NHA: Medical Assistant(CCMA) Certification
A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has congestive heart failure (CHF) for an
examination by the provider. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect?
- ANSWER Shortness of breath (SOB)
Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema
When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a medical
assistant take to ensure an accurate reading? - ANSWER 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 that the assistant is paying attention to
his respirations.
Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal? -
ANSWER Potassium 3 mEq/L
This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
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? -
ANSWER Scissors
Scissors are considered cutting and dissecting instruments because they include a sharp blade
or surface that can cut, dissect, or scrape.
,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? - ANSWER 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.
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?
- ANSWER Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
This fasting blood glucose level is above the expected reference range of 70 to 130 mg/dL. The
assistant should notify the provider and schedule an extension of the patient's visit.
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? - ANSWER
"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.
Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a patient is
having discomfort and difficulty breathing? - ANSWER Dyspnea
,Dyspnea is a term used to indicate that a patient is experiencing difficult or painful breathing.
Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by an
insurance carrier? - ANSWER Remittance advice
A remittance advice document itemizes all paid, denied, and allowable charges for a patient.
This document notifies the provider of any and all claim denials.
Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam? - ANSWER Lithotomy
The lithotomy position is appropriate for pelvic examinations.
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? - ANSWER 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.
Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results in the
tracing going into the margins of the paper? - ANSWER Interrupted baseline
Interrupted baseline is caused by an electrical disconnection or a detached electrode and
results in the tracing moving into the margins of the paper.
, 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? - ANSWER "I
know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call 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.
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 wear? - ANSWER 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).
A patient loses consciousness. The EKG reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which of the following
actions should a medical assistant take first? - ANSWER Call for help and begin CPR
According to the American Heart Association's resuscitation guidelines, the assistant should call
for help and perform CPR immediately after witnessing a cardiac arrest.
A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the simplified letter style.
Which of the following features should the assistant use? - ANSWER A subject line in all capital
letters.
A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has congestive heart failure (CHF) for an
examination by the provider. Which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect?
- ANSWER Shortness of breath (SOB)
Expected manifestations of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema
When measuring a patients respiratory rate, which of the following actions should a medical
assistant take to ensure an accurate reading? - ANSWER 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 that the assistant is paying attention to
his respirations.
Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal? -
ANSWER Potassium 3 mEq/L
This potassium level is below the expected reference range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
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? -
ANSWER Scissors
Scissors are considered cutting and dissecting instruments because they include a sharp blade
or surface that can cut, dissect, or scrape.
,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? - ANSWER 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.
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?
- ANSWER Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dL
This fasting blood glucose level is above the expected reference range of 70 to 130 mg/dL. The
assistant should notify the provider and schedule an extension of the patient's visit.
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? - ANSWER
"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.
Which of the following terms should a medical assistant use to tell a provider that a patient is
having discomfort and difficulty breathing? - ANSWER Dyspnea
,Dyspnea is a term used to indicate that a patient is experiencing difficult or painful breathing.
Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by an
insurance carrier? - ANSWER Remittance advice
A remittance advice document itemizes all paid, denied, and allowable charges for a patient.
This document notifies the provider of any and all claim denials.
Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic exam? - ANSWER Lithotomy
The lithotomy position is appropriate for pelvic examinations.
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? - ANSWER 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.
Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results in the
tracing going into the margins of the paper? - ANSWER Interrupted baseline
Interrupted baseline is caused by an electrical disconnection or a detached electrode and
results in the tracing moving into the margins of the paper.
, 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? - ANSWER "I
know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call 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.
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 wear? - ANSWER 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).
A patient loses consciousness. The EKG reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which of the following
actions should a medical assistant take first? - ANSWER Call for help and begin CPR
According to the American Heart Association's resuscitation guidelines, the assistant should call
for help and perform CPR immediately after witnessing a cardiac arrest.
A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the simplified letter style.
Which of the following features should the assistant use? - ANSWER A subject line in all capital
letters.
