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NHA-CCMA MEDICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION EXAM
AND STUDY GUIDE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS 2024-2025 LATEST VERSION//ALREADY
GRADED A+
A medical assistant is collecting a urine specimen from a patient for a drug screening. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to adhere to the chain of custody for this specimen? - ANSWER-Send the specimen to the testing laboratory on the same day as the collection. A medical assistant is preparing to collect a patient's temperature via the tympanic membrane. In which of the following locations should the assistant place the thermometer? - ANSWER-In the ear The tympanic membrane is located in the ear canal. When preparing a patient for Holter monitoring, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take? - ANSWER-Vigorously dry the patient's skin prior to electrode placement. A medical assistant should complete documentation in a patient's medical record at which of the following times? - ANSWER-Immediately following the procedure. Wen should the code on glucose curettes be compared to the code on the glucometer? - ANSWER- Before a patient is tested. 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 Difficulty breathing A medical assistant is reviewing a provider's instructions as the patient is preparing to leave the office. The provider recommends that the patient purchase an over-the-counter antitussive, but the patient tells the assistant that she does not know what an antitussive is. Which of the following responses should the assistant make? - ANSWER-It is a medication that suppresses the cough reflex. Which of the following stages of the cardiac cycle on an EKG strip represents ventricular depolarization?
The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization (VD). 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? - ANSWER-physician assistant A medical assistant is to use the Snellen chart to test an adult patients visual activity. The assistant should instruct the patient to stand which of the following distances away? - ANSWER-20 feet Which of the following types of written correspondence can be signed by a medical assistant? - ANSWER-A notification letter to a patient about surgery arrangements. An assistant can sign a notification letter to a patient about surgery and medical facility arrangements. A medical assistant is measuring the circumference of an infants head. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Place the zero mark of the measuring tape against the infants forehead. A medical assistant is checking a patients hearing using the Rinne test. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Ask the patient to raise his hand when he no longer hears any sound. A medical assistant is examining the skin on a patients forearm where the patient reports developing a rash. The assistant notes multiple solid elevations that are less than 0.5 cm (0.2 in) in diameter. Which of the following terms should he use to document his observation in the patients medical record? - ANSWER-Papules Papules are solid elevations that are less than 0.5 cm (0.2 in) in diameter. A common cause is allergic eczema. A medical assistant receives a call from a patient who is irate about a letter she received from her insurance carrier denying a claim. Which of the following statements should the assistant make? - ANSWER-"Let's see if there is something we can do at our end. I'll ask our claims specialists to review the claim."
A medical assistant is discussing information with a patient about a new medication that the provider prescribed. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Reinforce teaching about the frequency of medication administration. Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use to put a 7 year old hold at ease prior to administering an injection? - ANSWER-Explain the procedure to the child in simple steps. A medical assistant is caring for a patient who as a body mass index (BMI) of 23. This patient should be categorized as which of the following? - ANSWER-Normal weight A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is within the normal weight range for a healthy adult. According to OSHA guidelines for universal precautions, which of the following types of patient contact would require a medical assistant to wear gloves, a mask, a face shield, and protective apparel? - ANSWER-Assisting a provider with the removal of a cyst. A medical assistant is preparing a CMS-1500 insurance claim form for a patient who was treated for a burn injury. Which of the following pieces of information is required on the form? - ANSWER-Current procedural terminology code. A provider requests a medical assistant to initiate a referral fora patient to a mental health facility. Which of the following pieces of information is required for the assistant to include in the initial referral?
- ANSWER-Diagnosis A medical assistant discovers an unidentifiable liquid on the floor of one of the clinics treatment rooms. Which of the following materials should the assistant use to remove and dispose of the liquid? - ANSWER-A clean-up kit A provider asks a medical assistant to administer oxygen to a patient who is experiencing respiratory distress. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take when administering oxygen to the patient? - ANSWER-Insert the tips of the cannula into the patients nostrils. The primary code in the CPT coding system consists of how many digits? - ANSWER-Five digits
A medical assistant is preparing to draw venous blood samples. The assistant is required by OSHA regulations to wear which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment while performing this procedure? - ANSWER-Gloves OSHA requires medical assistants to wear gloves while collecting venous blood samples. Which of the following information should the medical assistant enter into the appointment calendar when scheduling a patient for a skin rash? - ANSWER-Daytime phone number. Which of the following groups of EKG leads are bipolar? - ANSWER-Leads I, II, and III. Leads I, II,and III are three bipolar limb leads that make up Einthoven's Triangle. A patient arrives at a clinic will a bill for x-rays that were required due to an injury at the patients place of employment. The patient has private insurance and is eligible for workers' compensation. The assistant should recognize that which of the following parties is responsible for payment of this bill? - ANSWER-Paid in full by workers' compensation. A medical assistant is assisting in the treatment of a patient who experienced a chemical burn. Which of the following steps should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Remove any chemical-covered clothing. A medical assistant is preparing sterilization for hemostats before an invasive procedure. Which of the following techniques should the assistant use? - ANSWER-Autoclave The assistant should use an autoclave to sterilize the hemostats. A provider asks a medical assistant to reinforce teaching with a patient about her new diagnosis. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Document the patients response to the teaching.
This instrument is necessary because the provider uses the cytobrush for obtaining a specimen for a Pap test. During a routine venipuncture,, the patient becomes pale and diaphoretic. What condition is mist likely to occur in the patient? - ANSWER-Syncope A medical assistant needs to remove all living micro-organisms from a contaminated towel clamp. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to cleanse this instrument? - ANSWER-sterilization The provider orders the medical assistant to prepare a tablespoon of medication for a patient. How many milliliters of medication should the assistant draw up? - ANSWER-15 mL There are 15 mL per tablespoon. Therefore, the assistant should prepare 15 mL of medication. A medical assistant is asked to assist a provider with an orthopedic examination. Which of the following instruments should the assistant prepare for the examination? - ANSWER-Goniometer The provider uses a goniometer to measure joint movement in a single plane. The instrument is used for orthopedic examinations. A medical assistant receives a phone call from a patient of a child who has possibly ingested a household cleaner. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Contact the local poison control center A medical assistant has a request to collect a routine CBC from a healthy 10 month old infant. Which of the following is the most appropriate collection site? - ANSWER-Left heel When performing diagnostic coding, how many characters are used to provide the highest level of speciality with an ICD- 10 - CM code? - ANSWER-Seven characters In which of the following locations should a medical statement place the electrode for lead V4? - ANSWER-The fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
Which of the following types of appointment systems allows flexibility to allow for the most consistent patient flow? - ANSWER-Wave scheduling Wave scheduling has patients scheduled for the first 30 minutes of an hour to allow for early, late, and patients who do not show up. All patients are seen within that hour. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take to safeguard a patient's protected health information? - ANSWER-Log off of computers when not in use. A medical assistant is disposing of the syringe and needle she used to inject a seasonal influenza vaccine. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Drop the syringe, needle first into the biohazardous sharps container. A patient requests a female provider to perform her examination due to a religious conviction. A female provider is not available. Which of the following is the appropriate response by the medical assassistant? - ANSWER-Assist the patient in locating a provider to accommodate the patients needs. A medical assistant is reporting a patient fall that occurred in the front lobby of the clinic. What is the purpose of the assistant preparing an incident report? - ANSWER-To avoid future reoccurrences. A medical assistant is making a new sign-in sheet for the patients who have appointments that day. Which of the following information should the sign-in sheet include? - ANSWER-Provider's name A medical assistant is using a scale with a height bar to measure a patient's height. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Lower the horizontal bar gently so that it rests on the top of the patients head. A medical assistant is administering cough syrup to a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-View the medication cup at eye level when pouring. The assistant should view the medication cup at eye level when pouring. Holding the cup below eye level can result in the assistant pouring too much syrup into the medication cup.
A medical assistant receives a chemical splash in her eyes. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first? - ANSWER-Flush the eyes out with tepid water. A medical assistant is reviewing the medical history of a patient who regularly comes into contact with coal and wood dust. The assistant should recognize that this patient is at an increased risk for developing which of the following disorders? - ANSWER-Emphysema Emphysema can be caused by coming into contact with coal and wood dust, which causes damage to the alveoli in the lungs. The parent of a child who has pediculosis is asking a medical assistant for more information about her child's condition. The assistant should begin by explaining that pediculosis is which of the following types of infection? - ANSWER-Parasitic Pediculosis is also known as lice, which is a common parasitic infection that is highly contagious. A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about the self-administration of insulin injections. Which of the following patient statements indicates an understanding of the teaching? - ANSWER-I will roll the bottle between my hands before drawing the medication. A medical assistant is administering eye ointment to a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Apply a thin ribbon of ointment along the conjunctival sac. A patient reports getting a bill that includes services she did not receive. Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to reconcile these charges? - ANSWER-Review that days encounter forms to determine if another patient received the services. A medical assistant is assisting a patient who is obese with an insulin injection. Which of the following is the correct angle for this patient's injection? - ANSWER-90 degree angle Which of the following should a medical assistant identify as the purpose of a Category II code in procedural coding? - ANSWER-Tracks provider performance measures.
A medical assistant discovers a garbage can fire has started in the break room of the medical office. According to the RACE acronym for emergency response, which of the following actions should the assistant take first? - ANSWER-Evacuate staff and patients from the immediate area. When performing a first aid procedure to control bleeding of a wound, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take? - ANSWER-Apply layers of sterile gauze. A medical assistant is reviewing the progress notes of a patient's record that uses the SOAP format. Which of the following would the medical assistant find in the assessment section? - ANSWER-Diagnosis The patient's diagnosis is in the assessment section of the progress note. Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use to confirm a patient's understanding of insulin administration? - ANSWER-Observe the patient as she performs a self-demonstration. A medical assistant at a facility receives a call from a patient who is requesting the total cost of a surgical procedure. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the assistant? - ANSWER-Provide the patient with an estimated cost for the procedure. A medical assistant is preparing for a procedure to have a mole excised. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Cleanse the site with surgical soap and an antiseptic. A medical assistant is talking with an older adult patient who sustained a foot fracture in a fall. She reports managing most tasks at home well but has difficulty navigating with her crutches and is currently home bound. To which of the following resources should the assistant refer the patient? - ANSWER- Meals on wheels. 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 take first? - ANSWER-Discontinue the test. The assistant should stop the test and immediately notify the provider. Shortness of breath, tachycardia, and abnormalities in an EKG rhythm are all indications of an impending cardiac event.
The assistant should recognize that positioning the patient lying face up, with the legs bent and feet flat on the table is the dorsal recumbent position. A patient contacts the facility to report a burn injury to her right arm. A medical assistant should identify which of the following pieces of information as necessary when screening for a possible emergency situation? - ANSWER-The cause of the patients burn. The assistant should ask screening questions based on the injury itself. Determining where the burn is located and what caused it are critical pieces of information when screening for a possible emergency situation. A provider prescribes oxycodone for a patient after abdominal surgery. Which of the following describes this type of medication? - ANSWER-Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance and has a high potential for abuse. Oxycodone is a schedule II controlled substance with significant restrictions. Schedule II substances have a high risk of abuse and dependency. A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has come in contact with concrete debris. Upon inspection of the eye, the assistant seed debris on the surface of the sclera. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Irrigate the eye starting at the inner canthus and flowing to the outer canthus. When removing debris from the patient's eye, the assistant should irrigate the eye beginning at the inner canthus and allowing the solution to flow to the outer canthus. This allows the debris to move away from the cornea and decreases the chance of causing further injury to the patient's eye. Which of the following laboratory values should a medical assistant immediately report to a patient's provider? - ANSWER-Blood glucose 500 mg/dL
This blood glucose level is higher than the expected reference range of 70 to 110 mg/dL. A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient who is going home after having extensive suturing to a laceration. Which of the following instructions should the assistant include? - ANSWER-"Be sure to call your provider if you have a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit." The assistant should be familiar with the warning signs of infection, including fever. The assistant should instruct the patient to contact the provider if he develops a fever. When assigning a CPT dose, which of the following is the purpose of a modifier? - ANSWER-Provides additional information or circumstances for a procedure. A CPT code modifier adds a higher level of specificity to a procedure code by providing additional information and circumstances related to the procedure. Some examples include modifiers that indicate the patient's physical status, the anatomical location for the procedure, and the use of anesthesia. A medical assistant is administering an intramuscular immunization to a patient. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take? - ANSWER-Cleanse the site in a circular motion from the center outward. The assistant should cleanse the site from the center outward before letting the site dry. This technique helps to make the center of the site as pathogen-free as possible. Which of the following steps for a fingerstick should a medical assistant complete first? - ANSWER- Confirm the correct identity of the patient The assistant should confirm the patient's identity before preparing for the fingerstick procedure.
A medical assistant is performing spirometry testing for a patient who has shortness of breath. Which of the following results of the spirometry test indicates a successful maneuver? - ANSWER-A fast and steady flow with no variability. An acceptable spirometry maneuver must have an expiratory flow that is fast and steady with no variability and must also be consistent with two other spirometry maneuvers. A medical assistant is collecting multiple blood samples from a patient. Which of the following vacuum tubes should the assistant fill first? - ANSWER-Yellow (blood culture) To avoid the possibility of contamination with bacteria, the assistant should fill a yellow tube, which is used for blood cultures, first. 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. A epically assistant is preparing a patient for wearing a Holter monitor. Which of the following instructions should the assistant include? - ANSWER-"You should avoid using an electric blanket during monitoring." The patient should avoid using an electric blanket while wearing a Holter monitor because it can interfere with the recording. A patient arrives at the clinic with a tick bite on his leg. The provider asks a medical assistant to help remove the tick. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Use tweezers to pull the tick away from the skin slowly.
The assistant should grasp the tick with tweezers near the head and pull it away from the patient's skin slowly and steadily. A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about lifestyle modifications to help regulate his hypertension. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the teaching? - ANSWER-"I only smoke a half a pack each day, so I'll just cut it out completely." A patient who has hypertension should eliminate smoking from his lifestyle completely. The assistant should discuss smoking cessation options to help the patient with this lifestyle modification. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take when performing aseptic hand washing? - ANSWER-Turn off the faucet with a paper towel. The assistant should use a paper towel as a barrier to prevent touching contaminated surfaces, such as the faucet. If available, the assistant can also use the sink's foot pedal mechanism to turn off the sink. A medical assistant is measuring the vital signs of an adult patient. The assistant should identify which of the following blood pressure readings as stage 2 hypertension? - ANSWER-150/95 mm Hg The assistant should identify that a blood pressure value of 150/95 mm Hg indicates stage 2 hypertension. Stage 2 hypertension is indicated by a systolic pressure of greater than 140 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure of greater than 90 mm Hg. A medical assistant is preparing to apply ointment to several abrasions on a patients leg. Which of the following supplies should the medical assistant use to remove the medication from the jar? - ANSWER- Tongue blade
Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whistling sound in the ears. Possible causes include adverse effects of medication as well as aging. A medical assistant is administering an intradermal injection for allergy testing. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Locate the area two to three finger widths below the antecubital space. The assistant should locate this area of the patient's inner forearm for the intradermal injection. The assistant should avoid discolored, pigmented, or scarred areas of skin. A medical assistant is preparing to use a glucometer to measure a patient's blood glucose level. Which of the following actions should the assistant take? - ANSWER-Obtain the blood sample after inserting the test strip into the glucometer. The assistant should insert the test strip into the glucometer prior to collecting the blood specimen. Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use when bandaging a wound? - ANSWER- Wrap the wound from distal to proximal. Wounds should always be wrapped from distal to proximal. A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has intermittent peripheral cyanosis for an examination by the provider. The assistant should understand that healthy perfusion of the hands and feet depends on adequate interaction between which of the following two body systems? - ANSWER-Circulatory and respiratory The assistant should recognize that the respiratory system works in conjunction with the circulatory system to provide oxygen to the body.
Prior to a patients follow up appointment, which of the following information should a medical assistant report to the provider? - ANSWER-Recent laboratory results The assistant should report recent laboratory results to the provider prior to the visit so the provider can review them with the patient during the follow-up appointment. A medical assistant observes a provider failing to perform hand hygiene before beginning to remove sutures from a patients hand. The patient's hand later becomes infected. The assistant should identify that which of the following legal torts has occurred? - ANSWER-Negligence Negligence is the failure to exercise proper care for a patient, such as a provider or assistant not performing hand hygiene before starting a procedure. When speaking with a patient who has moderate hearing loss and read lips, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to aid in communication with the patient? - ANSWER-Use hand gestures. Using hand gestures when speaking can assist in the communication process with a patient who reads lips. A medical assistant is reviewing the list of medications a patient reports currently taking. The assistant should recognize that which of the following medications is available in a sublingual form? - ANSWER- Nitroglycerin Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator that is used to treat angina or chest pain. It is available in a sublingual tablet and sublingual spray. A medical assistant is educating an older patient on wound care. Which of the following should the assistant do to ensure patient understandings? - ANSWER-Have the patient repeat information.
