Click Study Flashcards above to open the flashcard hub — hundreds of NCMA cards you can flip, match, type, or quiz yourself on. Every card is drawn from the NCCT NCMA content categories, so you study exactly what the National Certified Medical Assistant exam tests.[1]
Pair them with our free practice questions and study guide. Want extra insurance for exam day? Capital Prep’s NCMA premium study materials come with an NCMA exam pass guarantee: your money back if you don’t pass, plus up to $119 toward your retake fee — and Career Employer students get a special discount.
NCMA Flashcard Study Modes
Flip is the mode for first contact with a card, reading the front and checking your recall before you rate it. Match turns short fronts into a timed pairing game. Type shows the definition and asks you to spell the term back, so a prompt for Gray tube has to be produced exactly, not recognized. Quiz rebuilds the same cards as multiple choice.
Why Flashcards Work for the NCMA Exam
Clinical Medical Procedures is the deck’s heaviest section at 50 cards, and it mixes specimen handling, cardiac tracing, and hands-on patient care in one block. You get draw-tube cues like Gray tube, waveform terms such as P wave, and procedure fronts including 12-lead ECG, so a single pass moves you from the phlebotomy tray to the exam room and back.
Pharmacology & General Medical Knowledge carries 33 cards built around the shorthand you read on orders and charts, plus the word parts that let you decode an unfamiliar diagnosis. Expect administration abbreviations like PRN and NPO alongside building blocks such as -itis, where recall has to be instant rather than reasoned out on the spot.
Law & Ethics holds 23 cards covering patient rights, consent, and the principles behind professional conduct. HIPAA anchors the privacy material, Implied consent separates what a patient agrees to by action from what needs a signature, and Non-maleficence sits with the other ethical duties you are expected to name on sight.
Medical Administrative Duties closes the deck with 19 cards on coding, billing, and front-office paperwork. ICD-10-CM and CMS-1500 form cover the claim side, while Superbill ties the visit record to what the practice actually bills, terms that reward memorizing the exact function of each document rather than a general sense of the workflow.
That matters on the NCMA, where facts like the order of draw, the injection angles, the normal vital-sign ranges, and the six rights of medication administration must be instantly available. Used alongside our practice questions and study guide, flashcards turn review time into measurable progress.
NCMA Flashcards by Topic
The cards are organized by the four NCCT NCMA content categories. Weight your study toward the heaviest one — Clinical Medical Procedures is about 58% of the scored items:[1]
| NCCT NCMA category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Clinical Medical Procedures | ~58% |
| Law & Ethics | ~16% |
| Pharmacology & General Medical Knowledge | ~14% |
| Medical Administrative Duties | ~12% |
How to Get the Most Out of These Flashcards
- Start with the clinical block. Clinical Medical Procedures is 50 of the 125 cards, so early Flip passes there move your overall recall further than time spent anywhere else.
- Type-drill the exact terms. Fronts like Gray tube and Non-maleficence punish near misses, so typing them builds the precision that multiple choice lets you fake.
- Use Match for abbreviations. The short fronts in Pharmacology & General Medical Knowledge, with PRN and STAT among them, pair fast and reward speed under the clock.
- Move to the practice test. Once Quiz scores hold steady across all four domains, switch over for full-length pacing and for question wording built around clinical scenarios.
- Keep sessions small and repeated. Work one domain per sitting, close with a mixed Quiz, and send anything you miss to the study guide before the next round.
NCMA Flashcards FAQ
Hundreds of free NCMA flashcards, organized across the four NCCT National Certified Medical Assistant content categories — from medical terminology, pharmacology, and vital signs through phlebotomy, injections, infection control, ECG, coding, and medical law and ethics. They're free to use with no account required.
Yes. Flashcards use active recall — retrieving an answer from memory — which research shows is one of the most effective ways to make information stick, especially in short sessions spread over several days. That matters for facts like the order of draw, injection angles, normal vital-sign ranges, and ICD-10 versus CPT coding.
Every NCCT NCMA category: Clinical Medical Procedures (the largest — vitals, injections, infection control, phlebotomy, point-of-care testing, ECG), Law & Ethics, Pharmacology & General Medical Knowledge, and Medical Administrative Duties (scheduling, coding, and office practices).
Yes. Every card is written to the NCCT NCMA Detailed Test Plan — Clinical Medical Procedures (~58%) plus Law & Ethics, Pharmacology & General Medical Knowledge, and Medical Administrative Duties — and to official guidance from the CDC, OSHA, HHS, and NIH, so you study exactly what the exam tests.
Mix the modes: flip to learn, type to test recall, match for speed, and quiz to check yourself. Spend the most time on Clinical Medical Procedures — at about 58% it is more than half the exam — and master vital-sign ranges, the order of draw, and the six rights of medication administration first.
Yes — 100% free, all four study modes, no paywall.
NCMA flashcard bank
All 125 cards, by topic
A reference copy of every card in this deck. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to show it. To study with Flip, Match, Type and Quiz modes and track what you have mastered, use Study Flashcards at the top of the page.
Pharmacology & General Medical Knowledge (33)
- Generic drug name
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The official, non-proprietary name of a drug's active ingredient (e.g., acetaminophen).
- Brand (trade) name
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A manufacturer's marketed name for a drug (e.g., Tylenol for acetaminophen).
- Analgesic
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A drug class that relieves pain (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen).
- Antibiotic
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A drug class that treats bacterial infections (e.g., amoxicillin).
- Antihypertensive
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A drug class that lowers blood pressure (e.g., lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor).
- Anticoagulant
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A drug class that prevents blood clots (e.g., warfarin, heparin).
- NSAID
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A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that works by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes.
- Dosage calculation formula
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(Desired dose ÷ dose on hand) × the quantity on hand.
- Metric conversion: gram to milligram
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1 gram (g) = 1000 milligrams (mg).
- Metric conversion: milligram to microgram
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1 milligram (mg) = 1000 micrograms (mcg).
- PRN
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A prescription abbreviation meaning 'as needed' (pro re nata).
- STAT
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An order abbreviation meaning 'immediately' / at once.
- NPO
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'Nothing by mouth' (nil per os) — the patient should not eat or drink.
- PO
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By mouth (per os) — the oral route of administration.
- BID / TID / QID
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Twice a day / three times a day / four times a day.
- Word root
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The core meaning of a medical term (e.g., cardi = heart).
- Prefix
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A word part at the beginning of a medical term (e.g., brady- = slow).
- Suffix
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A word part at the end of a medical term (e.g., -itis = inflammation).
- -ectomy
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A suffix meaning surgical removal (e.g., appendectomy).
- -itis
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A suffix meaning inflammation (e.g., arthritis).
- Sagittal plane
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A vertical plane dividing the body into right and left portions.
- Frontal (coronal) plane
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A vertical plane dividing the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions.
- Transverse plane
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A horizontal plane dividing the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) portions.
- Anatomical position
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Standing erect, facing forward, arms at the sides, palms forward — the basis for directional terms.
- Superior vs inferior
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Superior is toward the head; inferior is toward the feet.
- Anterior vs posterior
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Anterior (ventral) is toward the front; posterior (dorsal) is toward the back.
- Medial vs lateral
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Medial is toward the midline; lateral is away from the midline.
- Proximal vs distal
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Proximal is toward the trunk/origin; distal is away from it.
- Cardiovascular system
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Pumps and circulates blood (heart and vessels).
- Respiratory system
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Performs gas exchange — oxygen in, carbon dioxide out (lungs).
- Integumentary system
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The body's protective barrier — skin, hair, and nails.
- Digoxin
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A cardiac drug used in heart failure and certain arrhythmias; narrow therapeutic range.
- Metformin
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A first-line oral medication for type 2 diabetes.
Clinical Medical Procedures (50)
- Six rights of medication administration
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Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation.
- IM injection angle
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90 degrees, into muscle (e.g., deltoid or ventrogluteal).
- SubQ injection angle
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45 degrees, into the fatty subcutaneous tissue.
- Intradermal injection angle
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10–15 degrees, into the dermis; raises a wheal (TB and allergy testing).
- Normal adult pulse
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60–100 beats per minute at rest.
- Normal adult respirations
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12–20 breaths per minute at rest.
- Normal adult blood pressure
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Less than 120/80 mmHg (systolic over diastolic).
- Normal body temperature
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About 98.6 °F (37 °C), with a normal range of 97.8–99.1 °F.
- Normal pulse oximetry (SpO₂)
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95–100% oxygen saturation in a healthy adult.
- Order of draw
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CLSI tube sequence: blood culture, light blue, red/gold, green, lavender, gray — prevents additive carryover.
- Lavender (purple) tube
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Contains EDTA; used for CBC and hematology.
- Light blue tube
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Contains sodium citrate; used for coagulation studies (PT/INR, PTT).
- Red / gold (SST) tube
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Clot activator / gel; used for serum chemistry and serology.
- Green tube
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Contains heparin; used for plasma chemistry and STAT electrolytes.
- Gray tube
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Contains sodium fluoride; used for glucose and lactate (preserves glucose).
- Venipuncture
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Puncture of a vein to collect blood, usually from the median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa.
- Antecubital fossa
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The bend of the elbow — the preferred site for routine venipuncture.
- Capillary puncture
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A fingerstick or heelstick used to collect a small blood sample (e.g., glucose, A1c).
- Standard precautions
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Treating every patient's blood and body fluids as potentially infectious for all patients.
- Medical asepsis
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Clean technique that reduces the number and spread of microorganisms.
- Surgical asepsis
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Sterile technique that eliminates all microorganisms; used for sterile fields and procedures.
- Hand hygiene
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The single most important measure to prevent the spread of infection.
- Chain of infection
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Agent → reservoir → portal of exit → transmission → portal of entry → susceptible host; broken by hand hygiene.
- Sharps disposal
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Used needles go point-first into a puncture-proof container and are never recapped by hand.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
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Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection worn to prevent exposure to infectious materials.
- Point-of-care testing (POCT)
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Diagnostic testing done at or near the patient (glucose, rapid strep, urinalysis).
- CLIA-waived test
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A simple, low-risk lab test under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments that a medical assistant may perform.
- Mantoux (TB skin) test
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An intradermal injection of tuberculin to screen for tuberculosis exposure; read in 48–72 hours.
- 12-lead ECG
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A tracing of the heart's electrical activity using 10 electrodes to record 12 views.
- ECG electrodes vs leads
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10 electrodes (4 limb + 6 precordial) produce 12 leads (electrical views).
- P wave
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The ECG deflection representing atrial depolarization.
- QRS complex
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The ECG deflection representing ventricular depolarization.
- T wave
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The ECG deflection representing ventricular repolarization.
- Holter monitor
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A portable device that records the heart's electrical activity continuously over 24+ hours.
- Two patient identifiers
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Confirming identity with two identifiers (e.g., full name and date of birth) before any procedure.
- Fowler's position
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A semi-sitting position used for breathing difficulty and head/neck or chest exams.
- Supine position
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Lying flat on the back; used for abdominal exams and many procedures.
- Sims' position
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Lying on the left side with the right knee flexed; used for rectal exams and enemas.
- Lithotomy position
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Lying on the back with feet in stirrups; used for pelvic and gynecologic exams.
- Wheal
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A small raised area of skin formed by an intradermal injection.
- Deltoid
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The shoulder muscle and a common adult site for intramuscular injections (small volumes).
- Ventrogluteal site
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A preferred IM injection site for larger volumes (up to about 3 mL).
- Vastus lateralis
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The anterolateral thigh muscle; the preferred IM site for infants under 12 months.
- Tachycardia
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A resting heart rate over 100 beats per minute.
- Bradycardia
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A resting heart rate under 60 beats per minute.
- Hypertension
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Persistently elevated blood pressure (generally 130/80 mmHg or higher).
- Pyrexia (fever)
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An elevated body temperature above the normal range.
- Sphygmomanometer
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The blood-pressure cuff and gauge used to measure arterial pressure.
- Wound care
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Cleaning, dressing, and monitoring a wound to support healing and prevent infection.
- Specimen labeling
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Labeling a specimen at the bedside with the patient's identifiers immediately after collection.
Medical Administrative Duties (19)
- Electronic health record (EHR)
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The digital chart that stores a patient's medical information.
- ICD-10-CM
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The diagnosis coding system that describes why care was given (the patient's condition).
- CPT
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Current Procedural Terminology — codes describing the procedures and services performed.
- HCPCS Level II
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Codes for supplies, equipment, and services not included in CPT.
- Medical necessity
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The requirement that a procedure code be supported by a diagnosis code justifying the service.
- Time-specified (stream) scheduling
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Each patient is given a set appointment time.
- Wave scheduling
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Several patients are booked at the top of the hour and seen in order of arrival.
- Modified-wave scheduling
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Patients are booked at staggered intervals within the hour.
- Cluster scheduling
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Grouping similar visit types together in the schedule.
- Schedule matrix
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Blocking out times when providers are unavailable to prevent double-booking.
- Explanation of benefits (EOB)
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A statement from an insurer describing how a claim was processed and paid.
- Copayment
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A fixed amount a patient pays for a covered service at the time of the visit.
- Deductible
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The amount a patient pays out of pocket before insurance begins to pay.
- Superbill
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An itemized form listing services and codes used to generate an insurance claim.
- Patient registration
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Collecting a patient's demographic and insurance information to set up the record and billing.
- CMS-1500 form
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The standard paper claim form used to bill outpatient and professional services.
- Accounts receivable
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Money owed to the practice for services already provided.
- No-show policy
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Office procedure for documenting and following up on missed appointments.
- Records retention
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Keeping medical records for the legally required time before secure disposal.
Law & Ethics (23)
- HIPAA
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The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act — federal law protecting patients' health information.
- Protected health information (PHI)
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Individually identifiable health data that HIPAA requires be kept private and secure.
- Minimum necessary standard
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The HIPAA rule limiting access to and disclosure of PHI to only what a task requires.
- Informed consent
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A patient's voluntary, documented agreement to a procedure after the provider explains its risks and benefits.
- Implied consent
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Consent inferred from a patient's actions (e.g., rolling up a sleeve) or assumed in a true emergency.
- Scope of practice
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The tasks a medical assistant is trained and legally authorized to perform under provider supervision.
- Advance directive
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A legal document recording a patient's wishes for care if they cannot speak for themselves.
- Living will
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An advance directive specifying which treatments a patient does or does not want.
- Durable power of attorney for health care
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A document naming a person to make medical decisions for a patient who cannot.
- Patient Self-Determination Act
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Federal law requiring facilities to inform patients of their right to make advance directives.
- Autonomy
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The ethical principle of respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions.
- Beneficence
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The ethical principle of acting in the patient's best interest.
- Non-maleficence
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The ethical principle of 'do no harm.'
- Justice (ethics)
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The ethical principle of treating patients fairly and distributing care equitably.
- Confidentiality
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Keeping a patient's information private and disclosing it only with authorization or legal requirement.
- Negligence
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Failure to provide the standard of care, which can result in harm and liability.
- Standard of care
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The level of care a reasonably competent professional would provide in the same situation.
- Mandatory reporting
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The legal duty to report certain events such as abuse and specified communicable diseases.
- Documentation rule
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'If it wasn't documented, it wasn't done' — charting must be accurate, objective, and timely.
- Error correction in charting
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Draw a single line through the error, initial and date it, and never erase or delete the original.
- Battery (medical)
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Touching or treating a patient without consent.
- Defamation
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A false statement that harms a person's reputation (libel written, slander spoken).
- Living will vs power of attorney
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A living will states wishes; a durable power of attorney names a decision-maker.
References
- 1.National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). “National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) Certification & Test Plan.” ncctinc.com. ↑
- 2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Standard Precautions & Infection Control in Healthcare.” CDC.gov. ↑
- 3.National Institutes of Health / National Library of Medicine. “StatPearls & MedlinePlus (anatomy, vitals, medication administration, phlebotomy).” NIH/NLM. ↑
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