Certified Clinical Medical Assistant CCMA Practice Test

The first action the medical assistant should take is to identify the patient and explain the procedure. This step is critical to ensure patient safety and comfort. Proper identification helps prevent errors, such as performing the ECG on the wrong patient. Additionally, explaining the procedure mitigates anxiety and prepares the patient for what to expect, which can lead to cooperation and accurate results.

While it may be essential to perform skin preparation for electrode placement, have the patient lie flat, or apply electrodes, these actions should follow after establishing a clear understanding and rapport with the patient. Prioritizing patient identification and explanation ensures that the foundation for the procedure is set correctly, which subsequently allows for effective and safe completion of the ECG.