NHA CPCT STUDY GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Practice Test A - ANSWER-
A patient care technician is making an open bed for a patient. Which of the following
actions should the technician take? - ANSWER-Fanfold the top linens at the foot of the
bed (exp. this allows for easy access to the bed without the technician or patient
needing to pull back the linens
A patient care technician is observing a patient who is ambulating using a walker. Which
of the following actions by the patient demonstrates correct technique? - ANSWER-The
patient advances the walker 24.4-45.7 cm (10 to 18 in) in front of their legs (exp.
patients should step into the perimeter of the walker and advance it 10-18 inches
A patient care technician should identify that which of the following is the minimum
preferred volume of urine for a routine urinalysis? - ANSWER-30 mL (exp. Although lab
technicians prefer 50 mL for performing a routine urinalysis, 30 mL is the minimum
preferred amount for a urinalysis
A patient care technician is assigned to perform hourly, point-of-care glucose testing for
a patient who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following actions should the technician
take? - ANSWER-Use the facility's glucometer to perform the glucose tests on the
patient (exp. The facility's glucometer is tested more frequently for accuracy
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 patient's hand in which of the following positions? - ANSWER-
Wrist slight dorsiflexion (exp. A hand wrist splint helps with proper positioning and
alignment by keeping the wrist in slight dorsiflexion and keeping the thumb slightly
abducted in opposition to the fingers
A patient care technician recently attended a seminar about hospice care. Which of the
following statement's by the technician indicates an understanding of hospice care? -
ANSWER-"The cost of hospice care is reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid." (exp. the
goal of hospice care is not curative in nature. Its aim is to relieve pain and control
symptoms of the disease
A patient care technician is teaching a patient about HIPAA regulations. Which of the
following client statements indicates an understanding of teaching? - ANSWER-"My
provider is required to report if I receive a diagnosis of tuberculosis" (exp. HIPAA
regulations require providers to report instances of communicable diseases, including
tuberculosis, to prevent an outbreak in the community
, 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? -
ANSWER-Liquid (exp. feces in the ileum is typically liquid and acidic, and can be
irritating if it comes into contact with the surrounding skin
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? - ANSWER-"I will shake
the inhaler well before use." (exp. If a patient places the mouthpiece of the inhaler in her
mouth, the medication can be lost inside of the mouth and will not reach the lungs. The
technician should instruct the patient to hold the mouthpiece 1 in from the mouth during
administration
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is postoperative following abdominal
surgery and observes thin, watery, reddish drainage on the wound dressing. The
technician should identify that which of the following terms is used to describe this type
of drainage? - ANSWER-Serosanguineous
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? - ANSWER-
Evacuate the room. (exp. mercury is dangerous and can be inhaled or absorbed
through the skin
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has an indwelling urinary catheter.
How often should the technician empty the drainage receptacle? - ANSWER-Every 8 hr
(exp. prevents the backup of urine into the tubing or the patient's bladder
A PCT has been monitoring a patient's intake and output for the past 24 hr. Which of the
following findings should the technician report to the nurse immediately - ANSWER-
Urine output 500 mL (exp. the expected reference range for urine output within a 24-hr
period is 750 to 2000 mL
A PCT should identify that which of the following incidents should be reported to The
Joint Commission? - ANSWER-Sentinel Event (exp. sentinel events are unexpected
occurrences that cause death or serious physical or psychological injury to a patient
A PCT is in the cafeteria during lunch and sees a visitor that appears to be choking.
Which of the following actions should the technician take first? - ANSWER-Ask the
visitor if they are able to speak
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 is in contact
isolation. Which of the following actions should the technician take next? - ANSWER-
Put on a gown and gloves
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Practice Test A - ANSWER-
A patient care technician is making an open bed for a patient. Which of the following
actions should the technician take? - ANSWER-Fanfold the top linens at the foot of the
bed (exp. this allows for easy access to the bed without the technician or patient
needing to pull back the linens
A patient care technician is observing a patient who is ambulating using a walker. Which
of the following actions by the patient demonstrates correct technique? - ANSWER-The
patient advances the walker 24.4-45.7 cm (10 to 18 in) in front of their legs (exp.
patients should step into the perimeter of the walker and advance it 10-18 inches
A patient care technician should identify that which of the following is the minimum
preferred volume of urine for a routine urinalysis? - ANSWER-30 mL (exp. Although lab
technicians prefer 50 mL for performing a routine urinalysis, 30 mL is the minimum
preferred amount for a urinalysis
A patient care technician is assigned to perform hourly, point-of-care glucose testing for
a patient who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following actions should the technician
take? - ANSWER-Use the facility's glucometer to perform the glucose tests on the
patient (exp. The facility's glucometer is tested more frequently for accuracy
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 patient's hand in which of the following positions? - ANSWER-
Wrist slight dorsiflexion (exp. A hand wrist splint helps with proper positioning and
alignment by keeping the wrist in slight dorsiflexion and keeping the thumb slightly
abducted in opposition to the fingers
A patient care technician recently attended a seminar about hospice care. Which of the
following statement's by the technician indicates an understanding of hospice care? -
ANSWER-"The cost of hospice care is reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid." (exp. the
goal of hospice care is not curative in nature. Its aim is to relieve pain and control
symptoms of the disease
A patient care technician is teaching a patient about HIPAA regulations. Which of the
following client statements indicates an understanding of teaching? - ANSWER-"My
provider is required to report if I receive a diagnosis of tuberculosis" (exp. HIPAA
regulations require providers to report instances of communicable diseases, including
tuberculosis, to prevent an outbreak in the community
, 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? -
ANSWER-Liquid (exp. feces in the ileum is typically liquid and acidic, and can be
irritating if it comes into contact with the surrounding skin
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? - ANSWER-"I will shake
the inhaler well before use." (exp. If a patient places the mouthpiece of the inhaler in her
mouth, the medication can be lost inside of the mouth and will not reach the lungs. The
technician should instruct the patient to hold the mouthpiece 1 in from the mouth during
administration
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is postoperative following abdominal
surgery and observes thin, watery, reddish drainage on the wound dressing. The
technician should identify that which of the following terms is used to describe this type
of drainage? - ANSWER-Serosanguineous
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? - ANSWER-
Evacuate the room. (exp. mercury is dangerous and can be inhaled or absorbed
through the skin
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has an indwelling urinary catheter.
How often should the technician empty the drainage receptacle? - ANSWER-Every 8 hr
(exp. prevents the backup of urine into the tubing or the patient's bladder
A PCT has been monitoring a patient's intake and output for the past 24 hr. Which of the
following findings should the technician report to the nurse immediately - ANSWER-
Urine output 500 mL (exp. the expected reference range for urine output within a 24-hr
period is 750 to 2000 mL
A PCT should identify that which of the following incidents should be reported to The
Joint Commission? - ANSWER-Sentinel Event (exp. sentinel events are unexpected
occurrences that cause death or serious physical or psychological injury to a patient
A PCT is in the cafeteria during lunch and sees a visitor that appears to be choking.
Which of the following actions should the technician take first? - ANSWER-Ask the
visitor if they are able to speak
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 is in contact
isolation. Which of the following actions should the technician take next? - ANSWER-
Put on a gown and gloves
