Clinical Patient Care Flashcards
7 cards from real AAMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Patient Care flashcards as text
When measuring a patient's respiratory rate, which of the following is the correct technique?
Answer: Count respirations while pretending to measure the pulse
Informing patients that their breathing is being counted causes them to alter their rate; measuring it covertly while appearing to check the pulse gives a more accurate reading.
Which site is preferred for measuring blood pressure in a patient who has had a right-sided mastectomy?
Answer: Left arm
Blood pressure should be taken on the opposite arm from a mastectomy to avoid disrupting lymphatic drainage and risking lymphedema.
A physician orders a wound culture. What is the correct method for obtaining the specimen?
Answer: Aspirate or swab the deepest part of the wound after cleaning surface exudate
Swabbing the wound's deepest tissue after removing surface exudate provides the most accurate culture of the causative organism.
What is the primary purpose of applying a pressure bandage after venipuncture?
Answer: To prevent hematoma formation by promoting hemostasis
Direct pressure at the puncture site activates the clotting cascade and prevents blood from accumulating under the skin.
A patient is scheduled for a fasting blood glucose test. The patient states they had a small snack two hours ago. What is the correct action?
Answer: Reschedule the test and advise the patient on fasting requirements
A true fasting glucose requires 8–12 hours of no caloric intake; the test should be rescheduled and the patient educated to ensure accurate results.
Which of the following is an early sign of shock that a medical assistant should recognize?
Answer: Tachycardia and pallor
The body's initial compensatory response to shock includes increased heart rate and peripheral vasoconstriction, causing rapid heart rate and pale skin.
When applying a sterile dressing, which action would break sterile technique?
Answer: Reaching across the sterile field to place materials
Reaching over a sterile field contaminates it because non-sterile portions of the arm and clothing pass over sterile materials.