NHA CCMA Study Guide, Nha
certification study guide for CCMA
Questions & Answers 2026
ChiefBComplaintBDefinitionB-BAnswerTheBreasonBwhyBtheBpatientBcameBtoBseeBtheBphysician.
ChiefBComplaintBAbbreviationB-BAnswerCC
HistoryBofBPresentBIllnessBAbbreviationB-BAnswerHPI
HistoryBofBPresentBIllnessBDefinitionB-
BAnswerThisBisBanBexplanationBofBtheBCCBtoBdetermineBtheBonsetBofBtheBillness;BassociatedB
symptoms;BwhatBtheBpatientBhasBdoneBtoBtreatBtheBcondition,Betc.
Past,BFamilyBandBSocialBHistoryBAbbreviationB-BAnswerPFSH
PastBMedicalBHistoryBDefinitionB-
BAnswerIncludesBallBhealthBproblems,BmajorBillnesses,BsurgeriesBtheBpatientBhasBhad,Bcurrent
BmedicationsBcompleteBwithBreasonsBforBtakingBthem,BandBallergies.
FamilyBHistoryBDefinitionB-
BAnswerSummaryBofBhealthBproblemsBofBsiblings,Bparents,BandBotherBbloodBrelativesBthatBco
uldBalertBtheBphysicianBtoBhereditaryBand/orBfamilialBdisease.
SocialBHistoryBDefinitionB-
BAnswerIncludesBmaritalBstatus,Boccupation,BeducationalBattainment,Bhobbies,BuseBofBalcohol,
Btobacco,Bdrugs,BandBlifestyles.
ReviewBofBSystemsBAbbreviationB-BAnswerROS
ReviewBofBSystemsBDefinitionB-
BAnswerThisBisBanBorderlyBandBsystematicBcheckBofBeachBorganBandBsystemBofBtheBbodyBby
Bquestions.BBothBpositiveBandBpertinentBnegativeBfindingsBareBdocumented.
,3BBodyBProcessesBNecessaryBforBlifeBare:B-
BAnswerBodyBTemperature,BRespiration,BHeartBFunction
4BVitalBSignsBofBBodyBFunctionBare:B-BAnswerTemperature,BPulse,BRespiration,BBloodBPressure
DefineBBodyBTemperatureB-
BAnswerIsBaBbalanceBbetweenBheartBproductionBandBheartBlossBinBconjunctionBwithBeachBot
her,BmaintainedBandBregulatedBbyBtheBhypothalamus.
ThermometersB-
BAnswerAreBusedBtoBmeasureBtemperatureBusingBtheBFahrenheitBandBCentigradeBorBCelsiusBs
cale.
TemperatureBSitesB-
BAnswerMouth,BRectum,BEarB(TympanicBMembrane),BandBtheBaxillaB(underarm).
NormalBTemperatureBRangeBforBRectalB-BAnswer98.6FBtoB100.6F
37.0CBtoB38.1C
NormalBTemperatureBRangeBforBOralB-BAnswer97.6FBtoB99.6F
36.5CBtoB37.5C
NormalBTemperatureBRangeBforBAxillaryB-BAnswer96.6FBtoB98.6F
35.9CBtoB37.0C
NormalBTemperatureBRangeBforBTympanicBMembraneB-BAnswer98.6BF
37BC
DefineBFebrileB-BAnswerPresenceBofBFever
DefineBAfebrileB-BAnswerAbsenceBofBFever
DefineBFeverB-BAnswerElevatedBbodyBtemperatureBbeyondBnormalBrange.
,IntermittentBFeverB-
BAnswerFluctuatingBfeverBthatBreturnsBtoBorBbelowBbaselineBthenBrisesBagain.
RemittentBFeverB-
BAnswerFluctuatingBfeverBthatBremainsBelevated;BitBdoesBnotBreturnBtoBbaselineBtemperature.
ContinuousBFeverB-
BAnswerABfeverBthatBremainsBconstantBaboveBtheBbaseline;BitBdoesBnotBfluctuate.
OralBTemperatureB-BAnswerIsBtheBmostBcommonBmethodBofBmeasurement.
OralBTemperatureBisBnotBtakenBfromBwhatBpatients:B-BAnswer-
infantsBandBchildrenBlessBthanBsixByearsBold
-patientsBwhoBhasBhadBsurgeryBorBfacial,Bneck,Bnose,BorBmouthBinjury
-thoseBreceivingBoxygen
-thoseBwithBnasogastricBtubes
-patientsBwithBconvulsiveBseizure
-hemiplegicBpatients
-patientsBwithBalteredBmentalBstatus
HowBlongBafterBaBpatientBeats,BsmokesBorBdrinksBdoByouBwaitBtoBtakeBanBoralBtemperature?
B-BAnswer30Bminutes
WhenBtakingBanBoralBtemperatureBhowBlongBdoByouBleaveBtheBthermometerBinBtheBpatient's
Bmouth?B-BAnswer3-5Bminutes
RectalBTemperatureB-BAnswerIsBtakenBwhenBoralBtemperatureBisBnotBfeasible.
RectalBTemperatureBisBnotBtakenBfromBwhatBpatients:B-BAnswer-patient'sBwithBheartBdisease
-patientsBwithBrectalBdiseaseBorBdisorderBorBhasBhadBrectalBsurgery
-patientsBwithBdiarrhea
, AxillaryBTemperatureB-
BAnswerIsBtheBleastBaccurateBandBisBtakenBonlyBwhenBnoBotherBtemperatureBsiteBcanBbeBus
ed.
WhenBtakingBanBaxillaryBtemperatureBhowBlongBshouldBtheBthermometerBbeBheldBinBplace?B
-BAnswer5-10Bminutes
TympanicBTemperatureB-
BAnswerIsBusefulBforBchildrenBandBconfusedBpatientsBbecauseBofBtheBspeedBofBoperation.
TympanicBTemperatureBisBnotBtakenBfromBwhatBpatients:B-BAnswer-
patientsBwithBanBearBdisorderBorBearBdrainage
WhenBtakingBaBTympanicBTemperature:B-
BAnswerABcoveredBprobeBisBgentlyBinsertedBintoBtheBearBcanalBandBtemperatureBisBmeasure
dBwithBsecondsB(1-3Bseconds).
WhatBisBtheBnormalBrangeBforBanBadultBpulse:B-BAnswer60BtoB100BbeatsBperBminute
TheBsiteBmostBcommonlyBusedBforBtakingBaBpulseBis:B-
BAnswerTheBradialBarteryB(foundBinBtheBwristBonBtheBsameBsideBasBtheBthumb).
WhenBtakingBaBpulseBatBtheBradialBarteryBitBisBfeltBwithBthe:B-
BAnswerFirstBtwoBorBthreeBfingersB(neverBwithBtheBthumb)BandBusuallyBtakenBforB30Bsecond
sBmultipliedBbyBtwoBtoBgetBtheBrateBperBminute.
(TakingBaBpulseBatBtheBradialBartery)BIfBtheBrateBisBunusuallyBfastBorBslowBthen:B-
BAnswerCountBitBforB60Bseconds
TheB_____B_____BisBaBmoreBaccurateBmeasurementBofBtheBheartBrateBandBitBisBtakenBoverB
theBapexBofBtheBheartBbyBauscultationBusingBtheBstethoscope.B-BAnswerApicalBPulse
TakingBanBapicalBpulseBisBusedBforBpatientsBwith:B-
BAnswerIrregularBheartBrateBandBforBinfantsBandBsmallBchildren.
RespiratoryBCharacteristicsB-BAnswerRate,BRhythm,BandBDepth
certification study guide for CCMA
Questions & Answers 2026
ChiefBComplaintBDefinitionB-BAnswerTheBreasonBwhyBtheBpatientBcameBtoBseeBtheBphysician.
ChiefBComplaintBAbbreviationB-BAnswerCC
HistoryBofBPresentBIllnessBAbbreviationB-BAnswerHPI
HistoryBofBPresentBIllnessBDefinitionB-
BAnswerThisBisBanBexplanationBofBtheBCCBtoBdetermineBtheBonsetBofBtheBillness;BassociatedB
symptoms;BwhatBtheBpatientBhasBdoneBtoBtreatBtheBcondition,Betc.
Past,BFamilyBandBSocialBHistoryBAbbreviationB-BAnswerPFSH
PastBMedicalBHistoryBDefinitionB-
BAnswerIncludesBallBhealthBproblems,BmajorBillnesses,BsurgeriesBtheBpatientBhasBhad,Bcurrent
BmedicationsBcompleteBwithBreasonsBforBtakingBthem,BandBallergies.
FamilyBHistoryBDefinitionB-
BAnswerSummaryBofBhealthBproblemsBofBsiblings,Bparents,BandBotherBbloodBrelativesBthatBco
uldBalertBtheBphysicianBtoBhereditaryBand/orBfamilialBdisease.
SocialBHistoryBDefinitionB-
BAnswerIncludesBmaritalBstatus,Boccupation,BeducationalBattainment,Bhobbies,BuseBofBalcohol,
Btobacco,Bdrugs,BandBlifestyles.
ReviewBofBSystemsBAbbreviationB-BAnswerROS
ReviewBofBSystemsBDefinitionB-
BAnswerThisBisBanBorderlyBandBsystematicBcheckBofBeachBorganBandBsystemBofBtheBbodyBby
Bquestions.BBothBpositiveBandBpertinentBnegativeBfindingsBareBdocumented.
,3BBodyBProcessesBNecessaryBforBlifeBare:B-
BAnswerBodyBTemperature,BRespiration,BHeartBFunction
4BVitalBSignsBofBBodyBFunctionBare:B-BAnswerTemperature,BPulse,BRespiration,BBloodBPressure
DefineBBodyBTemperatureB-
BAnswerIsBaBbalanceBbetweenBheartBproductionBandBheartBlossBinBconjunctionBwithBeachBot
her,BmaintainedBandBregulatedBbyBtheBhypothalamus.
ThermometersB-
BAnswerAreBusedBtoBmeasureBtemperatureBusingBtheBFahrenheitBandBCentigradeBorBCelsiusBs
cale.
TemperatureBSitesB-
BAnswerMouth,BRectum,BEarB(TympanicBMembrane),BandBtheBaxillaB(underarm).
NormalBTemperatureBRangeBforBRectalB-BAnswer98.6FBtoB100.6F
37.0CBtoB38.1C
NormalBTemperatureBRangeBforBOralB-BAnswer97.6FBtoB99.6F
36.5CBtoB37.5C
NormalBTemperatureBRangeBforBAxillaryB-BAnswer96.6FBtoB98.6F
35.9CBtoB37.0C
NormalBTemperatureBRangeBforBTympanicBMembraneB-BAnswer98.6BF
37BC
DefineBFebrileB-BAnswerPresenceBofBFever
DefineBAfebrileB-BAnswerAbsenceBofBFever
DefineBFeverB-BAnswerElevatedBbodyBtemperatureBbeyondBnormalBrange.
,IntermittentBFeverB-
BAnswerFluctuatingBfeverBthatBreturnsBtoBorBbelowBbaselineBthenBrisesBagain.
RemittentBFeverB-
BAnswerFluctuatingBfeverBthatBremainsBelevated;BitBdoesBnotBreturnBtoBbaselineBtemperature.
ContinuousBFeverB-
BAnswerABfeverBthatBremainsBconstantBaboveBtheBbaseline;BitBdoesBnotBfluctuate.
OralBTemperatureB-BAnswerIsBtheBmostBcommonBmethodBofBmeasurement.
OralBTemperatureBisBnotBtakenBfromBwhatBpatients:B-BAnswer-
infantsBandBchildrenBlessBthanBsixByearsBold
-patientsBwhoBhasBhadBsurgeryBorBfacial,Bneck,Bnose,BorBmouthBinjury
-thoseBreceivingBoxygen
-thoseBwithBnasogastricBtubes
-patientsBwithBconvulsiveBseizure
-hemiplegicBpatients
-patientsBwithBalteredBmentalBstatus
HowBlongBafterBaBpatientBeats,BsmokesBorBdrinksBdoByouBwaitBtoBtakeBanBoralBtemperature?
B-BAnswer30Bminutes
WhenBtakingBanBoralBtemperatureBhowBlongBdoByouBleaveBtheBthermometerBinBtheBpatient's
Bmouth?B-BAnswer3-5Bminutes
RectalBTemperatureB-BAnswerIsBtakenBwhenBoralBtemperatureBisBnotBfeasible.
RectalBTemperatureBisBnotBtakenBfromBwhatBpatients:B-BAnswer-patient'sBwithBheartBdisease
-patientsBwithBrectalBdiseaseBorBdisorderBorBhasBhadBrectalBsurgery
-patientsBwithBdiarrhea
, AxillaryBTemperatureB-
BAnswerIsBtheBleastBaccurateBandBisBtakenBonlyBwhenBnoBotherBtemperatureBsiteBcanBbeBus
ed.
WhenBtakingBanBaxillaryBtemperatureBhowBlongBshouldBtheBthermometerBbeBheldBinBplace?B
-BAnswer5-10Bminutes
TympanicBTemperatureB-
BAnswerIsBusefulBforBchildrenBandBconfusedBpatientsBbecauseBofBtheBspeedBofBoperation.
TympanicBTemperatureBisBnotBtakenBfromBwhatBpatients:B-BAnswer-
patientsBwithBanBearBdisorderBorBearBdrainage
WhenBtakingBaBTympanicBTemperature:B-
BAnswerABcoveredBprobeBisBgentlyBinsertedBintoBtheBearBcanalBandBtemperatureBisBmeasure
dBwithBsecondsB(1-3Bseconds).
WhatBisBtheBnormalBrangeBforBanBadultBpulse:B-BAnswer60BtoB100BbeatsBperBminute
TheBsiteBmostBcommonlyBusedBforBtakingBaBpulseBis:B-
BAnswerTheBradialBarteryB(foundBinBtheBwristBonBtheBsameBsideBasBtheBthumb).
WhenBtakingBaBpulseBatBtheBradialBarteryBitBisBfeltBwithBthe:B-
BAnswerFirstBtwoBorBthreeBfingersB(neverBwithBtheBthumb)BandBusuallyBtakenBforB30Bsecond
sBmultipliedBbyBtwoBtoBgetBtheBrateBperBminute.
(TakingBaBpulseBatBtheBradialBartery)BIfBtheBrateBisBunusuallyBfastBorBslowBthen:B-
BAnswerCountBitBforB60Bseconds
TheB_____B_____BisBaBmoreBaccurateBmeasurementBofBtheBheartBrateBandBitBisBtakenBoverB
theBapexBofBtheBheartBbyBauscultationBusingBtheBstethoscope.B-BAnswerApicalBPulse
TakingBanBapicalBpulseBisBusedBforBpatientsBwith:B-
BAnswerIrregularBheartBrateBandBforBinfantsBandBsmallBchildren.
RespiratoryBCharacteristicsB-BAnswerRate,BRhythm,BandBDepth