PCT practice exam questions

A patient care technician is preparing to perform documentation in a patients electronic health record. Which of the following is an example of appropriate documentation by the technician?

A.) the technician on the previous shift reports giving the patient a bath at 1600.

B.) The patient has a large, dark bowel movement at 1100.

C.) The Patient will receive an enema at 1700.

D.) The patient is upset because the nurse from the previous shift forgot to provide breakfast.

B.) The patient has a large, dark brown bowel movement at 1100.

Which of the following EKG findings differentiates accelerated idioventricular rhythm from junctional rhythm?

A.) Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has P wave.

B.) The ventricular rate in accelerated idioventricular rhythm is slower than junctional rhythm.

C.) junctional rhythm has P waves

D.) accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide QRS complexes.

D.) Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide QRS complexes.

A patient care technician is caring for a patient whose has a stage 3 pressure ulcer. Which of the following manifestations should the technician expect?

A.) The area forms a blister, and the epidermis peels away or cracks open

B.) The subcutaneous fat is visible, and there is drainage from the wound.

C.) The area appears as reddened skin that does not return to its initial color after pressure is removed.

D.) The damaged tissue extends all the way through the tissues to the muscle.

B.) The subcutaneous fat is visible, and there is drainage from the wound.

Which of the following tubes should be collected first for dermal samples?

A.) lavender top

B.) green top

C.) red top

D.) light blue top

A.) lavender top

A patient care technician is transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair using a mechanical lift with a sling. As the patient is being transferred the technician should place him in which of the following position?

A.) Sims

B.) Fowlers

C.) Lithotomy

D.) Trendelenburg

B.) Fowler's

A patient care technician is performing a routine venipuncture for a patient who becomes pallid and diaphoretic. Which of the following conditions is this patient most likely to experience?

A.) Syncope

B.) Seizure

C.) Nausea

D.) Shock

A.) Syncope

A patient care technician is assisting a nurse to apply a hand-wrist immobility splint for a patient who has left-sided paralysis due to a stroke. The technician should identify that the splint will secure the patients hand and write in which of the following positions?

A.) wrist in slight dorsiflexion

B.) fingers in a extended position

C.) fingers rotated slightly in an external position

D.) thumb kept in close proximity to the index finger

A.) wrist in slight dorsiflexion

A patient care technician recently attended a seminar about hospice car. Which of the following statements by the technician indicates an understanding of hospice care?

A.) "the cost of hospice care is reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid"

B.) "many hospice agencies do not require patients to have a primary caregiver"

C.) "an immediate family member must accept responsibility for the patients care"

D.) "hospice care covers curative therapies prescribed by the health care provider"

A.) "the cost of hospice care is reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid"

A patient care technician is preparing a peripheral blood smear on a slide. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) press down on the spreader slide to fix the cells on the lower slide

B.) Apply the spreader slide to the lower slide at a 60 degree angle

C.) verify that the smear covers about three-quarters of the slide

D.) apply blood to the clear portion of the slide

C.) verify that the smear covers about three-quarters of the slide

A patient care technician is caring for four patients. Which of the following should the technician report to the nurse?

A.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 190 mg/dL

B.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 90 mg/dL

C.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 100 mg/dL

D.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 130 mg/dL

A.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 190 mg/dL

A patient care technician is providing palliative care to a patient. The patients family expresses feelings of anger and hopelessness. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) explain that anger is the first coping mechanism everyone experience during grief.

B.) refer the family to the charge nurse

C.) recommend that the patient talk to social services

D.) Listen when the family is ready to talk

D.) Listen when the family is ready to talk

A patient care technician is performing CPR for n adult patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) check for a pulse at the patients radial artery site

B.) give the patient rescue breaths that have a 3-second duration

C.) depress 5 cm (2 in) into the patients chest while performing compressions

D.) perform 80 to 90 compressions per min

C.) depress 5 cm (2 in) into the patients chest while performing compressions

A patient care technician observes a nurse administering an influenza vaccine to a patient. The technician should identify that receiving an influenza vaccine breaks which of the following links in the chain of infection?

A.) susceptible host

B.) portal of entry

C.) infectious agent

D.) method of transmission

A.) susceptible host

Which of the following actions is appropriate when labeling specimens?

A.) labeling specimens at the time of collection in front of the patient

B.) specifying the patients room number, last name, and date of birth on the label

C.) keeping the specimens in the tray and labeling them in the laboratory

D.) writing the technicians initials and the time on the label prior to collection

A.) labeling specimens at the time of collection in front of the patient

A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has an ileostomy. Which of the following types of stool should the technician expect to observe in the ostomy pouch?

A.) liquid

B.) black

C.) foul-smelling

D.) soft

A.) liquid

A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is postoperative and has been prescribes incentive spirometry. The technician should recognize that the provider prescribed this therapy for which of the following reasons?

A.) to prevent the loss of muscle mass

B.) to reduce the risk for blood clots

C.) to prevent pooling of blood in the lower legs

D.) to prevent respiratory complications

D.) to prevent respiratory complications

A patient care technician is collecting a blood culture specimen from a patient who has an allergy to shellfish. Which of the following topical antiseptic should the technician use to cleanse the patients skin prior to the venipuncture?

A.) hydrogen peroxide

B.) chlorhexidine gluconate

C.) povidone-iodine

D.) isopropyl alcohol

B.) chlorhexidine gluconate

A patient has difficulty understanding why she needs an ambulatory monitor after having an EKG 48hrs prior. Which of the following is an appropriate explanation by the patient care technician?

A.) "An ambulatory monitor records differently than an EKG"

B.) "Your doctor wants to study your heart over a longer period of time"

C.) "It is standard practice to attach an ambulatory monitor shortly after an EKG"

D.) "I cannot discuss why you have to wear an ambulatory monitor. You'll have to discuss that with your doctor"

B.) "Your doctor wants to study your heart over a longer period of time"

A patient care technician is reinforcing teaching with a patient who has a new prescription for albuterol sulfate to be administered via an inhaler. Which of the following patient statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A.) "I should place the mouthpiece of the inhaler in my mouth"

B.) "I will shake the inhaler well before each use"

C.) I will take the second dose of medication immediately after the first"

D.) "I should take a quick, shallow breath while using the inhaler"

B.) "I will shake the inhaler well before each use"

A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is postoperative following abdominal surgery and observes thin, water, reddish drainage on the wound dressing. The technician should identify that which of the following terms is used to describe this type of drainage?

A.) Serous

B.) Purulent

C.) sanguineous

D.) Serosanguineous

D.) Serosanguineous

A patient care technician in a clinic is receiving a urine specimen from a patient who completed a 24hr urine collection. The technician should ensure that which of the following requirements have been met for the test?

A.) The specimen was allowed to stand for 8hr following the final collection

B.) The final voiding of the 24hr period was discarded

C.) the patient cleaned the meatus prior to each void

D.) the specimen was refrigerated prior to being returned

D.) the specimen was refrigerated prior to being returned

Which of the following abnormalities is associated with large U waves on the EKG?

A.) increased sodium level

B.) increased potassium level

C.) decreased sodium level

D.) decreased potassium level

D.) decreased potassium level

a patient care technician is preparing to clean metal instruments that were used to remove the staples from a patients surgical wound. Which of the following actions should the technician take to destroy micro-organisms and spores on the metal instruments?

A.) rinse the instruments under hot tap water for 30 seconds

B.) scrub the instruments with a bactericidal solution and let them air dry

C.) Place the instruments in an autoclave and stream them under pressure or moist heat

D.) soak the instruments in an iodine solution for 30min before singing them with sterile water.

C.) Place the instruments in an autoclave and stream them under pressure or moist heat

A patient care technician is performing a passive range of motion exercises on a patient's ankle. Which of the following motions should the technician perform?

A.) Circumduction

B.) abduction

C.) Dorsiflection

D.) external rotation

C.) Dorsiflection

A patient care technician is preparing to measure the pulse oximetry of an adult patient who has decreased arterial blood flow. Which of the following locations is the best place to obtain this measurement for a patient who has this condition?

A.) finger

B.) forehead

C.) earlobe

D.) toe

B.) forehead

A patient care technician is preparing to remove a patient's peripheral IV catheter. Which of the following actions should the technician plan to take?

A.) Don sterile gloves prior to removing the catheter

B.) turn the infusion clamp to the "on" position

C.) hold gauze over the site when removing the catheter

D.) clean the area with saline before removing the catheter

C.) hold gauze over the site when removing the catheter

Which of the following actions should a patient care technician take thwn discharging a patient?

A.) review self care procedures with the patients family

B.) inform the patient of any follow up appointments

C.) answer any questions regarding medications

D.) escort the patient using a wheelchair

D.) escort the patient using a wheelchair

Which of the following tasks is within the scope of practice for a patient care technician?

A.) Teaching a new wound care technique to a patient

B.) changing a patient wound care dressing

C.) providing a patient with medication suggestions to promote would healing

D.) reinforcing teaching about a wound care technique taught to the patient by the nurse

D.) reinforcing teaching about a wound care technique taught to the patient by the nurse

A patient care technician should recognize that which of the following is the purpose of CLIA?

A.) to protect patient information

B.) to establish quality standards for laboratory testing on human specimens

C.) to provide clinical laboratory education

D.) to create and promote clinical and laboratory practices

B.) to establish quality standards for laboratory testing on human specimens

A patient care technician has just collected a blood specimen from a patient. For which of the following reasons should the technician invert the collection tubes that contain anticoagulants immediately following a blood collection?

A.) To encourage the mixing of hemoglobin and plasma

B.) to prevent clotting of the blood

C.) to prevent blood from mixing with additives

D.) to encourage sedimentation within the collection tube

B.) to prevent clotting of the blood

A patient care technician should recognize that chain of custody is used for which of the following reasons?

A.) to follow methods of collection with samples and data

B.) to guarantee the identification and integrity of samples

C.) to ensure that samples are being disposed of using correct operating procedures

D.) to track the location of samples and data

B.) to guarantee the identification and integrity of samples

A patient presents alert and oriented, but a patient care technician finds that all the waveforms are negative in Lead I. The technician should check the cable connections for which of the following limb electrodes?

A.) left leg and right leg

B.) left arm and left leg

C.) Right arm and Left leg

D.) right arm and left arm

D.) right arm and left arm

A patient care technician is preparing to transport a patient using a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the technician take when assisting the patient out of bed?

A.) Have the patient push off the bed using his hands when prompted

B.) place the wheelchair 1 m (3.3 feet) from the patients bed

C.) place the wheelchair on the patients weaker side

D.) instruct the patient to place his arms around her neck for support

A.) Have the patient push off the bed using his hands when prompted

A patient care technician is assisting a nurse to perform an aseptic would dressing change for a patient who has a stage IV pressure ulcer. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) Don new gloves after removing the soiled dressing

B.) place the new dressing on the patients wound

C.) dispose of the soiled dressing in a trash can

D.) use sterile gloves to remove the soiled dressing

A.) Don new gloves after removing the soiled dressing

A patient care technician is providing postoperative care for a patient who has been prescribed anti embolism stockings. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) remove the patients stockings once very 24hr

B.) turn the patients stockings inside out before applying

C.) ensure that the patients toes are covered by the stockings

D.) encourage the patient to partially roll the stockings down at least twice daily

B.) turn the patients stockings inside out before applying

A patient care technician is collecting five tubes of blood. During which of the following times should the technician release the tourniquet?

A.) After the collection is complete

B.) While the last tube is filling with blood

C.) within 1 min

D.) within 2 to 3 min

C.) within 1 min

A patient care technician is caring for a patient who needs to have their urine output measured and recored hourly. Which of the following instructions should the technician give to the patient?

A.) "Leave the urine in the container for me to measure at the end of the shift"

B.) "void into the specimen collection device that I have left for you"

C.) "clean the perineum with a providone-iodine solution before urination"

D.) "place the container back into the refrigerator after you have voided"

B.) "void into the specimen collection device that I have left for you"

A patient care technician is assisting a patient who is postoperative following abdominal surgery and has a prescription for deep breathing and coughing exercises. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) During the exercises, have the patient place a pillow over the incisional area

B.) place the patient in a prone position during the exercises

C.) During the exercises, have the patient sit with her hands at her side

D.) have the patient sit with her head resting on the overbed table during the exercises

A.) During the exercises, have the patient place a pillow over the incisional area

A PCT is preparing to ambulate a patient who is at increased risk for falls. The patient asks the technician, " Why do you have to place a belt around me?" Which of the following should the technician make?

A.) "A gait belt is used to assist patients our of bed when a mechanical lift is unavailable"

B.) "The facility requires a gait belt to be used on all patients"

C.) "Gait belts are an added safety features when assisting patient to walk"

D.) "Gait belts are used for patients who are unable to bear weight on both legs"

C.) "Gait belts are an added safety features when assisting patient to walk"

A patient care technician is observing a newly hired technician who is disinfecting items. In which of the following situations is the newly hired technician making an object medically aseptic?

A.) The technician uses standard precautions when rinsing a bedpan

B.) the technician uses soap to clean a residents bath basin after use

C.) the technician uses sterile gloves when changing a patient colostomy bag

D.) the technician uses a chemal cleanser to prepare a should chair for reuse

D.) the technician uses a chemal cleanser to prepare a should chair for reuse

A patient care technician accidentally drops a thermometer and mercury is spilled onto the floor. Which of the following actions should the technician take first?

A.) Mop the floor with a mercury-specific cleanser

B.) close the doors to the room

C.) evacuate the room

D.) dispose of the mercury according to local regulations

C.) evacuate the room

A PCT is caring for a patient who is to undergo and exercise stress test the next morning. The technician should expect the patient to receive which of the following instructions?

A.) "Wear tight fitting clothing on the day of the test"

B.) "Eat a light meal 2 hours prior to taking the test"

C.) "Avoid caffeine for 3 days prior to taking the test

D.) "Wear an underwire bra on the day of the test"

B.) "Eat a light meal 2 hours prior to taking the test"

A PCT is preparing to care for a patient who has pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment should the technician put on before entering the patients room?

A.) N95 respirator

B.) Gown

C.) face shield

D.) goggles

A.) N95 respirator

A patient care technician should identify that the patients bill of rights guarantees patients which of the following things?

A.) Insurance coverage for health care services

B.) legal advice for malpractice concerns

C.) Sharing of health care information with their family members

D.) involvement in making decisions about their care

D.) involvement in making decisions about their care

A PCT should identify that which of the following settings adjusts the height of the EKG waveform on the tracing?

A.) gain control

B.) speed control

C.) stylus

D.) lead selector

A.) gain control

A PCT has been monitoring a patients intake and output for the past 24hr. Which of the following findings should the technician report to the nurse immediately?

A.) Pale, yellow colored urine

B.) amber colored urine

C.) urine output 1,400 mL

D.) Urine output 500mL

D.) Urine output 500mL

A PCT should identify that which of the following incidents should be reported to the Joint Commission (TJC)?

A.) needlestick injury

B.) Sentinel event

C.) breach of confidentiality

D.) exposure to blood borne pathogens

B.) Sentinel event

A PCT should identify that which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment PPE should be removed first?

A.) Gloves

B.) face shield

C.) mask

D.) goggles

A.) Gloves

A PCT has just washed his hands and left the room of a patient when he hears another patient calling for help. The technician notes that the patient calling for help in contact isolation. Which of the following actions should the technician take next?

A.) Put on a gown and gloves

B.) enter the patient's room to provide assistance

C.) find the technician assigned to the patient

D.) ask the patient if he needs assistance

A.) Put on a gown and gloves

2.)

light blue stopper

3.)

red stopper serum tubes

4.)

orange rapid serum tube

5.)

green stopper

6.)

lavender stopper

7.)

pink stopper

8.)

grey stopper

A PCT is reinforcing teaching about using an incentive spirometer with a patient. Which of the following instructions should the technician include?

A.) "you should be in the prone position when using the incentive spirometer"

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

C.) "blow into the incentive spirometer to make the ball move"

D.) "you should use the incentive spirometer every 12 hrs"

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

A PCT is caring for a patient who has a stage II pressure ulcer. Which of the following findings should the technician expect?

A.) skin that is intact and nonblanchable

B.) tissue loss with exposed bone

C.) visible subcutaneous fat

D.) blister like appearance

D.) blister like appearance

A patient care technician is assisting a patient with bowel elimination. Which of the following actions should the technician take to promote relaxation and emotional support?

A.) check on the patient frequently

B.) play soft music at the patients bedside

C.) place the patients bed in the supine position

D.) insist that the patient use a bed pan

B.) play soft music at the patients bedside

A PCT is performing a 12-lead EKG for a patient. In which of the following locations should the technician place the V4 lead?

A.) fourth intercostal space, to the right of the sternum

B.) fourth intercostal space, to the left of the sternum

C.) left anterior axillary line

D.) fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line

D.) fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line

A PCT must invert anticoagulant tubes to prevent which of the following?

A.) Hemolysis

B.) clotting

C.) hemoconcentration

D.) reflux

B.) clotting

A PCT in a hospital is preparing to sterilize equipment that was soiled with blood. Which of the following methods should the technician take?

A.) bleach

B.) dry heat

C.) boiling water

D.) autoclave

D.) autoclave

A PCT is reviewing quality improvement tools. Which of the following tools attempts to improve patients safety and the quality of health care by eliminating unnecessary processes and redirecting resources to patients needs?

A.) failure modes and effects analysis

B.) six sigma

C.) lean methodology

D.) root-cause analysis

C.) lean methodology

A PCT is preparing to transport a patient via a stretcher. Which of the following actions should the technician take when transferring the patient from a bed to the stretcher?

A.) roll the sheets away from the patient

B.) remove the patients IV and indwelling urinary catheter prior to transferring the patient

C.) instruct the patient to put their hands by their sides

D.) raise the patient's bed to the same level as the stretcher

D.) raise the patient's bed to the same level as the stretcher

A PCT is transferring a weight bearing patient from a wheelchair to the bed. Which of the following pieces of equipment should the technician use?

A.) trapeze

B.) crutches

C.) gait belt

D.) slide board

C.) gait belt

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

A.) hospital-attained infections

B.) health care-associated infections

C.) health care-worker acquired infections

D.) occupational health care acquired infections

B.) health care-associated infections

A PCT is caring for a patient whose daughter is visiting. The daughter asks about the health of the patients roomate. Which of the following statements by the technician is an appropriate response?

A.) " i'll get the nurse"

B.) "you can ask the patient about his condition"

C.) "i'll send a request to the medical records department"

D.) "I need you to fax over a written request"

B.) "you can ask the patient about his condition"

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?

A.) speak faster than usual when communicating

b.) use picture board to provide instructions

C.) speak in a higher tone of voice

D.) avoid facing the patient when speaking

b.) use picture board to provide instructions

A PCT is obtaining a blood specimen from a patient. The technician should identify that which of the following errors could cause specimen hemolysis?

A.) excessively massaging the antecubital space when locating a vein

B.) failing to release the tourniquet within 1 min

C.) redirecting the needle several times to locate a vein

D.) transporting the tubes horizontally

D.) transporting the tubes horizontally

Which of the following terms refer to the complete destruction of all forms of micro-organisms when providing patient care?

A.) sterilization

B.) sanitization

C.) disinfection

D.) medical asepsis

A.) sterilization

A PCT is to collect a 2 hr postprandial glucose by dermal puncture. Upon entering the room, she seems the patient pushing away the overbed table with the lunch tra still on it. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) Ask the patient if he has eaten within the past 2 hr

B.) mark the test as random instead of 2hr postprandial

C.) contact the patients provider

D.) perform the test and mark as 2 hr postprandial

A.) Ask the patient if he has eaten within the past 2 hr

A PCT is caring for a 5 year old child who reports pain. Which of the following pain scales should the technician use to measure the child's pain?

A.) visual analog

B.) numerical

C.) verbal descriptive

D.) wong-baker FACES

D.) wong-baker FACES

A PCT is obtaining vital signs for a patient and notices the patient's temperature is higher than normal. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) apply a cold compress to the patients head

B.) administer acetaminophen to the patient

C.) elevate the head of the patients head

D.) notify the nurse about the patient's condition

D.) notify the nurse about the patient's condition

A PCT is preparing to place electrodes for an EKG on a patient who has large breasts. In which of the following locations should the technician place the electrodes for V4 and V5?

A.) in the closest position to normal. on top of the breast

B.) in the closest position possible to normal underneath the breast

C.) on the lateral surface of the breast

D.) on the medial surface of the breast

B.) in the closest position possible to normal underneath the breast

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?

A.) 120 mL

B.) 240 mL

C.) 360 mL

D.) 420 mL

C.) 360 mL

A PCT is performing post mortem care for a patient who is scheduled for an autopsy. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) remove tubing from the patients body

B.) discard any of the patients dressings

C.) collect the document that patients valuables

D.) remove the patients dentures

C.) collect the document that patients valuables

A PCT is caring for a patient who is receiving hospice care. The patient stages 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?

A.) acceptance

B.) denial

C.) depression

D.) bargaining

D.) bargaining

A PCT is preparing to label a patients specimen tube following a blood collection. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) Face the patient while labeling the specimen tube

B.) use a pencil to label the specimen

C.) avoid using computer generated labels

D.) initial the label prior to blood collection

A.) Face the patient while labeling the specimen tube

A PCT is caring for a patient who is at risk for pressure ulcers. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A.) reposition the patient at least every 2 hr

B.) avoid using powder on the patients skin

C.) avoid providing massages for the patient

D.) place the head of the patients bed at a 45 degree angle

A.) reposition the patient at least every 2 hr

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 technician take?

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

B.) clean the cannula with soap and water and assist the patient to put it back on

C.) check the cannula for damage, and if there is none, place it back on the patient

D.) check that the cannulas tubing is long enough and assist the patient to put it back on

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

A patient care technician should identify that which of the following procedures is most commonly used to obtain a routine urinalysis specimen from and adlt patient?

A.) clean catch midstream collection

B.) catheterized collection

C.) suprapubic aspiration

D.) 24 hr collectio

A.) clean catch midstream collection

For which of the following procedures should a PCT use sterile technique?

A.) performing a venipuncture

B.) inserting a straight catheter

C.) collecting a stool specimen

D.) discontinuing peripheral IV access

B.) inserting a straight catheter

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?

A.) "I sometimes forget where I put my cell phone"

B.) "I am not able to see quite as well as I used to"

C.) "I am able to walk well using a cane"

D.) "I live alone, and I don't get many visitors"

D.) "I live alone, and I don't get many visitors"

F