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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

NHA CCMA Exam Questions

Page 3 of 25

41.

What three measurements should be plotted on the growth chart for children from birth to 36 months of age?

  • Head circumference, height, and weight

  • BMI, weight, and height

  • Head circumference, BMI, and weight

  • Head circumference, femur length, and weight

Correct answer: Head circumference, height, and weight

Head circumference directly correlates to growth of the brain and is routinely measured from birth until 36 months of age. Height and weight are also measured and documented on appropriate growth charts from birth through adulthood.

42.

The medical assistant is interviewing a patient. When the patient finishes their explanation, it appears that they want to say more. The medical assistant decides to remain quiet. What is the medical assistant doing?

  • Using silence as an active listening tool

  • Using reflection as an active listening tool

  • Using an open-ended question as an active listening tool

  • Using clarification as an active listening tool

Correct answer: Using silence as an active listening tool

Silence is an active listening tool that is used to give the patient the opportunity to continue what they are saying. This allows them to decide whether to continue on the same topic or change the subject.

Reflection is repeating the exact same sentence the patient used. Using an open-ended question would have required the medical assistant to ask the patient a question. Clarification would have required the medical assistant to ask the patient to clarify their statement.

43.

An adult patient reports drinking a cup of coffee in the waiting room about five minutes ago. You need to check her oral temperature. What should you do?

  • Choose a different type of thermometer.

  • Take her temperature orally and document that she recently consumed a hot beverage.

  • Proceed with the exam.

  • Give her cold water to drink and wait a few minutes before taking an oral temperature.

Correct answer: Choose a different type of thermometer.

The recent ingestion of hot or cold beverages can result in a false oral temperature reading. Choose a different method of taking the patient's temperature; for example, you can use an axillary (armpit) thermometer. If one is not available, wait 15 minutes for the patient's body temperature to regulate, then obtain an oral temperature. 

44.

An outbreak of the flu is spreading through the community, and your clinic waiting room is full of ill patients. While rooming the next patient, you notice an elderly woman in the waiting room who appears to be in distress. Her face has a grayish hue, and she is clutching her chest with one hand. You suspect she needs urgent attention. 

What should you do next?

  • Immediately notify the triage registered nurse about the patient for immediate screening.

  • Call 911.

  • Inform the patient that you are taking her to the emergency room for evaluation.

  • Have the patient lie on an exam table and provide her with two liters of oxygen by nasal cannula until the physician can see her.

Correct answer: Immediately notify the triage registered nurse about the patient for immediate screening.

It is outside a medical assistant's (MA's) scope of practice to make medical decisions or provide treatment without a direct order from a qualified medical provider. In this instance, the medical assistant should immediately ask the registered nurse in charge of triage to make contact with the patient. 

Providing any other medical care, including administering oxygen, would be outside the MA's scope of practice. It is unnecessary to call 911 or take the patient to the emergency room when supervising clinicians are available to treat her.

45.

Giovanni is labeling a hematology specimen that he drew before sending it to the lab for processing. Unfortunately, the label printer is down, and so he is unable to print the patient's barcode as he normally would. Instead, he must use a blank white label and prepare the specimen for transport.

What information should be included when hand-writing the label for a specimen?

  • Patient's name, date of birth, date, and medical assistant's initials

  • Clinic name, patient's name, and date of collection

  • Patient's name, gender, diagnosis, and date of collection

  • Patient's name, medical assistant's name, and doctor's name

Correct answer: Patient's name, date of birth, date, and medical assistant's initials

Specimens should be labeled and sent with a requisition form. The requisition form will contain information including:

  • Clinic/office name
  • Patient gender
  • Patient diagnosis
  • Doctor's name

The specimen label only requires the patient name, date of birth, specimen collection date, and initials of the person who collected it.  

46.

You are working in a hospital in a medical-surgical unit. A patient experiences a sudden cardiac emergency, and a "Code Blue" is announced on the unit's intercom system. 

What would be your role in this "Code Blue" situation?

  • Performing CPR

  • Assessing the patient and ordering treatments

  • Administering intravenous medications

  • Leaving the unit to reduce traffic 

Correct answer: Performing CPR

During a code, basic life support is provided by members of the team. The doctor assesses the patient and orders treatment. The nurses administer medication and may perform CPR. The medical assistant's role is to assist with procedures, perform CPR, document, and assist with caring for the family as needed.

47.

Above all, what needs to be honored beyond patient wishes?

  • Patient rights

  • Patient needs

  • Patient desires

  • Patient obligations

Correct answer: Patient rights

Above all, patient rights are expected to be respected and followed. Patient rights include the right to life, to privacy, to autonomy, and to the means to sustain life.

Although a patient's needs, desires, and wishes should be taken into account, their rights should never be violated under any circumstances.

48.

Which of the following describes the proper technique for removing sutures?

  • Pick up the suture knot with thumb forceps. Place the curved tip of the suture scissors beneath the suture, as close to the skin as is comfortable, and cut. Gently pull the suture at the knot with the forceps until it is completely removed from the skin.

  • Pick up the suture with thumb forceps close to the skin. Place the curved tip of the suture scissors beneath the suture knot and cut the knot in half. Pull the suture free of the skin with the forceps.

  • Pick up the suture knot with thumb forceps. Place the curved tip of the suture scissors beneath one side of the knot and cut. Repeat on the other side of the knot, removing the knot. Pull the suture free of the skin with the forceps.

  • Slide the curved tip of the suture scissors beside the suture knot and cut. Grasp the free end of the suture with thumb forceps and gently pull until the suture is free of the skin, tugging lightly if the knot resists pulling through the skin.

Correct answer: Pick up the suture knot with thumb forceps. Place the curved tip of the suture scissors beneath the suture, as close to the skin as is comfortable, and cut. Gently pull the suture at the knot with the forceps until it is completely removed from the skin.

The suture should be cut cleanly and pulled gently by the knot. This allows the free end of the suture to pass through the skin and pull free. Do not attempt to pull the suture knot through the skin.

49.

You are working as a medical assistant at a large hospital in the medical-surgical ICU. One of the patients has just been discharged, and Environmental Services is coming to clean the room. You notice an unlabeled tube of blood sitting on the sink, and you ask the nurse about it. She tells you that it was drawn by mistake and should be wasted. 

What is the proper disposal method for this sample?

  • Put it in the biohazard sharps container

  • Discard it in the regular waste container

  • Drop it in the dirty linen hamper

  • Send the tube to the lab

Correct answer: Put it in the biohazard sharps container

According to OSHA regulations, blood tubes are considered sharps and must be discarded in this manner. 

50.

Which of the following is a reason to expect job growth for Medical Assistants?

  • Aging baby boomers spurring the demand for preventive and ambulatory care

  • An increase in the United States birth rate

  • Rising injury and illness rates of young adults

  • Better awareness in the general population of preventive care

Correct answer: Aging baby boomers spurring the demand for preventive and ambulatory care 

As baby boomers age, we can expect a steady increase in the health needs of elderly patients. This trend is spurring demand for preventive health care services from physician offices and clinics. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects Medical Assistant jobs to grow to meet the demand of this aging population. 

As the birth rate fluctuates, it may or may not affect the need for Medical Assistants in the future. There is no strong evidence to suggest rising injury and illness rates among young adults, or that the general population has a growing awareness of preventive care.

51.

Which of the following is considered a normal pulse range for infants (from birth to one year of age) in beats per minute?

  • 120-160

  • 90-140

  • 80-110

  • 60-100

Correct answer: 120–160

The pulse varies inversely with age. As age increases, the pulse rate gradually decreases.

Typical pulse ranges are:

Age Group

Pulse Range

 (beats/ min)

Infant (birth to 1 year)120–160
Toddler (1–3 years)90–140
Preschool child (3–6 years)80–110
School-aged child (6–12 years)75–105
Adolescent (12–18 years)60–100
Adult (>18 years)60–100
Adult (>60 years)67–80
Well-trained athletes40–60

52.

As a medical assistant in a cardiology clinic, what surgical interventions might you expect to be discussed or recommended for a patient with angina pectoris and severe blockage of the coronary arteries?

  • Balloon angioplasty with coronary stent placement or coronary artery bypass surgery

  • Arthroscopic surgery and thoracic outlet decompression

  • Laparoscopic surgery and endovascular repair

  • Percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopy

Correct answer: Balloon angioplasty with coronary stent placement or coronary artery bypass surgery

A balloon angioplasty with stent placement would reopen the artery to restore blood flow to the heart, while a coronary artery bypass surgery would graft vessels to route them around the blockage and restore blood flow. Both surgeries are risky but necessary to prevent further heart damage and symptoms. 

Arthroscopic surgery is unrelated because it is a surgery for diagnosing or treating bone and joint disorders of the bones ("arthro" is from the Greek word for joint).

An endovascular repair would treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopy are procedures for the urinary system ("nephro" is from the Greek word for kidney, and "ur" or "uro" is related to urine or the bladder).

53.

This is your third week working at the medical office, and you have noticed that one of the other medical assistants is leaving some of their work for you to do at the end of the day. The amount of work left for you is increasing daily, and you are finding it hard to handle. 

What is the first step in handling this situation?

  • Address the problem with the other medical assistant

  • Involve the manager immediately

  • Take the problem to the supervising physician

  • Let it go for now, as there is no need to escalate the problem

Correct answer: Address the problem with the other medical assistant

In any situation that involves interpersonal conflict, start by addressing the issue with the person directly involved, unless doing so would jeopardize your safety. In this example, you should first attempt to discuss the problem with the other medical assistant. Never assume that you know what the underlying cause is. Although there could still be malicious intent, clarifying the problem first is wise.

Going to the manager would be most appropriate after you have addressed this issue with the medical assistant. If the medical assistant does not rectify the situation, it will be time to escalate the problem to your manager. Taking the problem to the supervising physician is inappropriate at this point. Letting the problem go could cause resentment and compound the issue over time.

54.

For which of the following might the MA's technique include aspirating before injecting the medication?

  • Penicillin

  • Influenza vaccine

  • Enoxaparin

  • EpiPen

Correct answer: Penicillin

Penicillin is an antibiotic that is given intramuscularly (IM), so this injection should be aspirated unless otherwise recommended by the facility or the drug’s package insert. For an injection, aspiration tells the MA if the needle's bevel is in the muscle or a blood vessel. This technique is commonly used for IM injections. 

The CDC recommends against aspirating before administering subcutaneous (SQ) injections. Enoxaparin is given SQ. 

EpiPens are dispensed in an auto-injector that doesn't allow aspiration. 

55.

A patient has up-to-date insurance coverage and has had many services and procedures done within a calendar year. However, their insurance has not begun paying for any of these services yet. What most likely needs to happen before insurance payments begin?

  • A deductible must be met

  • The coinsurance must be paid first

  • A copayment must be paid

  • A premium must be paid

Correct answer: A deductible must be met

Some insurance plans require the patient to pay a certain amount of money per calendar year before the plan begins to pay for services and procedures. This amount of money paid first is known as the deductible. 

Coinsurance is a percentage of the cost of services or procedures that must be paid to the medical office, and the insurance company will pay the remaining percentage. The insurance company will still pay for its intended part of a service or procedure, regardless of when the patient will have to pay the medical office for their percentage of the service. Sometimes, payment plans are arranged prior to payment. A co-payment is expected to be at the time of each service or procedure and is paid to the medical office. 

The patient is current and up-to-date with their insurance coverage; therefore, their premium has already been paid. 

56.

Lucian is working in a hospital that requires clinicians to document weight in kilograms. How would he document a patient's weight of 159 pounds (lbs) in kilograms (kg)?

  • Approximately 72 kg

  • Approximately 102 kg

  •  Approximately 80 kg

  • Approximately 45 kg

Correct answer: Approximately 72 kg

Many medical facilities track weight in kilograms, even though most Americans understand pound measurements better. 1 kilogram (kg) is 2.2 pounds (lbs). 

  • The formula to convert pounds to kilograms is: 1 lb = 0.45 kg
  • To convert, multiply the number of pounds by 0.45 or divide the number of pounds by 2.2 kg. 

The patient weighs 159 lbs, so 159 x 0.45 = 71.55 kg or, 159/2.2 = ~ 72.27 kg

Many EHR systems do the conversion for you.

57.

In what circumstances should private patient information be shared with other entities?

  • If the circumstance or incident falls under mandated reporting laws

  • Never, as private information rights are protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

  • If a patient admits to having a miscarriage at home

  • If a patient reports having chicken pox as a child

Correct answer: If the circumstance or incident falls under mandated reporting laws

Certain circumstances must be reported to specific authorities. Suspected injuries, rape, abuse, or other crimes must be reported to the police. Infectious diseases such as measles and rabies must be reported to local health departments, and circumstances of suspicious deaths must be reported to the coroner for investigation.

HIPAA does not protect patients' private information if it falls under the mandatory reporting regulations. Miscarriages do not need to be reported. However, stillbirths, live births, and deaths must be reported. If a patient had chicken pox as a child, it does not need to be reported. However, a new case of chicken pox must be reported to the local health department, as it falls under the category of infectious diseases.

58.

Your patient is the legal guardian of her adult son, who is intellectually disabled. She reports having no help caring for her son and needs a break away from him once in a while to run personal errands or have free time. What type of community resource would be beneficial for this patient?

  • Adult day care

  • Support group for caregivers

  • Meal delivery services

  • Home health care

Correct answer: Adult daycare or respite services

Adult daycare centers supervise adults who rely on others for full-time care. This includes intellectually or physically disabled adults. Caregivers may take their ward to an adult daycare for a few hours or for the day, which provides a needed break for the caregiver as well as social interaction for the ward.

Support groups are a useful resource for caregivers but do not provide the caregiver with time free of caregiving. Meal delivery services and home health care may also be helpful, but neither of these services provides personal time away from the ward for the caregiver.

59.

What is the correct step to take before pulling medication from a multi-dose vial?

  • Aspirate air equal to the amount of medication ordered and push it into the bottle.

  • Aspirate normal saline equal to the amount of medication ordered and push it into the bottle.

  • Aspirate air from the vial equal to the amount of medication ordered, then reaccess the vial and draw the medication.

  • Check the date written on the label and discard the entire vial if it was opened before today.

Correct answer: Aspirate air equal to the amount of medication ordered and push it into the bottle.

Perform this step first to maintain the right pressure within the vial. If you don't push air in, you will likely create a vacuum that will make it hard to aspirate from the vial.

In general, opened/accessed multi-dose vials are good for 28 days when they are stored correctly.

60.

Which of these routine preventive screenings is most appropriate for a 46-year-old male?

  • Colonoscopy

  • DRE or PSA test

  • Blood pressure screening

  • Fall risk screening

Correct answer: Colonoscopy

Colorectal screening is recommended every 10 years for males and females starting at age 45. Screening may be recommended earlier if the patient has a family history of colorectal cancer.

DRE or PSA tests screen for prostate cancer and are recommended as early as age 50. Blood pressure screening is performed on both males and females at each provider visit, regardless of age. Fall risk screening is recommended annually for patients age 65 and older.

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