Clinical Skills Flashcards

What is the normal respiratory rate range for a healthy adult at rest?

Answer: 12–20 breaths per minute

The normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths per minute; rates outside this range indicate bradypnea or tachypnea.

Which type of wound requires the highest level of sterile technique during dressing changes?

Answer: Stage III pressure ulcer

Stage III pressure ulcers involve full-thickness skin loss exposing subcutaneous tissue and carry high infection risk, requiring strict sterile technique.

A medical assistant is preparing to measure a patient's weight. The patient uses a walker. What is the best approach?

Answer: Weigh the patient without the walker and document accordingly

The patient should be weighed without the walker when safe to do so; if the walker must be used, its weight is subtracted from the total and documented.

When collecting a midstream clean-catch urine specimen from a female patient, which instruction is correct?

Answer: Void a small amount first, then collect midstream urine

The initial stream flushes urethral contaminants; collecting midstream urine provides the most accurate sample for culture or analysis.

Which standard precaution applies to ALL patients regardless of diagnosis?

Answer: Hand hygiene before and after patient contact

Hand hygiene is the single most important standard precaution and must be performed before and after every patient contact.

A patient's oxygen saturation (SpO2) reads 91% on room air. What action should the medical assistant take first?

Answer: Administer oxygen per protocol and notify the provider

Normal SpO2 is 95–100%; a reading of 91% indicates hypoxemia requiring oxygen administration per facility protocol and immediate provider notification.

Which instrument is used to examine the internal structures of the ear?

Answer: Otoscope

An otoscope uses a light source and speculum to visualize the ear canal and tympanic membrane.