Clinical Medical Assistant Practice Test Review

374 question-and-answer flashcards drawn from the CMA practice test covering clinical, administrative, and foundational knowledge areas.

Which behavior is an example of integrity?

Acknowledging one’s mistakes.

During sputum collection, what should a patient do before coughing up the specimen?

Take a deep breath.

When preparing a wound for suturing, how should the CMA cleanse the wound?

Wipe from the center toward the edge with an antiseptic swab.

How far away from a pacemaker should AED electrodes be placed?

two inches away

After opening mail in the office, what should the CMA do with each letter?

Attach the envelope to the letter.

What term describes the difference between the provider’s charge and the insurance payment?

Adjustment.

Which billing form is used for Medicare patients in a physician’s office?

CMS-1500.

On which sheet are daily procedures, payments, and adjustments posted at day’s end?

Day sheet.

When teaching crutch use, what elbow position should be maintained?

20°–30° flexion.

Which item is mandatory on a PAP-smear tray?

Vaginal speculum.

Which bandage type is best for dressing finger wounds?

Tube gauze.

After completing a surgical scrub, how should hands be held?

Fingers up (hands held higher than elbows).

What is the most accurate way to measure an infant’s head circumference?

Wrap the tape above the ears, bring it around until it meets.

No other vein is available except the right hand; which device should be used to draw blood?

Butterfly needle.

Which patient action shows compliance with NPO status before surgery?

Eating dinner by 7 pm the night before surgery.

Which respiratory procedure involves visual examination of lungs through a small camera at the end of a flexible tube?

Bronchoscopy.

For a patient on anticoagulant therapy, how long should pressure be applied after venipuncture?

At least 5 minutes.

Which patient identifier must appear on every lab requisition?

Medical record number.

According to the CDC, how long can hepatitis C virus survive on an exam table?

Up to 3 weeks.

Why are blood-culture tubes filled first in the order of draw?

To prevent cross-contamination.

If stepping away from a computer displaying a patient chart, what must the CMA do?

Close the chart and lock the computer screen.

Which test detects occult blood in stool?

Fecal occult blood test.

For wound prep before suturing, which cleansing pattern is correct?

Wipe from the center outward with an antiseptic.

Which information should be given to a patient after surgery?

Wound-care instructions.

Which department pays the monthly office-rent invoice?

Accounts payable.

What courtesy helps prevent negative impressions when checking in a patient?

Smile and make eye contact.

How often should demographic and insurance data be updated?

At every appointment.

Who must sign chain-of-custody forms for a drug test specimen?

Every individual who will handle the specimen.

Which limb lead serves as the ground (reference) electrode?

Right leg.

Which ECG lead runs from the right arm to the left leg?

Lead II.

Which patient call must be transferred to a physician, not handled by the CMA?

Requesting emergency medical advice.

What water temperature is used for ear irrigation?

Room temperature.

Which drug-administration route is best when the patient is nauseated and vomiting?

Rectal.

If specimen labels are mixed up, what is the best action?

Recollect both specimens.

Where should blood-soiled examination gloves be discarded?

In a receptacle with a red biohazard bag.

Which region is most commonly used for venipuncture?

Antecubital fossa.

Which item is missing from a finger-stick supply list of alcohol swab, cotton, gloves, container, sharps box?

Sterile lancet.

What patient information is needed to size crutches correctly?

Patient’s height.

Which scheduling method is strictly first-come, first-served?

Open-hours scheduling.

Practicing good hygiene and dressing properly demonstrates which trait to employers?

Professionalism.

Which medication is an anticoagulant?

Warfarin (Coumadin).

Scheduling several obstetric follow-ups in the same time slot is called what?

Cluster scheduling.

Which ECG lead measures from heart center to left leg positive?

aVF.

Which tube color is used for glucose testing?

Gray-top tube.

What is the proper bleach-to-water ratio for a cleaning solution?

1 : 10.

What is the first step in breaking the chain of infection?

Hand washing.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is classified as which infection type?

Nosocomial infection.

Under what circumstance may a CMA accept a third-party check?

When the check is from the patient’s health-insurance company.

Why does a patient rub hands together before a capillary stick?

To increase peripheral blood flow.

Which chest lead is placed at the left anterior axillary line?

Lead V5.

Which Vacutainer color is most common for hematology tests?

Lavender.

A drug that blocks the action of another drug is called what?

An antagonist.

What is the general purpose of laboratory tests on patient specimens?

To detect biomarkers indicating disease.

Which copy notation shows the recipient knows a copy went elsewhere?

“c:” notation.

“Demerol 75 mg IM q4h prn severe pain” represents what medication order type?

PRN order.

Which acronym describes fire-extinguisher use?

P.A.S.S.

When screening a hearing-impaired patient, how should the CMA speak?

Face the patient and speak in a normal tone.

What diet is recommended for high LDL/HDL levels?

Low-cholesterol diet.

Which equipment is best for venipuncture in a patient with small, fragile veins?

Butterfly needle with a syringe.

Preferred position for drawing blood from a patient with syncope history?

Supine (lying down).

What is the most common route for nitroglycerin administration?

Sublingual.

Which of the following is a CPT code?

99202.

Co-insurance is best defined as what?

A fixed percentage of covered charges paid by the insured.

A corneal-abrasion referral should be made to which specialist?

Ophthalmologist.

Which blood test requires a green-top (heparin) tube?

STAT chemistry panel.

When instructing on water intake, what should patients be told?

It is recommended to drink 7–10 glasses of water daily.

Which service generally requires preauthorization?

Bone-density test.

What term describes the period between exposure and first symptoms?

Incubation period.

Hand antisepsis requires what product?

Antimicrobial soap.

On ECG paper, how much time does one small box represent?

0.04 second.

Which tube color contains additive that inhibits glycolysis?

Gray.

In what position should a patient lie during an ECG?

Supine.

Regular aspirin use most affects which lab test?

Bleeding-time test.

Define pathogens.

Microbes capable of causing disease.

Which tube color is used for an ESR test?

Lavender.

What is the most common route by which pathogens spread?

Touching.

Buccal-route instructions: where is the medicine placed?

Between the lower gum/teeth and cheek.

Rapid, noticeable heartbeat awareness is called what?

Palpitation.

Which action shows accountability by a CMA?

Immediately reporting an error in a patient’s lab work.

- A list of supplies needed to draw blood with a butterfly needle includes a needle, tube holder, tourniquet, gauze, alcohol swab, and bandages. What item 1s missing from the list

Evacuated collection tube.

Understanding cultural differences in health care promotes what?

Diversity.

If on the phone when a patient arrives, what should the CMA do?

Ask the caller to hold, then assist the patient.

With a hemoglobin of 15 g/dL, what is the approximate hematocrit?

45 %.

Listening to internal body sounds for diagnosis is called what?

Auscultation.

What is a secure way to transmit electronic patient data?

Use a secured wireless network.

How should infectious specimens be packaged for transport?

In a leak-proof container.

Which age-related change can complicate venipuncture in elders?

Loss of skin elasticity.

Which agency enforces the Controlled Substances Act?

DEA.

Which manual gives staff instructions for job processes?

Procedures manual.

Which rhythm is NOT a dysrhythmia?

Normal sinus rhythm.

To request a lab report, what patient data must be supplied?

Patient’s name and date of birth.

Which test is NOT part of a CBC?

Activated partial-thromboplastin time (aPTT).

Why do evacuated tubes contain anticoagulant additives?

To keep the blood from clotting.

One standardized element on chemical product labels is what?

Pictograms.

Light-blue tubes contain which additive?

Sodium citrate.

Which tube is preferred when serum is required?

Red/gray (SST) tube.

Best practice when a patient doesn’t speak English?

Use a professional medical interpreter.

Common capillary puncture site in infants?

Lateral (outer) side of the heel.

Proper patient position for a Pap smear?

Lithotomy.

How should documentation errors be corrected?

Strike through once, initial, and write the correct entry.