Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

Multiple Choice Questions 

1. A small amount of tissue removed from the body for examination under a microscope is a(n) ____. A. debridementB. incisionC. biopsy specimenD. lacerationE. abscess

 

2. A jagged, open wound in the skin that extends down into the underlying tissue is a(n) ____. A. punctureB. incisionC. lacerationD. abscessE. lesion

 

3. Debridement is ____. A. a collection of pus that forms as a result of infectionB. the surgical removal of debris or dead tissue from a woundC. a deep wound caused by a sharp objectD. the use of extreme cold to destroy unwanted tissueE. the process of aspirating fluid and tissue cells through a needle

 

4. The first step in preventing a nonsurgical wound from becoming infected is ____. A. cleansingB. irrigationC. debridementD. electrocauterizationE. draining

 5. The proliferation phase of healing is characterized by ____. A. a constriction of blood vesselsB. the formation of scar tissueC. a release of white blood cellsD. the development of new tissueE. the clotting of blood 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

 

6. A wound will heal better if the edges are brought close together or ____. A. minimizedB. infectedC. approximatedD. abscessedE. debrided

 7. Edges of an incision that are approximated ____. A. are overgrown with unhealthy tissue and require surgical removal of the dead tissueB. protect the area from contamination and minimize scab and scar formationC. disrupt the tissue's blood supply by rupturing blood vessels throughout the areaD. delay the healing process because of the infection presentE. must be debrided to remove the jagged edges 

8. Which of the following are characteristics of absorbable sutures? A. They are made of gut and do not require removal after the wound has healed.B. They are used for the outside layer.C. They must be removed after wound healing is well under way.D. They are made of silk, nylon, or Dacron.E. They are inserted into the skin with a disposable staple unit.

 

9. On which type of wound would staples be used? A. A small, superficial cut on the fingerB. The area where a mole was removed on the upper armC. A long, deep wound across the legD. An area inside the mouth where the dentist accidentally scraped the tissueE. A puncture wound in the upper arm

 10. Which of the following uses an intense beam of light to cut away tissue? A. CryosurgeryB. ElectrocauterizationC. Conventional surgeryD. Needle biopsyE. Laser surgery 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

11. An advantage of laser surgery is that ____. A. it promotes quick healing and prevents infectionB. a local anesthetic is never necessary, because the cold itself reduces sensationC. no instructions on wound care are required after the procedureD. no dressing is applied after the procedureE. sterile instruments are not necessary

 

12. Which of the following would you include when preparing a room for laser surgery? A. Open the blinds and shades to let the light inB. Uncover any shiny or reflective surfacesC. Make sure everyone in the room, including the patient, wears safety gogglesD. Place cotton-tipped applicators and liquid nitrogen within the physician's reachE. Place paper items such as wrappers from instruments near the laser

 

13. How does a laser cut away tissue? A. It vaporizes unwanted tissue.B. Extreme cold destroys unwanted tissue.C. A needle heated by electric current destroys the target tissue.D. It removes all unwanted tissue with a sharp blade.E. The bright light shrinks the tissue.

 14. Which method uses extreme cold to destroy unwanted tissue? A. Laser surgeryB. CryosurgeryC. Conventional surgeryD. ElectrocauterizationE. Needle biopsy 

15. A medical assistant should include which of the following in preparing a patient for cryosurgery? A. Place a grounding pad somewhere on the patient's bodyB. Ask the patient to put on safety gogglesC. Inform the patient that the initial sensation of cold will be followed by a burning sensationD. Position the patient for the administration of a general anestheticE. Assist with the administration of a local anesthetic

 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

16. Which method uses a needle, probe, or loop heated by electric current to destroy target tissue? A. Conventional surgeryB. Laser surgeryC. CryosurgeryD. ElectrocauterizationE. Needle biopsy

 

17. Which of the following should you include in preparing a patient for electrocauterization? A. Tell the patient that more than one freezing cycle may be necessaryB. Ask the patient to wear safety goggles during the procedureC. Place a grounding pad somewhere on the patient's bodyD. Tell the patient that a sterile dressing will be applied after the procedureE. Reassure the patient that some pain, swelling, and redness is normal

 18. Which of the following would you include in teaching a patient who has had cryosurgery? A. Tell the patient to protect the site from exposure to the sunB. Encourage the patient to apply a heating pad to the surgical siteC. Inform the patient that a large, painful, bloody blister may formD. Tell the patient that a dressing is never necessaryE. Tell the patient to call the doctor if swelling or redness occurs. 

19. Which of the following would you include in the care of a patient who has had electrocauterization? A. Cleanse the wound with an antiseptic and apply a sterile dressingB. Tell the patient to call the doctor if the blister becomes too painfulC. Encourage the patient to apply ice to the surgical siteD. Explain to the patient that a scab or crust generally forms over the areaE. Tell the patient to protect the site from sun exposure

 

20. Which condition puts a patient at risk for wound-healing problems? A. A diet rich in vitamin CB. Low levels of stressC. Being youngD. Being underweightE. Diabetes mellitus

 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

21. Which type of scissors is used to remove dressings? A. Tissue scissorsB. Suture scissorsC. Bandage scissorsD. ClippersE. Scalpel

 22. Which of the following is used for scraping tissue? A. ScalpelB. CuretteC. ScissorsD. hemostatE. Dilator 

23. Instruments that are most often used to grasp or hold objects are ____. A. scalpelsB. curettesC. forcepsD. scissorsE. probes

 

24. Which surgical instruments are used to close off blood vessels? A. RetractorsB. HemostatsC. ScissorsD. CurettesE. Forceps

 25. Surgical instruments used to hold back the sides of a wound or incision for greater access are ____. A. retractorsB. forcepsC. curettesD. scalpelsE. probes 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

26. A slender, pointed surgical instrument used to enlarge a body opening, such as a tear duct, is a ____. A. hemostatB. forcepsC. retractorD. probeE. dilator

 

27. Which surgical instruments are used to explore wounds or body cavities and to locate or clear blockages? A. DilatorsB. CurettesC. ProbesD. HemostatsE. Forceps

 

28. Which of the following is a problem related to latex gloves? A. Latex gloves leak more than vinyl gloves.B. Latex gloves do not prevent contamination as well as vinyl gloves.C. There is an increased incidence of latex allergy with latex gloves among healthcare workers.D. Latex gloves cannot be sterilized.E. Latex gloves do not fit as snugly as vinyl or nitrile gloves.

 29. Which step helps prevent a latex glove allergy? A. Select gloves with more powder on the insideB. Put on gloves with slightly wet handsC. Avoid the use of hand lotionD. Clean areas contaminated with latex-containing dust frequentlyE. Wear gloves as often as possible to desensitize your skin 

30. An onychectomy tray is a ____. A. nail removal trayB. laceration trayC. foreign body or growth removal trayD. male sterilization trayE. incision and drainage tray

 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

31. A Mayo stand is a(n) ____. A. movable, stainless steel instrument tray on a standB. suture removal trayC. incision and drainage trayD. nail removal trayE. male sterilization tray

 32. The cleaning process that is required for all instruments that penetrate the skin or that come in contact with normally sterile areas of the tissues and internal organs is ____. A. sterilizationB. sanitizationC. purificationD. disinfectionE. ultrasonic cleaning 

33. Which of the following is necessary when sterilizing items using an autoclave? A. Placing the instruments in the closed positionB. Preheating the instruments before placing them in the unitC. Using distilled water in the unitD. Taking each instrument out of the unit by handE. Drying the instruments with a towel after sterilization

 

34. Which instruments and equipment must be sterilized? A. Vaginal specula and curettesB. Stethoscopes and tuning forksC. Endotracheal tubesD. Nasal speculaE. Blood pressure cuffs

 

35. The primary method for sterilizing instruments is ____. A. chemical processesB. autoclavingC. gas processesD. dry heat processesE. washing with bleach

 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

 

36. The appropriate way to wrap instruments for sterilization in the autoclave includes ____. A. placing the instruments together with surfaces touchingB. using double-thickness muslin to wrap instrumentsC. placing all hinged instruments in the closed positionD. wrapping each instrument in the fabric as loosely as possible with the ends openE. using electrical tape to close the wrapping

 

37. The maximum shelf life for a sterile pack is ____. A. 30 daysB. 60 daysC. 90 daysD. 1 yearE. 2 years

 

38. What is the correct way to clean and preheat the autoclave? A. Fill the water reservoir with tap waterB. Check the discharge lines and valves for obstructionC. Overheat the chamber to warm itD. Clean the autoclave after several usesE. Load cold instruments into an overheated chamber

 39. Which of the following would render an autoclaved load unsterile? A. Steam temperature of 212F or 100CB. Wrapping the instruments in muslinC. Air trapped inside the chamber because of blocked discharge linesD. Placing hinged instruments in the open positionE. Refilling the water reservoir before operating 

40. Which of the following would cause incomplete sterilization of an autoclaved load? A. Temperature of 250 to 270FB. 15 to 30 pounds of pressure in the chamberC. Steam temperature of 212FD. Allowing the autoclave to cool before emptyingE. Too short a time period

 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

41. Which of the following is important when running a load through the autoclave? A. If the load contains both wrapped packs and individual instruments, place the instruments above the wrapped packs.B. After the steam cycle and before the drying cycle, open the door to the autoclave 1 inch.C. Do not unload any packs or instruments with wet wrappings.D. Place each item immediately in a cold location when unloading.E. Do not touch the outside of the wrapped packs.

 

42. When assisting a physician in closing a wound, you accidentally touch the inside of the sterile dressing package with no gloves on. The appropriate step now is to ____. A. avoid further touching of the inside of the packageB. obtain another unopened sterile dressingC. hand the dressing to the physicianD. continue to assist the physician without saying anythingE. pour alcohol over the dressing to resterilize it

 43. Which of the following should you do when assisting a physician during a surgical procedure? A. Cover the open items that are not being used with a paper towelB. Hand the physician items outside the sterile field with the tips of the transfer forcepsC. Hand the items to the physician before putting gloves onD. Avoid reaching over the sterile fieldE. Place unsterile items on the outer 1 inch of the sterile field 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

 

44. Which numbered item in the diagram is the first step in wrapping instruments for sterilization? A. 5B. 1C. 7D. 4E. 2

 45. Which numbered item in the diagram is the second step in wrapping instruments for sterilization? A. 5B. 1C. 7D. 4E. 2 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

47. Which numbered item in the diagram is the third step in wrapping instruments for sterilization? A. 5B. 1C. 7D. 4E. 2

 

48. Which numbered item in the diagram is the fourth step in wrapping instruments for sterilization? A. 5B. 1C. 7D. 4E. 2

 

49. Which numbered item in the diagram is the fifth step in wrapping instruments for sterilization? A. 3B. 4C. 7D. 5E. 6

 50. Which numbered items in the diagram are the sixth and seventh steps in wrapping instruments for sterilization? A. 5, 6B. 1, 4C. 2, 3D. 4, 5E. 2, 7 

51. In this diagram, which of the following indicates the correct sequence for wrapping instruments for sterilization? A. 6, 2, 4, 1, 3, 5, 7B. 5, 7, 4, 1, 6, 3, 2C. 7, 4, 6, 1, 5, 2, 3D. 4, 3, 1, 6, 6, 2, 5E. 1, 5, 7, 3, 4, 6, 2

 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

52. The appropriate way to add instruments to a sterile field is to ____. A. hand-place the sterile instruments on the sterile fieldB. stand close to the sterile field and open the instruments packC. reach across the sterile field with the instruments to be addedD. place the instruments using sterile transfer forcepsE. place the instruments within the outer 1 inch of the sterile field

 

53. What part of the sterile field is considered contaminated? A. The outer 2 inchesB. All of the sterile field is sterileC. The outer 1/2 inchD. The outer 1 inchE. The edge of the field closest to the patient

 54. What is the appropriate way to pour a sterile solution into a sterile bowl in the sterile field? A. Cover the label on the bottle with the palm of your hand to keep the label dryB. Pour the liquid directly into the bowl and avoid discarding anyC. Pour the liquid quickly into the bowlD. Place the cap of the bottle facing downE. Hold the bottle at an angle that allows you to reach over the sterile area 

55. Which is a correct preoperative instruction for a patient who is scheduled for a minor surgical procedure in the doctor's office? A. Tell the patient to eat a light breakfast right before surgeryB. Tell the patient to bring someone to drive him or her homeC. Tell the patient to take all regular medications before surgeryD. Avoid telling the patient of the possible risksE. Tell the patient it does not matter what she wears because she will change into a gown anyway

 

56. Which is the appropriate way to cleanse an area before surgery? A. Place a sterile towel around the surgical siteB. Cleanse the surgical site with alcoholC. Begin at the outer edges of the surgical site and work inwardD. Clean an area at least 2 inches larger than the surgical siteE. Clean in a zigzag path across the preparation area

 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

57. When preparing a patient for surgery, what should you do after you have applied the antiseptic? A. Swab only the surgical site with the antisepticB. Pat the antiseptic dryC. Cover the area with a sterile, fenestrated drape, from front to backD. Reach over the area to position the patient correctly for the procedureE. Trim the hair from around the surgical site

 58. The most commonly used antiseptic for minor surgery is ____. A. BetadineB. XylocaineC. epinephrineD. hydrogen peroxideE. isopropyl alcohol 

59. Which of the following is characteristic of a topical anesthetic? A. It is injected under the skin.B. It is used when the pain is severe.C. It is applied directly to the skin.D. It takes only 30 seconds for the area to become sufficiently anesthetized.E. It provides general anesthesia.

 

60. Which of the following are characteristics of epinephrine? A. It constricts blood vessels and prolongs the action of the local anesthetic.B. It is useful in patients with heart or respiratory disease.C. It is used in areas of the fingers, toes, nose, and ears.D. It decreases wound infection rates.E. It increases the rate at which the anesthetic spreads into the tissue.

  61. Duties of the sterile scrub assistant include A. passing instruments to the doctor during surgery.B. measuring vital signs regularly throughout surgery.C. observing the patient for a reaction to the anesthetic.D. keeping a record of when surgery began and when it was completed.E. adjusting lighting as needed. 

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

62. Which of the following would you include in a patient's postoperative wound care instructions? A. Clean the wound every other dayB. Clean the wound with isopropyl alcoholC. Change the dressing if it becomes wet, dirty, or soaked with bloodD. Cover the wound with a wet dressingE. Remove the dressing after 12 hours

 

63. Which of the following is used in processing biopsy specimens for laboratory examination? A. 10% formalin solutionB. 70% isopropyl alcoholC. 3% hydrogen peroxideD. 10% chlorine bleach solutionE. Normal saline solution

 

64. Why do you need to check the date and sterilization indicator on an instrument pack prior to opening? A. To be sure items inside will workB. To avoid putting the patient at risk for postoperative infectionC. To be sure the package was stored properlyD. To make sure all the proper instruments are in the packE. To be sure the items inside have not been exposed to moisture

 65.  The instruments in the figure are ____.

 A.  forceps B.  hemostats C.  dilators D.  scissors E.  retractors  

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

66.  What are the instruments pictured here?

 A.  Scalpels B.  Curettes C.  Dilators D.  Retractors E.  Probes

 67.  The instruments pictured here are ____.

 A.  dilators B.  scalpels C.  curettes D.  forceps E.  retractors  

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

68.  What are the instruments pictured here?

 A.  Dilators B.  Forceps C.  Hemostats D.  Retractors E.  Probes

 69.  What is the surgical instrument pictured here?

 A.  Hemostat B.  Forceps C.  Curette D.  Dilator E.  Retractor  

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

70.  These surgical instruments are ____.

 A.  retractors B.  probes C.  dilators D.  forceps E.  hemostats

 71.  What are these surgical instruments?

 A.  Retractors B.  Probes C.  Dilators D.  Scalpels E.  Forceps

Chapter 44 Medical Assisting

 72.  Carrie is a new medical assistant who is assisting for the first time as a floater for a minor surgical procedure. The physician removes tissue from the incision and asks Carrie for the container in which to place the specimen for laboratory examination. Carrie grasps the specimen container and reaches across the tray so the physician can place the specimen in the container. What did Carrie do wrong?  A.  She should not have touched the sterile specimen container. B.  She should not have reached across the tray. C.  She should have asked the sterile scrub assistant to offer the container. D.  She should have used transfer forceps to grasp the tissue. E.  She should have placed the specimen container on the tray.  73.  Part of Josie's responsibility as a medical assistant is to run the autoclave as needed to sterilize instruments. Once a week, she includes a biological sterilization indicator with a load as a general quality control measure. Today, she notices that the biological indicator from yesterday's load is positive. What does this result mean?  A.  The proper temperature was not reached B.  The pressure in the autoclave was not high enough C.  There was not enough steam in the autoclave D.  The water reservoir on the autoclave is running low E.  The items in that load are not sterile  

74. Mr. Benson is back in the office for his follow-up appointment after having a laceration on his right arm sutured eight days ago. The physician examines the wound, tells Mr. Benson that it is healing nicely, and asks you to remove the sutures. You remove 14 sutures from Mr. Benson's arm and compare this to the number of sutures recorded in Mr. Benson's chart. The chart says Mr. Benson has 15 sutures. What should you do next? A. Nothing; the other suture probably came out by itself sometime in the last eight daysB. Correct the medical record to show that only 14 sutures were placed in Mr. Benson's armC. Notify the physician that the number of sutures removed does not match the recordD. Document your removal of 14 sutures on today's dateE. Document your removal of 15 sutures on today's date