PCT CERTIFICATION COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE WITH ANSWERS
◉ A PCT is caring for a patient whose daughter is visiting. The
daughter asks about the health of the patient's roommate. Which of
the following statements by the PCT 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.
Answer: B. You can ask the patient about his condition
◉ A PCT is providing instructions to a newly hired technician about
transporting and handling blood specimens. Which of the following
instructions should the technician include?
A. avoid inverting a specimen tube if it includes an additive
B. ensure the blood in the specimen tub maintains contact with a
tube stopper
C. ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid-tight closure
D. avoid wearing gloves when carrying the specimens transport bag.
Answer: C. ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid-
tight closure
,◉ A PCT is monitoring a patient who has severe hypertension.
Which of the following findings is related to the patients condition
should the PCT report to the nurse immediately?
A. the patient reports stiffness in his hands and feet
B. the patient needs help lifting his legs onto his bed
C. the patient's lower limbs show pitting edema
D. the patient's fingers are thick and fat.
Answer: C. the patient's lower limbs show pitting edema
◉ A PCT is caring for a patient who suddenly becomes unresponsive.
Which of the following actions should the technician take first?
A. check the movement of the patient's chest for 10 seconds
B. tap the patient's shoulders and ask if they're okay
C. start chest compressions after placing the patient flat
D. notify the emergency response team.
Answer: B. tap the patient's shoulders and ask if they're okay
◉ Which of the following structures of the heart is immediately
affected if the SA node fails?
A. bundle of HIS
B. purkinje fibers
C. AV node
D. interventricular septum.
,Answer: C. AV node
◉ A PCT is caring for a patient who has a stage 2 pressure ulcer.
Which of the following findings should the PCT expect?
A. skin that is intact and nonblanchable
B. tissue loss with exposed bone
C. visible subcutaneous fat
D. blister-like appearance.
Answer: D. blister-like appearance
◉ A PCT is assisting with the physical examination of an older
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.
Answer: D. i live alone and i don't get many visitors
◉ 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 patient's IV and indwelling catheter
C. instruct the patient to put their hands by their side
D. raise the patient's bed to the same level as the stretcher.
Answer: D. raise the patient's bed to the same level as the stretcher
◉ A PCT should identify that which of the following is the most
commonly used paper speed for an EKG monitor?
A. 10 mm/sec
B. 50 mm/sec
C. 25 mm/sec
D. 5 mm/sec.
Answer: C. 25 mm/sec
◉ A PCT has just collected a blood specimen from a patient. For
which of the following reasons should the technician invert the
collection tubes that contain anticoagulant 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 the additives
D. to encourage sedimentation within the collection tubes.
Answer: B. to prevent clotting of the blood
GUIDE WITH ANSWERS
◉ A PCT is caring for a patient whose daughter is visiting. The
daughter asks about the health of the patient's roommate. Which of
the following statements by the PCT 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.
Answer: B. You can ask the patient about his condition
◉ A PCT is providing instructions to a newly hired technician about
transporting and handling blood specimens. Which of the following
instructions should the technician include?
A. avoid inverting a specimen tube if it includes an additive
B. ensure the blood in the specimen tub maintains contact with a
tube stopper
C. ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid-tight closure
D. avoid wearing gloves when carrying the specimens transport bag.
Answer: C. ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid-
tight closure
,◉ A PCT is monitoring a patient who has severe hypertension.
Which of the following findings is related to the patients condition
should the PCT report to the nurse immediately?
A. the patient reports stiffness in his hands and feet
B. the patient needs help lifting his legs onto his bed
C. the patient's lower limbs show pitting edema
D. the patient's fingers are thick and fat.
Answer: C. the patient's lower limbs show pitting edema
◉ A PCT is caring for a patient who suddenly becomes unresponsive.
Which of the following actions should the technician take first?
A. check the movement of the patient's chest for 10 seconds
B. tap the patient's shoulders and ask if they're okay
C. start chest compressions after placing the patient flat
D. notify the emergency response team.
Answer: B. tap the patient's shoulders and ask if they're okay
◉ Which of the following structures of the heart is immediately
affected if the SA node fails?
A. bundle of HIS
B. purkinje fibers
C. AV node
D. interventricular septum.
,Answer: C. AV node
◉ A PCT is caring for a patient who has a stage 2 pressure ulcer.
Which of the following findings should the PCT expect?
A. skin that is intact and nonblanchable
B. tissue loss with exposed bone
C. visible subcutaneous fat
D. blister-like appearance.
Answer: D. blister-like appearance
◉ A PCT is assisting with the physical examination of an older
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.
Answer: D. i live alone and i don't get many visitors
◉ 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 patient's IV and indwelling catheter
C. instruct the patient to put their hands by their side
D. raise the patient's bed to the same level as the stretcher.
Answer: D. raise the patient's bed to the same level as the stretcher
◉ A PCT should identify that which of the following is the most
commonly used paper speed for an EKG monitor?
A. 10 mm/sec
B. 50 mm/sec
C. 25 mm/sec
D. 5 mm/sec.
Answer: C. 25 mm/sec
◉ A PCT has just collected a blood specimen from a patient. For
which of the following reasons should the technician invert the
collection tubes that contain anticoagulant 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 the additives
D. to encourage sedimentation within the collection tubes.
Answer: B. to prevent clotting of the blood
