Certified Clinical Medical Assistant CCMA Practice Test

An MA is obtaining a BP measurement from an adult pt. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?

1. Place the stethoscope's bell over the artery

2. Place the stethoscope's diaphragm over the pt's palpated artery

3. Listen while the patient is talking

4. Measure during exercise

The correct answer is: Place the stethoscope's diaphragm over the pt's palpated artery

The correct choice emphasizes the importance of properly placing the stethoscope during a blood pressure measurement. By positioning the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the palpated artery, the assistant maximizes the ability to hear the Korotkoff sounds, which are vital for determining systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The diaphragm is more effective for high-frequency sounds, making it the appropriate choice for this purpose. Other options present issues that could compromise the accuracy of the reading. For example, placing the stethoscope's bell over the artery may not provide the best acoustic transmission of the sounds needed for measuring blood pressure, since the bell is more effective for lower-frequency sounds. Listening while the patient talks introduces background noise, which can interfere with the clarity of the sounds associated with blood pressure measurement. Finally, measuring blood pressure during exercise would result in temporary fluctuations in blood pressure due to physical activity, leading to an inaccurate reading.