A caller says her husband has crushing chest pain and is sweating heavily. What should the medical assistant do?
- Offer the first open appointment today
- Take a message for a callback within the hour
- Put her on hold and look for the provider
- Tell her to hang up and call 911 right away
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D. Tell her to hang up and call 911 right away
Chest pain with sweating is a possible heart attack and needs emergency medical services, not an office visit. The office follows its emergency telephone protocol and never places such a caller on hold.
Reference: Telephone triage: emergency calls
After a blood draw, where does a gauze pad soaked with blood belong?
- Biohazard bag
- Soiled linen hamper
- Regular trash can
- Sharps container
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A. Biohazard bag
Items saturated with blood are regulated waste and go in a labeled biohazard (red) bag. The sharps container is reserved for objects that can cut or puncture.
Reference: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, regulated waste
An adult's resting pulse is 52 beats per minute. How is this documented?
- Arrhythmia
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Bradypnea
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B. Bradycardia
A heart rate under 60 is bradycardia. Bradypnea sounds similar but refers to slow breathing, and arrhythmia describes an irregular rhythm, not a slow rate.
Reference: Clinical patient care: vital signs