NHA MEDICAL ASSISTANT (CCMA) CERTIFICATION PRACTICE TEST 2.0 (150 QUESTIONS)
The laboratory report on a patient indicates a hemoglobin level of 7g/dL. Which of the following is the
first action for the medical assistant to take? Notify patient, Inform the patient, Record the results in the
medical record, Repeat the test to insure accuracy. Correct Answer: Notify the Provider ( Because the
results indicate a critically low level of hemoglobin level, the assistant should notify the provider).
A medical assistant 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? Cyrosurgery is a
laser surgery that kills the abnormal cells, involves a probe that cauterizes and kill abnormal cells,
involves an extremely cold probe to freeze and kill abnormal cells. Correct Answer: "Cryosurgery
involves an extremely cold probe to freeze and kill abnormal cells."
(This is an accurate description of cryosurgery, which involves a low-temperature probe to freeze tissue
to destroy abnormal cells.
Which of the following dressing should la medical assistant use on a partial-thickness burn? skin closure
application, non adherent dressing, lubricated mesh gauze, sterile gauze dressing Correct Answer:
Nonadherent dressing
(This type of dressing allows the wound to be exposed to air and heal).
Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic examination? lithotomy, prone, supine, high
flowers Correct Answer: Lithotomy Position
A medical assistant receives a call from a patient requesting a refill for fentanyl patches for chronic pain.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? call the prescription in to the patient's
pharmacy, tell the patient to schedule an office visit, fax the prescription to the patients pharmacy, refer
the patients request to the provider. Correct Answer: Refer the patients's request to the provider.
(The assistant should recognize the fentanyl as a Schedule || drug that requires a written prescription
from the provider. The first step when reviewing a refill request is to contact the provider.
A medical assistant is preparing to create a report about patient who have a family history of breast
cancer. Which of the following types of software will allow the assistant to sort, retrieve, and combine
information for this report? accounting and billing, appointment scheduling, word processor, data base
management Correct Answer: Database management
(The assistant should use database management system to sort and retrieve information quickly . A
database allows the assistant to track specific information and create customized applications to sort
the information and create reports.
A medical assistant receives a telephone call form a patient who is hesitant about discussing a new
medical concern unless the conversation is with a provider. The assistant should use which of the
following techniques to address the patients reluctance? tell the patient he has nothing to worry about,
ask the patient why he does not trust the assistant, use reflective statement to recognize patient
concerns, provide examples of other patients who has similar concerns Correct Answer: Use a reflective
statement to recognize the patients' concerns.
(Reflection is an active listening technique that demonstrates to the patient that the assistant is listening
to what is being said and is taking the patients feelings into consideration. The assistant should use this
communication technique to express recognition of the patients concerns).
, Which of the following items in a medical office are considered administrative office supplies?
computers, telephones and chairs | letterhead , envelopes, and business cards | exam paper,
stethoscope, and otoscope | File cabinets, storage bins, and shelves for record. Correct Answer:
Letterhead, envelopes, and business cards
(Letterhead, envelopes, business cards, stationary, copy paper, pens and pencils are considered
administrative office supplies necessary for the admin of the practice).
Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal? Sodium
138meq/L | Red blood cell count 5.2/mm^3 | Platelets 350/mm^3 | Potassium 3 mEq/L Correct Answer:
Potassium 3 meq/L
( This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 meq/L).
A medical assistant is caring for a child who has varicella zoster virus. The assistant should recognize that
varicella is transferred through which of the following modes of transmission? Airbone | Bloodborne |
Vector-borne | Foodborne Correct Answer: Air borne
( Varicella zoster virus is also known as chickenpox, is spread by airborne and contact transmission.
Contaminated particles can be inhaled through any tiny droplets that are exhaled by the infected
person).
A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory results that confirm a patient has varicella zoster virus. The
assistant should identify that this micro-organism causes which of the following types of infections?
Mumps | Measles | Rubella | Chickenpox Correct Answer: Chickenpox
(Varicella zoster virus can cause chickenpox or shingles).
A medical assistant is caring for an infant who suddenly becomes unresponsive for unknown reasons.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Check for foreign object in the mouth with a
blind finger sweep | perform abdominal thrust | initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation | perform five
back blows. Correct Answer: Initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(If an infant suddenly becomes unresponsive, the assistant should immediately initiate cardiopulmonary
resuscitation for 2 min prior to activating emergency response measures).
A patient who has vulvovaginal candidiasis asks a medical assistant for more information about her
infection. The assistant should begin by explaining that candidiasis is which of the following types of
infections? Correct Answer: Fungal (The assistant should recognize that candidiasis is a type of fungal
infections).
A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory requisitions. For Which of the following patient conditions
should the assistant perform a capillary collection rather that a venipuncture? Edema in the fingers, HIV-
Positive, Previous thromboses, Hypothyroidism Correct Answer: Previous thromboses (The assistant
should consider a capillary picture when the amount of blood needed is minimal and a patient has a
history of thromboses).
A medical assistant is talking with an older adult patient who has experienced several injuries at home
over the past 6 months. The patient lives alone and has no family nearby. Which of the following
responses should the assistant make to help ease the patient's transition to assisted living or long-term
care? Correct Answer: "It seems like it is no longer safe for you to be home alone. Let's talk about other
options".
The laboratory report on a patient indicates a hemoglobin level of 7g/dL. Which of the following is the
first action for the medical assistant to take? Notify patient, Inform the patient, Record the results in the
medical record, Repeat the test to insure accuracy. Correct Answer: Notify the Provider ( Because the
results indicate a critically low level of hemoglobin level, the assistant should notify the provider).
A medical assistant 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? Cyrosurgery is a
laser surgery that kills the abnormal cells, involves a probe that cauterizes and kill abnormal cells,
involves an extremely cold probe to freeze and kill abnormal cells. Correct Answer: "Cryosurgery
involves an extremely cold probe to freeze and kill abnormal cells."
(This is an accurate description of cryosurgery, which involves a low-temperature probe to freeze tissue
to destroy abnormal cells.
Which of the following dressing should la medical assistant use on a partial-thickness burn? skin closure
application, non adherent dressing, lubricated mesh gauze, sterile gauze dressing Correct Answer:
Nonadherent dressing
(This type of dressing allows the wound to be exposed to air and heal).
Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic examination? lithotomy, prone, supine, high
flowers Correct Answer: Lithotomy Position
A medical assistant receives a call from a patient requesting a refill for fentanyl patches for chronic pain.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? call the prescription in to the patient's
pharmacy, tell the patient to schedule an office visit, fax the prescription to the patients pharmacy, refer
the patients request to the provider. Correct Answer: Refer the patients's request to the provider.
(The assistant should recognize the fentanyl as a Schedule || drug that requires a written prescription
from the provider. The first step when reviewing a refill request is to contact the provider.
A medical assistant is preparing to create a report about patient who have a family history of breast
cancer. Which of the following types of software will allow the assistant to sort, retrieve, and combine
information for this report? accounting and billing, appointment scheduling, word processor, data base
management Correct Answer: Database management
(The assistant should use database management system to sort and retrieve information quickly . A
database allows the assistant to track specific information and create customized applications to sort
the information and create reports.
A medical assistant receives a telephone call form a patient who is hesitant about discussing a new
medical concern unless the conversation is with a provider. The assistant should use which of the
following techniques to address the patients reluctance? tell the patient he has nothing to worry about,
ask the patient why he does not trust the assistant, use reflective statement to recognize patient
concerns, provide examples of other patients who has similar concerns Correct Answer: Use a reflective
statement to recognize the patients' concerns.
(Reflection is an active listening technique that demonstrates to the patient that the assistant is listening
to what is being said and is taking the patients feelings into consideration. The assistant should use this
communication technique to express recognition of the patients concerns).
, Which of the following items in a medical office are considered administrative office supplies?
computers, telephones and chairs | letterhead , envelopes, and business cards | exam paper,
stethoscope, and otoscope | File cabinets, storage bins, and shelves for record. Correct Answer:
Letterhead, envelopes, and business cards
(Letterhead, envelopes, business cards, stationary, copy paper, pens and pencils are considered
administrative office supplies necessary for the admin of the practice).
Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal? Sodium
138meq/L | Red blood cell count 5.2/mm^3 | Platelets 350/mm^3 | Potassium 3 mEq/L Correct Answer:
Potassium 3 meq/L
( This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 meq/L).
A medical assistant is caring for a child who has varicella zoster virus. The assistant should recognize that
varicella is transferred through which of the following modes of transmission? Airbone | Bloodborne |
Vector-borne | Foodborne Correct Answer: Air borne
( Varicella zoster virus is also known as chickenpox, is spread by airborne and contact transmission.
Contaminated particles can be inhaled through any tiny droplets that are exhaled by the infected
person).
A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory results that confirm a patient has varicella zoster virus. The
assistant should identify that this micro-organism causes which of the following types of infections?
Mumps | Measles | Rubella | Chickenpox Correct Answer: Chickenpox
(Varicella zoster virus can cause chickenpox or shingles).
A medical assistant is caring for an infant who suddenly becomes unresponsive for unknown reasons.
Which of the following actions should the assistant take? Check for foreign object in the mouth with a
blind finger sweep | perform abdominal thrust | initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation | perform five
back blows. Correct Answer: Initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(If an infant suddenly becomes unresponsive, the assistant should immediately initiate cardiopulmonary
resuscitation for 2 min prior to activating emergency response measures).
A patient who has vulvovaginal candidiasis asks a medical assistant for more information about her
infection. The assistant should begin by explaining that candidiasis is which of the following types of
infections? Correct Answer: Fungal (The assistant should recognize that candidiasis is a type of fungal
infections).
A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory requisitions. For Which of the following patient conditions
should the assistant perform a capillary collection rather that a venipuncture? Edema in the fingers, HIV-
Positive, Previous thromboses, Hypothyroidism Correct Answer: Previous thromboses (The assistant
should consider a capillary picture when the amount of blood needed is minimal and a patient has a
history of thromboses).
A medical assistant is talking with an older adult patient who has experienced several injuries at home
over the past 6 months. The patient lives alone and has no family nearby. Which of the following
responses should the assistant make to help ease the patient's transition to assisted living or long-term
care? Correct Answer: "It seems like it is no longer safe for you to be home alone. Let's talk about other
options".
