National Healthcareer Association
4202 · AMCC
NHA
NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
★ ★
EST. 1989
EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO ACCESS BETTER CARE
CCMA 2024 — NHA Practice Examination
C E RT I F I E D C L I N I C A L M E D I C A L A SS I STA N T CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W
INSTITUTION National Healthcareer Association PROGRAM Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
(NHA) (CCMA)
EXAM CCMA 2024 NHA Practice ACADEMIC YEAR
Examination
EXAM TYPE Practice Examination With Verified TOTAL QUESTIONS 87 Questions
Answers
CONTENT AREAS EKG, Clinical Procedures, Safety, FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Legal, Admin, Anatomy Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Topics: EKG interpretation, vital signs, patient positioning, HIPAA, infection control, medical
terminology, phlebotomy, medical office procedures, and clinical skills.
▸ All content aligns with the NHA CCMA 2024 certification examination blueprint.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for board review.
, SECTION I — CCMA 2024 NHA PRACTICE EXAMINATION Questions 1 – 87
1. What is the initial negative deflection produced by ventricular depolarization on an EKG
tracing?
A. The Q wave
B. The R wave
C. The T wave
D. The S wave
CORRECT ANSWER A — The Q wave
RATIONALE The Q wave is the initial negative (downward) deflection of the QRS complex,
representing the beginning of ventricular depolarization — specifically, septal
depolarization from left to right. The R wave is the first positive (upward)
deflection, and the S wave is the negative deflection following the R wave. The T
wave represents ventricular repolarization, not depolarization.
2. The first positive deflection produced by ventricular depolarization is which wave?
A. The Q wave
B. The T wave
C. The S wave
D. The R wave
CORRECT ANSWER D — The R wave
RATIONALE The R wave is the first positive (upward) deflection produced by ventricular
depolarization. It follows the Q wave (if present) and represents the majority of
ventricular muscle depolarization. The R wave is typically the tallest waveform in
the QRS complex and is used with the R-R interval to determine ventricular rate.
,3. Why should a patient who is in shock be positioned with the head lower than the rest of
the body?
A. To prevent vomiting
B. To lower the heart rate and BPM
C. To encourage blood flow to the brain
D. To lower the chances of passing out and further injury
CORRECT ANSWER C — To encourage blood flow to the brain
RATIONALE In shock, blood pressure is dangerously low due to inadequate return of blood to
the heart. Positioning the head lower than the body (Trendelenburg position or
supine with legs elevated) uses gravity to encourage venous return and cerebral
blood flow, helping maintain perfusion to the brain and vital organs. This is a first
aid measure while awaiting emergency care.
4. What term refers to the movement away from the isoelectric line in an EKG?
A. Waveform
B. Segment
C. Interval
D. Complex
CORRECT ANSWER A — Waveform
RATIONALE A waveform is movement away from the isoelectric line — either positive
(upward) or negative (downward). A segment is the line between two waveforms.
An interval is a waveform plus a segment. A complex is several waveforms
combined. These definitions are fundamental to accurate EKG interpretation.
, 5. Which of the following is NOT one of the patient rights provided by HIPAA?
A. Right to notice of a facility's privacy practices
B. Right to receive notice of all disclosures of PHI
C. Right to obtain the original medical record
D. Right to have access to, view, and obtain a copy of their PHI
CORRECT ANSWER C — Right to obtain the original medical record
RATIONALE HIPAA gives patients the right to access, view, and obtain a COPY of their PHI —
not the original record. The original medical record is legally owned by the
healthcare provider or facility that created it. Patients have the right to request
amendments, receive an accounting of disclosures, and request restrictions on
use of their information.
6. Which of the following is NOT a vital sign of bodily function?
A. Weight
B. Pulse
C. Temperature
D. Respiration
CORRECT ANSWER A — Weight
RATIONALE The four vital signs of body function are temperature, pulse, respiration, and
blood pressure. Weight is an anthropometric measurement — important for
health assessment but not classified as a vital sign. Vital signs reflect the body's
fundamental physiological processes necessary for life.
4202 · AMCC
NHA
NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
★ ★
EST. 1989
EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO ACCESS BETTER CARE
CCMA 2024 — NHA Practice Examination
C E RT I F I E D C L I N I C A L M E D I C A L A SS I STA N T CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W
INSTITUTION National Healthcareer Association PROGRAM Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
(NHA) (CCMA)
EXAM CCMA 2024 NHA Practice ACADEMIC YEAR
Examination
EXAM TYPE Practice Examination With Verified TOTAL QUESTIONS 87 Questions
Answers
CONTENT AREAS EKG, Clinical Procedures, Safety, FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Legal, Admin, Anatomy Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Topics: EKG interpretation, vital signs, patient positioning, HIPAA, infection control, medical
terminology, phlebotomy, medical office procedures, and clinical skills.
▸ All content aligns with the NHA CCMA 2024 certification examination blueprint.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for board review.
, SECTION I — CCMA 2024 NHA PRACTICE EXAMINATION Questions 1 – 87
1. What is the initial negative deflection produced by ventricular depolarization on an EKG
tracing?
A. The Q wave
B. The R wave
C. The T wave
D. The S wave
CORRECT ANSWER A — The Q wave
RATIONALE The Q wave is the initial negative (downward) deflection of the QRS complex,
representing the beginning of ventricular depolarization — specifically, septal
depolarization from left to right. The R wave is the first positive (upward)
deflection, and the S wave is the negative deflection following the R wave. The T
wave represents ventricular repolarization, not depolarization.
2. The first positive deflection produced by ventricular depolarization is which wave?
A. The Q wave
B. The T wave
C. The S wave
D. The R wave
CORRECT ANSWER D — The R wave
RATIONALE The R wave is the first positive (upward) deflection produced by ventricular
depolarization. It follows the Q wave (if present) and represents the majority of
ventricular muscle depolarization. The R wave is typically the tallest waveform in
the QRS complex and is used with the R-R interval to determine ventricular rate.
,3. Why should a patient who is in shock be positioned with the head lower than the rest of
the body?
A. To prevent vomiting
B. To lower the heart rate and BPM
C. To encourage blood flow to the brain
D. To lower the chances of passing out and further injury
CORRECT ANSWER C — To encourage blood flow to the brain
RATIONALE In shock, blood pressure is dangerously low due to inadequate return of blood to
the heart. Positioning the head lower than the body (Trendelenburg position or
supine with legs elevated) uses gravity to encourage venous return and cerebral
blood flow, helping maintain perfusion to the brain and vital organs. This is a first
aid measure while awaiting emergency care.
4. What term refers to the movement away from the isoelectric line in an EKG?
A. Waveform
B. Segment
C. Interval
D. Complex
CORRECT ANSWER A — Waveform
RATIONALE A waveform is movement away from the isoelectric line — either positive
(upward) or negative (downward). A segment is the line between two waveforms.
An interval is a waveform plus a segment. A complex is several waveforms
combined. These definitions are fundamental to accurate EKG interpretation.
, 5. Which of the following is NOT one of the patient rights provided by HIPAA?
A. Right to notice of a facility's privacy practices
B. Right to receive notice of all disclosures of PHI
C. Right to obtain the original medical record
D. Right to have access to, view, and obtain a copy of their PHI
CORRECT ANSWER C — Right to obtain the original medical record
RATIONALE HIPAA gives patients the right to access, view, and obtain a COPY of their PHI —
not the original record. The original medical record is legally owned by the
healthcare provider or facility that created it. Patients have the right to request
amendments, receive an accounting of disclosures, and request restrictions on
use of their information.
6. Which of the following is NOT a vital sign of bodily function?
A. Weight
B. Pulse
C. Temperature
D. Respiration
CORRECT ANSWER A — Weight
RATIONALE The four vital signs of body function are temperature, pulse, respiration, and
blood pressure. Weight is an anthropometric measurement — important for
health assessment but not classified as a vital sign. Vital signs reflect the body's
fundamental physiological processes necessary for life.
