Transcript Document
MA 260 – Pre-Clinical
Exam
Study Guide PPP, 2010
Critical Thinking
It is important for you to understand how to prepare
yourself for this exam – you must be able to apply
critical thinking skills to this exam
Start studying for this exam the first time you open
your textbook
Continually review your material on a daily basis,
even if you only have a few minutes to spare
While your instructor will cover main points in each
seminar, it is up to you to read all the material, be
prepared for seminar, and be prepared to ask
questions of material that you do not understand
Time Management
As we all know, all of us have multiple time
constraints. One of the ways to deal with this
to make out a calendar of events,
appointments, etc. that each teen and adult
family member needs to be aware of
Delegate household chores if at all possible
Set aside time for yourself and your family
Set aside study time for yourself
Instructions for taking the exam!
When you are ready to
Have all your PPT and
take the exam you will
need set aside at least
2 hours without any
distractions!
You will have 1 hour
and 45 minutes to
complete the exam
You must complete the
exam in that time, you
cannot save the exam
and come back to it at
another time
your textbook flagged
and ready to go
Answer the short
answer/essay questions
and the matching
questions first, then
proceed to the multiple
choice questions
Email your instructor as
soon as you finish so
they can grade your
essay questions.
Chapters on the Pre-Clinical Exam
Chapter 1: The Medical
Assisting Profession
Chapter 2: Health Care
Settings and the Health Care
Team
Chapter 4: Therapeutic
Communication Skills
Chapter 9: Emergency
Procedures and First Aid
Chapter 10: Infection Control
and Medical Asepsis
Chapter 11: The Patient
History and Documentation
Chapter 12: Vital Signs and
Measurements
Chapter 13: The Physical
Exam
Chapter 18: Examinations
and Procedures of Body
Systems
Chapter 19: Assisting with
Office/Ambulatory Surgery
Medical Assisting Profession and
Therapeutic Communication
Attributes of a Medical
Assistant Professional
AAMA
AMT
Understand health care
settings and the health
care team
MA Scope of Practice
Importance of
Communication
Types of
communication
Barriers to
communication
Factors that affect
therapeutic
communication
Non-verbal
communication
Infection Control
Review the chapter in
Know exactly how to
detail
Review the clinical
lessons in detail
Study the vocabulary –
You will see these on
the exam
Understand and be able
to apply the chain of
infection
properly wash your
hands
Understand the
inflammatory response
Know the difference
between acute
infection, chronic
infection, latent
infection, and slow
infections
Infection Control, Cont.
Know your OSHA
Understand and apply
standards
Know the exposure
control plan – especially
for Hepatitis B
Know housekeeping
controls – such as
handling soiled linen,
disinfection and
decontamination of all
resuable containers
the Postexposure follow
up with Hepatitis B
Understand the
difference between
disinfection and
sterilization
Understand nosocomial
infections
Patient Assessment and
Documentation
Practice collecting
history information
Know and apply
components of the
medical history
Understand non-verbal
communication
Identify open-ended
questions or statements
Active listening
techniques
Understand defense
mechanisms
Correct documentation
and how to correct an
error in the patient’s file
Appropriate
abbreviations
Charting methods –
especially the SOAPE
method
HIPAA standards
Vital Signs
Know the vocabulary of
Characteristics of vital
this chapter
How to properly take
and record temperature,
pulse, respirations, and
blood pressure
Know your age-related
norms
Types of equipment
used in obtaining vital
signs
signs – especially the
pulse
Factors that can affect
vital signs
Measurements of height
and weight
Conversion formula – 1
kilogram = 2.2 pounds
Assisting with the Primary Physical
Exam – Body System Procedures
Understand which organs
Know, memorize, and apply
are in which body system
Know how to maintain
examination rooms,
housekeeping details
Read and apply patient
preparation for the exam
Know your methods of
examination
positioning and draping for
different physical exams
Understand and apply how
to transfer a patient from a
wheelchair to the exam table
Note patient education in the
examination process
Review all body systems and
special tests for body
systems
Assisting with Medical Emergencies
Understand the
Know the importance of
vocabulary of this
chapter
Know the medical
assistant’s role in
performing emergency
procedures
Understand how to use
the AED
Understand each step
of telephone
assessment
documentation and
what to document with
an onsite emergency as
well as telephone triage
Review your CPR
Review types and
causes of shock
Review all common
emergencies in this
chapter
Surgical Supplies and Instruments
Know common surgical
Read and understand
solutions and
medications
Study surgical
instruments – know how
they are classified,
understand the different
handles of the
instruments
Know and understand
the care and handling of
instruments
the different drapes,
sutures, and needles
that are used
Understand suture
sizing and packaging
Understand how
needles are chosen
Note patient education
regarding post-surgical
care and home care
Surgical Asepsis and Assisting with
Surgical Procedures
Know the vocabulary of
Understand wrapping of
this chapter
Understand the
concepts of sanitization,
disinfection, and
sterilization
Study and apply all
concepts regarding the
use of the autoclave
Understand wrapping
materials
instruments
Know the sterilization
indicators – chemical
and biologic
Know and apply loading
and unloading of the
autoclave
Know your PPE for
using an autoclave
Understand the shelflife of sterilized packs
Surgery, Cont.
Read and review about
surgical procedures
Understand and apply
the concepts of
informed consent
Understand concepts
about local anesthesia
Know how to prepare
the patient
Apply preoperative
instructions to the
patient
Understand skin
preparation
Apply sterile technique
Know your rules for
maintaining a sterile
field
Know how to properly
pass instruments
Know how to properly
handle a surgical
specimen collection
Wound Care and Bandages
Note patient education in
regards to
postoperative
instructions and care
Telephone assessment of
wounds
Review material about
sutures and staples
Know your wound care
concepts
Know your phases of
wound healing
Review all bandages
Review ace wraps
Note proper
documentation
Conclusion
Ask one or two of your peers to join an online
study group so you can study together
Ask your instructor if there is something that
is not clear to you
Start studying early and study every day
Smile – because you are worth it!