NHA PCT exam

a patient care technician is manually transferring a patient who has right sided weakness from the bed to the wheelchair. which of the following methods should the technician use to promote proper body mechanics?

grasp the back of the transfer belt and have the patient stand using stronger side while lifting with legs and keeping back straight.

a patient care technician is caring for several adult patients what findings should the technician report to the nurse first?

temperature 38.5 c (100.5 f)

a patient care technician is caring for a patient who suddenly becomes unresponsive. which of the following actions should the technician take first?

tap the patients shoulders and ask are you okay?

a pct is using a new disinfectant to clean a soiled mattress the tech notices a skull and crossbones symbol on the label of the disinfectant which of the following hazards does this symbol indicate?

acute toxicity

a pct is preparing to transport a patient via a stretcher what action should the tech take when transferring the patient from a bed to the stretcher?

raise the patients bed to the same level as the stretcher

a pct should identify that a health care facility's infection control program is required by which of the following institutions?

the joint commission

a patient care technician is preparing to label a patients specimen tube following a blood collection which of the following actions should the tech take?

face the patient while labeling the specimen tube

a pct is applying anti-embolism stockings to a patient the tech should identify that the provider has prescribed anti-embolism stockings for which of the following reasons?

to reduce the risk for deep vein thrombosis

this term refers to the complete destruction of all forms of micro organisms when providing patient care?

sterilization

this action should be taken by the pct to verify the quality of venipuncture supplies before beginning a blood draw?

inspect the integrity of the needles seal

a pct is to collect a 2 hr postprandial glucose by dermal puncture. upon entering the room she sees the patient pushing away the over-bed table with the lunch tray still on it. which of the following actions should the tech take?

ask the patient if he has eaten within the past 2 hr

a pct is obtaining a blood specimen from a patient the tech should identify that which of the following errors could cause the specimen hemolysis?

transporting the tubes horizontally

a pct is preparing to perform passive range of motion exercises for a patient. which of the following motions should the tech perform on the patients elbows?

flexion

a pct is assisting a nurse to change a dressing on a surgical wound. the wound should not have contact with air or oxygen. which of the following types of dressings should the tech expect the nurse to use?

occlusive

a pct must invert anticoagulant tubes to prevent?

clotting

a pct should identify that patients benefit from the use of electronic health record systems in which of the following ways?

the patient receives improved coordination of care

which of the following actions should a patient care tech take to help prevent health care associated infections?

follow standard precautions when caring for patients who have surgical incisions

a pct is documenting in a patients electronic health record which of the following abbreviations should the tech avoid using?

U because it can be mistaken for 0,4, or "cc" the tech should always write out unit

this action is outside the scope of practice for a pct?

receiving a medication prescription

a pct is assisting a patient with bowel elimination. which of the following actions should the tech take to promote relaxation and emotional support?

play soft music at the patients bedside

a pct is monitoring a patient who has severe hypertension. which of the following findings related to the patients condition should the tech report to the nurse immediately?

the patients lower limbs show pitting edema

for which of the following procedures should a patient care tech use sterile technique?

inserting a straight catheter

a pct is performing a 12 lead EKG for a patient. the tech should identify that this heart rate indicates bradycardia?

50/min

a pct is measuring intake for a patient who has consumed 2 oz of iced tea, 6 oz of chicken broth, and 4 oz of flavored gelatin which of the following amounts is the patients total intake?

360 mL. because 1 oz is equal to 30 mL

a pct is assisting with the care of a 3 year old child who has several bruises on the arms in various stages of healing. the child guardian states that the child falls down a lot. which of the following actions should the tech take?

report the signs of injury to a supervisor

a pct is changing the linens for a patient who is prescribed contact precautions for clostridium difficile. the tech finds the disposable underpad is heavily soiled with blood and feces. the tech should dispose of the pad in which of the following containers?

bio hazard waste container

a pct is caring for a patient whose roommate asks about her diagnosis. the tech should identify that disclosing this information would violate which of the following?

patients bill of rights

a pct should identify that which of the following procedures is most commonly used to obtain a routine urinalysis specimen from an adult patient?

clean catch midstream collection

a pct is preparing to bathe a patient who has diarrhea and has soiled the bed. the tech should take this action to control the spread of infection?

wear gloves

a pct is providing oral care to a patient who wears upper and lower dentures. which of the following actions should the tech take when reinserting the dentures?

replace the upper dentures before the lower dentures

a pct is responding to an adult patient who is experiencing ventricular tachycardia and has become unresponsive. the tech should palpate the patients pulse using which of the following sites?

carotid

a pct should identify that which of the following provides residents in long term care facilities with the right to be free of physical or psychological abuse?

Omnibus budget reconciliation act

a pct in a hospital is preparing to sterilize equipment that was soiled with blood. which of the following methods should the tech use?

autoclave

a pct is providing instructions to a newly hired tech about transporting and handling blood specimens. which of the following instructions should the tech include?

ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid tight closure

a pct is reviewing quality improvement tools. which of the following tools attempts to improve patient safety and the quality of health care by eliminating unnecessary processes and redirecting resources to patients needs?

learn methodology

a pct is changing a patients bedding and receives a needle-stick which of the following actions should the technician take first?

wash the affected area with antimicrobial soap

a pct is assisting during mealtime with a patient who is at risk for dysphagia. the tech should identify that which of the following foods should be calculated as fluid intake for the intake and output report?

chocolate pudding

a pct is caring for a patient who requires oral suctioning. which of the following actions should the tech take?

limit suctioning to no more than 15 seconds at a time

a pct is preparing to assist a patient to ambulate using a gait belt. which of the following statements should the tech make?

you can support yourself by holding onto my arms

a pct should identify that which of the following situations will likely cause somatic interference during EKG testing?

a patient who is experiencing a seizure

a pct is assisting with the physical examination of an older adult patient. which of the following statements by the patient indicates a risk factor for elder abuse?

i live alone and i don't get many visitors

a pct is preparing to determine the pulse rate of a patient who has atrial fibrillation which of the following methods should the tech use?

manually using the apical area

a pct is performing postmortem care for a patient who is scheduled for an autopsy. which of the following actions should the tech take?

collect and document the patients valuables

a pct is caring for a patient who has died. which of the following actions should the tech take?

position a pillow under the patients head

a pct is performing a venipuncture for a patient and observes a hematoma developing at the needle insertion site. which of the following actions should the tech take?

apply pressure to the site for a minimum of 5 min

if a patient who has influenza is coughing a pct should understand that the cough is which of the following links in the chain of infection?

mode of transmission

a pct is assisting in the care of a patient who has a wound left to heal by way of granulation who often should this wound be redressed?

every 24 hr

a pct is assisting a patient who is recovering from abdominal surgery with deep breathing and coughing exercises. which of the following findings should the tech expect to observe in the patient?

cleared airway blockage of fluid and mucus

a pct is caring for a patient who has an ostomy. which of the following actions should the tech take when providing ostomy care?

use toilet paper to wipe around the stoma

a pct is transferring a weight bearing patient from a wheelchair to the bed. which of the following pieces of equipment should the tech use?

gait belt

a patient care technician is performing an ekg for a patient. the technician should recognize that the vertical projections in the image below are a result of which of the following? (INSERT PICTURE)

pacemaker spikes

a patient tells a pct "i dont like the overnight staff because nobody ever comes to help me use the bathroom when i use the call light. please don't tell anyone because i don't want them to ignore me more." which of the following actions should the tech take?

inform the patient that this concern will be reported to the charge nurse

a pct should identify that which of the following represents the first link in the chain of infection?

infectious agent

a pct is preparing to collect a stool specimen from a patient. which of the actions should the tech take?

prevent contaminating the specimen with urine

a pct should identify that which of the following laboratory tests requires chain of custody protocol?

blood alcohol level

a pct is assisting a weight bearing patient from a wheelchair to the toilet in the patients bathroom. which of the following actions should the tech take to keep the patient safe during the transfer?

lock the wheels on the wheelchair

a pct should identify that which of the following structures of the heart is immediately affected if a sinoatrial (SA) node fails?

atrioventricular node

a pct is caring for a patient who is receiving an enteral feeding via an NG tube. In which of the following positions should the tech place the positions?

Semi-Fowler's

a pct is collecting a urine specimen from a patient. the tech should identify that which of the following urine characteristics is an unexpected finding?

red tinged urine

a pct is caring for a patient who is at risk for falls. At which of the following times should the tech check and document on this patient?

every 1 hour

a pct is caring for a patient whose daughter is visiting. the daughter asks about the health of the patients roommate. which of the following statements by the tech is an appropriate response

"you can ask the patient about his condition"

a pct is caring for a 5year old child who reports pain. which of the following pain scales should the tech use to measure the child's pain?

wong-baker FACES

a pct is preparing to place electrodes for an EKG on a patient who has large breast. in which of the following locations should the tech place the electrodes for V4 and V5?

in the closest position possible to normal, underneath the breast

a pct is applying a sequential compression device (SCD) to a patient. the tech should plan to remove the SCD at which of the following times?

every 8 hours

a pct is performing a venipuncture to collect a blood specimen from a patient. which of the following actions should the tech take to reduce the risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens?

dispose of the needle in a sharps container

a pct is caring for a patient who is receiving hospice care. the patient states that she wants to stay alive long enough to see her first grandchild, who is due to be born in a few months. which of the following stages of grief does this statement reflect?

bargaining

a pct has orders to collect blood cultures, CBC, PTT, and an iron panel, he forgets to draw for the PTT. which of the following actions should the tech take?

keep the specimens collected and draw for the PTT

which of the following assistive devices should a pct use to improve vertebral alignment in a patient who is immobile?

bed board

a pct informs a nurse about swelling at a patients peripheral IV site. the tech should recognize that which of the following is the most likely cause of this finding?

catheter infiltration

a pct is assisting a nurse to bathe a patient who has a colostomy. which of the following cleansing agents should the tech use to clean the skin around the stoma?

warm water

a pct is caring for a patient who has significant hearing loss. which of the following actions should the technician take to communicate with the patient?

use a picture board to provide instructions

a pct is performing a 12 lead EKG for a patient. in which of the following locations should the tech place the V4 lead?

fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line

a pct is assisting a nurse with the care of a patient who has recently given birth vaginally. which of the following bathing techniques should the tech use?

Sitz bath

a provider request that a pct collect blood specimens from a patient for blood cultures. hematology, and coagulation studies. which of the following should the tech fill first when performing the venipuncture?

blood culture bottle

when should a pct compare the code on glucose cuvettes to the code on the glucometer?

when a patient is tested

a pct is preparing to weigh a patient who is at risk for falls. which of the following actions should the tech take when using a mechanical scale to weigh the patient?

place a walker over the scale for the patient to use as support

a pct should identify that which of the following is the most commonly use paper speed for an EKG machine?

25 mm/sec

a pct is preparing to perform an antecubital venipuncture and has cleansed the site. the tech palpates the vein again with a gloved finger. which of the following actions should the tech take?

cleanse the site

a pct is preparing to apply restraints to a patient.which of the following actions should the tech take?

apply the restraints over the patients clothing

a pct is preparing to perform a venipuncture for a patient. which of the following patients identifiers should the tech use to verify the patients identity?

the patients name and date of birth

a pct is taking a patients pulse oximetry reading. the tech cannot get the reading to appear on the monitor. which of the following could be the cause?

the patient has a blood pressure of 84/62 mmHg with cold hands and fingers

a pct is transporting a blood specimen that is wrapped in aluminum foil. the tech should identify that the specimen is wrapped in aluminum foil for which of the following reasons?

to protect the specimen from light

a pct has a conflict with another tech. which of the following actions should the tech take first?

discuss these concerns with the other tech in private

a pct enters the room of a patient who is receiving oxygen and finds the patients nasal cannula on the floor. which of the following actions should the tech take?

obtain a new cannula, connect it, and place it on the patient

a pct should identify that which of the following terms is used when referring to infections that can be spread to patients?

health care associated infections

a pct is reinforcing teaching about using an incentive spirometer with a patient. which of the following instructions should the tech include?

"the goal is to get the ball to rise in the chamber of the incentive spirometer."

a pct is caring for a patient who is at risk for pressure ulcers, which of the following actions should the tech take?

reposition the patient at least every 2 hr

a nurse instructs a pct to perform a procedure. the tech then considers whether the procedure is within their scope of practice. which of the following five rights of delegation is the technician following?

the right task

a pct is obtaining vital signs for a patient and notices the patients temperature is higher than normal. which of the following actions should the tech take?

notify the nurse about the patients condition

a pct is caring for a patient who is 8hr postoperative following repair of a fractured femur. which of the following vital signs values should the tech report to a nurse?

blood pressure 180/101 mmHg

a pct can be instrumental in preventing sentinel events by taking which of the following actions?

ensuring proper application of all safety reminder devices

a pct is caring for a patient who has a stage 2 pressure ulcer. which of the following should the tech report?

blister like apperance

a pct is caring for a patient who has a large wound on the upper thigh that is draining purulent fluid. the tech should identify that this wound will most likely heal by which of the following processes?

granulation tissue will fill the wound and a large scar will form

a pct is caring for a group of four patients. the tech should immediately notify a nurse for which of the following patients?

a patient who reports chest pain

a pct is removing soiled gloves. which of the following actions should the tech take?

grab the outside of one cuff with other gloved hand

a pct is caring for a patient who is to begin wearing a holter monitor. which of the following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the device?

"i will keep a complete activity diary during monitoring."

a pct is assisting a patient who recently had a stroke and has left sided weakness. which of the following instructions should the technician provide when assisting the patient to learn how to use a cane?

"hold the cane on the stronger side of your body"

how frequently should a pct disinfect an EKG machine?

after every use

a pct is caring for a patient who is in the acceptance stage of the grieving process. which of the following actions should the tech take?

stay with the patient and allow them to talk or remain silent

a pct is emptying a patient's bedside commode and accidentally splashes urine inhis eye. which of the following actions should the tech take?

flush his eyes with water for 10 min.