CCMA General Patient Care Practice Test

25 practice questions

Choose an answer, then check it under Show answer.

1. Question 1 of 25Medium

   Which practice is correct when storing vaccines in a refrigerator?

   1. AA. Keep vaccines in their original boxes in the middle of the unit
   2. BB. Store vaccines on the door shelves for easy access
   3. CC. Keep staff food and drinks on the bottom shelf only
   4. DD. Pack vaccines tightly against the back wall
   Show answer to question 1

   Answer: A. Keep vaccines in their original boxes in the middle of the unit

   Vaccines stay in their original packaging, which protects them from light, and are stored in the center of the unit where temperatures are most stable.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • BDoor shelves have the widest temperature swings because they warm each time the door opens.
   • CFood and drinks should not be kept in a vaccine storage unit at all.
   • DItems against the back wall or vents can get too cold, and crowding blocks air circulation.

2. Question 2 of 25Medium

   A 15-year-old is about to receive a meningococcal vaccine. When must the patient or parent be given the current Vaccine Information Statement?

   1. AA. Only at the first dose of a vaccine series
   2. BB. Before each dose is given
   3. CC. Only if the parent asks for written information
   4. DD. Within 7 days after the vaccine is given
   Show answer to question 2

   Answer: B. Before each dose is given

   Federal law requires that the current Vaccine Information Statement be provided before each dose of a covered vaccine, so the patient or parent can review benefits and risks.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AA statement is required before every dose in a series, not just the first.
   • CProviding the statement is required, not something offered only on request.
   • DThe statement must be given before vaccination so it can inform the decision.

3. Question 3 of 25Easy

   A provider orders a color vision screening for a 10-year-old boy. Which test should the medical assistant prepare?

   1. AA. Ishihara plates
   2. BB. Jaeger card
   3. CC. Tuning fork test
   4. DD. Tonometry
   Show answer to question 3

   Answer: A. Ishihara plates

   Ishihara plates show numbers made of colored dots that people with red-green color deficiency have trouble seeing.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • BThe Jaeger card tests near vision.
   • CA tuning fork test assesses hearing.
   • DTonometry measures the pressure inside the eye to screen for glaucoma.

4. Question 4 of 25Easy

   Where should a medical assistant place the stethoscope to count an adult's apical pulse?

   1. AA. Second intercostal space, right of the sternum
   2. BB. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
   3. CC. Directly over the xiphoid process
   4. DD. Fourth intercostal space, right midaxillary line
   Show answer to question 4

   Answer: B. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line

   The apex of the heart lies at about the fifth intercostal space on the left midclavicular line, where the apical pulse is heard best.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AThe second intercostal space right of the sternum is where the aortic valve is heard, not the apex.
   • CThe xiphoid process is at the lower tip of the sternum and is not where the apical pulse is counted.
   • DThe apex of the heart points to the left, so a right-sided location would not capture the apical pulse.

5. Question 5 of 25Medium

   A patient's temperature is recorded as 38.5 C, and the provider asks for the value in Fahrenheit. Which value is equivalent?

   1. AA. 99.1 F
   2. BB. 100.0 F
   3. CC. 100.6 F
   4. DD. 101.3 F
   Show answer to question 5

   Answer: D. 101.3 F

   Multiply the Celsius value by 9/5 (1.8) and add 32: 38.5 times 1.8 equals 69.3, and 69.3 plus 32 equals 101.3 F.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • A99.1 F equals about 37.3 C, well below 38.5 C.
   • B100.0 F equals about 37.8 C, so it understates the temperature.
   • C100.6 F equals about 38.1 C, so it also understates the temperature.

6. Question 6 of 25Easy

   Which bony landmark does a medical assistant use to locate the deltoid injection site?

   1. AA. Olecranon process
   2. BB. Greater trochanter
   3. CC. Iliac crest
   4. DD. Acromion process
   Show answer to question 6

   Answer: D. Acromion process

   The deltoid site is in the center of the muscle, about 1 to 2 inches below the acromion process at the top of the shoulder and above the level of the armpit.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AThe olecranon process is the tip of the elbow and is not used for deltoid injections.
   • BThe greater trochanter of the femur is a landmark for the ventrogluteal site.
   • CThe iliac crest is a hip landmark used for gluteal sites, not the deltoid.

7. Question 7 of 25Medium

   A 30-year-old woman is scheduled for a Pap test next week. Which instruction should the medical assistant give, as directed by the provider?

   1. AA. Avoid douching, vaginal medicines and intercourse for 2 days before the test
   2. BB. Schedule the test during the heaviest days of the menstrual period
   3. CC. Use a soothing vaginal cream the night before the appointment
   4. DD. Drink a full liter of water just before the appointment
   Show answer to question 7

   Answer: A. Avoid douching, vaginal medicines and intercourse for 2 days before the test

   Douching, vaginal products and intercourse can wash away or hide cervical cells, so patients are asked to avoid them for about 48 hours before a Pap test.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • BHeavy menstrual bleeding can interfere with the sample; the test is usually scheduled when the patient is not menstruating.
   • CVaginal creams can interfere with the cell sample and should be avoided before the test.
   • DA full bladder is not needed for a Pap test; patients usually empty the bladder before the exam.

8. Question 8 of 25Easy

   At what angle should a medical assistant insert a 5/8-inch needle for a subcutaneous injection?

   1. AA. 45 degrees
   2. BB. 10 to 15 degrees
   3. CC. 90 degrees, after bunching the muscle
   4. DD. Parallel to the skin
   Show answer to question 8

   Answer: A. 45 degrees

   A 45-degree angle with a 5/8-inch needle places the medication into the fatty tissue beneath the skin.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • BA 10- to 15-degree angle is used for intradermal injections, which stay just under the surface of the skin.
   • CA 90-degree angle with this technique is used for intramuscular injections and could place the dose too deep.
   • DA needle held parallel to the skin cannot reach the subcutaneous layer.

9. Question 9 of 25Medium

   While rooming a 58-year-old man, the medical assistant notices a mole on his back with an irregular, notched border and several shades of brown and black. What should the medical assistant do?

   1. AA. Reassure him that moles on the back are rarely a concern
   2. BB. Cover the mole with a bandage until the visit ends
   3. CC. Advise him to watch the mole at home for one year
   4. DD. Make sure the provider is aware of the mole before the visit ends
   Show answer to question 9

   Answer: D. Make sure the provider is aware of the mole before the visit ends

   An irregular border and varied color are warning signs in the ABCDE guide for melanoma (asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving). The medical assistant should bring the lesion to the provider's attention.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AReassurance would be inaccurate and outside the medical assistant's role, since this lesion has warning signs.
   • BCovering the mole hides it and does not get it evaluated.
   • CWaiting a year could delay the diagnosis of a possible skin cancer.

10. Question 10 of 25Hard

    Twenty minutes after the medical assistant wraps a 30-year-old woman's sprained ankle with an elastic bandage, she says her toes are tingling, and they look pale and feel cool. What should the medical assistant do?

    1. AA. Loosen and rewrap the bandage, recheck circulation and notify the provider
    2. BB. Elevate the ankle and recheck the toes at the next visit
    3. CC. Add a second bandage layer to support the ankle better
    4. DD. Apply a heating pad to the toes to warm them up
    Show answer to question 10

    Answer: A. Loosen and rewrap the bandage, recheck circulation and notify the provider

    Tingling, pallor and coolness below a bandage signal impaired circulation, usually from wrapping too tightly. The bandage is loosened and rewrapped, circulation is rechecked, and the provider is informed.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • BWaiting leaves circulation impaired and risks tissue damage.
    • CAdding layers increases pressure and further reduces blood flow.
    • DHeat does not fix a constricting bandage and can burn skin that has reduced sensation.

11. Question 11 of 25Medium

    A patient returns 48 hours after a tuberculin skin test. The site shows a firm raised area surrounded by a wider area of redness. What should be measured?

    1. AA. The widest area of redness
    2. BB. The redness and induration combined
    3. CC. Only the firm, raised induration
    4. DD. The length of the original needle mark
    Show answer to question 11

    Answer: C. Only the firm, raised induration

    The tuberculin skin test is read 48 to 72 hours after placement by measuring the diameter of induration, the firm raised area, across the forearm in millimeters. Redness alone is not measured.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • ARedness, or erythema, is not used to judge the result.
    • BIncluding the redness overstates the reaction and can lead to a false-positive result.
    • DThe needle mark does not reflect the immune response.

12. Question 12 of 25Medium

    A medical assistant must withdraw a medication from a glass ampule. Which step is correct?

    1. AA. Snap the neck toward the body for better control
    2. BB. Inject air into the ampule before withdrawing
    3. CC. Use a filter needle to draw up the medication
    4. DD. Save any remaining solution for the next patient
    Show answer to question 12

    Answer: C. Use a filter needle to draw up the medication

    Breaking an ampule can drop tiny glass fragments into the solution. A filter needle traps them, and it is then replaced with a regular needle for the injection.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AThe neck should be snapped away from the body, using gauze or an ampule breaker, to prevent cuts.
    • BAn ampule is open once it is broken, so no air needs to be injected.
    • DAmpules are single-use, so any leftover solution must be discarded.

13. Question 13 of 25Medium

    After giving a vaccine, which information must the medical assistant document?

    1. AA. The patient's insurance group number
    2. BB. The pharmacy that supplied the vaccine
    3. CC. The patient's weight on the day of the visit
    4. DD. The vaccine's lot number and manufacturer
    Show answer to question 13

    Answer: D. The vaccine's lot number and manufacturer

    Federal law requires recording the vaccine manufacturer and lot number, the date given, the VIS edition date and date provided, and the name, title and office address of the person who gave it. Site and route are also recorded.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AInsurance details are billing information, not part of the required vaccine record.
    • BThe supplier is not a required element of the vaccine administration record.
    • CWeight is not a required element of vaccine documentation for most vaccines.

14. Question 14 of 25Easy

    Compared with an oral temperature taken at the same time, how does an axillary temperature usually read?

    1. AA. Higher than the oral reading
    2. BB. Exactly the same as the oral reading
    3. CC. Lower than the oral reading
    4. DD. Higher than a rectal reading
    Show answer to question 14

    Answer: C. Lower than the oral reading

    Axillary temperatures usually run lower than oral readings, often by about 1 degree F, because the armpit is less insulated from the environment.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • ARectal readings, not axillary ones, usually run higher than oral readings.
    • BDifferent sites measure slightly different temperatures, so axillary and oral readings are rarely identical.
    • DRectal temperatures are the highest of the common routes, so an axillary reading is lower, not higher.

15. Question 15 of 25Medium

    Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate for a 5-year-old who can talk but has trouble understanding numbers?

    1. AA. 0 to 10 numeric rating scale
    2. BB. FLACC behavioral scale
    3. CC. McGill pain questionnaire
    4. DD. Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale
    Show answer to question 15

    Answer: D. Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale

    The Wong-Baker FACES scale lets children about 3 years and older point to a face that matches how much they hurt, without needing to use numbers.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AA numeric scale requires understanding numbers and is better for older children and adults.
    • BFLACC is an observational scale for children who cannot report their pain, such as infants or nonverbal children.
    • CThe McGill questionnaire is a detailed, word-based adult tool, too complex for a young child.

16. Question 16 of 25Easy

    A provider asks the medical assistant to report a serious reaction that occurred after a vaccination. To which national system should the report go?

    1. AA. MedWatch
    2. BB. OSHA 300 log
    3. CC. National Healthcare Safety Network
    4. DD. VAERS
    Show answer to question 16

    Answer: D. VAERS

    The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), run by CDC and FDA, collects reports of health problems after vaccination.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AMedWatch is the FDA program for reporting problems with drugs and medical devices other than vaccines.
    • BThe OSHA 300 log records workplace injuries and illnesses among employees.
    • CThe National Healthcare Safety Network tracks health care-associated infections, not vaccine reactions.

17. Question 17 of 25Medium

    A provider orders a tuberculin skin test for a 29-year-old nursing student. Which technique is correct?

    1. AA. Inject 0.1 mL intradermally on the inner forearm, bevel up, forming a wheal
    2. BB. Inject 0.5 mL into the deltoid muscle at a 90-degree angle, then massage
    3. CC. Inject 0.1 mL subcutaneously in the upper outer arm at a 45-degree angle
    4. DD. Inject 1 mL intradermally on the forearm and rub the site to spread it
    Show answer to question 17

    Answer: A. Inject 0.1 mL intradermally on the inner forearm, bevel up, forming a wheal

    The Mantoux test uses 0.1 mL of tuberculin injected intradermally on the inner forearm at a 10- to 15-degree angle, bevel up, producing a pale wheal about 6 to 10 mm across.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • BThe test is not an intramuscular injection, and massaging would disperse the solution.
    • CA subcutaneous injection goes too deep for the skin test to be read accurately.
    • DThe dose is 0.1 mL, and rubbing the site disperses the solution and spoils the test.

18. Question 18 of 25Medium

    A medical assistant uses a standard adult cuff on a 45-year-old man with a large upper arm, and the bladder does not wrap far enough around his arm. How will this most likely affect the reading?

    1. AA. Falsely low reading
    2. BB. Falsely high reading
    3. CC. No effect if the cuff is tightened
    4. DD. Only the diastolic value will change
    Show answer to question 18

    Answer: B. Falsely high reading

    A cuff that is too small needs extra pressure to compress the artery, which produces a falsely high reading. The bladder should encircle about 80% of the upper arm.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AA falsely low reading is more typical of a cuff that is too large.
    • CTightening a cuff of the wrong size does not correct the error; the right size must be used.
    • DAn undersized cuff tends to raise both systolic and diastolic readings.

19. Question 19 of 25Easy

    During a laceration repair, the provider asks for the instrument used to grasp and guide the curved suture needle. Which instrument should the medical assistant hand over?

    1. AA. Hemostat
    2. BB. Needle holder
    3. CC. Tissue forceps
    4. DD. Towel clamp
    Show answer to question 19

    Answer: B. Needle holder

    A needle holder, or needle driver, has short, strong jaws designed to grip a curved suture needle firmly while it is passed through tissue.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AA hemostat clamps blood vessels to control bleeding; its jaws are not designed to hold a needle securely.
    • CTissue forceps grasp and hold tissue, not the needle.
    • DTowel clamps hold drapes in place around the sterile field.

20. Question 20 of 25Hard

    A provider instructs a medical assistant to remove interrupted sutures from a healing wound and apply adhesive skin closure strips. Which sequence should the assistant follow?

    1. AA. Remove all sutures consecutively, apply antiseptic ointment, and place closure strips over the wet surface
    2. BB. Remove the distal half of all sutures at once, place adhesive strips, and leave the proximal half indefinitely
    3. CC. Remove every other suture, apply adhesive strips across those sites, and then remove the remaining sutures
    4. DD. Place adhesive closure strips directly over all intact sutures and cut the threads through the tape
    Show answer to question 20

    Answer: C. Remove every other suture, apply adhesive strips across those sites, and then remove the remaining sutures

    Removing alternate sutures first and applying adhesive strips across those sites provides continuous mechanical support to the healing wound, reducing tension and minimizing the risk of dehiscence when the remaining sutures are taken out. Removing all sutures at once before placing any support increases the risk of immediate wound separation.

21. Question 21 of 25Hard

    A 30-year-old man who just came in from the cold has no breathing difficulty, but the pulse oximeter on his finger reads 86% with a weak, irregular waveform. What should the medical assistant do next?

    1. AA. Record 86% as his oxygen saturation and continue rooming
    2. BB. Warm his hand or move the probe to another site and recheck
    3. CC. Start oxygen right away without telling the provider
    4. DD. Assume the device is broken and skip the measurement
    Show answer to question 21

    Answer: B. Warm his hand or move the probe to another site and recheck

    Cold fingers reduce blood flow and cause falsely low readings with a poor waveform. Warming the hand or using another approved site and rechecking gives a reliable value; a confirmed low reading is reported.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • ARecording a reading with a poor signal may document a false value without checking it.
    • CStarting oxygen requires a provider order, and the reading has not been confirmed.
    • DA poor signal usually reflects the measurement conditions, so the reading should be rechecked rather than skipped.

22. Question 22 of 25Hard

    A provider orders acetaminophen 15 mg/kg by mouth for a child who weighs 44 lb. The oral suspension contains 160 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters should be given?

    1. AA. 4.7 mL
    2. BB. 9.4 mL
    3. CC. 18.8 mL
    4. DD. 20.6 mL
    Show answer to question 22

    Answer: B. 9.4 mL

    Convert the weight: 44 lb divided by 2.2 equals 20 kg. The dose is 15 mg x 20 kg = 300 mg, and 300 mg divided by 160 mg, times 5 mL, equals about 9.4 mL.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • A4.7 mL delivers about 150 mg, half the ordered dose.
    • C18.8 mL delivers about 600 mg, double the ordered dose.
    • D20.6 mL results from multiplying 15 mg by 44 lb instead of 20 kg, a dangerous overdose.

23. Question 23 of 25Hard

    On arrival in the morning, a medical assistant finds the vaccine refrigerator's data logger reading 52 F. What should she do first?

    1. AA. Throw away every vaccine in the unit before patients arrive
    2. BB. Use the vaccines today and recheck the temperature tomorrow
    3. CC. Mark them 'Do not use,' store them properly and alert the coordinator
    4. DD. Move the vaccines into the freezer to cool them down quickly
    Show answer to question 23

    Answer: C. Mark them 'Do not use,' store them properly and alert the coordinator

    After a temperature excursion, vaccines are quarantined at proper temperature, not discarded or used, until the manufacturer or health department confirms whether they are still viable. The event is documented.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • ADiscarding without guidance may waste vaccines that are still usable.
    • BUsing possibly damaged vaccines could leave patients unprotected.
    • DFreezing can destroy refrigerated vaccines, adding a second temperature problem.

24. Question 24 of 25Hard

    For orthostatic vital signs, a 79-year-old woman's blood pressure is 128/78 lying down and 104/70 two minutes after standing, and she says she feels lightheaded. What should the medical assistant do first?

    1. AA. Have her walk in the hallway to see whether the dizziness passes
    2. BB. Repeat the standing reading in 10 minutes while she stays standing
    3. CC. Help her sit or lie down, then report the findings to the provider
    4. DD. Record the values and move on to the next patient
    Show answer to question 24

    Answer: C. Help her sit or lie down, then report the findings to the provider

    A systolic drop of 20 mm Hg or more on standing, with lightheadedness, points to orthostatic hypotension and a high fall risk. Safety comes first, then the provider is told.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AWalking a lightheaded patient increases the risk of fainting and falling.
    • BKeeping her standing for 10 more minutes prolongs symptoms and risks a fall.
    • DAbnormal findings with symptoms must be reported, and leaving her unattended is unsafe.

25. Question 25 of 25Hard

    A 33-year-old woman rates her back pain as 8 on a 0 to 10 scale, but she is smiling and chatting on her phone. How should the medical assistant document her pain?

    1. AA. Record 8 out of 10 as she reported and note observed behavior objectively
    2. BB. Record 3 out of 10 because she does not appear to be in pain
    3. CC. Record that the patient is exaggerating her pain
    4. DD. Leave the pain score blank until the provider sees her
    Show answer to question 25

    Answer: A. Record 8 out of 10 as she reported and note observed behavior objectively

    Pain is subjective, so the patient's own rating is recorded. Objective observations can be added factually, without judgment, for the provider to consider.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • BReplacing the patient's rating with the medical assistant's estimate misrepresents what the patient reported.
    • CLabeling a patient as exaggerating is a judgment, not an objective observation.
    • DLeaving the score blank omits required intake information that the patient has provided.

Email me my score report

The full CCMA bank has 682 General Patient Care questions. See plans