A patient asks the medical assistant to explain whether a newly prescribed drug is the best treatment choice. What is the appropriate response?
A. Refer the treatment-choice question to the prescribing provider
B. Recommend the drug based on other patients’ results
C. Suggest replacing it with an over-the-counter product
D. Tell the patient that all prescribed drugs are equally effective
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: A. Refer the treatment-choice question to the prescribing provider
- B: Recommend the drug based on other patients’ results is incorrect. Other patients’ experiences do not authorize treatment recommendations.
- C: Suggest replacing it with an over-the-counter product is incorrect. A medical assistant cannot independently substitute therapy.
- D: Tell the patient that all prescribed drugs are equally effective is incorrect. Effectiveness varies by indication and patient factors and requires provider discussion.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, hosted by NCBI Bookshelf — Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses; care coordination, documentation, and systems-based risk reduction chapters; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2651/
What does the prefix “brady-” indicate in a medical term?
A. Above normal
B. Slow
C. Around
D. Within
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: B. Slow
- A: Above normal is incorrect. Hyper- rather than brady- generally indicates excessive or above normal.
- C: Around is incorrect. Peri- rather than brady- commonly indicates around or surrounding.
- D: Within is incorrect. Intra- rather than brady- indicates within. It describes location rather than speed or rate.
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus — Appendix A, common medical word roots, prefixes, and suffixes; https://medlineplus.gov/appendixa.html
A patient develops a harmful, unintended response to a medication taken at the prescribed dose. How should this be described?
A. Therapeutic indication
B. Expected dosage form
C. Adverse drug reaction
D. Medication reconciliation
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: C. Adverse drug reaction
- A: Therapeutic indication is incorrect. An indication is the condition or reason for using a medication.
- B: Expected dosage form is incorrect. Dosage form describes the physical preparation, not a harmful response.
- D: Medication reconciliation is incorrect. Reconciliation compares medication lists and does not name a physiologic reaction.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Side effects and adverse drug reactions; https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-consumers-and-patients-drugs/finding-and-learning-about-side-effects-adverse-reactions
Which nutrient provides 9 kilocalories per gram?
A. Carbohydrate
B. Protein
C. Water
D. Fat
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: D. Fat
- A: Carbohydrate is incorrect. Carbohydrate provides approximately four kilocalories per gram. Its energy density is less than half that of fat.
- B: Protein is incorrect. Protein provides approximately four kilocalories per gram. Its energy density is less than half that of fat.
- C: Water is incorrect. Water supplies no kilocalories per gram. It hydrates the body but is not an energy-yielding nutrient.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library — Food composition and nutrient information resources; https://www.nal.usda.gov/human-nutrition-and-food-safety/food-composition
A patient says, “I am terrified about tomorrow’s procedure.” Which response best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “Tell me what concerns you most about the procedure.”
B. “There is nothing to worry about.”
C. “Other patients handle it without difficulty.”
D. “You should not think about it tonight.”
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: A. “Tell me what concerns you most about the procedure.”
- B: “There is nothing to worry about.” is incorrect. False reassurance dismisses the patient’s feelings and can stop communication.
- C: “Other patients handle it without difficulty.” is incorrect. Comparison minimizes the patient’s individual experience.
- D: “You should not think about it tonight.” is incorrect. Directing avoidance does not explore or address the concern.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, hosted by NCBI Bookshelf — Patient Safety and Quality, Chapter 33: Professional Communication and Team Collaboration; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2637/
