Answers(2022/2023)
NHA CCMA Practice Test Questions and
Answers(2022/2023)
A patient asks a medical assistant to explain the difference between a liniment and a
medicated lotion. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? Ans-
liniments contain a higher portion of oil than medicated lotions
A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who recently received a terminal
diagnosis. The patient states, “I regret not taking better care of myself. Now, I won’t be
able to accomplish what I wanted to do with my life. “The assistant should identify that
the patient is in which of the following stages of grief? Ans- Depression
A medical assistant is collecting a health history from an older adult patient who exhibits
moderate hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans-
Remain within the patient’s view to allow lip-reading
A medical assistant is obtaining a blood pressure measurement from an adult patient.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?
Ans- Place the stethoscope’s diaphragm over the patient’s palpitated artery
A medical assistant is measuring a patient’s oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Check capillary refill in
the patient’s finger
A provider prescribed oxycodone for a patient after abdominal surgery. Which of the
following described this type of medication? Ans- Oxycodone is a schedule 2 controlled
substance and has a high potential for abuse
A medical assistant is preparing to assist a provider with suturing a wound. Which of the
following items should be in the sterile field for this procedure? Ans- Hemostat
A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has a bilateral below-the-knee
amputations for an EKG. Which of the following sites should the assistant select for the
electrode placement? Ans- Abdomen
A medical assistant is preparing to apply ointment to several abrasions on a patients
leg. Which of the following supplies should the medical assistant use to remove the
medication from the jar? Ans- A tongue blade
A medical assistant is measuring the vital signs of an adult patient. The assistant should
identify which of the following blood pressure readings as stage 2 hypertension? Ans-
150/95 mm Hg
The parent of a child who has pediculosis is asking a medical assistant for more
information about her child’s condition. The assistant should begin by explaining that
pediculosis is which of the following types of infection? Ans- Parasitic
A medical assistant is explaining to a female patient how to collect a clean catch urine
specimen. Which of the following instructions should the assistant include? Ans- With
the labia spread, urinate a small amount into the toilet before collecting the sample
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 take? Ans- Gown
A medical assistant is explaining a venipuncture procedure to a patient. Which of the
following statements should the assistant make? Ans- “I’ll be collecting a blood sample
from you today. There will be a small stick in your arm”
A medical assistant is measuring the circumference of an infants head. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Place the zero mark of the measuring
tape against the infants forehead.
A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about the self-administration of
insulin injections. Which of the following patient statements indicates an understanding
of the teaching? Ans- “I will roll the bottle between my hands before drawing the
medication”
A medical assistant discovers a garbage can fire has started in the break room of the
medical office. According to the RACE acronym for emergency response, which of the
following actions should the assistant take first? Ans- Evacuate staff and patients from
the immediate area
A medical assistant should use which of the following solutions to prepare a patients
skin prior to drawing blood cultures? Ans- Chlorhexidine
When assisting a provider with a punch of biopsy of a mole, which of the following tasks
should a medical assistant expect to perform? Ans- Receive and prepare tissue
specimens for processing
A medical assistant is preparing to administer a liquid, oral medication to a parent.
Which of the following methods should the assistant use to ensure the correct dose is
delivered? Ans- Pour the medication to the prescribed dose in the medicine cup on a flat
surface
A medical assistant is scheduling diagnostic tests for a patients liver and pancreas.
Which of the following systems is being assessed? Ans- digestive
Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to verify the quality of
venipuncture supplies before beginning a blood draw? Ans- Inspect the integrity of the
needle’s seal
A medical assistant is testing a patients visual acuity using a Snellen chart. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Make sure the patient does not lean
forward during the test
A medical assistant is writing a piece of professional correspondence to a consulting
provider. In which of the following ways should the assistant record the date on the
letter? Ans- January 1, 2020
A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has intermittent peripheral cyanosis for
an examination by the provider. The assistant should understand that healthy perfusion
of the hands and feet depends on the adequate interaction between which of the
following two body systems? Ans- Circulatory and respiratory
Which of the following cell structures is the source of energy for a cell? Ans-
Mitochondria
An adolescent is covered by two insurance policies under her divorced parents who
have birthdays in May and August and have joint custody. Which policy is the primary
policy for the adolescent? Ans- The policy of the parent who has the earliest birth month
Which of the following items in a medical office are considered administrative office
supplies? Ans- Letterhead, envelopes, and business cards
A medical assistant is caring for a 4 month old infant who has a temperature of 100.4F.
Which of the following is this temperature when converted to Celsius? Ans- 38C
A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has psoriasis to be examined by the
provider. When inspecting the patients skin lesions, the assistant should expect to
observe which of the following characteristics? Ans- Silvery, Scaly
Where do cardiac electrical impulses originate in the heart? Ans- sinoatrial node
According to the regulation of controlled substances, which of the following is true of a
schedule 1 drug Ans- Have no accepted medical use
A medical assistant is collecting a health history from an older adult patient who exhibits
moderate hearing loss. which of the following actions should the assistant take. Ans-
Remain within the patients view to allow lip reading
A medical assistant is coding an office visit during which the provider reviewed the
systems related to a patients chief complaint but did not discuss the patients family or
social history. Which of the following procedure codes should the assistant use for this
visit. Ans- Expanded problem-focused history
A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has anemia for an exaamination by the
provider. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect to find. Ans-
Irregular heartbeat
The patients bill of rights protects individuals from which of the following Ans- Denial of
care due to patients age
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? Ans- Scissors
Whic of the following techniques should a medical assistant use for the routine cleaning
of EKG cables. Ans- Disinfection
Which of the following additives should be used when performing a CBC Ans- EDTA
Which of the following dressings should a medical assistant use on a partial-thickness
burn? Ans- Non-adherent dressing
An MA is caring for a pt. who has recently recieved a terminal diagnosis and is crying.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Allow the patient to cry
Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic examination. Ans- Lithotomy
Which of the following documents indicates how a patients medical records will be used
and disclosed by a medical office? Ans- Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)
An MA is reinforcing instructions with a patient about how to take a buccal tablet. Which
of the following instructions should the assistant give the pt. Ans- Place the tablet
between your gums and cheek
A medical assistant is cleaning an exam room after assisting a provider with a biopsy.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Hold sharps by the blunt
end to avoid needlestick injury
An MA is monitoring an infant patient for microcephaly. Which of the following describes
the anthropometric measurement that the assistant should perform? Ans- Head
circumference
Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when obtaining the
length of an infant during a well-child visit? Ans- Position the infant on his back
Which of the following instructions should a medical assistant give to a patient when
administering an enteric-coated tablet Ans- Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of
water
A provider examines an older adult pt who is disabled and has a lesion on her arm. An
MA should anticipate a refferal for this patient to which of the following ancillary
services? Ans- Home health care
An MA in an emergency clinic is admitting several patients. The assistant should
recognized that the provider should see which of the following patients first. Ans- An
older adult patient who has diabetes and has blood pressure of 80/42 mm Hg
A medical assistant is checking a patient’s hearing using the weber test. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Ask the patient is he hears the
vibration louder in one ear than the other
At work, a medical assistant cared for a neighbor who sustained multiple injuries in the
fall. After work, another neighbor asked the assistant what happened to the neighbor
who fell. Following the American Association of medical assistance code of ethics,
which of the following responses should the assistant make? Ans- I can’t share any
information about what happens at my job
A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory requisitions. For which of the following pt
conditions should the assistant perform a capillary collection rather than a
venipuncture? Ans- previous thromboses
when performing the palpatory method for obtaining blood pressure, which of the
follwoing indicates the level at which the medical assistant should inflate the cuff? Ans-
30 mm Hg above the radial pulse cessation
A medical assistant should insert the needle at which of the following angels during a
venipuncture Ans- 15° angle
An MA is collecting information from a pt who reports persistent pain in the left upper
quadrant. the assistant should note that this area contains which of the following
organs? Ans- Stomach
In which of the following positiojns should a medical assistant place a healthy patient in
preparation for a rectal examination? Ans- sims’
An MA is preparing a pt who has bilateral below-the-knee amputations for an EKG.
Which of the following sites should the assistant select for electrode placement? Ans-
Abdomen
An MA is performing a fecal occult blood test using a guaiac card. Which of the following
actionsshould the assistant take? Ans- Interpret a blue color as a positive result
An MA is collecting data from a patient who has cold sore on his lips. The assistant
should identify that which of the following viruses causes this condition? Ans- Herpes
simplex type 1
Which of the following items include on the CMS-1500 claim form should a medical
assistant recognize as indicating the medical necessity of a procedure? Ans- Diagnosis
code
A medical assistant works at a practice that is part of an Accountable Care Organization
(ACO). This designation means that the practices health care team will focus on
improving care for patients who have which of the following types of medical coverage?
Ans- Medicare
An MA is encouraging a patient to increase her intake of insoluble fiber to help prevent
constipation and hemorrhoids. which of the following foods should the assistant
recommend as the best source of insoluble fiber? Ans- Pears with skin
An Ma is talking with a pt who reports forgetting whether she has taken her prescribed
medication each day. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? Ans-
Try putting your medications in a weekly medication dispenser for the upcoming week
To provide culturally competent care, which of the following actions should a medical
assistant take first when encountering patients? Ans- Examine personal religious and
cultural values and beliefs to identify any biases
An MA is assisting a provider with an abdominal examination. When the provider
palpates the major portion of the liver, the assistant should recognize that he is
palpating which of the following abdominal quadrants? Ans- right upper
An MA is scheduling a patient for an outpatient procedure. Which of the following
actions should the assistant take first? Ans- obtain an oral or written order from the
provider for the procedure
When measuring a pt’s respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a medical
assistant take to ensure an accurate reading? Ans- Count the respirations while the pt
thinks his pulse is being obtained
An MA is talking with a patient who is experiencing home displacement following a
hurricane. To which of the following resources should the assistant refer the pt for
information, support, and links to community services? Ans- American Red CrossDocument continues below
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An adolescent is covered by two insurance policies under her divorced parents who
have birthdays in May and August and have joint custody. which is the primary policy for
the adolescent? Ans- The policy of the parent who has the earliest birth month
An MA is administering an injection and the patient faints. Which of the following actions
should the assistant take? Ans- Place the Pt. in a supine position
An MA is caring for an infant who suddenly becomes unresponsive for unknown
reasons. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Initiate CPR
An MA is reviewing a pts medical history prior to the pts appt. Whcih of the following
laboratory results indicates the need to schedule an extension of the current visit Ans-
Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
Which of the following terms refers to the range of fees charged by providers who have
similar training and experience and practice in the same gographical area? Ans-
customary
An MA is administering an intramuscular injection into the gluteus medius of an adult pt.
At which of the following angles should the assistant insert the needle. Ans- 90° angle
An MA is caring for a pt who is experiencing chills, nausea, and dizziness. The patients
face appears pale. The assistant should recognize that the patient is exhibiting
manifestations of which of the following medical emergencies? Ans- Syncope
An MA works at an urgent care center that uses open hours scheduling. Which of the
following describes this form of schedule? Ans- Pts arrive at their convenience and are
seen on first-come, first-served basis
An MA is assiting with the physical exam of a pt who scabies. Besides gloves, which of
the following pieces of personal protective equiptment should the assistant wear? Ans-
Gown
An Ma is reinforcing teaching about a cardiac event monitor with a patient. which of the
following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the procedure? Ans- I
will record any symptoms I experience in the event log
Which of the following items in a medical office are considered adminstrative office
supplies Ans- Letterhead, envelopes, and business cards
An MA is preparing a pt who has congestive heart failure for an examination by the
provider. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect? Ans-
Shortnessof breath
An MA is speaking with a pt who recently recieved a termminal diagnosis. The pt states,
“I regret not taking better care of myself. Now, i wont be abe to accomplish what i 
wanted to do with my life.” the MA should identify that the pt is in which of the following
stages of grief? Ans- Depression
An MA is collecting bld samples to measure a pts cholesterol levels. Whichof the
following actions should the assistant take before collecting the Pts blood? Ans- Make
sure the pt didnt eat any food for the past 12 hr.
An MA is preparing to file the paper chart chart for Mary St. Thomas. Where should this
file be placed when filed along with the charts for Mary Perez, Elizabeth Saint, and John
A. Thomas. Ans- After Elizabeth Saint and before John A. Thomas
WHen choosing a diagnosis code, an MA should consider which of the following actions
in order to avoid an insurance denial? Ans- Coding to the highest level of specificity
An MA is transcribing a perscription for magnesium sulfate into a pt’s medical record.
Which of the following should the assistant use to document this medication? Ans-
Magnesium Sulfate
When assisting a provider with a punch biopsy of a mole, which of the following tasks
should an MA expect to perform? Ans- recieve and prepare tissue specimens for
processing
An MA is writing a piece of professional correspondence to a consulting provider. In
which of the following ways should the assistant record the date on the letter? Ans-
January 1, 2020
Which of the following routes of administration should an MA use when performing a
tuberculin skin test? Ans- Intradermal
which of the following actions should the MA take when obtaining the head
circumference of an infant? Ans- record the measurement to the nearest 0.6 cm (1/4 in)
If an MA drops an instrument on the floor then puts it back on the sterile tray, and the
site of the procedure gets infected, which of the following torts has the assistant
committed? Ans- Negligence
An MA recieves a call from a pt requesting a refill for fentanyl patches for chronic pain.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- refer the pts request to
the provider
an MA is applying a transdermal patch for a pt. Which of the following actions should the
assistant take? Ans- apply the patch to a hairless area of the pt skin
an MA is preparing a patient for an enema. In which of the following positions should the
assistant place the patient for this procedure? Ans- Sims’ position
An MA is caring for a pt who is 5’7″ tall. Which of the following i the patients height in
centimeters? Ans- 170 cm
An MA is caring for a patient who has terminal colorectal cancer with a life expectancy
of 6 months. the patient states, ” I dont know if its time to begin hospice care yet.”
Which of the following statements should the assistant make? Ans- “Hospice can help
manage your pain and comfort during the final months of your life.”
An MA is administering heparin subcutaneously to a patient.Which of the following
actions should the assistant take Ans- inject the medication slowly
An MA is reviewing a patients recent medical history and notes that she has a healing
fracture of the distal femur. Where on the patients body should the assistant expect to
find the injury? Ans- just above the knee
Several patients arrive at a clinic at the same time requesting care. An MA should
recognize that which of the following patients chief complaints is the priority for the
provider to address? Ans- An adult patient who is experiencing dyspnea and congestion
An MA must invert anticoagulant tubes to prevent which of the following? Ans- clotting
AN MA is preparing to administer a liquid, oral medication to a patient. which of the
following methods should the assistant use the ensure the correct dose is delivered?
Ans- pour the medication to the prescribed dose in the medicine cup ona flat surface
an MA should understand that the chain of custody form is used for which of the
following? Ans- ensuring that a specimen is packaged as directed
after a pt leaves an exam room, which of the following actions should an MA take to
prepare the exam table for the next pt? Ans- roll up the disposable paper on the table
tightly and quickly
An MA should use which of the following solutions to prepare a patients skin prior to
drawing blood cultures? Ans- Chlorhexidine
an MA is caring for a child who has varicella zoster virus. The MA should recognize that
varicella is transferred through which of he following modes of transmission Ans-
Airborne
a pt asks an MA to explain the difference between a liniment and a medicated lotion.
Which of the following responses should the assistant make? Ans- “liniments contain a
higher portion of oil than medicated lotions.”
An MA should identify that which of the following vitamins is fat soluble? Ans- Vitamin A
A patient tells an MA that his providers office is incompetent, as there is no improvement
in his condition. Which of the following is an appropriate response for the assistant to
make? Ans- “I think that you feel that your treatment is not effective.”
An MA observes a hematoma developing at the site of a venous blood draw. The MA
should do which of the following? Ans- release the tourniquet and stop the draw
An MA is explaining to a female patient how to collect a clean-catch urine specimen.
Which of the following instructions should the assistant include? Ans- With the labia
spread, urinate a small amount into thetoilet befroe collecting the sample.
An MA is performing an EKG on a patient. which of the following describes the
appropriate placement of the electrodes Ans- tabs downward on the arm
an MA is assisting a provider with the repair of a laceration on a patient’s head. the
providers prescription for the procedure includes an injection of 10 mL of lidocaine with
epinephrine. The assistant should recognize that which of the following is the purpose of
epinephrine in the local anesthetic? Ans- to reduce bleeding at the site
when completing documentation in a patients paper medical record, an MA realizes she
made an error. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- draw a
line through the error and initial it
a clinic schedules all cardiac patients on Mondays and Wednesdays and all oncology
patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Which of the following types of scheduling is the
clinic using? Ans- Cluster scheduling
which of the following is an MA’s role in pulmonary function testing (PFT)? Ans- coach
the patient through the test
An MA is cleaning countertops and other surfaces after a surgical procedure in a
providers office. Which of the following disinfectants should the assistant use for this
purpose? Ans- A 1:10 bleach and water solution
An MA is performing a review of items in a clinics inventory. How should the assistant
classify dressings and bandages for inventory purposes? Ans- As clincial supplies
Which of the following tests is granted waived status under clinical laboratory
improvement amendments (CLIA)? Ans- Rapid strep test
A medication container states there is 250 mg of medication in each scored tablet. The
provider orders 375 mg. How many tablets should the medical assistant give the
patient? Ans- 1.5
An MA is reviewing laboratory results that confirm a patient has varicella zoster virus.
The MA should identify that this micro-organism causes which of the following types of
infections? Ans- chickenpox
An MA is collecting vital signs from a 6 y/o child. The MA should recognize that which f
the following vital signs is outside of the expected reference range for this patient and
should be reported to the provider? Ans- Heart rate 140/min
Which of the following parenteral medication routes should the MA administer for a slow
release of medication into the bld stream? Ans- transdermal
An MA is reinforcing teaching with a patient about pulse oximetry. Which of the following
statements should the assistant include in the teaching? Ans- “remove your nail polish
before the test.”
An MA is preparing to assist a provider with suturing a wound. which of the following
items should be in the sterile field for this procedure? Ans- Hemostat
which of the following is a step in the process of skin preparation prior to a surgical
procedure? Ans- clean the surgical site with antiseptic.
An MA is performing a 12-lead EKG on a pt. which of the following electodes should the
assistant place to the left of the sternum at the fourth intercostal space? Ans- V2
which of the following is the largest and uppermost section of the brain? Ans- Cerebrum
a patient reports feeling depressed due to the recent loss of a partner.In which of the
five stages of the grief process does depression present itself? Ans- Fourth
An MA is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection for a patient. Which of the
following needle sizes should the MA choose? Ans- 1/2-5/8 inch needle, 25 gauge
Which of the following statements made by an MA demonstrates an understanding of
required patient identification techniques? Ans- “I will ask the patient to state and spell
her full name and provide her date of birth before administering vaccines.”
An MA is faxing a perscription to a patients pharmacy. Which of the following actions
should the assistant take? Ans- call the pharmacy to confirm receipt of the faxed
prescription.
An MA is entering a new prescription into a patient’s EMR, while entering the
prescription an alert notifying the assistant of a medication interaction appears on the
screen. What should the MA do? Ans- consult w/ the provider before continuing to
process the prescription
An MA is assisting a patient whose insurance does not cover immunizations. Who can
you refer the patient to? Ans- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
An MA needs to type a professional business letter from the office. Which of the
following formats is appropriate? Ans- Keep flush with the left margin
An MA is performing an ear irrigation for an adult patient who has a cerumen impaction.
Which of the following steps should the assistant complete prior to administering the
irrigation solution? Ans- Pull the pinna of the ear up and back
An MA is replacing a sharps container in an exam 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? Ans- OSHA Form 301
Which of the following laboratory results should the MA recognize is abnormal? Ans-
Potassium 3 mEq/L
An MA is talking w/ an older patient who has experienced several injuries at home over
the past 6m. The patient lives alone and has no family nearby. Which of the following
responses should the MA make to help ease the patients transition to assisted living or
long-term care? Ans- It seems like it is no longer safe for you to be at home alone, Let’s
talk about other options.
An MA is reinforcing teaching with a patient who is scheduled for a standard
12-lead EKG. Which of the following statements should the assistant make? Ans- “you
should refrain from talking during the procedure.”
An MA receives a phone call from a patient who is hesitant about discussing a new
medical concern unless the conversation is with a provider. The MA should use which of
the following techniques to address the pt’s reluctance? Ans- use a reflective statement
to recognize the patient’s concerns.
which of the following cardiac procedures is within an MA’s scope of practice and does
not require a licensed technician or provider to assist or perform it? Ans- Holter monitor
application
The laboratory report on a patient indicates a hemoglobin level of 7 g/dL. What is the
first action for an MA to take? Ans- notify the provider.
An MA receives a denial of payment for a patients cholecystectomy. The reason stated
is “noncovered service” If this procedure was deemed emergent by the provider, which
of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Instruct the patient to contact
the insurer about the denial of payment
When removing sutures, why is it important for an MA to place the removed sutures on
a gauze pad? Ans- To determine the number of sutures removed
An MA is contacting a patient to schedule a repeat Papanicolaou test due to abnormal
results. The assistant should identify that which of the following factors can interfere
with the test results? Ans- Using an over-the-counter vaginal cream prior to the test
An MA is preparing a patient to have cryosurgery following an abnormal Papanicolaou
test. Which of the following statements should the assistant make to explain the
procedure? Ans- “Cryosurgery involves an extremely cold probe to freeze and kill
abnormal cells.”
Which of the following statements made by a medical assistant, regarding an artifact,
demonstrates a need for further teaching? Ans- “Electrical interferance on the EKG is
not caused by cell phones.”
Which of the following pieces of legislation keeps health care staff safe from retaliation
by their employers when they report cases of patient neglect and abuse? Ans-
Whistleblower protection act
An MA is caring for a 4-month-old infant who has a temp of 100.4 F which of the
following is this temp when converted to Celsius? Ans- 38 C
An MA should identify which of the following as a characteristic of anorexia nervosa?
Ans- Excessive exercising
An MA is preparing to create a report about patients who have a family history of breast
cancer. Which of the following types of software will allow the assistant to sort, retrieve,
and combine info for this report? Ans- Database management
An MA has just received a derogatory email from a dissatisfied patient. What action
should the assistant take? Ans- Print the email and make notes about topics to be
addressed prior to formulating a response.
According to OSHA’s guidelines for proper waste disposal, which of the following should
a CCMA place in a regular waste container? Ans- An empty urine container
A medical assistant requests that a patient pay her insurance copayment at the time she
arrives for her appointment.The patient becomes defensive and asks why she should
pay for care she has not yet received. Which of the following responses should the
medical assistant make? Ans- “I understand you’re concerned, so you’re welcome to
pay at the end of your appointment.”
A patient calls the clinic to cancel a postoperative appointment and states that she will
reschedule at a later date. For which of the following reasons should the medical
assistant document this information on the patients chart? Ans- To prove that the office
was not negligent
A medical assistant is classifying services that a patient requires. The assistant should
identify which of the following as an ancillary diagnostic service? Ans- Pathology
A medical assistant is determining the amount a patient will be required to pay for a
scheduled procedure that has an allowable amount of $200. The patient has a $20
copayment, a 90/10 coinsurance, and has met his deductible. What is the total amount
the patient will pay the provider for this procedure? Ans- $40
A medical assistant is preparing to calculate a patients heart rate from an EKG tracing.
Which of the following methods should the assistant use for this calculation? Ans-
Divide 1,500 by the number of small boxes between two R waves
A medical assistant is scheduling diagnostic tests for a patients liver and pancreas.
Which of the following systems is being assessed? Ans- Digestive
A patient presents to an office for treatment. After reading the consent form, she
expresses concerns about the treatment. Who is responsible for counseling the patient?
Ans- Provider
A medical assistant is responsible for cleaning the instruments used in a minor surgery.
Which of the following is the first step in this process? Ans- Sanitization
A patient is seen in an urgent care center for a laceration to the left foot. The provider
evaluates the injury, determines sutures are not needed, applies a dressing, and
releases the patient. Which of the following levels of examination should a medical
assistant use for the procedural coding for this visit? Ans- Problem-focused examination
A medical assistant notices that the medical office is not providing PPE for staff. Which
of the following regulatory agencies should the assistant contact? Ans- OSHA
A patient who has vulvovaginal candidiasis asks a medical assistant for more info about
her infection. The assistant should begin by explaining that candidiasis is which of the
following types of infections? Ans- Fungal
A medical assistant is caring for a patient who weighs 72kg. What is this patients weight
in lb? Ans- 158.4 lb
Which of the following is a formal authorization that identifies an individual as legally
able to make decisions on behalf of a patient? Ans- Durable power of attorney
While measuring a patients pulse, the medical assistant should recognize that which of
the following patient factors can contribute to an erroneous pulse rate? Ans- movement
When coding with the ICD 10 CM, where should the medical assistant begin the
process of looking up a diagnosis code for breast cancer? Ans- The Alphabetic Index
A medical assistant is entering patient data into an electronic medical record (EMR)
system. Which of the following information should be entered into the Patient
Demographics section of the EMR? Ans- Occupation
A patient presents to an emergency department with a large laceration to the wrist that
is bleeding profusely. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take
first? Ans- Don gloves.
A medical assistant is preparing to dispose of bandages that have been removed from a
patients open wound. Per OSHA guidelines, which of the following actions should the
assistant plan to take? Ans- Place the bandages in a red biohazard bag.
For a 12-lead EKG, which of the following is the correct placement for the fourth
precordial electrode (V4)? Ans- At the fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line.
A medical assistant is testing a patients visual acuity using a snellen chart. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Make sure the patient does not lean
forward during the test.
A patient informs a medical assistant that he gets headaches when he reads from a
computer monitor. The assistant should place this information in which of the following
locations when using the SOAP approach to organizing medical records? Ans-
Subjective
In which of the following scenarios should a medical assistant choose CPT modifier?
Ans- for special circumstances applied to a procedure performed by the provider.
A primary care provider suspects that a patient has fibromyalgia. A medical assistant
should expect the provider to refer the patient to which of the following specialists? Ans-
Rheumatologist
A medical assistant is transcribing a prescription for a medication that a patient should
take before meals. Which of the following abbreviations should the assistant use to
indicate when the patient should take the medication? Ans- ac
When preparing a patient for holter monitoring, which of the following actions should a
medical assistant take? Ans- Vigorously dry the patient’s skin prior to electrode
placement
a medical assistant should complete documentation in a patient’s medical record at
which of the following times? Ans- immediately following a procedure
when should the code on glucose cuvettes be compared to the code on the
glucometer? Ans- before a patient is tested
which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a
patient is having discomfort and difficulty breathing? Ans- Dyspnea
a medical assistant is reviewing a providers instructions as the patients preparing to
leave the office. The provider recommends that the patient purchase an over the
counter antitussive, but the patient tells the assistant that she does not know what an
antitussive is. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? Ans- “it is a
medication that suppresses the cough reflex.”
which of the following stages of the cardiac cycle on an EKG strip represents ventricular
depolarization? Ans- QRS complex
A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who has seasonal allergies. Which of the
following health care providers should the assistant identify as being able to make a
diagnosis and initiate the necessary treatment? Ans- Physician assistant
A medical assistant is to use the snellen chart to test an adult patient’s visual acuity. The
assistant should instruct the patient to stand which of the following distances away?
Ans- 20 feet
which of the following types of written correspondence can be signed by a medical
assistant? Ans- a notification letter to a patient about surgery arrangements
A medical assistant is measuring the circumference of an infant’s head. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Place the zero mark of the measuring
tape against the infant’s forehead.
A medical assistant is checking a patient’s hearing using the Rinne test. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Ask the patient to raise his hand when
he no longer hears any sound
A medical assistant is examining the skin on a patient’s forearm where the patient
reports developing a rash. The assistant notes multiple solid elevations that are less
than 0.5 cm (0.2 in) in diameter. Which of the following terms should he use to
document his observations in the patient’s medical record? Ans- Papules
A medical assistant receives a call from a patient who is irate about a letter she received
from her insurance carrier denying a claim. Which of the following statements should
the assistant make? Ans- “Lets see if there is something we can do at our end. I’ll asl
our claims specialist to review the claim.”
A patient is entitled to which of the following medical records? Ans- List of medications
with diagnosis
A medical assistant is measuring a patient’s blood pressure with an aneroid
sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. Which of the following actions should the 
assistant take? Ans- Make sure the midpoint of the patient’s arm is at the level of the
patient’s heart.
A medical assistant is preparing to perform a capillary collection from an older adult
patient who has poor circulation in his hands. Which of the following techniques should
the assistant use to increase circulation at the collection site? Ans- Warm the patient’s
hand.
A medical assistant is witnessing a patient sign an informed consent form. Which of the
following is the responsibility of the assistant acting as a witness Ans- Validate the
patient’s signature.
Which of the following terms describes the body’s internal adaptation and change to
keep body functions in balance? Ans- Homeostasis
A medical assistant in an acute care facility is checking in a patient who has a deep
laceration. The patient tells the assistant that he cannot accept blood transfusions due
to his religious beliefs. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans-
Document the statement in the patient’s chart.
A medical assistant is adding information to a patient’s computerized problem-oriented
medical record (POMR). Into which of the following sections of the POMR should the
assistant enter the patients health history and laboratory results? Ans- Database
A medical assistant is reviewing the laboratory results of a patient who has the Epstein-
Barr virus. The assistant should identify that this microorganism can cause which of the
following conditions? Ans- Mononucleosis
A medical assistant is discussing information with a patient about a new that the
provider prescribed. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans-
Reinforce teaching about the frequency of medication administration.
Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use to put a 7-year-old
child at ease prior to administering an injection? Ans- Explain the procedure to the child
in simple steps.
A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has a body mass index (BMI) of 23. This
patient should be categorized as which of the following? Ans- Normal weight
According to OSHA guidelines for universal precautions, which of the following types of
patient contact would require a medical assistant to wear gloves, a mask, a face shield,
and protective apparel? Ans- Assisting a provider with the removal of a cyst
A medical assistant is preparing a CMS-1500 insurance claim form for a patient who
was treated for a burn injury. Which of the following pieces of information is required on
the form? Ans- Current procedural terminology code
A provider requests a medical assistant to initiate a referral for a patient to a mental
health facility. Which of the following pieces of information is required for the assistant to
include in the initial referral? Ans- Diagnosis
A medical assistant discovers an unidentifiable liquid on the floor of one of the clinic’s
treatment rooms.Which of the following materials should the assistant use to remove
and dispose of the liquid? Ans- A clean-up kit
A provider asks a medical assistant to administer oxygen to a patient who is
experiencing respiratory distress. Which of the following actions should the medical
assistant take when administering oxygen to the patient? Ans- Insert the tips of the
cannula into the patient’s nostrils.
The primary code in the CPT coding system consists of how many digits? Ans- Five
digits
A medical assistant is preparing to draw venous blood samples. The assistant is
required by OSHA regulations to wear which of the following pieces of PPE while
performing this procedure? Ans- Gloves
which of the following information should the medical assistant enter into the
appointment calendar when scheduling a patient for a skin rash? Ans- Daytime phone
number
which of the following groups of EKGleads are bipolar? Ans- Leads I, II, and III
A patient arrives at a clinic with a bill for x-rays that were required due to an injury at the
patients place of employment. The patient has private insurance and is eligible for
workers’ compensation. The assistant should recognize that which of the following
parties is responsible for payment of this bill? Ans- Paid in full by workers’ compensation
A medical assistant is assisting in the treatment of a patient who experienced a
chemical burn. Which of the following steps should the assistant take? Ans- Remove
any chemical-covered clothing.
A medical assistant is preparing sterilization for hemostats before an invasive
procedure. Which of the following techniques should the assistant use? Ans- Autoclave
A medical assistant is preparing sterilization for hemostats before an invasive
procedure. Which of the following techniques should the assistant? Ans- Autoclave
A provider asks a medical assistant to reinforce teaching with a patient about her new
diagnosis. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Document the
patient’s response to the teaching.
A medical assistant is reviewing discharge information with a patient who is
postoperative following cryosurgery to the cervix. Which of the following statements
should the assistant include? Ans- “You may experience a watery discharge for up to 1
week after your procedure.”
Which of the following organs is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen?
Ans- Gallbladder
A provider is performing a routine rectal examination on a patient. Which of the following
supplies should a medical assistant have available during the examination. Ans-
Lubricating jelly
A medical assistant should recognize which of the following blood pressure readings as
indicative of an adult patient whose blood pressure level is classified as elevated? Ans-
128/78 mm Hg
The parent of a child who has pinworms is asking a medical assistant for more info
about is childs condition. The assistant should begin by explaining that pinworms are
which of the following types of microorganism? Ans- Helminths (Helminths are parasites
called “worms” that live in host organisms, such as animals and humans. A pinworm is
an example of a helminth)
A medical assistant receives a call from a patient who seems anxious about the result of
a test. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? Ans- “I know you
are concerned about your test results. We’ll call you as soon as your results come in.”
When assisting a provider with a vaginal examination and papanicolaou (Pap) test, a
medical assistant should identify that which of the following instruments is necessary?
Ans- Cytobrush
A medical assistant needs to remove all living microorganisms from a contaminated
towel clamp. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to cleanse this
instrument? Ans- Sterilization (Sterilization destroys all microbial life, including bacterial
spores, through physical or chemical methods. This is the method the assistant should
use to cleanse the towel clamp.
The provider orders the medical assistant to prepare a tablespoon of medication for a
patient. How many milliliters of medication should the assistant draw up? Ans- 15 mL
A medical assistant is asked to assist a provider with an orthopedic examination. Which
of the following instruments should the assistant prepare for the exam? Ans-
Goniometer
A medical assistant receives a phone call from a parent of a child who has possibly
ingested a household cleaner. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Ans- Contact the local poison control center.
A medical assistant has a request to collect a routine CBC from a healthy 10-month-old
infant. Which of the following is the most appropriate collection site? Ans- Left heel
When performing diagnostic coding, how many characters are used to provide the
highest level of specificity with an ICD-10-CM code? Ans- Seven characters
Which of the following types of appointment system allows flexibility to allow for the
most consistent patient flow? Ans- Wave scheduling
Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take to safeguard a patient’s
protected health information? Ans- Log off of computers when not in use.
A medical assistant is disposing of the syringe and needle she used to inject a seasonal
influenza vaccine. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Drop
the syringe, needle first, into the biohazardous sharps container.
A medical assistant is reporting a patient fall that occurred in the front lobby of the clinic.
What is the purpose of the assistant an incident report? Ans- To avoid future
reoccurrences
A medical assistant is making a new sign-in sheet for the patients who have
appointments that day. Which of the following information should the sign-in sheet
include? Ans- Provider’s name
A medical assistant is preparing a patient for a physical exam when he notices that the
patient’s eyes are moving back and forth in a constant, involuntary manner. Which of the
following terms should the assistant use when documenting this finding in the patient’s
medical record? Ans- Nystagmus
In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place an 18-month-old
patient when administering ear drops to the right ear? Ans- Right ear facing up with the
earlobe pulled down and back.
A medical assistant is collecting data from a patient who is experiencing heatstroke.
Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect to find? Ans- Hot skin
A medical assistant is reviewing the medical history of a patient who regularly comes
into contact with coal and wood dust. The assistant should recognize that this patient is
at an increased risk for developing which of the following disorders? Ans- Emphysema
A patient reports getting a bill that includes services she did not receive. Which of the
following actions should a medical assistant take to reconcile these charges? Ans-
Review that day’s encounter forms to determine if another patient received the services.
Which of the following should a medical assistant identify as the purpose of a category 2
code in procedural coding? Ans- Identifies preventive measures
A medical assistant discovers a garbage can fire has started inthe break room of the
medical office. According to the RACE acronym for emergency response, which of the
following actions should the assistant take first? Ans- Evacuate staff and patients from
the immediate area.
When performing a first aid procedure to control bleeding of a wound, which of the
following actions should a medical assistant take? Ans- Apply layers of sterile gauze.
A medical assistant is preparing a patient for a procedure to have a mole excised.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Cleanse the site with
surgical soap and an antiseptic.
A medical assistant is talking with an older adult patient who sustained a foot fracture in
a fall. She reports managing most tasks at home well but has difficulty navigating with
her crutches and is currently homebound. To which of the following resources should
the assistant refer the patient? Ans- Meals on Wheels
When assigning a CPT code, which of the following is the purpose of a modifier?Ans-
Provides additional information or circumstances for a procedure
Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by an
insurance? Ans- Remittance advice
A medical assistant is obtaining information for a patients medical history and physical
examination. The patient reports intermittent episodes of ringing in his ears. Which of
the following terms should the assistant use when documenting this finding inthe
patients medical record? Ans- Tinnitus
A medical assistant is administering an intradermal injection for allergy testing. Which of
the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Locate the area two to three finger-
widths below the antecubital space.
A medical assistant is preparing to use a glucometer to measure a patents blood
glucose level. which of the following actions should the assistant take? Ans- Obtain the
blood sample after inserting the test strip into the glucometer.