ccma studying

What is the FIRST priority when a patient shows chest pain, shortness of breath, and diaphoresis?
A. Get insurance info
B. Escort to restroom
C. Apply oxygen and notify provider
D. Complete paperwork

 Apply oxygen and notify provider

What should you do if a medication label is unreadable?
A. Use it if dose is correct
B. Ask another MA to check
C. Discard and get a new vial
D. Use only with provider approval

Discard and get a new vial

What should you do FIRST when a patient faints during a procedure?
A. Remove needle
B. Finish procedure
C. Lower head and protect from injury
D. Ask patient to breathe deeply  

 Lower head and protect from injury

Before giving lab results over the phone, what must you do?
A. Give results immediately
B. Verify identity with two identifiers
C. Ask patient to come in
D. Transfer to billing 

Verify identity with two identifiers

A diabetic patient is sweating, shaking, dizzy, and confused. What condition is likely?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Hypertension
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Ketoacidosis

Hypoglycemia

Which lab value is critical and must be reported immediately?
A. Glucose 92 mg/dL
B. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
C. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
D. Sodium 138 mEq/L

Potassium 2.8 mEq/L

What should you do if a patient withdraws consent?
A. Tell them refusal is not allowed
B. Re-sign consent
C. Notify provider immediately
D. Continue preparing patient 

Notify provider immediately

Which action violates OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards?
A. Handwashing after glove removal
B. Recapping needles with two hands
C. Using sharps containers
D. Wearing gloves 

Recapping needles with two hands

Which test monitors warfarin therapy?
A. A1C
B. Troponin
C. INR
D. Creatinine

INR

Hives, wheezing, and swelling after an injection indicate:
A. Stroke
B. MI
C. Anaphylaxis
D. Hypoglycemia 

Anaphylaxis

Which pulse site is used during adult CPR?
A. Radial
B. Brachial
C. Carotid
D. Pedal 

Carotid

A respiratory rate of 8/min requires:
A. Let patient rest
B. Notify provider immediately
C. Give water
D. Reassess in 30 min

Notify provider immediately

Which position is best for rectal examination?
A. Fowler’s
B. Lithotomy
C. Sims’
D. Trendelenburg  

Sims

What should you do if a sterile field is contaminated?
A. Continue setup
B. Apply antiseptic
C. Replace drape
D. Ask provider 

Replace drape

Which precautions are required for tuberculosis?
A. Contact
B. Airborne
C. Droplet
D. Standard

Airborne

Which needle gauge is appropriate for adult IM injections?
A. 18 gauge
B. 21–25 gauge
C. 27–30 gauge
D. 31 gauge 

21–25 gauge

What prevents claim denials?
A. Leave diagnosis codes blank
B. Verify insurance eligibility
C. Submit handwritten claims
D. Avoid documentation review 

Verify insurance eligibility

What does STAT mean?
A. Within 24 hours
B. Immediately
C. Before meals
D. Weekly 

 Immediately

Which chamber pumps oxygenated blood to the body?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle 

 Left ventricle

What should you do if a patient smokes while on oxygen?
A. Ignore it
B. Remove oxygen and stop activity
C. Wait for provider
D. Open window

Remove oxygen and stop activity

Hypotension, tachycardia, cool clammy skin after bleeding indicates:
A. Hypertensive crisis
B. Septic shock
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Hyperglycemia  

Hypovolemic shock

What is FIRST for a COPD patient with O2 sat 86% and distress?
A. Complete paperwork
B. Return to waiting room
C. Apply oxygen and notify provider
D. Give water   

Apply oxygen and notify provider

What should you do if a patient on anticoagulants continues bleeding after venipuncture?
A. Apply more direct pressure
B. Apply tourniquet
C. Send patient home
D. Massage site

 Apply more direct pressure

What is FIRST when a post‑surgical patient becomes pale and collapses?
A. Continue walking
B. Protect from injury and call for help
C. Offer food
D. Draw blood   

Protect from injury and call for help

A fasting glucose of 38 mg/dL requires:
A. File report
B. Notify provider and assist patient
C. Reschedule
D. Wait for provider 

 Notify provider and assist patient

Most important action for a severe latex allergy?
A. Use standard gloves
B. Prepare latex‑free environment
C. Ask if allergy still exists
D. Tell provider later 

Prepare latex‑free environment

Which question is MOST important when symptoms occur after new medication?
A. Favorite pharmacy?
B. When did you last eat?
C. When did symptoms begin?
D. Recent travel?

When did symptoms begin?

What should you do if a patient reports chest pain during ECG?
A. Continue ECG
B. Notify provider and stay with patient
C. Remove electrodes
D. Reschedule 

 Notify provider and stay with patient

Which specimen must be protected from light?
A. Bilirubin
B. CBC
C. Throat culture
D. Urinalysis 

  Bilirubin

Which urine collection is used for culture and sensitivity?
A. First urine only
B. Clean‑catch midstream
C. Room temp storage
D. After large meal 

Clean‑catch midstream

Calf pain, redness, warmth, and swelling indicate:
A. Asthma
B. Pneumonia
C. DVT
D. Hypoglycemia

DVT

What is FIRST for a sweating, trembling, confused insulin patient?
A. Complete paperwork
B. Check glucose and notify provider
C. Exercise
D. Wait quietly

Check glucose and notify provider

What is FIRST when smoke comes from an electrical outlet?
A. Continue working
B. Activate fire alarm
C. Pour water
D. Open windows 

Activate fire alarm

Most immediate threat in GI bleeding?
A. Anxiety
B. Shock from poor perfusion
C. Increased appetite
D. Muscle weakness 

Shock from poor perfusion

What is FIRST for CHF patient with crackles and O2 sat 84%?
A. Complete paperwork
B. Supine position
C. Notify provider and place in Fowler’s
D. Return to waiting room

 Notify provider and place in Fowler’s

Rapid breathing, tingling lips, and dizziness indicate:
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Hyperventilation
C. Stroke
D. Cardiac arrest 

Hyperventilation

RLQ pain, fever, rebound tenderness suggests:
A. Allergies
B. GERD
C. Appendicitis
D. Muscle strain

Appendicitis

Which angle is appropriate for subcutaneous insulin injection?
A. 10°
B. 25°
C. 45°
D. 90° 

only 45°

What is FIRST for an opioid patient with RR 6/min?
A. Walk around
B. Notify provider and activate emergency response
C. Offer food
D. Reassess

 Notify provider and activate emergency response

What should you do when a patient expresses suicidal intent?
A. Tell them it’s fine
B. Leave them alone
C. Notify provider and stay with patient
D. Have them sign waiver   

 Notify provider and stay with patient

Which cleaning method is required for dried blood?
A. Water only
B. Approved disinfectant
C. Leave for housekeeping
D. Sweep into waste

 Approved disinfectant

What should you do if a fasting patient drank coffee with sugar?
A. Proceed normally
B. Notify provider before collecting
C. Tell patient not to mention it
D. Don’t document 

Notify provider before collecting

Knees‑to‑chest position indicates:
A. Relaxation
B. Abdominal pain relief
C. Better circulation
D. Lung expansion

Abdominal pain relief

What is FIRST after a medication error?
A. Hide mistake
B. Notify provider and monitor patient
C. Ask patient not to tell
D. Document correct dose only

 Notify provider and monitor patient

What is FIRST when a TB patient arrives coughing without a mask?
A. Escort to airborne isolation and provide mask
B. Ask them to wait outside
C. Continue registration
D. Ignore

Escort to airborne isolation and provide mask

Nausea and yellow halos indicate:
A. Normal side effects
B. Digoxin toxicity
C. Need more medication
D. Unrelated symptoms  

Digoxin toxicity

Which action contaminates a sterile field?
A. Opening packages away from body
B. Reaching over field
C. Keeping objects above waist
D. Using sterile gloves

 Reaching over field

BP 224/118 with headache and chest pain indicates:
A. Hypovolemic shock
B. Hypertensive crisis
C. Anxiety
D. Orthostatic hypotension

Hypertensive crisis

After activating EMS and getting AED, what is NEXT for an unresponsive patient?
A. Check carotid pulse and start CPR if no pulse
B. Wait for EMS
C. Place in Sims’
D. Give water

Check carotid pulse and start CPR if no pulse

Fever, chills, sore throat in a chemotherapy patient suggests:
A. Allergies
B. Neutropenia and infection risk
C. Normal side effects
D. Dehydration

Neutropenia and infection risk

A patient suddenly becomes cyanotic and is gasping for air in the waiting room. What should the medical assistant do FIRST?
A. Offer water
B. Check insurance
C. Activate emergency response and stay with the patient
D. Ask the patient to sit quietly 

Activate emergency response and stay with the patient

Which action is required when cleaning a blood spill on a countertop?
A. Use warm water only
B. Use an EPA‑approved disinfectant
C. Wipe with dry gauze
D. Leave it for housekeeping 

Use an EPA‑approved disinfectant

Which ECG change indicates ventricular repolarization?
A. P wave
B. PR interval
C. QRS complex
D. T wave   

T wave

A patient with a known peanut allergy begins wheezing after eating a snack in the lobby. What is the MOST important action?
A. Give the patient juice
B. Notify the provider and prepare for epinephrine
C. Ask the patient to lie down
D. Take vital signs

B. Notify the provider and prepare for epinephrine

Which PPE is required when entering a room of a patient on droplet precautions?
A. N95 respirator
B. Gown only
C. Surgical mask
D. Gloves only  

Surgical mask

A patient reports dizziness after taking a new antihypertensive medication. What should the MA ask FIRST?
A. “Did you eat breakfast?”
B. “When did you take the medication?”
C. “Do you want water?”
D. “What pharmacy do you use?” 

“When did you take the medication?”

Which finding requires IMMEDIATE provider notification?
A. BP 118/72 mmHg
B. Pulse 58/min in an athlete
C. O2 saturation 82% on room air
D. Respiratory rate 16/min 

 O2 saturation 82% on room air

During a venipuncture, the patient reports sharp, shooting pain down the arm. What should the MA do FIRST?
A. Continue the draw
B. Ask the patient to relax
C. Withdraw the needle immediately
D. Tighten the tourniquet  

 Withdraw the needle immediately

Which action breaks sterile technique?
A. Keeping hands above waist level
B. Opening packages away from the body
C. Turning your back on the sterile field
D. Wearing sterile gloves   

Turning your back on the sterile field

A patient taking insulin becomes pale, shaky, and confused. What is the FIRST action?
A. Give high‑carb snack if allowed
B. Ask the patient to rest
C. Document symptoms
D. Have the patient complete forms

 Give high‑carb snack if allowed

At what angle should a subcutaneous insulin injection be administered for an average‑weight adult?
A. 10°
B. 25°
C. 45°
D. 90° 

45°

At what angle should an intramuscular (IM) injection be administered?
A. 15°
B. 45°
C. 60°
D. 90° 

90°

At what angle should an intradermal (ID) injection be administered?
A. 10–15°
B. 45°
C. 75°
D. 90°

10–15°

Which part of the ECG represents atrial depolarization?
A. P wave
B. QRS complex
C. T wave
D. PR interval

 P wave

Which part of the ECG represents ventricular depolarization?
A. P wave
B. QRS complex
C. T wave
D. U wave

QRS complex

Where should the V4 electrode be placed during a standard 12‑lead ECG?
A. 4th intercostal space, right sternal border
B. 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. 5th intercostal space, anterior axillary line
D. Midaxillary line at the 5th intercostal space   

 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line

Where should the V1 electrode be placed during a standard 12‑lead ECG?
A. 4th intercostal space, right sternal border
B. 4th intercostal space, left sternal border
C. 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
D. 2nd intercostal space, right sternal border  

4th intercostal space, right sternal border

At what angle should the needle be inserted for venipuncture?
A. 5–10°
B. 15–30°
C. 45°
D. 90° 

 15–30°