Medical Assistant Clinical Knowledge

01Rooming a Patient

Before rooming, confirm the patient's identity using at least two identifiers (e.g., full name and date of birth) — never a room number. Then obtain the chief complaint, current vital signs, and an updated medication/allergy list before the provider enters.

02Injection Routes & Angles

Intradermal injections (e.g., TB/Mantoux skin test) go in at a shallow 5-15° angle into the dermis. Subcutaneous injections (e.g., insulin, heparin) go in at 45-90° depending on the patient's fat pad. Intramuscular injections (e.g., most vaccines) go in at a full 90° angle into muscle, commonly the deltoid.

03Rapid Strep Testing

The rapid antigen strep test is a throat-swab screen with high specificity but imperfect sensitivity. In children and teens, a negative rapid test is typically confirmed with a back-up throat culture because missing a strep infection carries a risk of rheumatic fever.

04Urinalysis Basics

A normal dipstick urinalysis is negative for glucose, protein, blood, ketones, nitrites, and leukocyte esterase. Normal urine specific gravity is 1.003-1.030, reflecting the patient's hydration and the kidneys' concentrating ability.

05EKG Limb Lead Placement

Standard AHA limb electrode colors: White = right arm (RA), Black = left arm (LA), Red = left leg (LL), Green = right leg (RL, the ground). A common mnemonic is "white on right, smoke (black) over fire (red)."

06Vaccine Storage

Refrigerated vaccines must be kept at 36-46°F (2-8°C). Freezing permanently destroys vaccines containing an aluminum adjuvant, and CDC guidance prohibits storing vaccines in dorm-style or combined fridge/freezer units under any circumstances.