Patient Care and Safety Flashcards
6 cards from real RMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Patient Care and Safety flashcards as text
When applying a topical medication, which of the following correctly describes the process for removing the previous dose of a transdermal patch?
Answer: Remove the old patch, clean the skin, and rotate to a new site before applying the new patch
The old transdermal patch must be completely removed, the skin cleaned of any residue, and the new patch applied to a different site to prevent overdose and skin irritation from excessive medication accumulation.
A patient is admitted for observation after a head injury. The medical assistant is performing neurological checks every hour. Which finding should be reported to the physician IMMEDIATELY?
Answer: The patient's left pupil is 6mm and non-reactive while the right is 4mm and reactive
Unequal pupils (anisocoria) with one non-reactive pupil after head injury is a critical finding suggesting increasing intracranial pressure or herniation — a neurosurgical emergency requiring immediate intervention.
A patient develops sudden onset of urticaria (hives), throat tightness, and hypotension after receiving an injection in the office. What is the PRIORITY intervention?
Answer: Administer epinephrine intramuscularly and activate emergency services (call 911)
Anaphylaxis — a life-threatening allergic reaction — is treated with immediate epinephrine IM injection (thigh), which is the only first-line treatment; antihistamines and corticosteroids are adjuncts, not primary treatments.
When educating a patient about the correct use of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) without a spacer, which instruction is MOST important for effective medication delivery?
Answer: Exhale completely, then inhale slowly and deeply while pressing the inhaler, then hold breath for 10 seconds
Slow, deep inhalation coordinated with pressing the inhaler maximizes medication deposition in the lower airways; rapid inhalation causes medication to impact the back of the throat rather than reaching the lungs.
A medical assistant applies a blood pressure cuff that is too small for the patient's arm. What effect will this have on the reading?
Answer: The reading will be falsely high
An undersized blood pressure cuff exerts pressure over a smaller surface area and must be inflated to a higher pressure to occlude the brachial artery, resulting in a falsely elevated reading — both systolic and diastolic.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the 'teach-back' method in patient education?
Answer: The patient explains the information back to the provider in their own words to confirm understanding
Teach-back (or 'show-me') is a validated patient education technique where the patient explains or demonstrates the information back to the provider, confirming actual comprehension rather than just acknowledgment.