Medication Aide Certification
2-1 HC · 1# TSET
CMA
State Board of Nursing · Chapters 1 & 2
S A F E M E D I C AT I O N P R A C T I C E S · Q U A L I T Y R E S I D E N T C A R E
STATE CERT.
Medication Aide Test #1 — Chapters 1 & 2
S CO P E O F P R A C T I C E · P R O F E SS I O N A L R E L AT I O N S H I P S · CO M M U N I C AT I O N · L E G A L & E T H I C A L
PRINCIPLES
INSTITUTION State Medication Aide Certification Board COURSE CODE CMA-T1-CH12-2026
PROGRAM Certified Medication Aide (CMA) · Long-Term ACADEMIC YEAR
Care
EXAM TITLE Medication Aide Test #1 — Chapters 1 & 2 TOTAL QUESTIONS 30 Questions
COURSE TITLE Medication Administration for Unlicensed FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False — Select the
Personnel Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Questions cover Chapters 1 & 2: scope of practice, professional relationships, communication skills, and legal/ethical principles.
▸ Select the single best answer for each question based on medication aide certification curriculum standards.
▸ Pay careful attention to tasks that CANNOT be delegated to medication aides and mandatory reporting requirements.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for self-assessment and exam preparation.
SECTION I — SCOPE OF PRACTICE, PROFESSIONALISM, COMMUNICATION & Questions 1
LEGAL/ETHICAL PRINCIPLES – 30
1. Tasks that medication aides do NOT perform include:
A. Giving medications to residents whose medical condition is changing or unstable; deciding when to give PRN
medications; giving medications by injection; deciding what dose or doing calculations to find the correct dose
B. Taking and recording vital signs; measuring liquid medications; crushing medications with nurse authorization
C. Documenting medication administration on the MAR; reporting resident changes to the nurse
D. Following the care plan; maintaining confidentiality of resident information
CORRECT ANSWER A. Giving medications to residents whose medical condition is changing or unstable; deciding when to give
PRN medications; giving medications by injection; deciding what dose or doing calculations to find the
correct dose
RATIONALE These four tasks are explicitly outside the medication aide's scope of practice. Administering to unstable
residents, making independent PRN decisions, giving injections, and performing dose calculations all require
licensed nursing judgment. Options B, C, and D describe tasks that fall within the CMA's authorized duties when
properly delegated and supervised.
, 2. Person-centered care is best defined as:
A. Care that follows facility policy regardless of resident preferences
B. Care that is sensitive to each resident's particular needs
C. Care provided exclusively by licensed nursing staff
D. Care focused on completing tasks efficiently rather than on individual preferences
CORRECT ANSWER B. Care that is sensitive to each resident's particular needs
RATIONALE Person-centered care tailors care delivery to each resident's unique preferences, values, and needs rather than
applying a one-size-fits-all approach. It respects resident autonomy and individuality. This approach is
foundational to quality long-term care and distinguishes truly individualized care from task-oriented, facility-
centered models.
3. A professional relationship includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Person-centered care and a positive attitude
B. Using terms such as sweetie, honey, or dearie to build rapport
C. Doing only assigned tasks that the MA is trained to do
D. Keeping information private or confidential
CORRECT ANSWER B. Using terms such as sweetie, honey, or dearie to build rapport
RATIONALE Professional boundaries require addressing residents by their proper names, not infantilizing pet names like
"sweetie," "honey," or "dearie." These terms diminish resident dignity and cross professional relationship
boundaries. Person-centered care, staying within one's scope of practice, and maintaining confidentiality are all
essential components of a professional relationship.
4. Being conscientious means:
A. Delegating tasks to other aides whenever possible
B. Always doing one's best and being alert, observant, accurate, and responsible
C. Working quickly to complete the medication pass as fast as possible
D. Making independent decisions about resident care without consulting the nurse
CORRECT ANSWER B. Always doing one's best and being alert, observant, accurate, and responsible
RATIONALE Conscientiousness is a professional attribute combining diligence, attention to detail, alertness to changes,
accuracy in documentation, and acceptance of responsibility. It includes a guided sense of right and wrong. This
quality is essential in medication administration, where errors can have serious consequences for resident safety.
2-1 HC · 1# TSET
CMA
State Board of Nursing · Chapters 1 & 2
S A F E M E D I C AT I O N P R A C T I C E S · Q U A L I T Y R E S I D E N T C A R E
STATE CERT.
Medication Aide Test #1 — Chapters 1 & 2
S CO P E O F P R A C T I C E · P R O F E SS I O N A L R E L AT I O N S H I P S · CO M M U N I C AT I O N · L E G A L & E T H I C A L
PRINCIPLES
INSTITUTION State Medication Aide Certification Board COURSE CODE CMA-T1-CH12-2026
PROGRAM Certified Medication Aide (CMA) · Long-Term ACADEMIC YEAR
Care
EXAM TITLE Medication Aide Test #1 — Chapters 1 & 2 TOTAL QUESTIONS 30 Questions
COURSE TITLE Medication Administration for Unlicensed FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False — Select the
Personnel Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Questions cover Chapters 1 & 2: scope of practice, professional relationships, communication skills, and legal/ethical principles.
▸ Select the single best answer for each question based on medication aide certification curriculum standards.
▸ Pay careful attention to tasks that CANNOT be delegated to medication aides and mandatory reporting requirements.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for self-assessment and exam preparation.
SECTION I — SCOPE OF PRACTICE, PROFESSIONALISM, COMMUNICATION & Questions 1
LEGAL/ETHICAL PRINCIPLES – 30
1. Tasks that medication aides do NOT perform include:
A. Giving medications to residents whose medical condition is changing or unstable; deciding when to give PRN
medications; giving medications by injection; deciding what dose or doing calculations to find the correct dose
B. Taking and recording vital signs; measuring liquid medications; crushing medications with nurse authorization
C. Documenting medication administration on the MAR; reporting resident changes to the nurse
D. Following the care plan; maintaining confidentiality of resident information
CORRECT ANSWER A. Giving medications to residents whose medical condition is changing or unstable; deciding when to give
PRN medications; giving medications by injection; deciding what dose or doing calculations to find the
correct dose
RATIONALE These four tasks are explicitly outside the medication aide's scope of practice. Administering to unstable
residents, making independent PRN decisions, giving injections, and performing dose calculations all require
licensed nursing judgment. Options B, C, and D describe tasks that fall within the CMA's authorized duties when
properly delegated and supervised.
, 2. Person-centered care is best defined as:
A. Care that follows facility policy regardless of resident preferences
B. Care that is sensitive to each resident's particular needs
C. Care provided exclusively by licensed nursing staff
D. Care focused on completing tasks efficiently rather than on individual preferences
CORRECT ANSWER B. Care that is sensitive to each resident's particular needs
RATIONALE Person-centered care tailors care delivery to each resident's unique preferences, values, and needs rather than
applying a one-size-fits-all approach. It respects resident autonomy and individuality. This approach is
foundational to quality long-term care and distinguishes truly individualized care from task-oriented, facility-
centered models.
3. A professional relationship includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Person-centered care and a positive attitude
B. Using terms such as sweetie, honey, or dearie to build rapport
C. Doing only assigned tasks that the MA is trained to do
D. Keeping information private or confidential
CORRECT ANSWER B. Using terms such as sweetie, honey, or dearie to build rapport
RATIONALE Professional boundaries require addressing residents by their proper names, not infantilizing pet names like
"sweetie," "honey," or "dearie." These terms diminish resident dignity and cross professional relationship
boundaries. Person-centered care, staying within one's scope of practice, and maintaining confidentiality are all
essential components of a professional relationship.
4. Being conscientious means:
A. Delegating tasks to other aides whenever possible
B. Always doing one's best and being alert, observant, accurate, and responsible
C. Working quickly to complete the medication pass as fast as possible
D. Making independent decisions about resident care without consulting the nurse
CORRECT ANSWER B. Always doing one's best and being alert, observant, accurate, and responsible
RATIONALE Conscientiousness is a professional attribute combining diligence, attention to detail, alertness to changes,
accuracy in documentation, and acceptance of responsibility. It includes a guided sense of right and wrong. This
quality is essential in medication administration, where errors can have serious consequences for resident safety.
