PCT Exam Practice questions &
ANSWERS
A patient care technician is preparing to serve a meal tray to a patient who has vision
loss. Which of the following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERUse the
numbers of a clock to describe the food on the plate to the patient.
A patient care technician enters a patient's room and finds the patient sitting on the
floor. The patient states, 'I was getting out of bed when I felt dizzy and slid to the floor.'
Which of the following actions should the technician take first? - ANSWERNotify the
nurse.
A patient care technician is removing a bedpan after a patient has defecated. Which of
the following characteristics of the stool should the technician observe for and report to
the nurse? - ANSWERLiquid stool
A patient care technician is replacing a colostomy appliance for a patient. Which of the
following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERWash the skin around the
stoma with warm water.
A patient care technician is assisting a nurse to replace a patient's ileostomy pouch for
the first time following surgery. After the skin protective wafer is cut, the technician
should expect the opening to have which of the following characteristics? -
ANSWERThe opening is 1/16 inch larger than the stoma.
A patient care technician is calculating a patient's fluid intake for the previous hour. The
patient received 50 mL of IV fluid, 6 oz of tea, 6 oz of chicken broth, and 8 oz of water.
Which of the following amounts should the technician document? - ANSWER470 mL
A patient care technician is performing passive range-of-motion exercises for a patient.
Which of the following techniques should the technician use to hyperextend the patient's
shoulder? - ANSWERWith the patient's elbow straight, move their arm backwards,
behind their body
A patient care technician is observing a patient who is using crutches. Which of the
following should the technician identify as proper technique when using crutches? -
ANSWERThe patient uses the handgrips to support their body weight
A patient care technician is performing hourly checks for several patients. To help
anticipate and prevent falls, which of the following questions should the technician
routinely include? - ANSWERask if they need to use the bathroom
, A patient care technician is removing a patient's peripheral IV catheter. Which of the
following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERMove the roller clamp on the
tubing to the closed position
While changing a dry-gauze dressing, a patient care technician finds that the gauze is
adhering to the patient's skin. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
- ANSWERApply sterile water to the gauze.
A patient care technician is using a gait belt to assist a patient who had a stroke to
ambulate. Which of the following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERHold
onto the gait belt while walking slightly behind the patient
A patient care technician is using a mechanical lift to transfer a patient who is non-
weight-bearing from a bed to a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take? - ANSWERLock the wheels on the bed, wheelchair, and lift.
A patient care technician is transferring a patient who is weight-bearing from the bed to
a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the technician take? -
ANSWERApply a gait belt while the patient sits at the side of the bed.
A patient care technician is transporting a patient in a wheelchair. When coming to a
curb, which of the following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERWhen going
up a curb, elevate the front wheels of the wheelchair and keep them elevated while
pushing the back wheels over the curb.
A patient care technician is providing instructions to a patient about using a walker.
Which of the following instructions should the technician include? - ANSWERPosition
the handgrips level to your hips
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is at risk for pressure ulcers. Which
of the following actions should the technician take to prevent pressure ulcers? -
ANSWERUse a draw sheet when moving the patient up in bed.
A patient care technician is observing a pressure ulcer on a patient's heel. The
technician notes that the skin layers are worn away and the subcutaneous fat is visible.
The technician should identify that the pressure ulcer is in which of the following
stages? - ANSWERStage III
A patient care technician is applying sequential compression device (SCD) sleeves for a
patient who is postoperative following knee surgery. Which of the following actions
should the technician take? - ANSWERPlace the opening of the SCD sleeve at the back
of the patient's knee
A patient care technician is applying antiebolism stockings for a patient who is
postoperative. Which of the following actions should the technician take? -
ANSWERSlide the stocking up over the foot and heel.
ANSWERS
A patient care technician is preparing to serve a meal tray to a patient who has vision
loss. Which of the following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERUse the
numbers of a clock to describe the food on the plate to the patient.
A patient care technician enters a patient's room and finds the patient sitting on the
floor. The patient states, 'I was getting out of bed when I felt dizzy and slid to the floor.'
Which of the following actions should the technician take first? - ANSWERNotify the
nurse.
A patient care technician is removing a bedpan after a patient has defecated. Which of
the following characteristics of the stool should the technician observe for and report to
the nurse? - ANSWERLiquid stool
A patient care technician is replacing a colostomy appliance for a patient. Which of the
following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERWash the skin around the
stoma with warm water.
A patient care technician is assisting a nurse to replace a patient's ileostomy pouch for
the first time following surgery. After the skin protective wafer is cut, the technician
should expect the opening to have which of the following characteristics? -
ANSWERThe opening is 1/16 inch larger than the stoma.
A patient care technician is calculating a patient's fluid intake for the previous hour. The
patient received 50 mL of IV fluid, 6 oz of tea, 6 oz of chicken broth, and 8 oz of water.
Which of the following amounts should the technician document? - ANSWER470 mL
A patient care technician is performing passive range-of-motion exercises for a patient.
Which of the following techniques should the technician use to hyperextend the patient's
shoulder? - ANSWERWith the patient's elbow straight, move their arm backwards,
behind their body
A patient care technician is observing a patient who is using crutches. Which of the
following should the technician identify as proper technique when using crutches? -
ANSWERThe patient uses the handgrips to support their body weight
A patient care technician is performing hourly checks for several patients. To help
anticipate and prevent falls, which of the following questions should the technician
routinely include? - ANSWERask if they need to use the bathroom
, A patient care technician is removing a patient's peripheral IV catheter. Which of the
following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERMove the roller clamp on the
tubing to the closed position
While changing a dry-gauze dressing, a patient care technician finds that the gauze is
adhering to the patient's skin. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
- ANSWERApply sterile water to the gauze.
A patient care technician is using a gait belt to assist a patient who had a stroke to
ambulate. Which of the following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERHold
onto the gait belt while walking slightly behind the patient
A patient care technician is using a mechanical lift to transfer a patient who is non-
weight-bearing from a bed to a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take? - ANSWERLock the wheels on the bed, wheelchair, and lift.
A patient care technician is transferring a patient who is weight-bearing from the bed to
a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the technician take? -
ANSWERApply a gait belt while the patient sits at the side of the bed.
A patient care technician is transporting a patient in a wheelchair. When coming to a
curb, which of the following actions should the technician take? - ANSWERWhen going
up a curb, elevate the front wheels of the wheelchair and keep them elevated while
pushing the back wheels over the curb.
A patient care technician is providing instructions to a patient about using a walker.
Which of the following instructions should the technician include? - ANSWERPosition
the handgrips level to your hips
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is at risk for pressure ulcers. Which
of the following actions should the technician take to prevent pressure ulcers? -
ANSWERUse a draw sheet when moving the patient up in bed.
A patient care technician is observing a pressure ulcer on a patient's heel. The
technician notes that the skin layers are worn away and the subcutaneous fat is visible.
The technician should identify that the pressure ulcer is in which of the following
stages? - ANSWERStage III
A patient care technician is applying sequential compression device (SCD) sleeves for a
patient who is postoperative following knee surgery. Which of the following actions
should the technician take? - ANSWERPlace the opening of the SCD sleeve at the back
of the patient's knee
A patient care technician is applying antiebolism stockings for a patient who is
postoperative. Which of the following actions should the technician take? -
ANSWERSlide the stocking up over the foot and heel.
