1. MA 260 – Pre-Clinical Exam Study Guide PPP, 2010

2. 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

3. 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

4. Instructions for taking the exam! When you are ready to 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 Have all your PPT and 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. Infection Control Review the chapter in 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 Know exactly how to properly wash your hands Understand the inflammatory response Know the difference between acute infection, chronic infection, latent infection, and slow infections

8. Infection Control, Cont. Know your OSHA 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 Understand and apply the Postexposure follow up with Hepatitis B Understand the difference between disinfection and sterilization Understand nosocomial infections

9. 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

10. Vital Signs Know the vocabulary of 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 Characteristics of vital signs – especially the pulse Factors that can affect vital signs Measurements of height and weight Conversion formula – 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

11. Assisting with the Primary Physical Exam – Body System Procedures Understand which organs 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 Know, memorize, and apply 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

12. Assisting with Medical Emergencies Understand the 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 Know the importance of 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

13. Surgical Supplies and Instruments Know common surgical 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 Read and understand 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

14. Surgical Asepsis and Assisting with Surgical Procedures Know the vocabulary 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 Understand wrapping of 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 shelf- life of sterilized packs

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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!