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Patient Intake and Vitals practice questions for the CCMA exam

Patient Intake and Vitals is 14 of the 150 scored questions (9.3%) on the CCMA exam, part of Clinical Patient Care (84 questions). Try 5 free questions below; open each one to see the answer, why the other options are wrong and the sources.

Question 1

The office gives patients who use a home pulse oximeter a provider-approved MedlinePlus handout. According to that handout, at what reading should the patient seek immediate medical attention?

  1. 88% or lower
  2. 92% or lower
  3. 94% or lower
  4. 96% or lower
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. 88% or lower

MedlinePlus advises contacting a provider at 92% or lower and seeking immediate medical attention at 88% or lower.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. 92% or lower: 92% or lower is the threshold for contacting the provider, not emergency care.
  • C. 94% or lower: 94% is below normal but is not the immediate-attention threshold given.
  • D. 96% or lower: 96% is within the normal range of 95% to 100%.

Sources

Question 2

A patient reports a home temperature of 102.2°F. The chart uses Celsius. What value should be entered?

  1. 38.0°C
  2. 39.0°C
  3. 56.8°C
  4. 126.4°C
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. 39.0°C

°C = (°F − 32) ÷ 1.8 = (102.2 − 32) ÷ 1.8 = 70.2 ÷ 1.8 = 39.0°C.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. 38.0°C: 38.0°C equals 100.4°F, not 102.2°F.
  • C. 56.8°C: 56.8 divides by 1.8 without first subtracting 32.
  • D. 126.4°C: 126.4 multiplies by 1.8 instead of dividing.

Sources

Question 3

According to updated EHR patient-identification safety guidance, which practice helps staff recognize the correct patient record?

  1. Removing the date of birth from the screen
  2. Hiding the medical record number from the banner
  3. Displaying a patient photograph in the record
  4. Using only the last name in the chart header
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Displaying a patient photograph in the record

The updated SAFER Guide recommends collecting patient photographs at registration and displaying them in the EHR, along with name, DOB and MRN.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Removing the date of birth from the screen: Date of birth is a key identifier and should be displayed.
  • B. Hiding the medical record number from the banner: The guide lists the medical record number among the identifiers every EHR window should display.
  • D. Using only the last name in the chart header: A last name alone is shared by many patients.

Sources

Question 4

A patient's weight is 64 kg and height is 160 cm. The EHR's BMI calculator is down, so the MA calculates it by hand. What is the BMI?

  1. 0.0025
  2. 20.0
  3. 25.0
  4. 40.0
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. 25.0

Convert height to meters first (160 cm = 1.6 m), square it (2.56), then divide: 64 ÷ 2.56 = 25.0.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. 0.0025: 0.0025 uses centimeters instead of meters in the formula.
  • B. 20.0: 20.0 divides by height doubled (3.2) instead of squared.
  • D. 40.0: 40.0 divides by 1.6 once instead of by 1.6 squared.

Sources

Question 5

Where should the tape be placed to measure an adult's waist circumference?

  1. Over clothing at the belt line, with the tape pulled as tight as possible
  2. Around the widest part of the buttocks while the patient holds a deep breath
  3. At the top of the hip bones, snug but not tight, after a normal breath out
  4. Just below the breasts, snug, after the patient takes a deep breath in
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. At the top of the hip bones, snug but not tight, after a normal breath out

Waist circumference is measured around the body at the level of the top of the hip bones (iliac crest), with the tape snug and level, at the end of a normal breath out.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Over clothing at the belt line, with the tape pulled as tight as possible: Clothing adds bulk and pulling tight compresses the skin, both causing errors.
  • B. Around the widest part of the buttocks while the patient holds a deep breath: The widest part of the buttocks is the hip circumference site, and holding a breath distorts the reading.
  • D. Just below the breasts, snug, after the patient takes a deep breath in: Below the breasts is above the waist landmark, and a deep breath enlarges the reading.

Sources

Cheat sheets for this topic

Patient Intake and Vitals terms

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