NHA: MEDICAL ASSISTANT
(CCMA) CERTIFICATION
PRACTICE TEST 2023
,NHA: MEDICAL ASSISTANT (CCMA) CERTIFICATION
PRACTICE TEST
1. A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has congestive heart failure
(CHF) for an examination by the provider. Which of the following manifesta-
tions should the assistant expect?: Shortness of breath (SOB)
Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema
2. When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions
should a medical assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?: 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 tha
the assistant is paying attention to his respirations.
3. Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant
recognize is abnormal?: Potassium 3 mEq/L
This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
4. 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?: Scissors
Scissors are considered cutting and dissecting instruments because they include
a sharp blade or surface that can cut, dissect, or scrape.
5. 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?: 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.
6. 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?: Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
,This fasting blood glucose level is above the expected reference range of 70 to 13
mg/dL. The assistant should notify the provider and schedule an extension of the
patient's visit.
7. 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?: "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.
8. Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a
provider that a patient is having discomfort and difficulty breathing?: Dys-
pnea
Dyspnea is a term used to indicate that a patient is experiencing difficult or painful
breathing.
9. Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial
of a claim by an insurance carrier?: Remittance advice
A remittance advice document itemizes all paid, denied, and allowable charges fo
a patient. This document notifies the provider of any and all claim denials.
10. Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam?: Litho-
tomy
The lithotomy position is appropriate for pelvic examinations.
11. 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?: 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.
, 12. Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected elec-
trode and results in the tracing going into the margins of the paper?: Inter-
rupted baseline
Interrupted baseline is caused by an electrical disconnection or a detached elec-
trode and results in the tracing moving into the margins of the paper.
13. 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?: "I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll ca
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.
14. A medical assistant is assisting with the physical examination of a patien
who has scabies. Besides gloves, which of the following pieces of personal
protective equipment should the assistant wear?: 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).
15. A patient loses consciousness. The EKG reveals ventricular fibrillation.
Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take first?: Call for
help and begin CPR
According to the American Heart Association's resuscitation guidelines, the assi
tant should call for help and perform CPR immediately after witnessing a cardiac
arrest.
16. A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the
simplified letter style. Which of the following features should the assistant
use?: A subject line in all capital letters.
(CCMA) CERTIFICATION
PRACTICE TEST 2023
,NHA: MEDICAL ASSISTANT (CCMA) CERTIFICATION
PRACTICE TEST
1. A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has congestive heart failure
(CHF) for an examination by the provider. Which of the following manifesta-
tions should the assistant expect?: Shortness of breath (SOB)
Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema
2. When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions
should a medical assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?: 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 tha
the assistant is paying attention to his respirations.
3. Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant
recognize is abnormal?: Potassium 3 mEq/L
This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
4. 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?: Scissors
Scissors are considered cutting and dissecting instruments because they include
a sharp blade or surface that can cut, dissect, or scrape.
5. 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?: 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.
6. 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?: Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
,This fasting blood glucose level is above the expected reference range of 70 to 13
mg/dL. The assistant should notify the provider and schedule an extension of the
patient's visit.
7. 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?: "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.
8. Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a
provider that a patient is having discomfort and difficulty breathing?: Dys-
pnea
Dyspnea is a term used to indicate that a patient is experiencing difficult or painful
breathing.
9. Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial
of a claim by an insurance carrier?: Remittance advice
A remittance advice document itemizes all paid, denied, and allowable charges fo
a patient. This document notifies the provider of any and all claim denials.
10. Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam?: Litho-
tomy
The lithotomy position is appropriate for pelvic examinations.
11. 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?: 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.
, 12. Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected elec-
trode and results in the tracing going into the margins of the paper?: Inter-
rupted baseline
Interrupted baseline is caused by an electrical disconnection or a detached elec-
trode and results in the tracing moving into the margins of the paper.
13. 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?: "I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll ca
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.
14. A medical assistant is assisting with the physical examination of a patien
who has scabies. Besides gloves, which of the following pieces of personal
protective equipment should the assistant wear?: 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).
15. A patient loses consciousness. The EKG reveals ventricular fibrillation.
Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take first?: Call for
help and begin CPR
According to the American Heart Association's resuscitation guidelines, the assi
tant should call for help and perform CPR immediately after witnessing a cardiac
arrest.
16. A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the
simplified letter style. Which of the following features should the assistant
use?: A subject line in all capital letters.
