’s consciousness the medical assistant should:

• Shout at the infant

• Flick the bottom of the infant’s foot

• Pick up the infant

• Tap the infant’s shoulders