PCT CERTIFICATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
■ A: increase flow of oxygen to patient
***B: notify nurse immediately
C: Assist patient to ambulate
D: Lower head of bed. Answer: A PCT is caring for a patient w COPD
and is receiving oxygen therapy. The technician notes that the patient
appears restless and is short of breath. Which of the following actions
should the technician take?
■ ***A: Median cubital
B: Basilic
C: Cephalic
D: Radial. Answer: When collecting a venous sample, which of the
following sites should the PCT attempt to draw from first?
■ A: encourage the patient to enter the hospice program
B: tell the patient that further treatment is not an option
***C: acknowledge the family's concern and notify the nurse
D: recommend alternative treatment options for the patient. Answer:
A PCT is caring for a patient who has end-stage pancreatic cancer.
The patient's family expresses concern because the patient has refused
admission to the hospice program and is seeking additional medical
treatment. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
,■ A: right sternal border
B: on the amputation site
C: anterior axillary line
***D: left deltoid. Answer: A PCT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead
EKG for a patient who had a left arm amputation. In which of the
following locations should the technician attach the left arm lead?
■ A: pink-tinged color
B: yellow color
***C: watery consistency
D: thick consistency. Answer: A PCT obtains a sputum specimen from
a patient. The technician should expect the specimen to have which of
the following characteristics?
■ A: I will cleanse the area w/ 70% ethyl alcohol
B: I will cleanse the area w/ sodium hypochlorite
***C: I will cleanse the area w/ chlorhexidine gluconate
D: I will cleanse the area w/ sterile saline. Answer: A PCT should
recognize that which of the following statements regarding
preparation for blood cultures is correct?
■ A: lead selector
****B: artifact filter
C: heart rate limits
,D: speed. Answer: A PCT is performing an EKG for a patient who has
a pacemaker. Which of the following controls should be adjusted to
ensure an accurate EKG tracing?
■ A: the stoma has a small amount of bloody drainage
B: the stoma is red in color
***C: the stoma is leaking around the wafer
D: The stoma remains the same size. Answer: A PCT is performing
ostomy care for a patient. Which of the following findings should the
technician report to the nurse?
■ ***A: advise the patient that the test is painless
B: require the patient to remove all clothing
C: inform the patient refusal is not an option due to the presenting
symptom
D: caution the patient that jewelry near wires and electrodes might
cause sparks. Answer: A CPT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG
for a patient who is being evaluated for chest pain in the emergency
department. Which of the following action should the technician take
if the patient expresses fear of the procedure?
■ A: remove the wires @ bedtime
B: take tub baths instead of showers
***C: avoid adjusting the electrodes during monitoring period
D: set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitor
period. Answer: A PCT is reinforcing teaching w/ a patient who has a
, holter monitor. Which of the following statements should the
technician make?
■ ***A: ensure the patients feet are placed on the footrests
B: place a loose blanket over the patient's legs
C: fasten the seatbelt loosely around the patient's waist
D: pull the back wheels onto the curb first when going up a curb.
Answer: A PCT is transporting a patient using a wheelchair. Which of
the following actions should the technician take?
■ A: serosanguineous drainage
B: general discomfort at the incision site
C: oral temp of 98.2 F
***D: increased warmth around incision site. Answer: A PCT is
caring for a patient who is 24-hr postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty and has a surgical wound. Which of the following should
the technician identify as an indication of potential wound infection?
■ A: would you like me to speak w/ a police officer
B: if your partner is abusing you at home, would you tell me
immediately
C: your partner loves you , and you have no reason to be afraid
***D: can you tell me if something happened that made you feel
unsafe?. Answer: A PCt is preparing a patient for hospital discharge.
The patient states "I am afraid to go back home to my partner". Which
of the following responses by the technician is appropriate?
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
■ A: increase flow of oxygen to patient
***B: notify nurse immediately
C: Assist patient to ambulate
D: Lower head of bed. Answer: A PCT is caring for a patient w COPD
and is receiving oxygen therapy. The technician notes that the patient
appears restless and is short of breath. Which of the following actions
should the technician take?
■ ***A: Median cubital
B: Basilic
C: Cephalic
D: Radial. Answer: When collecting a venous sample, which of the
following sites should the PCT attempt to draw from first?
■ A: encourage the patient to enter the hospice program
B: tell the patient that further treatment is not an option
***C: acknowledge the family's concern and notify the nurse
D: recommend alternative treatment options for the patient. Answer:
A PCT is caring for a patient who has end-stage pancreatic cancer.
The patient's family expresses concern because the patient has refused
admission to the hospice program and is seeking additional medical
treatment. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
,■ A: right sternal border
B: on the amputation site
C: anterior axillary line
***D: left deltoid. Answer: A PCT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead
EKG for a patient who had a left arm amputation. In which of the
following locations should the technician attach the left arm lead?
■ A: pink-tinged color
B: yellow color
***C: watery consistency
D: thick consistency. Answer: A PCT obtains a sputum specimen from
a patient. The technician should expect the specimen to have which of
the following characteristics?
■ A: I will cleanse the area w/ 70% ethyl alcohol
B: I will cleanse the area w/ sodium hypochlorite
***C: I will cleanse the area w/ chlorhexidine gluconate
D: I will cleanse the area w/ sterile saline. Answer: A PCT should
recognize that which of the following statements regarding
preparation for blood cultures is correct?
■ A: lead selector
****B: artifact filter
C: heart rate limits
,D: speed. Answer: A PCT is performing an EKG for a patient who has
a pacemaker. Which of the following controls should be adjusted to
ensure an accurate EKG tracing?
■ A: the stoma has a small amount of bloody drainage
B: the stoma is red in color
***C: the stoma is leaking around the wafer
D: The stoma remains the same size. Answer: A PCT is performing
ostomy care for a patient. Which of the following findings should the
technician report to the nurse?
■ ***A: advise the patient that the test is painless
B: require the patient to remove all clothing
C: inform the patient refusal is not an option due to the presenting
symptom
D: caution the patient that jewelry near wires and electrodes might
cause sparks. Answer: A CPT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG
for a patient who is being evaluated for chest pain in the emergency
department. Which of the following action should the technician take
if the patient expresses fear of the procedure?
■ A: remove the wires @ bedtime
B: take tub baths instead of showers
***C: avoid adjusting the electrodes during monitoring period
D: set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitor
period. Answer: A PCT is reinforcing teaching w/ a patient who has a
, holter monitor. Which of the following statements should the
technician make?
■ ***A: ensure the patients feet are placed on the footrests
B: place a loose blanket over the patient's legs
C: fasten the seatbelt loosely around the patient's waist
D: pull the back wheels onto the curb first when going up a curb.
Answer: A PCT is transporting a patient using a wheelchair. Which of
the following actions should the technician take?
■ A: serosanguineous drainage
B: general discomfort at the incision site
C: oral temp of 98.2 F
***D: increased warmth around incision site. Answer: A PCT is
caring for a patient who is 24-hr postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty and has a surgical wound. Which of the following should
the technician identify as an indication of potential wound infection?
■ A: would you like me to speak w/ a police officer
B: if your partner is abusing you at home, would you tell me
immediately
C: your partner loves you , and you have no reason to be afraid
***D: can you tell me if something happened that made you feel
unsafe?. Answer: A PCt is preparing a patient for hospital discharge.
The patient states "I am afraid to go back home to my partner". Which
of the following responses by the technician is appropriate?
