Version C
CCMA Benchmark
1. A medical assistant is educating an older adult patient on wound care. Which of the
following should the assistant do to ensure patient understanding?
a. Speak louder to the patient
b. Stand beside the patient
c. Have additional medical staff present to explain information
d. Have the patient repeat information
2. Which of the following techniques should medical assistants use when bandaging a
wound?
a. Wrap the wound from distal to proximal
b. Bandage fingers and toes to prevent further injury
c. Extend the wound dressing 3 to 5 inches beyond the bandage
d. Moisten and apply ointment before bandaging
3. A medical assistant is checking a patient out of the clinic. In which of the following
documents should the assistant locate information about provider referrals or follow-up
appointment requests for the patient?
a. Encounter forms
b. CMS-1500 claim form
c. OSHA form 301
d. Informed consent
4. A medical assistant is preparing a patient for wearing a holter monitor. Which of the
following instructions should the assistant include?
a. You should avoid using an electric blanket during monitoring
b. You can bathe and shower as usual during monitoring
c. You will be required to wear the monitor for 2 to 4 hours
d. You should avoid your regular exercise routine during monitoring
5. A medical assistant is preparing to apply ointment to several abrasions on a patient’s leg.
Which of the following supplies should the medical assistant use to remove the
medication from the jar?
a. A gloved finger
b. A syringe
c. A cotton ball
d. A tongue blade
6. Prior to a patient’s follow-up appointment, which of the following information should
a medical assistant report to the provider?
a. Anthropometric measurments
b. The date of an upcoming mammogram appointment
c. Recent laboratory results
d. A change in the patients insurance policy
,Version C
7. A medical assistant is reviewing the laboratory results of patient who has the Epstein-
Barr virus. The assistant should identify that this micro-organism can cause which of
the following conditions?
a. Polio
b. Mononucleosis
c. Gastroenteritis
d. Fifth disease
8. 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 patient’s health history and laboratory results?
a. Problem list
b. Database
c. Progress notes
d. Diagnostic and treatment, plan
9. A medical assistant at a facility receives a call from a patient who is requesting te total
cost of a surgical procedure. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the
assistant?
a. Inform the patient that the cost will be determined after the procedure s complete
b. Instruct the patientto contact her insurance carrier for a price
c. Provide the patient with an estimated cost for the procedure
d. Advise the patient that all procedure pricing must be communicated by mail
10. 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?
a. Pharmacist
b. Physician assistant
c. Respiratory therapist
d. Registered nurse
11. A medical assistant is explaining a venipuncture procedure to a patient. Which of the
following statements should the assistant make?
a. “I’ll be collecting a blood sample from you today. There will be a small
stick in your arm”
b. “I’m here to draw a blood sample for a test. It won’t hurt at all”
c. “I’ll be puncturing your vein with this needle. Hopefully you won’t feel
the vacuum in the tube draw your blood.”
d. “I’m going to draw a blood sample. I’m sure that you aren’t going to faint.”
12. 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?
a. 10 feet
b. 20 feet
c. 14 inches
, Version C
d. 30 inches
13. Which of the following types of written correspondence can be signed by a medical
assistant?
a. A medical report for an insurance carrier
b. A referral letter for a patient to an outside provider
c. A letter containing medical advice to the parents of a child
d. A notification letter to a patient about surgery arrangements
14. Which of the following is outside of a medical assistant’s scope of practice?
a. Perform clinical duties under the direct supervision of the provider.
b. Order additional laboratory tests to confirm the patient’s condition
c. Provide directions to a patient about preparation for a diagnostic test
d. Reinforce instructions about medications and special diets
15. A medical assistant is monitoring a patient during a stress test. The patient becomes
increasingly short of breath and tachycardic. Abnormalities appear in his EKG rhythm.
Which of the following actions should the assistant takes first?
a. Discontinue the test
b. Instruct the patient to take slow, deep breaths
c. Ask the patient if he is experiencing chest pain
d. Obtain the patients vital signs
16. A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has come in contact with concrete debris.
Upon inspections of the eye, the assistant sees debris on the surface of the sclera.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
a. Use a clean, dry piece of gauze to sweep the debris out of the eye
b. Position a bulb syringe on the lid of the eye during extraction
c. Irrigate the eye starting at the inner canthus and flowing to the outer canthus
d. Irrigate the eye by flushing it with cold tap water.
17. When preparing a patient for Holter monitoring, which of the following actions should a
medical assistant take?
a. Vigorously dry the patient’s skin prior to electrod placement
b. Apply the electrodes while the patient is in a standing position
c. Ensure tension is on the lead wires after electrodes are in place
d. Wash the patient’s skin with soap and water prior to electrode placement
18. A medical assistant is measuring the vial signs of an adult patient. The assistant should
identify which f the following blood pressure readings as primary hypertension?
a. 110/80 mm Hg
b. 135/80 mm Hg
c. 150/95 mm Hg
d. 120/85 mm Hg
CCMA Benchmark
1. A medical assistant is educating an older adult patient on wound care. Which of the
following should the assistant do to ensure patient understanding?
a. Speak louder to the patient
b. Stand beside the patient
c. Have additional medical staff present to explain information
d. Have the patient repeat information
2. Which of the following techniques should medical assistants use when bandaging a
wound?
a. Wrap the wound from distal to proximal
b. Bandage fingers and toes to prevent further injury
c. Extend the wound dressing 3 to 5 inches beyond the bandage
d. Moisten and apply ointment before bandaging
3. A medical assistant is checking a patient out of the clinic. In which of the following
documents should the assistant locate information about provider referrals or follow-up
appointment requests for the patient?
a. Encounter forms
b. CMS-1500 claim form
c. OSHA form 301
d. Informed consent
4. A medical assistant is preparing a patient for wearing a holter monitor. Which of the
following instructions should the assistant include?
a. You should avoid using an electric blanket during monitoring
b. You can bathe and shower as usual during monitoring
c. You will be required to wear the monitor for 2 to 4 hours
d. You should avoid your regular exercise routine during monitoring
5. A medical assistant is preparing to apply ointment to several abrasions on a patient’s leg.
Which of the following supplies should the medical assistant use to remove the
medication from the jar?
a. A gloved finger
b. A syringe
c. A cotton ball
d. A tongue blade
6. Prior to a patient’s follow-up appointment, which of the following information should
a medical assistant report to the provider?
a. Anthropometric measurments
b. The date of an upcoming mammogram appointment
c. Recent laboratory results
d. A change in the patients insurance policy
,Version C
7. A medical assistant is reviewing the laboratory results of patient who has the Epstein-
Barr virus. The assistant should identify that this micro-organism can cause which of
the following conditions?
a. Polio
b. Mononucleosis
c. Gastroenteritis
d. Fifth disease
8. 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 patient’s health history and laboratory results?
a. Problem list
b. Database
c. Progress notes
d. Diagnostic and treatment, plan
9. A medical assistant at a facility receives a call from a patient who is requesting te total
cost of a surgical procedure. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the
assistant?
a. Inform the patient that the cost will be determined after the procedure s complete
b. Instruct the patientto contact her insurance carrier for a price
c. Provide the patient with an estimated cost for the procedure
d. Advise the patient that all procedure pricing must be communicated by mail
10. 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?
a. Pharmacist
b. Physician assistant
c. Respiratory therapist
d. Registered nurse
11. A medical assistant is explaining a venipuncture procedure to a patient. Which of the
following statements should the assistant make?
a. “I’ll be collecting a blood sample from you today. There will be a small
stick in your arm”
b. “I’m here to draw a blood sample for a test. It won’t hurt at all”
c. “I’ll be puncturing your vein with this needle. Hopefully you won’t feel
the vacuum in the tube draw your blood.”
d. “I’m going to draw a blood sample. I’m sure that you aren’t going to faint.”
12. 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?
a. 10 feet
b. 20 feet
c. 14 inches
, Version C
d. 30 inches
13. Which of the following types of written correspondence can be signed by a medical
assistant?
a. A medical report for an insurance carrier
b. A referral letter for a patient to an outside provider
c. A letter containing medical advice to the parents of a child
d. A notification letter to a patient about surgery arrangements
14. Which of the following is outside of a medical assistant’s scope of practice?
a. Perform clinical duties under the direct supervision of the provider.
b. Order additional laboratory tests to confirm the patient’s condition
c. Provide directions to a patient about preparation for a diagnostic test
d. Reinforce instructions about medications and special diets
15. A medical assistant is monitoring a patient during a stress test. The patient becomes
increasingly short of breath and tachycardic. Abnormalities appear in his EKG rhythm.
Which of the following actions should the assistant takes first?
a. Discontinue the test
b. Instruct the patient to take slow, deep breaths
c. Ask the patient if he is experiencing chest pain
d. Obtain the patients vital signs
16. A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has come in contact with concrete debris.
Upon inspections of the eye, the assistant sees debris on the surface of the sclera.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
a. Use a clean, dry piece of gauze to sweep the debris out of the eye
b. Position a bulb syringe on the lid of the eye during extraction
c. Irrigate the eye starting at the inner canthus and flowing to the outer canthus
d. Irrigate the eye by flushing it with cold tap water.
17. When preparing a patient for Holter monitoring, which of the following actions should a
medical assistant take?
a. Vigorously dry the patient’s skin prior to electrod placement
b. Apply the electrodes while the patient is in a standing position
c. Ensure tension is on the lead wires after electrodes are in place
d. Wash the patient’s skin with soap and water prior to electrode placement
18. A medical assistant is measuring the vial signs of an adult patient. The assistant should
identify which f the following blood pressure readings as primary hypertension?
a. 110/80 mm Hg
b. 135/80 mm Hg
c. 150/95 mm Hg
d. 120/85 mm Hg
