CMA Practice Exam 1

A medical assistant is attempting to perform a routine venipuncture on an older adult patient and is having difficulty locating a palpable vein. Which f the following veins should the assistant use as a last resort?

a. Medial veins

b. Basilic veins

c. Cephalic veins

d. supplemental veins

b. Basilic veins

What is the EKG gain of the tracing below?

a. 5 mm/mV

b. 10 mm/mV

c. 15 mm/mV

d. 20 mm/mV

b. 10 mm/mV

A medical assistant is caring for an infant who weighs 15 kg. How many pounds does the infant weigh?

a. 12.8 Ib

b. 6.82 Ib

c. 33 Ib

d. 17 Ib

c. 33 Ib

A medical assistant is examining the skin on a patient's 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 teams should the assistant use to document their observations in the patient's medical records?

a. Papules

b. Macules

c. Vesicles

d. Pustules

a. Papules

A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching a patient about obtaining a stool sample. Which of the following information should the assistant include?

a. A sample can be obtained from an infant's diaper.

b. Avoid retrieving a sample from toilet water.

c. A sample must be plated within 12 hr.

d. A laxative should be used prior to providing a stool sample.

b. Avoid retrieving a sample from toilet water.

Which of the following dietary supplements promotes bone health?

a. Folic acid

b. Iron

c. Vitamin D

d. Fiber

c. Vitamin D

A medical assistant is assisting a patient who refuses to accept their terminal illness diagnosis. The assistant should identify that this patient is in which of the following Kubler-Ross stages of grief?

a. Denial

b. Anger

c. Bargaining

d. Depression

a. Denial

A medical assistant provides preprocedural instructions to a patient that may require IV contrast and nothing by mouth for 4 to 6 hr. For which of the following diagnostic procedures are these instructions intended?

a. Mammogram

b. Ultrasound

c. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

d. X-ray

c. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has pernicious anemia. The assistant should identify that the patient has a deficiency in which of the following vitamins?

a. Vitamin B

b. Vitamin B6

c. Vitamin B12

d. Vitamin B3

c. Vitamin B12

A medical assistant is performing a hematology test. Which of the following tubes should the assistant use for this test?

a. Serum-separator

b. Red

c. Light green

d. Lavender

d. Lavender

A medical assistant is assisting with a scratch test for a pediatric patient. The assistant should identify that which of the following statements describes the scratch test?

a. Reactions will usually occur within 30 min to 1 hr.

b. Several allergies can be identified at one time.

c. Reactions are typically noted as a numerical value from 10 to 20.

d. Patients may immediately leave after the results of the test are confirmed.

b. Several allergies can be identified at one time.

A medical assistant needs to remove all living microoganisms from a contaminated towel clamp. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to cleanse this instrument?

a. Disinfection

b. Sanitization

c. Sterilization

d. Ultrasonic

c. Sterilization

After a patient leaves an examination room, which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to prepare the examination table for the next patient?

a. Wipe down the table with a 50% solution of household bleach.

b. Roll up the disposable paper on the table tightly and quickly.

c. Crumple the paper before disposing of it.

d. Place the pillow on top of the fresh paper on the table.

b. Roll up the disposable paper on the table tightly and quickly.

Which of the following items is an example of durable medical equipment (DME)?

a. Autoclave

b. Otoscope

c. Syringe

d. Crutches

d. Crutches

Which of the following is outside of a medical assistant's scope of practice?

a. Performing clinical duties under the direct supervision of the provider

b. Ordering additional laboratory tests to confirm the patient's condition

c. Providing directions to a patient about preparation for a diagnostic test

d. Reinforcing instructions about medications and special diet

b. Ordering additional laboratory tests to confirm the patient's condition

A medical assistant should identify that which of the following procedures requires prior authorization?

a. Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)

b. Electrocardiogram (EKG)

c. Endoscopy

d. Urinalysis

c. Endoscopy

A medical assistant is performing an EKG for a patient and notes a life-threatening arrhythmia. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

a. Unhook the patient from the machine and tell them to return later for their results.

b. Tell the patient that their EKG is normal

c. Tell the patient that their EKG is abnormal

d. Keep the patient hooked up to the machine and notify the provider immediately.

d. Keep the patient hooked up to the machine and notify the provider immediately.

A medical assistant receives a call from a patient who is upset about a letter that they received from their third-party payer denying a claim. Which of the following statements should the assistant make?

a. "That's not our fault. Your insurance company has several rules about what they cover and don't cover."

b. "I don't take care of those matters. You'll have to call our billing company."

c. "That kind of thing eventually happens to everyone. If the balance isn't that large, it's better to just pay it than try to fight with them."

d. "Let's see if there is something we can do on our end. I'll ask our claims specialist to review the claim."

d. "Let's see if there is something we can do on our end. I'll ask our claims specialist to review the claim."

Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when communicating with a group of diverse patients?

a. Incorporate generational terms.

b. Including slang.

c. Avoid eye contact.

d. Use a calm tone of voice.

d. Use a calm tone of voice.

The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1988 requires which of the following information about the immunization be documented in a pediatric patient's permanent record?

a. Address of the manufacturer

b. Date the vaccine was manufactured

c. Ingredients in the vaccine

d. Lot number of the vaccine

d. Lot number of the vaccine

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?

a. Raise the height bar when the patient is standing on the scale.

b. Have the patient face the weight indicators on the scale.

c. Have the patient stand up straight and look to one side

d. Lower the horizontal bar gently so that it rests on the top of the patient's head.

d. Lower the horizontal bar gently so that it rests on the top of the patient's head.

While measuring a patient's pulse, the medical assistant should identify that which of the following patient factors can contribute to an erroneous pulse rate?

a. Blood pressure

b. Weight

c. Movement

d. Hydration

c. Movement

Which of the following procedures requires verbal consent?

a. Biopsy

b. Colonoscopy

c. Stress test

d. Venipuncture

d. Venipuncture

Which of the following pieces of equipment is used for removing cancers of the skin?

a. Electrosurgical unit

b. Operating microscope

c. Cryoprobe

d. Endoscope

c. Cryoprobe

Which of the following is a common root word?

a. Tripsy

b. Append

c. Anti

d. A

b. Append

A medical assistant should identify that which of the following designates a specific person who is authorized to make medical decisions for a patient?

a. Durable power of attorney

b. Organ donation status

c. Living will

d. Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order

a. Durable power of attorney

A medical assistant is obtaining a blood sample from an infant. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to obtain the sample?

a. Evacuated tube method

b, Butterfly assembly

c. Syringe needle

d. Capillary puncture

d. Capillary puncture

When coding with the ICD-10-CM, where should the medical assistant begin the process of looking up a diagnosis code for breast cancer?

a. The Tabular list

b. The Alphabetic Index

c. Chapters

d. Subchapters

b. The Alphabetic Index

A medical assistant is attempting to resolve a patient complaint. The assistant should identify that which of the following describes the defense mechanism of reaction formation?

a. The patient rejects the information completely.

b. The patient expresses the opposite of what they actually feel.

c. The patient is consciously aware of their feelings but refuses to admit it.

d. The patient reverts to expressively immature behavior.

b. The patient expresses the opposite of what they actually feel.

Which of the following laboratory values should a medical assistant report to the provider immediately?

a. Blood glucose 500 mg/dL

b. Potassium 4.1 mEq/L

c. Hematocrit 42%

d. Hemoglobin 15 g/dL

a. Blood glucose 500 mg/dL

Which of the following must be entered into the electronic health record (EHR) by a provider using computerized physician order entry (CPOE)?

a. Medical laboratory test orders

b. Diagnostic test orders

c. Hospital orders

d. Medications

c. Hospital orders

Which of the following sections of the health history contains the patient's identifiers, such as the patient's full name and date of birth?

a. Personal data

b. Review of systems

c. Chief complaint

d. Past medical history

a. Personal data

Which of the following is the proper time period for the collection of a newborn screening card?

a. Within 48 to 72 hr after birth

b. Within 24 to 48 hr after birth

c. 8 to 14 days after birth

d. 15 to 28 days after birth

b. Within 24 to 48 hr after birth

When assisting a provider with vaginal examination and Papanicolaou (Pap) test, a medical assistant should identify that which of the following instruments is necessary?

a. Cryoprobe

b, Senn retractor

c. Adson forceps

d. Cytobrush

d. Cytobrush

A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has psoriasis to be examined by the provider. When inspecting the patient's skin lesions, the assistant should expect to observe which of the following characteristics?

a. Yellow, waxy

b. Gray,crusty

c. Silvery, scaly

d. Brown, flat

c. Silvery, scaly

Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results in the tracing going into the margins of the paper?

a. wandering baseline

b. AC interference

c. Interrupted baseline

d. Somatic tremor

c. Interrupted baseline

A medical assistant is preparing a patient to transition care to an oncologist due to a recent cancer diagnosis. Which of the following is a personal factor that could potentially influence a patient's perception of their diagnosis?

a. Age

b. Family

c. Peers

d. Social media

a. Age

A medical assistant is documenting in a patient's medical record after performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The assistant should identify that which of the following acronyms is used to indicate cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

a. CPT

b. CRP

c. CPR

d. CC

c. CPR

A medical assistant is walking a patient back to the examination room following a laboratory test. The patient asks about the results of the test. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

a. Inform the patient that the provider will review with them in the examination room.

b. Continue escorting the patient to the examination room while discussing their results quietly.

c. Stop the provider in the hallway and have the patient ask about their test results.

d. Have the patient take a seat in an open area and inform them of their results.

a. Inform the patient that the provider will review with them in the examination room.

A medical assistant is classifying services that a patient requires. The assistant should identify which of the following as an ancillary diagnostic service?

a. Cardiology

b. Pathology

c. Oncology

d. Gerontology

b. Pathology

A medical assistant is preparing a patient for a physical examination.

which of the following steps should the assistant take first?

a. Give the patient a paper gown.

b. Verify the patient's identity.

c. Record the patient's vital signs.

d. Assist the patient into Fowler's position.

b. Verify the patient's identity.

Which of the following may result in a denied claim?

a. The patient is covered by an insurance plan.

b. A procedure was listed as an insurance benefit.

c. Preauthorization for services was obtained.

d. Medical necessity was unconfirmed.

d. Medical necessity was unconfirmed.

A medical assistant is preparing to perform an EKG test for a patient. In which of the following locations should the assistant place the electrodes?

a. Just above the ankles

b. Just above the knees

c. On top of the ankles

d. On top of the feet

a. Just above the ankles

At which of the following times should a medical assistant schedule a return appointment for an established patient?

a. Prior to the patient being seen for their current appointment

b. Before the patient leaves the office following their current appointment

c. 2 weeks following their current appointment

d. 1 month following their current appointment

b. Before the patient leaves the office following their current appointment

A medical assistant is filling out an incident report following exposure to a patient's blood. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

a. Submit the incident report to the front desk.

b. Include a copy of the incident report in the patient's health record.

c. Document witness statements in the incident report.

d. Document the incident report in pencil for easy editing.

c. Document witness statements in the incident report.

Which of the following sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is bacterial?

a. Gonorrhea

b. Herpes simplex

c. Trichomoniasis

d. Public lice

a. Gonorrhea

A medical assistant is preparing an examination room for a wellness screening. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure the safety of the patient?

a. Dim the lighting in the examination room.

b. Remove clutter from the examination room.

c. Reuse the examination table paper.

d. Clean and stock the examination room weekly.

b. Remove clutter from the examination room.

A medical assistant is performing a credit adjustment on a patient's account. At which of the following times should the assistant post the adjustment to the patient's ledger?

a. At the same time the payment is posted

b. Within 1 week of services performed

c. After the check is returned from the bank

d. Before the balance on the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is entered

a. At the same time the payment is posted

A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who recently received a terminal diagnosis. The patient states, "I regret not taking better care of myself. Now, I won't be able to accomplish what I wanted to do with my life." The assistant should identify that the patient is in which of the following stages of grief?

a. Anger

b. Baraging

c. Depression

d. Acceptance

c. Depression

A medical assistant asks a patient to complete a health questionnaire. In which of the following sections of the questionnaire should the patient include information about tobacco and alcohol use?

a. Pat medical history

b. Social history

c. Family history

d. Surgical history

b. Social history

A provider asks a medical assistant to give a patient a sample of Prilosec. The assistant should identify that which of the following medications is an example of a look-alike/sound-alike medication for Prilosec?

a. Promethazine

b. Prozac

c. Rosuvastatin

d. Roxicet

b. Prozac

Which of the following test samples are collected as evidence in legal proceedings and require special procedures to prevent tampering?

a. Hemoglobin and hematocrit

b. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4)

c. Drug and alcohol

d. BUN and creatine

c. Drug and alcohol

A medical assistant is administering a medication to a patient. Following administration, the patient experiences shortness of breath, dizziness, and throat tightening. The assistant should identify that the patient is likely experiencing which of the following?

a. Septic shock

b. Hematemesis

c. Anaphylactic shock

d. Hypothermia

c. Anaphylactic shock

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?

a. Ensure the specimen has a volume of 20 mL.

b. Record the specimen's temperature 8 min after collection.

c. Send the specimen to the testing laboratory on the same day as the collection.

d. Ask the provider to supervise the collection and shipment of the specimen.

c. Send the specimen to the testing laboratory on the same day as the collection.

A provider prescribes a new diabetes medication during a patient's visit. Which of the following questions should the medical assistant ask the patient to ensure there are no potential medication interactions?

a. "Are you currently taking any over-the-counter, herbal, or prescription medications?"

b. "Are you fasting"

c. "What is the date of your last menstrual period?"

d. "What medications would you like the doctor to discontinue?"

a. "Are you currently taking any over-the-counter, herbal, or prescription medications?"

A medical assistant is providing instructions to a patient about how to take an extended-release medication orally. Which of the following patient statements indicates a need for further teaching?

a. "I can crush or chew the pill if it is too hard for me to swallow."

b. "I should drink plenty of water when taking the extended-release pill."

c. "Extended release pills provide a consistent amount of medication for my body to use over a period of time."

d. "I should take my pill at the same time each day."

a. "I can crush or chew the pill if it is too hard for me to swallow."

Which of the following describes when a primary care provider, pharmacist, therapist, and a medical assistant work together to ensure the appropriate dose of psychotic drugs are being prescribed for a patient?

a. Teamwork

b. Cultural diversity

c. Patient advocacy

d. Work ethics

a. Teamwork

A medical assistant is checking a patient's hearing using the Weber test. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

a. Position a vibrating tuning fork over the patient's mastoid process.

b. Invert a vibrating tuning fork while the patient still hears a sound.

c. Instruct the patient to raise their hand when they no longer hear any sound.

d. Ask the patient if they hear the vibration louder in one ear than the other.

d. Ask the patient if they hear the vibration louder in one ear than the other.

A medical assistant is evaluating red blood cells (RBCs) microscopically. The assistant should identify that which of the following refers to an enlarged RBC?

a. Normochromic

b. Normocytic

c. Macrocytic

d. Hypochromic

c. Macrocytic

Which of the following is a parenteral method of administering medications?

a. Oral

b. Rectal

c. Sublingual

d. Subcutaneous

d. Subcutaneous

A medical assistant is preparing a preschooler for a physical. Which of the following therapeutic communication techniques should the assistant use when establishing rapport with the child?

a. Stand above the child.

b. Speak quietly

c. Maintain eye contact.

d. Offer treatment choices to the patient.

c. Maintain eye contact.

Which of the following terms refers to muscle pain?

a. Myopia

b. Myalgia

c. Myositis

d. Malaise

b. Myalgia

A medical assistant is speaking on the phone with a patient who is very upset. After unsuccessfully diffusing the situation, which of the following individuals should the assistant notify?

a. Supervisor

b. Coworker

c. Provider

d. Patient's family member

a. Supervisor

A medical assistant is preparing to perform a routine venipuncture. Prior to performing the venipuncture, which of the following information should the assistant obtain to verify the patient's identity?

a. Patient's social security number

b. Patient's phone number

c. Patient's full name

d. Patient's place of birth

c. Patient's full name

Which of the following drug classification reduces the progression of cancer cells?

a. Antineoplastics

b. Analgesics

c. Antitussives

d. Antiemetics

a. Antineoplastics

A medical assistant is preparing a student for a patient's upcoming virtual visit. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

a. Schedule the patient a visit with the hospitalist

b. Ensure the appropriate release forms are completed by the patient prior to the visit.

c. Ensure the provider has all required equipment in the medical bag for the visit.

d. Tell the patient to arrive at the office 15 min before their scheduled appointment.

b. Ensure the appropriate release forms are completed by the patient prior to the visit.

A patient's inability to trust health care workers is an example of which of the following barriers in health care?

a. Language

b. Boundaries

c. Cultural competence

d. Cultural differences

d. Cultural differences

A medical assistant should identify that which of the following pieces of equipment must be disinfected before and after use?

a. Otoscope

b. Nasal specula

c. Surgical scissors

d. Penlight

b. Nasal specula

Which of the following departments is responsible for reviewing coagulation tests?

a. Hematology

b. Chemistry

c. Microbiology

d. Immunohematology

a. Hematology

Which of the following signed forms should be on file in a patient's electronic health record in order for the medical assistant to discuss the patient's claim with a third-party payer?

a. Medical records release

b. Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)

c. Advance directives

d. Release information

d. Release information

Which of the following ensures health care professionals uphold and respect a patient's choice regarding their medical care?

a. Affordable Care Act (ACA)

b. Good Samaritan Laws

c. Patient's Bill of Rights

d. Civil Rights Act

c. Patient's Bill of Rights

A superbill must include which of the following information to ensure accurate billing?

a. Diagnosis code

b. Authorization number

c. Return visit date

d. Security code

a. Diagnosis code

A medical assistant is preparing a community resource library. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first?

a. Collect feedback from patients about their experiences with the resources.

b. Update the community resource information.

c. Compile a list of local community agencies.

d. Make a spreadsheet that has the contact information of services.

c. Compile a list of local community agencies.

A medical assistant receives a phone call from a parent of a child who has possibly ingested a household cleaner. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

a. Tell the parents to call back after obtaining the child's vital signs.

b. Instruct the parent to administer syrup of ipecac to the child.

c. Direct the parent to manually induce vomiting.

d. Contact the local poison control center.

d. Contact the local poison control center.

A medical assistant is preparing to submit a referral to a cardiologist via fax. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first?

a. Dial the receiving fax machine's telephone number.

b.Check the fax machine's connection.

c. Prepare a fax cover sheet.

d. Scan the document.

c. Prepare a fax cover sheet.