CCMA Clinical Duties 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient presents with a blood pressure of 178/106 mmHg. After retaking and confirming the reading, what should the medical assistant do NEXT?
- Ask the patient to rest 10 minutes and recheck before telling anyone
- Immediately report the finding to the provider (Correct answer)
- Document the reading and continue rooming the patient without notification
- Administer an antihypertensive from the medication cart
Correct answer: Immediately report the finding to the provider
A critically elevated BP reading must be reported to the provider immediately for clinical decision-making.
Question 2: Which of the following respiratory rates in an adult patient would the medical assistant classify as bradypnea?
- 22 breaths per minute
- 18 breaths per minute
- 10 breaths per minute (Correct answer)
- 26 breaths per minute
Correct answer: 10 breaths per minute
Bradypnea is defined as fewer than 12 breaths per minute in adults; 10 breaths/min falls below this threshold.
Question 3: When performing a urine dipstick urinalysis, a result of 3+ protein is noted. This finding is MOST associated with which condition?
- Urinary tract infection
- Renal dysfunction or nephrotic syndrome (Correct answer)
- Diabetes insipidus
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Correct answer: Renal dysfunction or nephrotic syndrome
Significant proteinuria (3+) is a hallmark indicator of glomerular or renal disease such as nephrotic syndrome.
Question 4: A medical assistant accidentally needlesticks themselves after drawing blood from a patient. What is the FIRST action to take?
- Complete an incident report
- Notify the supervisor
- Wash the site thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Go to the emergency department
Correct answer: Wash the site thoroughly with soap and water
The first immediate step after a needlestick is to wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 seconds.
Question 5: The provider orders a fasting blood glucose test. The patient states they had a small cup of orange juice two hours ago. What should the medical assistant do?
- Proceed with collection since two hours is sufficient fasting
- Draw the sample and note 'non-fasting' on the requisition
- Notify the provider of the non-fasting status before drawing (Correct answer)
- Reschedule the patient for another day
Correct answer: Notify the provider of the non-fasting status before drawing
The provider must be informed of the non-fasting status so they can decide whether to proceed or reschedule.
Question 6: When applying a cold pack to reduce swelling on an injured extremity, how long should each application last?
- 5 minutes
- 20 minutes (Correct answer)
- 45 minutes
- 60 minutes
Correct answer: 20 minutes
Cold therapy is applied for 15–20 minutes at a time to reduce swelling and prevent tissue damage from prolonged exposure.
Question 7: A provider asks the medical assistant to perform a Snellen chart visual acuity test. At what distance should the patient stand from the chart?
- 10 feet
- 20 feet (Correct answer)
- 15 feet
- 25 feet
Correct answer: 20 feet
The Snellen chart is standardized for use at 20 feet (6 meters), and 20/20 vision means seeing at that distance what a normal eye should.
CCMA Clinical Duties 5
A patient presents with a blood pressure of 178/106 mmHg.
After retaking and confirming the reading, what should the medical assistant do NEXT?