PCT NHA Practice Test Questions &
Answers
A patient care technician should identify that which of the following tasks requires the use of
sterile gloves?
A. emptying an indwelling urinary drainage bag
B. inserting an intermittent urinary catheter
C. applying a condom catheter
D. removing an indwelling urinary catheter - ANSWERSB. inserting an intermittent urinary
catheter
A patient care technician is lifting boxes from a cart into a patient's room. which of the following
actions should the technician take to ensure proper body mechanics?
A. Hold the boxes close to the body
B. Maintain a narrow base of support
C. Bend at the waist to pick up the boxes
D. Twist at the torso when turning to pick up the boxes. - ANSWERSA. Hold the boxes close to
the body
A patient care technician is preparing to perform a venipuncture for a patient who speaks a
different language than the technician. which of the following actions should the technician
take?
A. Use a loud tone of voice when speaking to the patient
B. anticipate the patient's responses
C. interpret the patient nodding as an indication of understanding
D. provide the patient with a professional translator - ANSWERSD. provide the patient with a
professional translator
,A patient care technician attended an in-service about performing CPR on a patient. when
performing CPR, which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. apply 60 to 80 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths.
B. apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four slow breaths.
C. apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths.
D. apply 60 to 80 compressions per minute, followed by four slow breaths. - ANSWERSB. apply
100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four slow breaths.
A nurse asks a patient care technician to empty a patient's ostomy bag. The technician is
unfamiliar with this task. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. ask for instructions for the nurse before attempting the task
B. ask another technician how to perform the task
C. refuse to perform the task
D. perform the task as requested by the nurse - ANSWERSA. ask for instructions for the nurse
before attempting the task
A PCT is documenting in a patient's electronic health record. The technician should identify that
which of the following abbreviations is on the The Joint Commission's approved list of
abbreviations?
A. NPO
B. U
C. IU
D. MgSO4 - ANSWERSA. NPO
A PCT obtains an EKG and notes the presence of a wandering baseline. Which of the following
actions should the technician take?
A. Move the patient's bed away from the wall
,B. Clean the patient's skin under the electrodes with alcohol and gauze
C. Ask the patient to take slow, deep breaths
D. Instruct the patient to place their hands, palms down, under their buttocks. - ANSWERSB.
Clean the patient's skin under the electrodes with alcohol and gauze
Which of the following devices should a patient care technician use to help a patient maintain
balance while being weighed on a scale ?
A. Walker
B. Elevation bar
C. Cane
D. Balance bar - ANSWERSA. Walker
Two patient care technicians are transferring a patient who is deceased from a bed to a morgue
gurney. To avoid injury, the technicians should use which of the following body mechanics?
A. Roll the patient gently from the bed to the gurney.
B. Use a draw sheet to lift the patient
C. Have one technician lift the head, the other lift the feet, and allow the momentum to move
the patient.
D. Use a mechanical lift with a sling to move the body. - ANSWERSB. Use a draw sheet to lift the
patient
A patient care technician is caring for a patient following the application of an immobility splint.
Which of the following actions should the technician take to ensure the patient's safety?
A. Lower the bed's side rails.
B. Raise the bed to the technician's working height.
C. Ensure that the splint remains moist.
D. Place the call light within the patient's reach. - ANSWERSD. Place the call light within the
patient's reach.
, A patient care technician is preparing to collect and transport a bilirubin blood specimen. The
technician should use a tube that is which of the following colors?
A. Light Blue
B. Amber
C. Green
D. Yellow - ANSWERSC. Green
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is 24-hr postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty and has a surgical wound. Which of the following findings should the technician
identify as an indication of potential wound infection?
A. Serosanguineous drainage
B. General discomfort at the incision site
C. Oral temperature 36.8° C (98.2° F)
D. Increased warmth around the incision site - ANSWERSD. Increased warmth around the
incision site
A patient care technician is preparing to discontinue a patient's peripheral IV. The technician
assembles all the needed equipment and performs hand hygiene. Which of the following
actions should the technician take next?
A. Explain the procedure to the patient.
B. Remove any overlying tape.
C. Turn the IV roller clamp off.
D. Apply pressure to the IV site for 2 to 3 min. - ANSWERSA. Explain the procedure to the
patient.
A patient care technician is applying sequential compression devices (SCDs) to a patient who is
postoperative. The technician should identify that CDs are used to reduce the risk for which of
the following conditions?
Answers
A patient care technician should identify that which of the following tasks requires the use of
sterile gloves?
A. emptying an indwelling urinary drainage bag
B. inserting an intermittent urinary catheter
C. applying a condom catheter
D. removing an indwelling urinary catheter - ANSWERSB. inserting an intermittent urinary
catheter
A patient care technician is lifting boxes from a cart into a patient's room. which of the following
actions should the technician take to ensure proper body mechanics?
A. Hold the boxes close to the body
B. Maintain a narrow base of support
C. Bend at the waist to pick up the boxes
D. Twist at the torso when turning to pick up the boxes. - ANSWERSA. Hold the boxes close to
the body
A patient care technician is preparing to perform a venipuncture for a patient who speaks a
different language than the technician. which of the following actions should the technician
take?
A. Use a loud tone of voice when speaking to the patient
B. anticipate the patient's responses
C. interpret the patient nodding as an indication of understanding
D. provide the patient with a professional translator - ANSWERSD. provide the patient with a
professional translator
,A patient care technician attended an in-service about performing CPR on a patient. when
performing CPR, which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. apply 60 to 80 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths.
B. apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four slow breaths.
C. apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths.
D. apply 60 to 80 compressions per minute, followed by four slow breaths. - ANSWERSB. apply
100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four slow breaths.
A nurse asks a patient care technician to empty a patient's ostomy bag. The technician is
unfamiliar with this task. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. ask for instructions for the nurse before attempting the task
B. ask another technician how to perform the task
C. refuse to perform the task
D. perform the task as requested by the nurse - ANSWERSA. ask for instructions for the nurse
before attempting the task
A PCT is documenting in a patient's electronic health record. The technician should identify that
which of the following abbreviations is on the The Joint Commission's approved list of
abbreviations?
A. NPO
B. U
C. IU
D. MgSO4 - ANSWERSA. NPO
A PCT obtains an EKG and notes the presence of a wandering baseline. Which of the following
actions should the technician take?
A. Move the patient's bed away from the wall
,B. Clean the patient's skin under the electrodes with alcohol and gauze
C. Ask the patient to take slow, deep breaths
D. Instruct the patient to place their hands, palms down, under their buttocks. - ANSWERSB.
Clean the patient's skin under the electrodes with alcohol and gauze
Which of the following devices should a patient care technician use to help a patient maintain
balance while being weighed on a scale ?
A. Walker
B. Elevation bar
C. Cane
D. Balance bar - ANSWERSA. Walker
Two patient care technicians are transferring a patient who is deceased from a bed to a morgue
gurney. To avoid injury, the technicians should use which of the following body mechanics?
A. Roll the patient gently from the bed to the gurney.
B. Use a draw sheet to lift the patient
C. Have one technician lift the head, the other lift the feet, and allow the momentum to move
the patient.
D. Use a mechanical lift with a sling to move the body. - ANSWERSB. Use a draw sheet to lift the
patient
A patient care technician is caring for a patient following the application of an immobility splint.
Which of the following actions should the technician take to ensure the patient's safety?
A. Lower the bed's side rails.
B. Raise the bed to the technician's working height.
C. Ensure that the splint remains moist.
D. Place the call light within the patient's reach. - ANSWERSD. Place the call light within the
patient's reach.
, A patient care technician is preparing to collect and transport a bilirubin blood specimen. The
technician should use a tube that is which of the following colors?
A. Light Blue
B. Amber
C. Green
D. Yellow - ANSWERSC. Green
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is 24-hr postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty and has a surgical wound. Which of the following findings should the technician
identify as an indication of potential wound infection?
A. Serosanguineous drainage
B. General discomfort at the incision site
C. Oral temperature 36.8° C (98.2° F)
D. Increased warmth around the incision site - ANSWERSD. Increased warmth around the
incision site
A patient care technician is preparing to discontinue a patient's peripheral IV. The technician
assembles all the needed equipment and performs hand hygiene. Which of the following
actions should the technician take next?
A. Explain the procedure to the patient.
B. Remove any overlying tape.
C. Turn the IV roller clamp off.
D. Apply pressure to the IV site for 2 to 3 min. - ANSWERSA. Explain the procedure to the
patient.
A patient care technician is applying sequential compression devices (SCDs) to a patient who is
postoperative. The technician should identify that CDs are used to reduce the risk for which of
the following conditions?
