Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Online Practice Test 4

Practice CCMA Test 4 consists of 40 questions, and most of these questions are based on scenarios, making them more challenging. Here, you will answer multiple contexts simultaneously, such as patient needs, procedures, and practice standards. These types of questions help you practice critical thinking while under examination-like pressure.

40 Questions

1. While performing venipuncture, the patient suddenly complains of a sharp, shooting pain down their arm. What should you do first?

Continue and finish quickly

Withdraw the needle immediately

Apply a warm compress

Switch to the other arm without removing the first needle

2. A patient is scheduled for a wound dressing change and arrives with visible dirt in the wound. What is the correct first step?

Apply new sterile gauze

Apply antibiotic ointment immediately

Cover the wound with tape

Irrigate the wound with sterile solution

3. During an EKG, you notice the baseline is wandering significantly. What is the most likely cause?

Loose electrode or patient movement

Machine malfunction

Wrong paper speed

Incorrect lead placement

4. A patient becomes lightheaded while you are taking orthostatic vitals. What is the safest immediate action?

Continue taking readings

Give them water

Have them sit or lie down immediately

Call emergency services immediately

5. When removing sutures, which step should be done before cutting each suture?

Pull the knot through the skin

Lift the knot away from the skin with forceps

Disinfect the area with alcohol

Moisten the sutures with saline

6. A patient tells you they took their blood pressure medication just before the appointment. How should you document this?

“BP med taken before appointment” in medical history

“Patient medicated” in insurance section

“BP normal” only

Do not document

7. While collecting a throat swab, the patient gags and pulls away. What is the correct response?

Reassure the patient and try again with proper technique

Stop immediately and discard the swab

Switch to a nasal swab without provider orders

Force the swab quickly before they move

8. When using an autoclave, which item placement ensures proper sterilization?

Items packed tightly together

Items wrapped in multiple thick layers

Items stacked on top of each other

Items spaced apart to allow steam circulation

9. A patient with diabetes arrives for a fasting blood test and says they had “just one cup of coffee with sugar” this morning. What should you do?

Proceed with the test

Give them water to flush the sugar

Reschedule the test for another day

Ask them to walk around before the test

10. After giving an intradermal injection, you notice no wheal formed. What should you do?

Continue without concern

Repeat the injection at a different site

Apply ice to the site

Massage the injection area

11. A patient faints after a fingerstick. You confirm they are breathing. What is the next step?

Loosen tight clothing and keep them lying flat

Give them juice immediately

Call 911

Sit them in a chair

12. While transferring a specimen to the lab, you drop the container and it breaks. What is your first action?

Sweep it up with paper towels

Place the container in a sharps bin

Put on gloves and use biohazard cleanup procedure

Call maintenance

13. Which step is correct before applying a Holter monitor?

Shave and clean electrode sites

Have the patient fast

Apply lotion to the electrode areas

Keep the skin moist

14. A patient refuses a procedure ordered by the provider. What should you do?

Proceed anyway if it’s routine

Document the refusal and notify the provider

Persuade them until they agree

Ignore their refusal

15. When drawing blood, which action prevents hemolysis?

Using a small-gauge needle for all patients

Shaking the tube vigorously

Allowing alcohol to dry before puncture

Drawing blood slowly with high vacuum

16. While measuring a patient’s height, they keep their head tilted down. How should you position them?

Ask them to face forward with eyes level to the horizon

Allow them to keep head down for comfort

Tilt their head further

Measure without correction

17. Which action is correct when using a glucometer?

Use the first drop of blood after fingerstick

Wipe off both first and second drops

Use the second drop of blood

Apply the drop directly from the alcohol swab

18. You notice a medication label is damaged and unreadable. What should you do?

Guess the medication based on appearance

Use it if you remember the name

Discard according to policy

Ask another MA to use it

19. A patient calls saying they developed a rash after starting a new medication. What is your first instruction?

Stop the medication and seek medical evaluation

Take an antihistamine immediately

Apply lotion

Ignore unless rash worsens

20. During a urine pregnancy test, the control line fails to appear. What should you do?

Report the result as negative

Repeat the test with a new kit

Record as positive if the test line appears

Call the manufacturer before retesting

21. A patient’s blood pressure reading is 80/50 mmHg, and they appear pale and dizzy. What is your immediate next step?

Document and continue the exam

Give them coffee

Assist them to lie down and elevate their legs

Retake BP in 1 hour

22. While preparing an intramuscular injection for a pediatric patient, the mother asks if she can hold the child. What should you do?

Decline and have the child sit alone

Allow her to hold the child securely during the injection

Ask her to leave the room

Have another MA restrain the child

23. During ear irrigation, the patient reports sudden sharp pain. What should you do first?

Stop immediately and notify the provider

Continue and finish quickly

Increase the water pressure

Switch to the other ear

24. While collecting a sputum sample, what instruction is correct to ensure validity

Rinse mouth with antiseptic before coughing

Provide the sample after eating

Take the sample over several hours

Cough deeply from the lungs, not spit

25. A patient is extremely anxious before a minor procedure. Which action is most appropriate?

Ignore their anxiety to save time

Reassure them and explain each step in simple terms

Joke to distract them

Avoid answering questions until after the procedure

26. A patient drops their walker in the hallway and bends over to pick it up, risking a fall. What should you do?

Watch to see if they can manage

Rush past them

Wait until they call for help

Assist by picking up the walker for them

27. When labeling a blood specimen, what is the correct practice?

Label before drawing the blood

Label at the patient’s side immediately after collection

Label at the nurse’s station

Label after sending to the lab

28. During a venipuncture, the patient begins coughing heavily while the needle is in place. What should you do first?

Pause the procedure until they stop coughing

Tighten your grip on the needle to keep it in place

Remove the needle and apply pressure if movement threatens stability

Ignore it and continue

29. Which action helps reduce contamination during urine specimen collection?

Use a clean-catch midstream method

Collect the first urine of the day without cleaning

Fill the container to the top

Skip labeling to save time

30. While positioning a patient for an abdominal exam, what position should they be in?

Fowler’s

Supine

Prone

Sim’s

31. A patient’s finger continues bleeding after a capillary puncture. What should you do?

Ignore and proceed

Apply firm pressure with gauze

Bandage loosely without pressure

Apply ice only

32. When measuring an infant’s head circumference, where should the tape be placed?

Just above the eyebrows and ears

Across the bridge of the nose

Around the neck

Over the chin and ears

33. A patient on anticoagulants has blood drawn. Which instruction is most important after?

Remove the bandage immediately

Rub the site to help clot

Keep the arm elevated

Hold pressure on the site longer than usual

34. During a nasal swab for influenza, the patient pulls away before the swab reaches the correct depth. What should you do?

Continue without proper depth

Reassure and explain why proper depth is needed, then try again

Skip the swab

Switch to a throat swab without orders

35. While assisting with a Pap smear, which task is appropriate for the MA?

Interpret the cytology results

Prescribe treatment if abnormal

Prepare the exam room and supplies

Perform the smear

36. What is the safest way to handle a sharps container that is three-quarters full?

Continue using until it’s completely full

Empty it by hand

Replace immediately

Shake it to make more room

37. A patient is scheduled for a peak flow measurement. What should you instruct them to do?

Blow slowly into the device

Inhale through the device

Blow multiple times in one breath

Take a deep breath and blow out as hard and fast as possible

38. During vision screening, the patient covers one eye with their hand but peeks through their fingers. What should you do?

) Ignore it

Provide an occluder to cover the eye completely

Test both eyes together only

End the test

39. A patient arrives for a lipid panel and admits to eating breakfast an hour ago. What should you do?

Proceed with the test regardless

Switch to a different blood test

Reschedule only if fasting was required by the order/lab policy

Cancel the test immediately

40. While assisting a patient from a wheelchair to the exam table, the safest method is to:

Pull the patient up by their arms

Push from behind

Let the patient lift themselves completely

Stand close and use a gait belt if available

This section focuses on assessing your knowledge and ability to stay consistent with every clinical scenario. Ensure that you focus on the rationale behind your decisions. When you feel confident, move on to Practice CCMA Test 5, designed to be the most exam-like section.

Next: CCMA Practice Test 5

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Lucas Bennett

I’m Lucas Bennett, the creator of PracticeCCMATest.com. I built this site to give aspiring medical assistants a reliable place to practice and prepare for the CCMA exam. My focus is on making exam prep clear and stress-free so you can study with confidence.

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