Medical Assistant Web Forum
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Pls help me to choose the correct answer and why you choose it.
Thank you
1. Mrs. Jones comes in with a 2 day history of chest pain. As a medical assistant you will:
a. take all vital signs and order EKG
b.tall all vital signs, obtain a weight and order EKG.
c. just an order an EKG on the patient and notify the physician.
d. take all vital signs, order EKG and a chest film.
e. only take the patients BP and pulse, Nothing else is needed.
f. none of above.
g. all of the above
2. Mrs. Oldtimer is a 72 y/o female who comes in with shortness of breath and ancle adema x 4 days. As a medical assistant you will:
a. tall all vital signs except her weight
b. tall all vital signs and order a chest x-ray on her
c. only her BP, temp, and weight are nessesary today
d. only her BP, temp, and pulse are necessary today.
e. only her BP, pulse, and respirations are necessary today.
f. none of above
g. all of above
3. Medical assistant can:
a. read a PPD
b. Give advice
c. recommend over the counter medication
d. A & B
e. A & C
f. All of the Above
g. None of the Above
Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA
Are You Still In School? no
Are You Working? no
well to sum up an answer, all vitals should be taken at each visit, unless they are refused by the patient or you are unable to obtain. Then protocols should be established by your physician as to whether an EKG or CXR should be done regarding chest pain. This would ensure an MA to work only within there scope of practice, as they would not be just ordering tests without direction from the doctor
Your Professional Title/Credentials: CMA
Are You Still In School? no
Are You Working? yes
Thank you
1. Mrs. Jones comes in with a 2 day history of chest pain. As a medical assistant you will:
a. take all vital signs and order EKG
b.tall all vital signs, obtain a weight and order EKG.
c. just an order an EKG on the patient and notify the physician.
d. take all vital signs, order EKG and a chest film.
e. only take the patients BP and pulse, Nothing else is needed.
f. none of above.
g. all of the above
2. Mrs. Oldtimer is a 72 y/o female who comes in with shortness of breath and ancle adema x 4 days. As a medical assistant you will:
a. tall all vital signs except her weight
b. tall all vital signs and order a chest x-ray on her
c. only her BP, temp, and weight are nessesary today
d. only her BP, temp, and pulse are necessary today.
e. only her BP, pulse, and respirations are necessary today.
f. none of above
g. all of above
3. Medical assistant can:
a. read a PPD
b. Give advice
c. recommend over the counter medication
d. A & B
e. A & C
f. All of the Above
g. None of the Above
1)E. Just take the vital signs. It is not within a medical assistants scope to assess a patient or order an EKG. If an EKG is needed the physician will order one and you will either run the test (if your office does this) or you will make an appointment for the patient at the hospital for a STAT EKG
2)F. None of the above. You need to get all her vital signs AND her weight; weight is very important in cardiac patients especially with the clues of SOB and edema, extra fluid is hard on the heart. See my above answer as to why you do not order tests.
3)a. Medical Assistants can READ but not INTERPRET a PPD...if there is no red raised area then the Medical Assistant can verify that it is negative; if there is ANY red raise area then the RN (if there is one if the office) or the MD has to see the site; again, a medical assistant can not assess.
Your Professional Title/Credentials: RN-BSN, PHN, CCMA-C
Are You Working? Yes
Everybody who answered above is right on the mark.
Regarding question #1:
The medical assistant cannot (ever!!!) independently order an EKG or any other specialty exams. With experience they will certainly get a feel that the doctor might want an EKG, and therefore, the MA can make sure everything that's needed to get it set up is available.
As far as taking the patient's blood pressure, and pulse, I would add, just for general knowledge, that a temp might also be a good idea! After all, chest pain could also be related to a lung infection or bronchitis, this temperature will help the doctor to make an initial quick assessment.
Just some pointers for those who wanted to know.
Your Professional Title/Credentials: Website Owner/Site Admin
