AAMA PRACTICE EXAM | CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT (CMA) PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | COMPLETE EXAM REVIEW
The following patients are in the reception room when the physician arrives. Which patient
should be seen first? - ANS ✔✔A 16-year old football player who was injured and has slurred
speech and confusion
A patient needing cataract surgery could be referred appropriately to which of the following
health care providers? - ANS ✔✔Ophthalmologist
Which of the following steps should be taken for a patient who faints and slumps to the floor? -
ANS ✔✔Keep the patient's head and shoulder flat and raise the legs
(you want blood flowing to the brain)
Which of the following substances may result in black stools when taken in therapeutic doses? -
ANS ✔✔Iron
Which of the following is the serous membrane that lines the abdomen and covers the Viscera?
- ANS ✔✔Peritoneum
Which of the following can only be detected in urine by microscopic examination? - ANS
✔✔Casts
Which of the following is a diagnostic procedure in which there is internal visualization of the
urinary bladder? - ANS ✔✔Cystoscopy
Which of the following is a test that measures the concentration of dissolved substances in
urine? - ANS ✔✔Specific Gravity
,Which of the following is an electrolyte that has an important influence on the muscle activity
of the heart? - ANS ✔✔Potassium
Which of the following is a characteristic being demonstrated by a medical assistant who is able
to imagine taking the place of the patient and is therefore better able to understand the
patient's behavior? - ANS ✔✔Empathy
Which gauge needle is most commonly used for a subcutaneous injection? - ANS ✔✔25
Which of the following surgical procedures is performed as a method to prevent conception? -
ANS ✔✔Tubal ligation
Patients are most likely to remember instructions when the medical assistant uses which of the
following educational methods? - ANS ✔✔The instructions are written
The medical assistant obtains vitals for the 48-year-old male patient she has just roomed. His
vitals are: Blood pressure 114/72, Pulse: 90, Temperature 97.2F (36.2 C), Respirations 14 and a
pulse Oximetry of 89%. The medical assistant recognizes that this patient is demonstrating signs
of which of the following? - ANS ✔✔Hypoxemia
Which of the following instruments is used to ligate a small blood vessel? - ANS ✔✔Mosquito
hemostat
A woman whose mother recently died of breast cancer is discovered to have a breast tumor and
does not return for her follow-up appointment. Which of the following defense mechanisms is
most likely contributing to the patient's actions? - ANS ✔✔Denial
Which of the following is the first information the medical assistant should request to help
determine the urgency of scheduling a patient who telephones requesting a same-day
appointment? - ANS ✔✔Nature, onset, duration, and intensity of the problem.
, Which of the following factors must exists to constitute a lawful emergency pertaining to
consent? - ANS ✔✔A patient is intoxicated and is threatening suicide
Which of the following should be the first action of the medical assistant if a patient sitting on
the examination table complains of feeling faint? - ANS ✔✔Assist the patient to a supine
position
Which of the following is a suffix that denotes destruction? - ANS ✔✔-lysis
Which of the following is a laboratory test commonly performed on a specimen from a patient
taking Furosemide (Lasix)? - ANS ✔✔Potassium level
(Furosemide is a diuretic that can affect potassium)
Which of the following is most likely to be included in the subjective portion of a SOAP chart
note? - ANS ✔✔Dizziness for three days
Which of the following is an insurance program funded by both federal and state governments
that provides for health care services based on income guidelines? - ANS ✔✔Medicaid
Which of the following is the best course action for the medical assistant to take when
responding to a call from a patient who had an intramuscular injection earlier in the day and
who now reports weakness in the arm? - ANS ✔✔Obtain as much information as possible,
explaining to the patient that the doctor will be advised and the call returned.
Which of the following conditions is consistent with a bacteriuria and pyuria in a clean-catch
urine specimen? - ANS ✔✔A urinary tract infection
ANSWERS | COMPLETE EXAM REVIEW
The following patients are in the reception room when the physician arrives. Which patient
should be seen first? - ANS ✔✔A 16-year old football player who was injured and has slurred
speech and confusion
A patient needing cataract surgery could be referred appropriately to which of the following
health care providers? - ANS ✔✔Ophthalmologist
Which of the following steps should be taken for a patient who faints and slumps to the floor? -
ANS ✔✔Keep the patient's head and shoulder flat and raise the legs
(you want blood flowing to the brain)
Which of the following substances may result in black stools when taken in therapeutic doses? -
ANS ✔✔Iron
Which of the following is the serous membrane that lines the abdomen and covers the Viscera?
- ANS ✔✔Peritoneum
Which of the following can only be detected in urine by microscopic examination? - ANS
✔✔Casts
Which of the following is a diagnostic procedure in which there is internal visualization of the
urinary bladder? - ANS ✔✔Cystoscopy
Which of the following is a test that measures the concentration of dissolved substances in
urine? - ANS ✔✔Specific Gravity
,Which of the following is an electrolyte that has an important influence on the muscle activity
of the heart? - ANS ✔✔Potassium
Which of the following is a characteristic being demonstrated by a medical assistant who is able
to imagine taking the place of the patient and is therefore better able to understand the
patient's behavior? - ANS ✔✔Empathy
Which gauge needle is most commonly used for a subcutaneous injection? - ANS ✔✔25
Which of the following surgical procedures is performed as a method to prevent conception? -
ANS ✔✔Tubal ligation
Patients are most likely to remember instructions when the medical assistant uses which of the
following educational methods? - ANS ✔✔The instructions are written
The medical assistant obtains vitals for the 48-year-old male patient she has just roomed. His
vitals are: Blood pressure 114/72, Pulse: 90, Temperature 97.2F (36.2 C), Respirations 14 and a
pulse Oximetry of 89%. The medical assistant recognizes that this patient is demonstrating signs
of which of the following? - ANS ✔✔Hypoxemia
Which of the following instruments is used to ligate a small blood vessel? - ANS ✔✔Mosquito
hemostat
A woman whose mother recently died of breast cancer is discovered to have a breast tumor and
does not return for her follow-up appointment. Which of the following defense mechanisms is
most likely contributing to the patient's actions? - ANS ✔✔Denial
Which of the following is the first information the medical assistant should request to help
determine the urgency of scheduling a patient who telephones requesting a same-day
appointment? - ANS ✔✔Nature, onset, duration, and intensity of the problem.
, Which of the following factors must exists to constitute a lawful emergency pertaining to
consent? - ANS ✔✔A patient is intoxicated and is threatening suicide
Which of the following should be the first action of the medical assistant if a patient sitting on
the examination table complains of feeling faint? - ANS ✔✔Assist the patient to a supine
position
Which of the following is a suffix that denotes destruction? - ANS ✔✔-lysis
Which of the following is a laboratory test commonly performed on a specimen from a patient
taking Furosemide (Lasix)? - ANS ✔✔Potassium level
(Furosemide is a diuretic that can affect potassium)
Which of the following is most likely to be included in the subjective portion of a SOAP chart
note? - ANS ✔✔Dizziness for three days
Which of the following is an insurance program funded by both federal and state governments
that provides for health care services based on income guidelines? - ANS ✔✔Medicaid
Which of the following is the best course action for the medical assistant to take when
responding to a call from a patient who had an intramuscular injection earlier in the day and
who now reports weakness in the arm? - ANS ✔✔Obtain as much information as possible,
explaining to the patient that the doctor will be advised and the call returned.
Which of the following conditions is consistent with a bacteriuria and pyuria in a clean-catch
urine specimen? - ANS ✔✔A urinary tract infection
