1. B
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is the professional organization responsible for administering the CMA (AAMA) certification examination. The AAMA developed and maintains the certification program specifically for medical assistants.

2. B
Medical assistants are NOT permitted to independently diagnose patient conditions. Diagnosis is within the scope of practice of physicians and other licensed practitioners. Medical assistants work under the supervision of licensed healthcare providers and may perform clinical and administrative tasks as delegated.

3. C
The CMA (AAMA) credential must be recertified every 60 months (5 years). Recertification can be achieved through continuing education units (CEUs) or by retaking the certification examination.

4. B
Respondeat superior, Latin for “let the master answer,” is a legal doctrine that holds employers vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their employees when those acts are performed within the scope of employment.

5. C
According to AAMA ethical standards and legal requirements, theft of controlled substances must be reported to the appropriate supervisor or authority immediately. Failing to report such activity could make the medical assistant complicit in the illegal activity.

6. B
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the federal legislation that protects the privacy and security of patient health information. It established national standards for electronic healthcare transactions and privacy protections.

7. B
The “minimum necessary” standard under HIPAA requires that healthcare workers access, use, or disclose only the minimum amount of protected health information necessary to accomplish the intended purpose of the use, disclosure, or request.

8. B
Implied consent is given through actions rather than words or writing. When a patient rolls up their sleeve for a blood pressure reading, they are implying consent through their cooperative action. Signing forms represents expressed consent.

9. A
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice typically begins from the date of the incident or from the date the injury was discovered (discovery rule). The specific timeframe varies by state but generally ranges from 1-6 years.

10. C
Under the mature minor doctrine and specific state laws, minors can consent to testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, substance abuse, and mental health services without parental consent to encourage them to seek necessary care.

11. B
Paraphrasing is the communication technique where the listener restates the speaker’s message using their own words. This demonstrates understanding and allows the speaker to clarify any misunderstandings.

12. B
When communicating with patients who have hearing impairment, the medical assistant should face the patient directly, speak clearly at a normal pace, and ensure good lighting on their face. Exaggerating lip movements can distort mouth patterns used for lip reading.

13. C
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, physiological needs (food, water, air, shelter) are the most basic and must be met before higher-level needs such as safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization can be addressed.

14. B
When dealing with an angry patient, the medical assistant should remain calm, acknowledge the patient’s frustration using therapeutic communication techniques, and explain the situation professionally. This de-escalates the situation while maintaining professionalism.

15. B
Displacement is the defense mechanism in which a person redirects emotions from a threatening target to a safer, less threatening one. For example, a person angry with their boss might go home and yell at family members.

16. B
Standard precautions established by the CDC require healthcare workers to treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious, regardless of the patient’s diagnosis or perceived risk factors. This protects both healthcare workers and patients.

17. C
Tuberculosis is spread through airborne transmission via droplet nuclei. Airborne precautions require a negative pressure isolation room and N95 respirator masks for healthcare workers entering the room.

18. A
The correct order for donning PPE is: gown first, then mask/respirator, followed by goggles or face shield, and finally gloves. This order ensures maximum protection and prevents contamination.

19. B
Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) eliminates all microorganisms, including spores, from objects and areas. Medical asepsis (clean technique) reduces the number of microorganisms but does not eliminate all of them.

20. C
Intramuscular injections are administered at a 90-degree angle to ensure the medication reaches the muscle tissue. The needle should be inserted perpendicular to the skin surface.

21. C
The ventrogluteal site is the preferred location for intramuscular injections in adults because it is free of major nerves and blood vessels, has adequate muscle mass, and has less subcutaneous fat than other sites.

22. B
The tourniquet should not remain on the patient’s arm for longer than 1 minute (60 seconds). Prolonged tourniquet application can cause hemoconcentration, which affects laboratory test results.

23. B
The correct order of draw is: blood cultures, light blue (citrate), red/SST (serum), green (heparin), lavender (EDTA), and gray (oxalate/fluoride). This order prevents cross-contamination of additives between tubes.

24. B
Lavender-top tubes contain EDTA, an anticoagulant that preserves cell morphology and prevents platelet clumping. They are used for complete blood counts (CBC) and other hematology tests.

25. B
Temperature is measured using the temporal artery method. A temporal artery thermometer measures infrared heat from the temporal artery on the forehead, providing a non-invasive method for obtaining body temperature.

26. B
According to the American Heart Association guidelines, normal adult blood pressure is defined as less than 120/80 mmHg. Elevated blood pressure begins at 120-129/<80 mmHg.

27. C
Respirations should be counted without alerting the patient because awareness of being observed can cause the patient to alter their breathing pattern. The medical assistant typically counts respirations while appearing to continue taking the pulse.

28. A
Lead V1 is placed on the fourth intercostal space at the right sternal border. V2 is placed at the fourth intercostal space at the left sternal border. This placement is essential for accurate ECG readings.

29. B
A normal sinus rhythm displays a heart rate between 60-100 beats per minute. Rates below 60 bpm are considered bradycardia, while rates above 100 bpm are considered tachycardia.

30. C
According to CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), urine dipstick testing is classified as a waived test because it poses minimal risk of harm if performed incorrectly. Waived tests can be performed with a CLIA Certificate of Waiver.

31. B
Chain of custody documentation is essential for forensic specimens, drug testing, and legal cases. It provides a documented record of everyone who handled the specimen from collection to analysis, ensuring the specimen’s integrity.

32. B
Quality control testing should be performed at the beginning of each shift, when a new lot of reagents is opened, and as specified by the manufacturer and laboratory protocols. This ensures accurate and reliable test results.

33. C
Stream scheduling (also called time-specified or fixed scheduling) allocates specific time slots based on the type of visit or procedure. Each patient is given a specific appointment time, allowing for organized patient flow.

34. B
ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification) is used to document diagnosis codes for billing and statistical purposes. It classifies diseases, conditions, injuries, and other health-related problems.

35. B
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes are used to document procedures and services for billing purposes. These codes are developed and maintained by the American Medical Association.

36. C
Alphanumeric filing systems use a combination of letters and numbers. This system is often used in medical offices to organize files by a combination of patient names or identifiers with numerical components.

37. B
Under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, employers must offer the hepatitis B vaccine series to employees free of charge within 10 working days of initial assignment to duties with potential exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.