Certified Clinical Medical Assistant CCMA Practice Test

A patient loses consciousness. The EKG tracing reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which of the following actions should an MA take first?

1. Apply defibrillator pads

2. Administer epinephrine

3. Start an IV

4. Call for help and begin CPR

The correct answer is: Call for help and begin CPR

The first action that should be taken when a patient loses consciousness and the EKG shows ventricular fibrillation is to call for help and begin CPR. This is critical because ventricular fibrillation is a lethal arrhythmia where the heart is not pumping effectively, leading to a lack of blood flow and oxygen to vital organs, including the brain. Immediate CPR can help maintain some circulation to the brain and other organs until advanced interventions can be administered, such as defibrillation. While it’s important to apply defibrillator pads quickly and administer appropriate medications, the priority has to be ensuring that the patient receives chest compressions to support blood flow. During a medical emergency, activating the emergency response team and providing CPR are the first steps in stabilizing the patient's condition. This context prioritizes critical life-saving actions, recognizing that interventions like defibrillation and medication administration follow the initial response of CPR and notifying others for assistance.