NHA: Medical Assistant (CCMA) Certification Tests
/.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? - Answer-Shortness of breath (SOB)
Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema
/.When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a
medical assistant take to ensure an accurate reading? - Answer-Count the respiration's
while the patient thinks his pulse is being obtained.
In order to obtain the most accurate reading, the assistant should count the respirations
without the patient being aware that his breathing is being assessed. The patient can
easily control or alter breathing patterns when he is conscious that the assistant is
paying attention to his respirations.
/.Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is
abnormal? - Answer-Potassium 3 mEq/L
This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
/.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? - Answer-Scissors
Scissors are considered cutting and dissecting instruments because they include a
sharp blade or surface that can cut, dissect, or scrape.
/.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? - Answer-
OSHA Form 301
The assistant should recognize that the OSHA Form 301 is an incident report used
when reporting details about a work-related injury or illness.
/.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? - Answer-Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
,This fasting blood glucose level is above the expected reference range of 70 to 130
mg/dL. The assistant should notify the provider and schedule an extension of the
patient's visit.
/.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? - Answer-
"Place the tablet between you or gums and cheek."
The assistant should instruct the patient to place the buccal tablet between his gums
and his cheek. A buccal tablet acts faster than oral tablets because it does not need to
pass through the gastrointestinal tract to be absorbed.
/.Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a
patient is having discomfort and difficulty breathing? - Answer-Dyspnea
Dyspnea is a term used to indicate that a patient is experiencing difficult or painful
breathing.
/.Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by
an insurance carrier? - Answer-Remittance advice
A remittance advice document itemizes all paid, denied, and allowable charges for a
patient. This document notifies the provider of any and all claim denials.
/.Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam? - Answer-Lithotomy
The lithotomy position is appropriate for pelvic examinations.
/.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? -
Answer-Holter monitor application
A Holter monitor is a system for recording cardiac activity for 24 hr or longer. It is within
an assistant's scope of practice to place and remove a Holter monitor.
/.Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results
in the tracing going into the margins of the paper? - Answer-Interrupted baseline
, Interrupted baseline is caused by an electrical disconnection or a detached electrode
and results in the tracing moving into the margins of the paper.
/.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? -
Answer-"I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call you as soon as
your results come in."
This response shows empathy and active listening skills on the part of the assistant,
which communicates to the patient that the assistant recognizes his emotions. Empathy
allows the assistant to validate the patient's emotions without becoming unprofessional
and losing objectivity. This response is an example of an appropriate way to
communicate with the patient.
/.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? - Answer-Gown
Scabies requires contact precautions; therefore, the assistant should wear gloves and a
gown. Other patient conditions that require contact precautions include hepatitis A,
rotavirus, and herpes zoster (shingles).
/.A patient loses consciousness. The EKG reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which of the
following actions should a medical assistant take first? - Answer-Call for help and begin
CPR
According to the American Heart Association's resuscitation guidelines, the assistant
should call for help and perform CPR immediately after witnessing a cardiac arrest.
/.A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the simplified letter
style. Which of the following features should the assistant use? - Answer-A subject line
in all capital letters.
In the simplified letter style, the subject line is in all capital letters and replaces the
salutation.
/.Where should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V5? - Answer-On the
left anterior axillary line, horizontal to V4.
This is the proper placement for lead V5.
/.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? - Answer-Shortness of breath (SOB)
Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema
/.When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a
medical assistant take to ensure an accurate reading? - Answer-Count the respiration's
while the patient thinks his pulse is being obtained.
In order to obtain the most accurate reading, the assistant should count the respirations
without the patient being aware that his breathing is being assessed. The patient can
easily control or alter breathing patterns when he is conscious that the assistant is
paying attention to his respirations.
/.Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is
abnormal? - Answer-Potassium 3 mEq/L
This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
/.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? - Answer-Scissors
Scissors are considered cutting and dissecting instruments because they include a
sharp blade or surface that can cut, dissect, or scrape.
/.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? - Answer-
OSHA Form 301
The assistant should recognize that the OSHA Form 301 is an incident report used
when reporting details about a work-related injury or illness.
/.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? - Answer-Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
,This fasting blood glucose level is above the expected reference range of 70 to 130
mg/dL. The assistant should notify the provider and schedule an extension of the
patient's visit.
/.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? - Answer-
"Place the tablet between you or gums and cheek."
The assistant should instruct the patient to place the buccal tablet between his gums
and his cheek. A buccal tablet acts faster than oral tablets because it does not need to
pass through the gastrointestinal tract to be absorbed.
/.Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a
patient is having discomfort and difficulty breathing? - Answer-Dyspnea
Dyspnea is a term used to indicate that a patient is experiencing difficult or painful
breathing.
/.Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by
an insurance carrier? - Answer-Remittance advice
A remittance advice document itemizes all paid, denied, and allowable charges for a
patient. This document notifies the provider of any and all claim denials.
/.Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam? - Answer-Lithotomy
The lithotomy position is appropriate for pelvic examinations.
/.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? -
Answer-Holter monitor application
A Holter monitor is a system for recording cardiac activity for 24 hr or longer. It is within
an assistant's scope of practice to place and remove a Holter monitor.
/.Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results
in the tracing going into the margins of the paper? - Answer-Interrupted baseline
, Interrupted baseline is caused by an electrical disconnection or a detached electrode
and results in the tracing moving into the margins of the paper.
/.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? -
Answer-"I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call you as soon as
your results come in."
This response shows empathy and active listening skills on the part of the assistant,
which communicates to the patient that the assistant recognizes his emotions. Empathy
allows the assistant to validate the patient's emotions without becoming unprofessional
and losing objectivity. This response is an example of an appropriate way to
communicate with the patient.
/.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? - Answer-Gown
Scabies requires contact precautions; therefore, the assistant should wear gloves and a
gown. Other patient conditions that require contact precautions include hepatitis A,
rotavirus, and herpes zoster (shingles).
/.A patient loses consciousness. The EKG reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which of the
following actions should a medical assistant take first? - Answer-Call for help and begin
CPR
According to the American Heart Association's resuscitation guidelines, the assistant
should call for help and perform CPR immediately after witnessing a cardiac arrest.
/.A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the simplified letter
style. Which of the following features should the assistant use? - Answer-A subject line
in all capital letters.
In the simplified letter style, the subject line is in all capital letters and replaces the
salutation.
/.Where should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V5? - Answer-On the
left anterior axillary line, horizontal to V4.
This is the proper placement for lead V5.
