This work is funded by the National Science Foundation
Advanced Technological Education Grant 1003223
The CAHIMS Exam Preparation Course
and the CAHIMS exam are the result of
collaboration between the Life Science
Informatics Center at Bellevue College
and the Healthcare Information and
Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
Significant content found in the CAHIMS
Exam Preparation Course stems from the
Office of the National Coordinator for
Health Information Technology. Creation
of the CAHIMS Exam Preparation Course
and the CAHIMS exam was made
possible through support from the National
Science Foundation (NSF).
Curriculum Team:
Margaret Schulte, DBA
Michèle Royer, PhD
Nathan Savage, MLIS
This work is funded by the National Science Foundation
Advanced Technological Education Grant 1003223
Section 1 - Healthcare Environment
Lesson 1.3 - Role of Healthcare Professionals
Assessment Questions Answer Key
Lectures 1, 2 & 3
1. Which of the following characteristics is part of the definition of a disease?
*a. A combination of symptoms and physical findings attributed to a specific
cause
*b. Impairment of a specific structure of the body producing symptoms
*c. Impairment of a specific function of the body producing physical findings
d. A combination of symptoms and physical findings not easily attributable to a
specific cause
Answer: a, b and c. The term disease usually suggests some problem with the
structure or function of some part of the body and typically is attributed to a
specific cause. An example might be asthma which causes narrowing of small
airways due to spasm of the muscles in those airways and swelling of the
airways. It is often caused by infection or allergies.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 1/5
2. A syndrome is best defined as:
a. A combination of symptoms and physical findings attributed to a specific cause
b. Impairment of a specific structure of the body producing symptoms
c. Impairment of a specific function of the body producing physical findings
*d. A combination of symptoms and physical findings not easily attributable to a
specific cause
Answer: d. It is important to understand the difference between a syndrome and
a disease. The important difference is that a disease can be attributed to a
specific cause.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 1/
3. A primary care physician typically provides routine care including health
maintenance and management of new and chronic disease. Which specialty was
specifically mentioned as delivering primary care by default?
*a. Emergency Medicine
b. Family Medicine
c. Internal Medicine
d. Pediatrics
This work is funded by the National Science Foundation
Advanced Technological Education Grant 1003223
Page 1
Answer: a. Emergency Medicine physicians often provide primary care because
the patient has no primary care physician. Most Emergency Medicine physicians
try to provide the necessary “primary care” and try to provide a referral to a
primary physician.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 1/10
4. The typical sequence of education and training required to be a Nephrologists
would be:
a. College, Medical School, Graduate School, Fellowship, Residency
*b. College, Medical School, Residency, Fellowship
c. College, Medical School, Fellowship, Licensure
d. College, Graduate School, Medical School, Fellowship, Board Certification
Answer: b. While licensure and board certification is required to practice in most
specialties, the education and training sequence best fits with answer b.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 1/8
5. A nurse practitioner typically requires what degree?
a. Associate Degree
b. Bachelor’s of Science
*c. Master’s Degree
d. Doctoral Degree
Answer: C. Nurse Practitioners are usually required to earn a Master's Disease
in Nursing with specific clinical and diagnostic training.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 2/7
6. Most states allow a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to administer an
Intravenous push medication (rapidly infused using a syringe)?
a. True
*b. False
Answer: b. Most states allow an LPN to administer intravenous fluids and
mediation but not rapidly infuse IV medication. IV push medication represents a
higher opportunity for side effects that may required rapid intervention.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 2/16
This work is funded by the National Science Foundation
Advanced Technological Education Grant 1003223
Page 2
7. Medication assistants in many states are restricted to administering medication
in:
a. Community hospitals
*b. Long-term care facilities
c. Emergency departments
d. Dialysis units
Answer: b. Medication assistants are specifically trained to administer oral,
topical, nebulized or meter inhaled medications and typically are restricted to
work in long term care or assisted living facilities.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 2/18
8. Since 2007, new pharmacist are required to have what degree?
a. Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy
b. Master’s Degree in Pharmacy
*c. Pharm D
d. PhD in Pharmacology
Answer: c. Prior to 2007, practicing pharmacist typically had a Bachelor’s Degree
in Pharmacy, although all of the listed degrees were available and often led to
more advanced careers.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 3/5
9. What is the biggest difference between Counselors, MSWs, Psychologists, and
Psychiatrists?
a. Ability to perform individual counseling
b. Ability to perform group counseling
c. Ability to specialize in specific areas
*d. Ability to prescribe medication
Answer: d. Counselors, MSW’s, and Psychologist typically are not licensed to
prescribe medication. Psychiatrists, like any physician, are required to be
licensed in all states which includes the ability to prescribe medication.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 3/23
This work is funded by the National Science Foundation
Advanced Technological Education Grant 1003223
Page 3
Lectures 4 & 5
10. True or False: When making a clinical judgment about a patient, a nurse
should consider only the data in the patient's chart and what he or she finds by
examining the patient.
a. True
*b. False
Answer: b. Nurses gather both objective and subjective information about
patients. They might talk to the patient and the patient's family to find out how
they feel about the health problem, what their social situation is, what their coping
skills are like, and what their cultural values are.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 4/4,11
11. True or False: Evidence-based decision-making means relying only on
diagnostic and treatment methods that are scientifically proven.
a. True
*b. False
Answer: b. Evidence-based decision-making emphasizes scientifically proven
methods, but there is room in the decision-making process for the nurse's
knowledge and experience, as well as the patient's preferences.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 4/7
12. Which of the following best describes what an ambulatory care nurse does?
a. Reports on the safety of people who work in dangerous settings
b. Travels to patients’ homes to provide care
c. Teaches athletes about exercise and fitness
*d. Treats non-urgent health problems over several visits
Answer: d. Choice (a) describes an occupational health nurse, choice (b)
describes a home healthcare nurse, and choice (c) describes a physical
education teacher, coach, or athletic trainer, not any of the types of nurses
mentioned in this program.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 5/5,7,10
13. The five “rights” of medication administration are:
a. Right department, right nurse, right patient, right drug, right time
*b. Right patient, right drug, right time, right dose, right route
This work is funded by the National Science Foundation
Advanced Technological Education Grant 1003223
Page 4
c. Right nurse, right chart, right drug, right time, right dose
d. Right nurse, right patient, right time, right dose, right route
Answer: b. The 5 rights listed in choice (b) have been taught to nurses for
decades. Other “rights” that some professionals now mention are right reason,
right time, right documentation, right assessment, and right to refuse medication,
but never right department, right nurse, or right chart.
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): 4/18, 5/12
This work is funded by the National Science Foundation
Advanced Technological Education Grant 1003223
Page 5