20 Patient Intake & Vitals Practice Questions & Answers

Every Patient Intake & Vitals practice question from the CCMA Practice Test (NHA Clinical Medical Assistant), with the correct answer and a short explanation.

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1. A medical assistant calls a patient back from the waiting room for intake. Which approach correctly identifies the patient before vital signs are taken?
- A.Match the patient's name to the scheduled appointment time
- B.Have the patient state full name and date of birth✓ Answer
- C.Read the chart name aloud and ask the patient to confirm
- D.Match the patient's name to the assigned exam room number
Patient identification requires at least two person-specific identifiers, such as full name and date of birth, checked against the chart. An open-ended request makes the patient supply the information; a yes/no question invites a confused or hard-of-hearing patient to agree with the wrong name. Room numbers and appointment times describe a location or schedule, not the person, so they are never identifiers.
Ref QB-U5QA8QSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: patient identification (The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal, two patient identifiers)Report a problem with this question
2. During intake, a patient mentions that her mother and her older brother were both diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In which part of the health history should the medical assistant record this?
- A.Social history
- B.Past medical history
- C.Family history✓ Answer
- D.Review of systems
Family history records the health conditions and causes of death of blood relatives, because inherited risk for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer shapes screening. Past medical history covers the patient's own illnesses and surgeries, social history covers lifestyle (tobacco, alcohol, occupation), and the review of systems is a symptom checklist by body system.
Ref QB-DN8TYRSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: elements of medical, surgical, family and social historyReport a problem with this question
3. While taking the social history, a patient says he has smoked 1.5 packs of cigarettes a day for 20 years. How many pack-years should the medical assistant document?
- A.13.3 pack-years
- B.20 pack-years
- C.21.5 pack-years
- D.30 pack-years✓ Answer
Pack-years equal packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked: 1.5 x 20 = 30. Adding the two numbers (21.5), dividing years by packs (13.3), or recording only the years (20) all understate the cumulative exposure the provider uses to judge risk.
Ref QB-V53NDRSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: social history and tobacco screening (pack-year calculation)Report a problem with this question
4. Which intake finding should be documented as objective data?
- A.Nausea the patient says started last night
- B.Dizziness the patient reports when standing
- C.Oral temperature of 101.2 F measured at intake✓ Answer
- D.A throbbing headache the patient describes
Objective data are signs that can be measured or observed by someone other than the patient, such as a temperature reading. Nausea, headache and dizziness are symptoms only the patient can feel and report, so they are subjective data, recorded in the patient's own words.
Ref QB-AN6TFNSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: documenting subjective symptoms vs objective signsReport a problem with this question
5. A patient completes a PHQ-9 during intake. The total score is 8, but on the item about thoughts of being better off dead or of self-harm, the patient marked "several days." What should the medical assistant do?
- A.Tell the patient the result shows mild depression
- B.File the form since the total score is below 10
- C.Ask the patient to retake the PHQ-9 at the next visit
- D.Notify the provider right away and stay with the patient✓ Answer
Any positive answer to the self-harm item (item 9) is a possible suicide risk and must be escalated to the provider immediately, regardless of the total score. The medical assistant administers and documents screening tools but does not interpret or diagnose, so telling the patient a result or deferring the issue is outside scope and unsafe.
Ref QB-S5ZMVMSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: mental health screening tools (PHQ-9 item 9) and reporting abnormal findingsReport a problem with this question
6. A seated patient's blood pressure is measured with the arm hanging at the side, below the level of the heart. How does this affect the reading?
- A.Falsely high, from added hydrostatic pressure✓ Answer
- B.Falsely low, from reduced blood flow to the arm
- C.Falsely low systolic but an accurate diastolic
- D.No effect, because only cuff size changes readings
When the arm is below heart level, the weight of the column of blood adds hydrostatic pressure at the cuff, so both systolic and diastolic read falsely high; an arm above the heart reads falsely low. The arm should be supported at heart level with the patient seated, back supported and feet flat.
Ref QB-BNH5NPSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: blood pressure errors and troubleshooting (AHA blood pressure measurement guidance, arm position)Report a problem with this question
7. Before taking an auscultatory blood pressure, the medical assistant palpates the radial pulse while inflating the cuff. The pulse disappears at 140 mmHg. To about what pressure should the cuff be inflated for the auscultatory measurement?
- A.About 200 mmHg
- B.About 140 mmHg
- C.About 170 mmHg✓ Answer
- D.About 150 mmHg
The palpated point where the radial pulse disappears estimates the systolic pressure; adding about 30 mmHg gives an inflation target safely above systolic. This prevents an auscultatory gap from causing a falsely low systolic, while avoiding the needless discomfort of pumping every patient to a fixed high pressure.
Ref QB-T5CY2PSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: blood pressure methods (palpatory systolic estimate and auscultatory gap)Report a problem with this question
8. Using the AHA/ACC adult blood pressure categories, a patient's correctly measured, averaged reading is 134/78 mmHg. Which category does this reading fall into?
- A.Stage 2 hypertension
- B.Elevated blood pressure
- C.Normal blood pressure
- D.Stage 1 hypertension✓ Answer
Under the AHA/ACC categories, stage 1 hypertension is a systolic of 130-139 OR a diastolic of 80-89, and the higher category of the two numbers applies. A systolic of 134 meets stage 1 even though the diastolic is under 80; elevated is 120-129 with a diastolic under 80, and stage 2 starts at 140 or 90.
Ref QB-8NF55KSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: in-range and out-of-range blood pressure values (AHA/ACC adult blood pressure categories)Report a problem with this question
9. For orthostatic vital signs, a patient's supine reading after 5 minutes of rest is BP 128/80, pulse 72. Which standing reading, taken after the appropriate wait, is a positive orthostatic result?
- A.Standing 104/76, pulse 84✓ Answer
- B.Standing 118/74, pulse 86
- C.Standing 124/84, pulse 78
- D.Standing 120/76, pulse 80
A positive orthostatic test is a systolic drop of 20 mmHg or more, a diastolic drop of 10 mmHg or more, or a pulse rise of about 20 bpm or more after standing. The 104/76 reading is a 24 mmHg systolic drop; the others show smaller changes (at most a 10 mmHg systolic drop and a 14 bpm pulse rise) that do not meet the criteria.
Ref QB-Q5AYHJSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: orthostatic vital signs (positive criteria)Report a problem with this question
10. Two medical assistants measure a patient's pulse at the same time: the apical rate is 96 bpm and the radial rate is 82 bpm. What is the pulse deficit?
- A.178 bpm
- B.82 bpm
- C.89 bpm
- D.14 bpm✓ Answer
Pulse deficit equals the apical rate minus the radial rate, counted simultaneously: 96 - 82 = 14 bpm. It represents heartbeats too weak to reach the wrist, which is why the two counts must be taken at the same time; the sum, the average, or the radial rate alone does not measure this gap.
Ref QB-AYFU3QSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: pulse sites and abnormal rhythms (apical-radial pulse deficit)Report a problem with this question
11. An adult patient who takes digoxin has an irregular radial pulse at intake. How should the medical assistant measure the pulse rate?
- A.Apical pulse with a stethoscope for a full 60 seconds✓ Answer
- B.Radial pulse for 30 seconds, multiplied by 2
- C.Radial pulse for 15 seconds, multiplied by 4
- D.Carotid pulse on both sides for a full 60 seconds
An irregular rhythm or a cardiac drug such as digoxin calls for an apical pulse, heard at the 5th intercostal space at the left midclavicular line and counted for a full minute, because short counts multiplied up miss irregular beats. Both carotid arteries must never be pressed at once, since that can reduce blood flow to the brain.
Ref QB-TFNZNQSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: pulse sites, counting and abnormal rhythms (apical pulse)Report a problem with this question
12. After counting a patient's radial pulse, what is the best way for the medical assistant to count respirations?
- A.Ask the patient to take deep breaths for one minute
- B.Keep fingers on the wrist and count chest rises quietly✓ Answer
- C.Count for 10 seconds and multiply the result by 6
- D.Tell the patient to breathe normally while you count
Patients who know their breathing is being counted tend to change its rate and depth, so respirations are counted unobtrusively while still appearing to take the pulse. One respiration is one inspiration plus one expiration; a 10-second count is too short to be accurate, and deep breathing on request does not reflect the resting rate.
Ref QB-BYT69RSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: respiratory rate measurementReport a problem with this question
13. While taking vital signs on a patient with severe heart failure, the medical assistant observes breathing that gradually becomes deeper and faster, then shallower and slower, followed by a pause of about 15 seconds, with the cycle repeating. Which term describes this pattern?
- A.Kussmaul respiratory pattern
- B.Repeated orthopnea episodes
- C.Hyperventilation episodes
- D.Cheyne-Stokes respirations✓ Answer
Cheyne-Stokes respirations are cycles of crescendo-decrescendo breathing separated by periods of apnea, seen in heart failure and near death. Kussmaul breathing is continuously deep and rapid (as in diabetic ketoacidosis) without pauses, hyperventilation is sustained rapid deep breathing, and orthopnea is difficulty breathing when lying flat.
Ref QB-UFZBURSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: abnormal respiratory patternsReport a problem with this question
14. A patient arrives after running a gasoline generator inside a closed garage. He has a headache and is confused, and the pulse oximeter reads 99%. How should the medical assistant treat this reading?
- A.It is accurate if the probe is moved to the earlobe
- B.It is falsely low because of the patient's confusion
- C.It may be falsely normal; report it to the provider now✓ Answer
- D.It confirms normal oxygenation; continue routine intake
A standard pulse oximeter cannot tell oxyhemoglobin from carboxyhemoglobin, so carbon monoxide poisoning produces a falsely normal or high SpO2 even when oxygen delivery is dangerously low. Changing the site does not fix this, so the symptoms and exposure must be reported to the provider immediately.
Ref QB-8YR6RMSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: pulse oximetry ranges, sites and errors (carbon monoxide interference)Report a problem with this question
15. The medical assistant is taking a tympanic temperature on a 2-year-old child. How should the outer ear (pinna) be pulled before inserting the probe?
- A.Down and back✓ Answer
- B.Down and forward
- C.Up and back
- D.Up and forward
In children under about 3 years the ear canal is short and angled upward, so pulling the pinna down and back straightens it and lets the probe aim at the eardrum. For older children and adults the pinna is pulled up and back; pulling forward bends the canal and gives a falsely low reading.
Ref QB-RFXBBNSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: temperature routes and technique (tympanic measurement by age)Report a problem with this question
16. A patient's temperature is 39 C. Using the formula F = (C x 9/5) + 32, what is the temperature in Fahrenheit?
- A.70.2 F
- B.102.2 F✓ Answer
- C.100.4 F
- D.127.8 F
Multiply first, then add: 39 x 1.8 = 70.2, and 70.2 + 32 = 102.2 F. Stopping before adding 32 gives 70.2, adding 32 before multiplying gives 127.8, and 100.4 F is the fever threshold (38 C), not this conversion.
Ref QB-9Y4HWNSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: conversion formulas (Celsius to Fahrenheit)Report a problem with this question
17. A 10-month-old infant is crying and pulling at one ear during intake, and the provider wants a pain assessment documented. Which pain scale should the medical assistant use?
- A.0-10 numeric rating scale
- B.FACES pain rating scale
- C.FLACC behavioral scale✓ Answer
- D.Verbal descriptor scale
FLACC scores observed behavior (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability), so it works for infants and other patients who cannot self-report. The faces scale requires a child of about 3 or older to point to a face, and numeric and verbal scales require the patient to understand and answer.
Ref QB-SFAPGPSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: pain scales (FLACC for nonverbal patients and infants)Report a problem with this question
18. A patient's last menstrual period (LMP) began on March 10. Using Naegele's rule, what is the estimated due date?
- A.June 17
- B.December 17✓ Answer
- C.December 3
- D.January 17
Naegele's rule takes the first day of the LMP, adds 7 days, subtracts 3 months and adds 1 year: March 10 + 7 days = March 17, minus 3 months = December 17. Subtracting the 7 days instead of adding them, counting the months wrong, or adding 3 months all give an incorrect date.
Ref QB-EYV6SUSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: menstrual status and LMP (Naegele's rule)Report a problem with this question
19. An adult patient weighs 180 lb and is 5 ft 10 in tall. Using BMI = [weight (lb) / height (in) squared] x 703, what is the BMI and its category?
- A.25.8, overweight✓ Answer
- B.24.6, normal weight
- C.29.5, overweight
- D.25.8, normal weight
First convert height to inches: 5 ft 10 in = 70 in, and 70 squared = 4,900. Then 180 / 4,900 x 703 = about 25.8. The adult normal range ends at 24.9, and 25 to 29.9 is overweight, so 25.8 is classified as overweight.
Ref QB-XF3CCVSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: height, weight and BMI (CDC adult BMI categories)Report a problem with this question
20. A 15-month-old's weight plots at the 75th percentile on the WHO growth chart. What does this percentile mean?
- A.Falls in the overweight range and needs a diet plan
- B.Weighs more than 75% of same-age, same-sex children✓ Answer
- C.Weighs 25% more than the average child of that age
- D.Weighs 75% of the ideal weight for age and sex
A percentile ranks a child against a reference group of the same age and sex: the 75th percentile means the child weighs more than 75% of those peers and less than 25%. It is not a percentage of an ideal weight, and a single percentile in the normal band is not overweight; what the medical assistant flags is a reading outside the chart's screening cutoffs (on WHO charts, below the 2nd or above the 98th percentile) or a crossing of two major percentile lines.
Ref QB-N87QNFSource: NHA CCMA Test Plan — Domain 3A Patient Intake and Vitals: pediatric measurements and growth charts (WHO growth charts for ages 0-2)Report a problem with this question

1. A medical assistant calls a patient back from the waiting room for intake. Which approach correctly identifies the patient before vital signs are taken?

2. During intake, a patient mentions that her mother and her older brother were both diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In which part of the health history should the medical assistant record this?

3. While taking the social history, a patient says he has smoked 1.5 packs of cigarettes a day for 20 years. How many pack-years should the medical assistant document?

4. Which intake finding should be documented as objective data?

5. A patient completes a PHQ-9 during intake. The total score is 8, but on the item about thoughts of being better off dead or of self-harm, the patient marked "several days." What should the medical assistant do?

6. A seated patient's blood pressure is measured with the arm hanging at the side, below the level of the heart. How does this affect the reading?

7. Before taking an auscultatory blood pressure, the medical assistant palpates the radial pulse while inflating the cuff. The pulse disappears at 140 mmHg. To about what pressure should the cuff be inflated for the auscultatory measurement?

8. Using the AHA/ACC adult blood pressure categories, a patient's correctly measured, averaged reading is 134/78 mmHg. Which category does this reading fall into?

9. For orthostatic vital signs, a patient's supine reading after 5 minutes of rest is BP 128/80, pulse 72. Which standing reading, taken after the appropriate wait, is a positive orthostatic result?

10. Two medical assistants measure a patient's pulse at the same time: the apical rate is 96 bpm and the radial rate is 82 bpm. What is the pulse deficit?

11. An adult patient who takes digoxin has an irregular radial pulse at intake. How should the medical assistant measure the pulse rate?

12. After counting a patient's radial pulse, what is the best way for the medical assistant to count respirations?

13. While taking vital signs on a patient with severe heart failure, the medical assistant observes breathing that gradually becomes deeper and faster, then shallower and slower, followed by a pause of about 15 seconds, with the cycle repeating. Which term describes this pattern?

14. A patient arrives after running a gasoline generator inside a closed garage. He has a headache and is confused, and the pulse oximeter reads 99%. How should the medical assistant treat this reading?

15. The medical assistant is taking a tympanic temperature on a 2-year-old child. How should the outer ear (pinna) be pulled before inserting the probe?

16. A patient's temperature is 39 C. Using the formula F = (C x 9/5) + 32, what is the temperature in Fahrenheit?

17. A 10-month-old infant is crying and pulling at one ear during intake, and the provider wants a pain assessment documented. Which pain scale should the medical assistant use?

18. A patient's last menstrual period (LMP) began on March 10. Using Naegele's rule, what is the estimated due date?

19. An adult patient weighs 180 lb and is 5 ft 10 in tall. Using BMI = [weight (lb) / height (in) squared] x 703, what is the BMI and its category?

20. A 15-month-old's weight plots at the 75th percentile on the WHO growth chart. What does this percentile mean?

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