1. A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has congestive heart failure (CHF) for an
examination by the provider. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect?
A. Nausea
B. Shortness of breath (SOB)
C. Headache
D. Cough
Answer: B. Shortness of breath (SOB)
Rationale: CHF commonly causes fluid buildup in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath,
fatigue, and edema.
2. When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a medical
assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?
A. Place stethoscope over apex of the heart.
B. Tell patient that you are about to take their respiratory rate.
C. Count each inhale and exhale as 1.
D. Count the respiration's while the patient thinks his pulse is being obtained.
Answer: D. Count the respiration's while the patient thinks his pulse is being obtained.
Rationale: Patients may alter breathing if aware; counting discreetly gives the most accurate
result.
3. Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal?
A. Creatine 1 mg/dl
B. Potassium 3 mEq/L
C. Glucose 87 mg/dl
D. Sodium 138 mmol/L
Answer: B. Potassium 3 mEq/L
Rationale: This is below the normal range (3.5–5 mEq/L), indicating hypokalemia.
,4. A provider has requested a dissecting instrument on a sterile tray that a medical assistant is
preparing. Which of the following instruments should the assistant include on the tray?
A. Scissors
B. Lancet
C. Forceps
D. Mosquito Clamp
Answer: A. Scissors
Rationale: Scissors are used for cutting and dissecting tissue.
5. A medical assistant is replacing a sharps container in an examination room and receives a
small laceration on her arm from the plastic lid. Which of the following types of documentation
should the assistant complete as a result of this incident?
A. Patient incident report
B. OSHA Form 300
C. OSHA Form 301
D. Exposure control log
Answer: C. OSHA Form 301
Rationale: OSHA Form 301 is used to document details of workplace injuries or illnesses.
6. A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's history prior to the patient's appointment. Which of
the following laboratory results indicates the need to schedule an extension of the current visit?
A. Fasting blood glucose 87 mg/dL
B. Ceruloplasmin 32 mg/dL
C. Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
D. Magnesium 1.8 mEq/L
Answer: C. Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
Rationale: This level is above normal and may require further evaluation and management.
7. A medical assistant is reinforcing instructions with a patient about how to take a buccal tablet.
Which of the following instructions should the assistant give the patient?
A. "Place the tablet under your tongue."
B. "Take the tablet with a full glass of water."
C. "Place the tablet between your gums and cheek."
D. "Let the tablet fully dissolve on your tongue."
,Answer: C. "Place the tablet between your gums and cheek."
Rationale: Buccal tablets are absorbed through the cheek lining, not swallowed or placed under
the tongue.
1. Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a patient is
having discomfort and difficulty breathing?
A. Apnea
B. Cyanosis
C. Dysphasia
D. Dyspnea
Answer: D. Dyspnea
Rationale: Dyspnea refers to difficult or labored breathing.
2. Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by an
insurance carrier?
A. Remittance advice
B. Flow Board
C. Daily report
D. CCMS 1500
Answer: A. Remittance advice
Rationale: A remittance advice lists paid and denied claims, notifying providers of denials.
3. Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam?
A. Prone
B. Lithotomy
C. Supine
D. Trendelenburg
Answer: B. Lithotomy
Rationale: The lithotomy position allows optimal access for pelvic examinations.
4. Which of the following cardiac procedures is within a medical assistants scope of practice and
does not require a licensed technician or provider to assist or perform it?
, A. Cardiac catheterization
B. Echocardiogram
C. Holter monitor application
D. Stress test
Answer: C. Holter monitor application
Rationale: Medical assistants can apply and remove Holter monitors.
5. Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results in the
tracing going into the margins of the paper?
A. Wandering baseline
B. Somatic tremor
C. AC interference
D. Interrupted baseline
Answer: D. Interrupted baseline
Rationale: A loose or disconnected electrode causes interrupted baseline artifact.
6. A medical assistant receives a telephone call from a patient who seems anxious about the
results of a test. Which of the following responses should the assistant make?
A. "You need to wait until your next appointment."
B. "There is nothing to worry about."
C. "I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call you as soon as your results come
in."
D. "Call back later when the provider is available."
Answer: C. "I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call you as soon as your
results come in."
Rationale: This response shows empathy and reassures the patient appropriately.
7. A medical assistant is assisting with the physical examination of a patient who has scabies.
Besides gloves, which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment should the
assistant wear?
A. Mask
B. Goggles
C. Gown
D. Face shield
examination by the provider. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect?
A. Nausea
B. Shortness of breath (SOB)
C. Headache
D. Cough
Answer: B. Shortness of breath (SOB)
Rationale: CHF commonly causes fluid buildup in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath,
fatigue, and edema.
2. When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a medical
assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?
A. Place stethoscope over apex of the heart.
B. Tell patient that you are about to take their respiratory rate.
C. Count each inhale and exhale as 1.
D. Count the respiration's while the patient thinks his pulse is being obtained.
Answer: D. Count the respiration's while the patient thinks his pulse is being obtained.
Rationale: Patients may alter breathing if aware; counting discreetly gives the most accurate
result.
3. Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal?
A. Creatine 1 mg/dl
B. Potassium 3 mEq/L
C. Glucose 87 mg/dl
D. Sodium 138 mmol/L
Answer: B. Potassium 3 mEq/L
Rationale: This is below the normal range (3.5–5 mEq/L), indicating hypokalemia.
,4. A provider has requested a dissecting instrument on a sterile tray that a medical assistant is
preparing. Which of the following instruments should the assistant include on the tray?
A. Scissors
B. Lancet
C. Forceps
D. Mosquito Clamp
Answer: A. Scissors
Rationale: Scissors are used for cutting and dissecting tissue.
5. A medical assistant is replacing a sharps container in an examination room and receives a
small laceration on her arm from the plastic lid. Which of the following types of documentation
should the assistant complete as a result of this incident?
A. Patient incident report
B. OSHA Form 300
C. OSHA Form 301
D. Exposure control log
Answer: C. OSHA Form 301
Rationale: OSHA Form 301 is used to document details of workplace injuries or illnesses.
6. A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's history prior to the patient's appointment. Which of
the following laboratory results indicates the need to schedule an extension of the current visit?
A. Fasting blood glucose 87 mg/dL
B. Ceruloplasmin 32 mg/dL
C. Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
D. Magnesium 1.8 mEq/L
Answer: C. Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
Rationale: This level is above normal and may require further evaluation and management.
7. A medical assistant is reinforcing instructions with a patient about how to take a buccal tablet.
Which of the following instructions should the assistant give the patient?
A. "Place the tablet under your tongue."
B. "Take the tablet with a full glass of water."
C. "Place the tablet between your gums and cheek."
D. "Let the tablet fully dissolve on your tongue."
,Answer: C. "Place the tablet between your gums and cheek."
Rationale: Buccal tablets are absorbed through the cheek lining, not swallowed or placed under
the tongue.
1. Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a patient is
having discomfort and difficulty breathing?
A. Apnea
B. Cyanosis
C. Dysphasia
D. Dyspnea
Answer: D. Dyspnea
Rationale: Dyspnea refers to difficult or labored breathing.
2. Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by an
insurance carrier?
A. Remittance advice
B. Flow Board
C. Daily report
D. CCMS 1500
Answer: A. Remittance advice
Rationale: A remittance advice lists paid and denied claims, notifying providers of denials.
3. Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam?
A. Prone
B. Lithotomy
C. Supine
D. Trendelenburg
Answer: B. Lithotomy
Rationale: The lithotomy position allows optimal access for pelvic examinations.
4. Which of the following cardiac procedures is within a medical assistants scope of practice and
does not require a licensed technician or provider to assist or perform it?
, A. Cardiac catheterization
B. Echocardiogram
C. Holter monitor application
D. Stress test
Answer: C. Holter monitor application
Rationale: Medical assistants can apply and remove Holter monitors.
5. Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results in the
tracing going into the margins of the paper?
A. Wandering baseline
B. Somatic tremor
C. AC interference
D. Interrupted baseline
Answer: D. Interrupted baseline
Rationale: A loose or disconnected electrode causes interrupted baseline artifact.
6. A medical assistant receives a telephone call from a patient who seems anxious about the
results of a test. Which of the following responses should the assistant make?
A. "You need to wait until your next appointment."
B. "There is nothing to worry about."
C. "I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call you as soon as your results come
in."
D. "Call back later when the provider is available."
Answer: C. "I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call you as soon as your
results come in."
Rationale: This response shows empathy and reassures the patient appropriately.
7. A medical assistant is assisting with the physical examination of a patient who has scabies.
Besides gloves, which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment should the
assistant wear?
A. Mask
B. Goggles
C. Gown
D. Face shield
