CCMA Flashcards
1
Q
A medical assistant is reviewing dietary minerals with a patient. The assistant should identify which of
the following minerals as being essential for blood cogulation.
A
Calcium
2
Q
A medical assistant is collecting information from a patient prior to a physical examination. Which of the
following details disclosed by the patient should the assistant recognize as an indication of bulimia
nervosa?
A
Laxative use
3
Q
Which of the following foods should a medical assistant recommend to a patient who needs to increase
her dietary intake of Vitamin A?
A
Oranges
4
Q
A medical assistant is reviewing nutritional guidelines with a patient who is following a high-protein
diet. Which of the following statements should the assistant make?
A
“Without sufficient carbohydrates and fat, the body will burn protein for energy”
5
Q
A medical assistant should identify that which of the following manifestations differentiates binge eating
disorder from bulimia nervosa?
A
. Avoiding self-induced vomiting
6
Q
A medical assistant is encouraging a patient to increase her intake of fiber. Which of the following foods
should the assistant recommend?
A
Apples
7
Q
A medical assitant is reviewing a daily diet with a patient. Which of the following foods should the
assistant recommend to help the patient increase her intake of Vitamin D?
A
Fish
8
Q
A medical assistant is reviewing the dietary intake of a patient who is lactose intolerant. Which of the
following foods should the asssitant remind the patient to reduce or avoid?
A
Cream Cheese
9
Q
A medical assisant is explaining how to understand nutritional information on food labels to a patient.
Which of the following statements should the assistant make?
A
“The amount of each nutrient is expressed in weight per serving and as a percentage of
the daily value.”
10
Q
A medical assistant is preparing a patient for an examination. Which of the following findings should the
assistant recognize as an indication of anorexia nervosa?
A
Protruding bones
11
Q
To avoid having patients uderestimate the specific amount of nutrients in a food product, a medical
assistant should remind patients to check which of the following labeling components?
A
. Serving size
12
Q
A medical assistant is providing patient education on bone loss and calcium regulation. Which of the
following supplements should the assistant recommend for the patient?
A
Vitamin D
13
Q
. A medical assistant is teaching a patient about the major food groups. Which of the following
information about grains should the assistant include?
A
. Grains help prevent and manage constipation.
14
Q
. A medical assistant is providing teaching to a patient about the importance of water intake. Which of the
following information should the assistant include?
A
Water helps regulate body temperature
15
Q
A medical assitant is educating a patient about how to interpret food labels. The assistant should inform
the patient that the FDA requires nutrition lables to include measurements of which of the following
nutritional elements?
A
Cholesterol
16
Q
A medical assistant is talking with a young adult patient who says he has found a partner he loves but
cannot seem to make a commitment to their relationship. The assistant should identify that the
developmental crisis this patient is experiencing is which of the following?
A
Intimacy vs isolation
17
Q
A medical assistant is discussing dietary concerns with a client who has heart disease. The client sates, “I
haven’t been as carefull about salt and fat as I should be,but I have been exercising more than ususal.”
The assistant should identify that this patient is using which of the following defense mechanisms?
A
. Compensation
18
Q
A medical assistant is talking with the parents of a 1-year-old infant about develomental achievements
and milestones to expect. The asssitant should be aware that, according to the infant’s developmental
stage, a lack of achievement of the tasks of that stage can result in which of the following outcomes?
A
Suspiciousness
19
Q
A patient who walks with difficulty as a result of nerve damage on one side of his body enters a clinic for
a first visit. After the patient identifies himself to the medical assistant and states that he has an
appointment, which of the following responses should the assistant in the fron office make?
A
“How can I make you more comfortable while you wait?”
20
Q
A medical assistant is observing a patient who is undergoing the Mini-Mental State Examination. To test
the patient’s ability to perform tasks in the area of language, the examiner asks the patient to do which of
the following?
A
Copy a geometric design
21
Q
A medical asssitant is collecting initial data for an older adult patient at a clinic visit. Which of the
following should suggest to the assistant that the patient needs a mental status evaluation?
A
The patient repeatedly asks the same question.
22
Q
Which of the following defense mechanisms is characterized by a patient’s externalization of guilt, blame or responsibility?
A
Projection
23
Q
A medical assistant is talking with an older adult patient who expresses frustration about having looked
forward to retirement but finds himself with “too much time on my hands.” Before responding, the
assistant should consider that which of the following is one of the developmental tasks for this patient’s
age group?
A
Having a sense of self-worth
24
Q
The parent of a 5-year old child tells a medical assistant that his daughter has begun sucking her thumb.
He states. “She hasn’t done this since she was a baby.” The assistant sould identify that the child is using
which of the following defense mechanisms?
A
Regression
25
A medical assistant is preparing a patient of a physical examination. The patient tells the assistant that
she is having serious problems at work, and she feels so much stress that she cannot focus on anything at
work or at home. Based on the patient’s anxiety level, which of the following findings should the
assistant expect?
Rapid respirations
26
A patient who uses a wheelchair arrives at the office for an appointment and is visibly upset. Which of
the following methods should the medical assitant use to establish positive therapeutic communication
with the patient?
Face the patient at eye level
27
A medical assistant is talking with a patient whose brother died of heart disease 1 month ago. The patient
tells the assistant that she blames herself because she should have persuaded her brother to take better
care of himself. the assistant should identify that the patient is in which of the following of Elisabeth
Kübler-Ross’s stages of grief?
Depression
28
A medical assistant is talking with a patient who just learned that she has advanced breast cancer. The
patient says, “It’s just an infection. I’m way too young ot have cancer!” Which of the following actions
should the assistant take to help this patient during their stage of grief?
Reinforce education about the patient’s disease process.
29
According to Erikson’s phychosocial theory, an adolescent experiences which of the following stages?
Identity vs. role confusion
30
A medical assistant is preparing a patient for the Mini-Mental State Examination. The examiner names
three objects and asks the patient to repeat them. In doing so, the examiner is asking the patient to
perform a task in which of the following areas?
Registration
31
A medical assistant is collecting data from a patient sho reports back pain. Which of the following terms
should the assitant use to describe the patient’s pain in the intake note?
Dorsal
32
Which of the following body systems contains cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle?
Muscular system
33
Which of the following organs produces vitamin D, provides protection, and helps regulate body
temperature?
Skin
34
Which of the following is used to indicate homeostais in the body?
Vital Signs
35
Which of the following organ structures within the digestive system is primarily responsible for the
absorption of nutrients?
Small intestine
36
When considering the anatomy of the body, which of the following statements is correct?
The thumb is lateral to the index finger
37
When pain signals are received by the brain, which of the following body systems is alerted to initiate a
movement response?
Muscular
38
Which of the following body structures is part of both the digestive system and endocrine system?
Pancreas
39
Which of the following body systems provides the framework to protect the body from pathogenic
organisms and maintin fluid balance?
Lymphatic system
40
Which of the following glands is part of both the immune system and the endocrine system?
Thymus
41
Which of the following glands in the endocrine system is located just below the larynx and consists of
two lobes, one on each side of the trachea?
Thyroid gland
42
Which of the following is an example of connective tissue?
Blood
43
Which of the following body systems works with the respiratory system to transport waste products from
the body’s cells?
Cardiovascular system
44
Which of the following planes divides the body into upper and lower portions?
Transverse
45
Which of the following body systems experiences a decrease in activity caused by the sympathetic
branch of the nervous system during “fight-or-flight response?
Digestive system
46
A medical assitant should recognize that which of the following is the clinical purpose of contrast media
in diagnositic imaging?
Highlights the inner contours of body structures
47
Which of the following diseases caused a historical pandemic that led to the creation of the first
vaccine?
Smallpox
48
. Which of the following is a medical assitant’s primary role in magnetic resonalnce (MRI) in the medical
office setting?
Instructing the patient about examination preparations
49
Which of the following factors puts a patient at high risk of experiencing a cerebrovascular accident
(CVA)?
Sleep apnea
50
Which of the following conditions is defined as a loss of bone density?
Osteoporosis
51
A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who recently underwent a right-sided radical mastectomy
and lymphadenectomy. The assistant should inform the patient that which of the following is a
manifestation of lymphedema?
. Swelling of the right arm
52
A low-fiber, high-fat diet is a risk factor for which of the following diseases?
Colorectal cancer
53
Which of the following diaseases affects about 9% of the population in the U.S. and is characterized by
the body’s inability to produce sufficient insulin?
Diabetes mellitus
54
Which of the following factors puts a patient at high risk of developing coronary artery disease?
Smoking
55
A medical assistant recommends the rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) method to a patient
who calls the office to report an injury. Which of the following injuries is the patient likely to have
sustained?
Ankle sprain
56
Which of the following is a risk factor for the development of congestive heart failure (CHF)?
Chronic hypertension
57
A medical assistant should recognize that a worldwide, rapidly spreading novel infection can result in which of the following?
Pandemic
58
A medical asssitant is caring for a patient whose dietary choices have resulted in elevated uric acid
levels. As a result of these risk factors, the patient is at risk for developing which of the following
musculoskeletal disorders?
Gout
59
Which of the following conditions is characterized by the top portion of the stomach protruding through
the diaphragm?
Hiatal hernia
60
Which of the following viral diseases resulted in an epidemic in the U.S. and presents with symptoms
that include weakness and paralysis of muscles, fever, and headache?
Polio
61
Which of the following structures in a human cell sorts and synthesizes glycoproteins?
Golgi aparatus
62
A medical assistant should understand that which of the following links initiates the chain of infection?
Infectious agent
63
Which of the following components of the body’s cells helps propel substances through passageways in
the body?
Cilia
64
A medical assistant should identify which of the following microorganisms as having a helpful function
in the human body?
. Lactobacillus acidophilus
65
Which of the following structures in a human cell contains the cell’s genetic information?
Nucleus
66
A medical assistant is talking with a patient who has Lyme disease. The assistant should explain that
which of the following is the means of transmission of this infections?
Vector
67
A medical assistant should identify which of the following types of micro-organisms is a mold when it is
multicellular?
Fungi
68
A medical assistant should identify that which of the following types of bacteria has a structure which a
shape similar to a comma?
Vibrio
69
A medical assistant is talking with a patient who has a vaginal yeast infection. The assistant should
explain that which of the following micro-organisms causes this type of infection?
Candida albicans
70
A medical assistant is talking with a patient who has a new prescription for amoxicillin. The assistant
should explain that this medication will aid in the destruction of which of the following types of
micro-organisms?
Bacteria
71
A medical assistant is talking with a patient who has a new diagnosis of mononucleosis. The assistant
should explain that which of the following viruses causes this infection?
Epstein-Barr virus
72
Which of the following components of the body’s cells plays a part in cell division?
Centriole
73
Which of the following components of the body’s cells provides the energy the cells needs to perform its
specific functions?
Mitrochondrion
74
A medical assistant is talking with the parent of a child who has molluscum contagiosum warts. The
assistant should explain that which of the following is the mode of transmission for this infection?
Contact
75
A medical assistant is talking with a patient who just found out she has Pediculus humanus capitis. The
assistant should explain that this is an infestation of which of the following multicelullar parasites?
Head lice
76
Which of the following actions whould a medical assitant take to prevent accidents in the clinical setting?
Clean a spill on the hallway floor using a towel.
77
Which of the following patients should a medical assistant recognize as the top priority to receive
immediate care?
A patient has epistaxis and is taking warfarin.
78
A provider has instructed a medical assistant to prepare a wound for suturing. When performing basic
wound care, which of the following steps should the assistant take to ensure proper cleansing of the
wound area?
Wipe the center of the wound with an antiseptic swab, moving toward the edges in a
circular motion
79
Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when closing the clinical area at the end
of the day?
Restock medical supplies in the examination room
80
A medical assistant is assisting a provider with an adult patient who sustained a wound from a dirty metal
object. Which of the following orders should the assitant expect the provider to give to the patient?
“You should receive a tetanus booster if your last one was administered more than 5
years ago.”
81
A medical assistant is preparing a patient for examination. Which of the following is a component of the patient’s medical history?
Chief complaint
82
While caring for a patient, a medical assistant notices that the patient is slurring her speech and has
developed a slight drooping of one side of her mouth. The assistant should identify these manifestations
as indications of which of the following emergent conditions?
Cerebrovascular accident
83
During a surgical procedure, a provider requests sterile solution from a medical assistant. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take?
Place a sterile container on the field and pour a small amount of sterile solution into the
container.
84
A provider instructs a medical assistant to position a patient for an examination of the patient’s dorsal
cavity. The assistant should place the patient in which of the following positions?
Prone
85
A medical assistant is performing a suture removal on a patient. Which of the following actons should
the assitant take to remove the sutures?
Remove each suture after cutting next to the knot.
86
A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has conjuctivitis. Which of the following actions should
the assistant take when performing an eye instillation?
Use gloves when instilling the medication.
87
A medical assistant is preparing to obtain vital signs from an adult patient during a routine physical
examination. Which of the following arteries whould the assistant use to palpate the patient/s pulse?
Radial artery
88
A medical assistant is performing an ear irrigation for a patient. The patients repots dizzyness. The
assitant should recognize that these symptoms could be caused by which of the following?
The temperature of the water is too cold.
89
A patient in a clinic is experiencing symptoms of a myocardial infarction. The provider instructs the
medical assistant to administer sublingual nitroglycerin. Which of the following actions should the
assistant take?
Place the medication under the patient’s tongue
90
0. Which of the following is an anthropometric measurement that a medical assitant should collect from a 2-year old child?
Head circumferance
91
Which of the following methods should a medical assistant use when storing a disinfected endoscope?
Hung vertically
92
A patient who is coughing and sneezing repeatedly enters the reception area at a clinic. Which of the
following actions should a medical assistant take?
Assist the patient into an examining room
93
A medical assistant is washing infectious debris off several sharp surgical instruments. Which of the
following actions should the assistant take?
Wear utility gloves while sanitizing the instruments
94
According to CDC recommendations, what is the minimum lenght of time a medical assistant whould
spend scrubbing his hands with soap and water when performing hand hygiene?
20 seconds
95
Which of the following concentrations of bleach solution should a medical assistant use as a disinfectant
in a clinical setting?
1:10
96
Which of the following steps should a medical assistant take to follow aseptic guidelines when
administering injections?
Wipe the injection site with an alcohol pad
97
A medical assistant receives a splash of potentially infectious material to his eyes while collecting a urine
specimen. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to prevent the spread of infections?
Flush his eyes at an eyewash station for at least 15 min.
98
Which of the following statements about alcohol-based hand sanitizer is correct.
Hand sanitizer should be applied to dry hands
99
A medical assistant is preparing to sterilize a vaginal speculum. Which of the following sterilization
techniques should the assistant use?
Autoclave
100
A medical assistant is cleaning a room following a surgical procedure. Which of the following actions
should the assistant take to ensure proper biohazardous waste handling of used gauze pads?
Place the gauze pads in a red polyethylene bag
101
. A medical assistant is reviewing OSHA regulations regarding sharps container placement. In which of
the following locations should the assistant place a sharp container?
In the exam room
102
Which of the following disposal methods should a medical assistant use in accordance with OSHA
guideliness for handling biiohazardous waste?
Label chemicals with their names and date before disposal
103
A medical assistant should recognize that which of the following is recommended regarding fingernail
care and hand hygiene?
Remove artificial fingernails when working with high-risk populations
104
A medical assistant is loading prepackaged hemostats into an autoclave. Which of the following actions
should the assistant take to ensure sterilizations?
Organize the packages loosely without touching the walls of the autoclave
105
Which of the following procedures requires a medical assistant to use aseptic technique?
Suturing
106
A medical assistant is instructing patient on the collection of a clean-catch specimen for culture and
sensitivity (C&S). Which of the following instructions should the assistant give the patient?
“Void a small amount of urine into the toiler and then void the next portion into a sterile
container”
107
A medical assistant is performing a routine hearing test on a patient. Which of the following procedures
measures a patient’s hearing by using air and bone conduction?
Tuning fork test
108
A medical assistant receives a call from a reference laboratory reporting a fasting blood glucose of 450
mg/dL for a patient. According to protocol, which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Notify the provider of the test results
109
A medical assistant is performing a visual acuity test on an adult patient. The patient is able to read the
20/30 line with both eyes, but misses one letter. Which of the following results should the assistant
document in the patient’s medical record?
20/30-1 both eyes
110
Which of the following sites should a medical assistant use for the administration of an intradermal skin
test?
Anterior forearm
111
A medical asssistant reviews the results of a urine pregnancy test and sees that a blue line did not appear
in the control area. The assistant should recognize that this indicates which of the following?
The pregnancy test is not valid
112
A medical assistant is instructing a patient about collecting stool specimens at homse for occult blood
testing. Which of the following statements should the assistant make about the patients medictions?
. “Discontinue any NSAIDs a week before the test.”
113
A medical assistant is performing a venipuncture. Which of the following pieces of information should
be included on both the requisition form and the specimen label?
Date of birth
114
A medical assistant is preparing to perform a rapid strep test. Which of the following actions should the
assistant take?
Bring the reagents and devices to room temperture.
115
A medical assistant is reviewing the laboratory results of a urine specimen provided by an adult patient at
the clinic. Which of the following values is outside of the expected reference range?
Specific gravity 1.042
116
A medical assistant is preparing to perfom a pulmonary function test on a patient who is dressed in a suit
and tie. When preparing the patient for the test, the assistnt should instruct the patient to do which of the
following?
Loosen his tie and top buttons
117
A medical assistant is collecting a specimen for testing. When is it appropriate for the assistant to label
the specimen?
After collecting the specimen
118
Which of the following instructions should a medical assistant provide to a patient prior to spirometry
testing?
. “Avoid smoking for at least an hour prior to the test”
119
A medical assistant is assisting a provider with the collection of a stool specimen. The assistant should
identify that which of the following statements about the fecal occult blood testing process is true?
The result is positive if a trace of blue color is detected on the edge of the smear.
120
A medical assistant is performing an allergen skin test on a patient. Which of the following actions the
assitant take?
Notify the provider immediately if the patient demonstrates signs of anaphylaxis
121
After receiving a patient’s blood test results from the reference laboratory, which of the following actions
should the medical assistant take?
Have a provider review the results
122
Prior to performing a phlebotomy procedure, a medical asssitant should ask the patients to verify which
of the following information?
Patient’s date of birth
123
A medical assistnt removes a needle from the antecubital space of a patient following a phlebotomy
procedure and applies pressure. Which of the following steps should the assistant take next?
Dispose of the needle
124
Which of the following locations should a medical assistant identify as the preferred site for capillary
puncture on an adult patient?
Fourth digit (Ring Finger)
125
When drawing blood cultures, a medical assistant should prepare a patient’s skin using which of the
following products?
iodine solution
126
A medical assistant should allow a serum specimen tube without an anticoagulant additive to stand for
which of the following lenghts of time pror to centrifuging?
30 to 60 mins prior to centrifuging
127
A medical assistant is obtaining a sample for a sedimentation rate test. Which of the following tubes
should the assistnt use for blood collection?
lavender tube
128
At which point during a patient’s venipuncture process should a medical assistant label the blood
specimen tube?
before the patient is discharged
129
A medical assistant is obtaining samples for a CBC test. Which of the following tues should the assistant
select?
lavender tube
130
When receiving a patient’s blood work results, a medical assistant notices a fasting blood glucose of 200mg/dL. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Notify the patient’s provider of the results
131
Which of the following tubes should a medical assistant select first when adhering to the proper order of draw?
Yellow
132
A medical assistnt is performing phlebotomy on an 80-year old who has small veins, Which of the
following veni puncture methods should the assistant use for this patient?
Butterfly needle
133
A medical assistant has completed a blood collection. Which of the following actions should the assistant
take to ensure propersspecimen processing?
Verify that the requisition form has been completed
134
Which of the following veins should a medical assistant recognize as the preferred vein for routine
phlebotomy?
Median cubital vein
135
.To avoid hemoconcentration during venipuncture, which of the following actions should a medical
assistant take?
Remove the tourniquet before 1 min has elapsed
136
A medical assitant witnesses a coworker knowingly commit an unlawful and wrongful act. The assistant
should identify this act as which of the following tpes of negligence?
Malfeasance
137
When measuring the vital signs of a 10-year-old child, a medical assistant recognizes indications of
abuse. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Notify the child’s provider
138
A patient expresses to a medical assitant that he would like to designate his daugher as his health care
proxy. The assistant should inform him that which of the following is the minimum age to be eligible as a
health care proxy?
18 years
139
A medical assistant is assisting a provider with a gynecological examination on a patient. The patients
says, “My religious beliefs do not allow me to use contaceptiion,” The assistant should expect the
provider to make which of the following statements?
“You have the right to make choices regarding your health.”
140
A medical assistant should recognize that which of the following provides instructions for an emergency
medical technician to follow when transporting an elderly or critically ill patient?
Medical Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment
141
A medical assistant should recognize that which of the following entities must adhere to HIPAA
guidelines?
Health care clearinghouses
142
A medical asssitant sees a coworker take a pain medication from a locked cabinet The assistant knows that the coworker is a single mother who has a child who was recently injured. Which of the following types
of ethical situations does this problem create for the assistant?
Ethical distress
143
A medical assistant should identify which of the following as the legal document that states the
life-saving procedures a patient authorizes in the event he is incapabe of verbalizing his desire for
medical treatment?
Living will
144
Which of the following moral codes should a medical assistant reference when facing an ethical dilemma?
AMA Code of Ethics
145
A medical assistant left her computer unlocked with a patient’s chart visible. Which of the following
actions should the assistant take in the future to prevent unauthorized viewing of patient information?
Place privacy filters on the monitor screen
146
A medical assistant should recognize that once advance directives are in place, they can be uptaded at
which of the following times?
At any time
147
Which of the following gives patients the rights over their health care information including the right to
receive a copy of their information, the right to ensure their medical records are correct, and the right to
know who had access to their records?
HIPAA
148
Employers are accountable for providing a safe nd healthy workplace for employees by setting and
enforcing standards. This environment is achieved by providing training, outreach, education, and
assistance. Which of the following regulatory agencies oversees this standard?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
149
A patient believes that her health care privacy has been violated. A medical assistant shold know that the
patient’s complaint must be filed within how many days?
180 Days
150
When designating a medical power of attorney, a medical assistant should identify which of the
following people as an acceptable choice for a health care proxy?
A member of the patient’s faith community
151
Which of the following duties is a medical assistant allowed to perform independently?
Record vital signs
152
Which of the following isurance companies is the oldest and largest syste of independent health insurers
in the U.S.A ?
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
153
Which of the following professionals specializes in evaluating mental illness, physical illness, and
disability through analyzing patient health needs and providing health education to patients of all ages?
Preventive medicine specialist
154
A patient experiencing a subluxation should be treated by which of the following alternative medicine
practices?
Chiropractic care
155
A provider requests that a patient see a specialist for hypothyroidism. The assistant should expect to
contact which of the following specialty clinics for his consultation?
Endocrinology
156
A patient has had a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Which of the following types of therapy will assist
him with regaining motor functions andindependence?
Physical therapy
157
Which of the following types of provider is qualified to assess patients of all ages with a wide variet of
acute to severe medical conditions?
Family practitioner
158
Which of the following health care delivery models emphasizes patients’ involvement organizeing their
own health care?
Patient-centered medical home (PCMH)
159
Which of the following roles provides an opportunity to obtain certification or registration based on state
regulations but does not require a license to secure employment within the health care industry?
Medical assistant
160
Which of the following providers specializes in the management and treatment of interstitial cystitis?
Urologist
161
A medical assistant is preparing a referral slip for a patient who reports symptoms of vertigo The
assistant whould refer the patient to which of the following specialists?
Otolaryngologist
162
Which of the following professionals assists patients with improving mobility, strenght, and range of
motion?
Physical therapist
163
Which of the following health care professionals is legally responsible for the outcomes of a medical
assistant’s duties and performance?
Family practitioner
164
Which of the following insurance plan models requies a referral from a primary care provider to schedule
an appointment with a dermatologist?
Health maintenance organization (HMO)
165
A medical assistant is reviewing charges for an in-office procedure. Which of the following terms
describes the maximum reimbursement a third-party payer will provide?
Allowable amount
