PCA Practice Exam Questions and Correct
Answers
Question 1
A patient care tech is taking a patient's pulse oximeter reading. The tech cannot get
the reading to appear on the monitor. Which of the following could be the cause?
1. The patient is running a fever of 101.4°F
2. The patient has a blood pressure of 84/62 mm HG with cold hands and fingers
3. The patient was elevated in semi Fowler's position with a cold pack on her forehead
4. The patient's skin appears flushed
Correct Answer
The patient has a blood pressure of 84/62 mm HG with cold hands and fingers
Question 2
A pca is preparing to measure the pulse oximetry of an adult who has decreased
arterial blood flow. which of the following locations is the best place to obtain the
measurement for a patient who has this condition?
1. finger
2. forehead
3. earlobe
4. toe
Correct Answer
finger
Question 3
A pca has obtained a specimen that must remain at body temp when transported to
the lab for processing. which of the following actions should the tech take>
1. wrap the specimen in aluminum foil
2. put the specimen in a double layer of biohazard bags
3. place the specimen in a warming device
4. leave the specimen in a light blocking container
Correct Answer
warming device
Page 1 of 59
,Question 4
A patient care assistant is assisting in the care of a patient who has a wound left to
heal by way of granulation. how often should this won't be re-dressed?
1. Every four hours
2. every eight hours
3. every 12 hours
4. every 24 hours
Correct Answer
Every 24 hours
Question 5
A patient care Tech is collecting a urine specimen from a patient. The technician
should identify that which of the following urine characteristics is an unexpected
finding?
1. Straw colored urine
2. Pale yellow urine
3. Red tinged urine
4. Dark gold urine
Correct Answer
Red tinged urine
Question 6
A patient care technician is assisting with the physical examination of an older adult
patient which of the following statements by the patient indicates a risk factor for
elder abuse?
1. I sometimes forget where I put my cell phone
2. iam not able to see quite as well as I used to
3. I am able to walk well using a cane
4. I live alone and I don't get many visitors
Correct Answer
I live alone and I don't get many visitors
Page 2 of 59
,Question 7
A pca is preparing to preform documentation in a patients elc. Which of the following
is an example of appropriate documentation by the tech?
1. the tech on the previous shift reports....
2. the patient has a large dark brown bowel movement
3. the patient will receive and enema
4. the patient is upset because the nurse from the previous shift....
Correct Answer
the patient has a large dark brown bowel movment
Question 8
a pca is performing CPR for a patient. which of the following actions should the tech
take?
1. check for a pulse at the radial artery
2. give the patient rescue breath that have a 3 sec duration
3. depress 2 in into the chest while doing compressions
4. perform 80 to 90 chest compressions per min
Correct Answer
depress 2 in into the chest while doing compressions
Question 9
A pca is assisting a patient with bowel elimination. Which of the following actions
should the tech take to promote relaxation and emotional support?
1. Check on the patient frequently
2. Play soft music at the bedside
3. Place bed in supine position
4. Insist that the patient use a bedpan
Correct Answer
Play soft music at the beside
Page 3 of 59
, Question 10
A pca is assisting a nurse to perform an aseptic wound dressing change for a patient
who has a stage IV pressure ulcer. which of the following actions should the tech
take?
1. don new gloves after removing the soiled dressing
2. place the new dressing on the patients wound
3. dispose of the soiled dressing in a trash can
4. use sterile gloves to remove the soiled dressing
Correct Answer
don new gloves after removing the soiled dressing
Question 11
A pca is teaching a patient about HIPAA regulations. Which of the following client
statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?
1. I do not need to give my provider permission to share my health info
2. my provider is required to report if i receive a diagnosis of tb
3. if I require an interpreter, my provider cannot share my health info with them
4. if I am injured at work, my employer has a right to my health info
Correct Answer
my provider is required to report if I receive a diagnosis of tb
Question 12
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has died. Which of the following
actions to the technician take?
1. Pull the sheet over the patient's head prior to the family viewing
2. place the patient in semi Fowler's position
3. discourage the family from assisting in postmortem care
4. position a pillow under the patient's head
Correct Answer
Position a pillow under the patient's head
Page 4 of 59
Answers
Question 1
A patient care tech is taking a patient's pulse oximeter reading. The tech cannot get
the reading to appear on the monitor. Which of the following could be the cause?
1. The patient is running a fever of 101.4°F
2. The patient has a blood pressure of 84/62 mm HG with cold hands and fingers
3. The patient was elevated in semi Fowler's position with a cold pack on her forehead
4. The patient's skin appears flushed
Correct Answer
The patient has a blood pressure of 84/62 mm HG with cold hands and fingers
Question 2
A pca is preparing to measure the pulse oximetry of an adult who has decreased
arterial blood flow. which of the following locations is the best place to obtain the
measurement for a patient who has this condition?
1. finger
2. forehead
3. earlobe
4. toe
Correct Answer
finger
Question 3
A pca has obtained a specimen that must remain at body temp when transported to
the lab for processing. which of the following actions should the tech take>
1. wrap the specimen in aluminum foil
2. put the specimen in a double layer of biohazard bags
3. place the specimen in a warming device
4. leave the specimen in a light blocking container
Correct Answer
warming device
Page 1 of 59
,Question 4
A patient care assistant is assisting in the care of a patient who has a wound left to
heal by way of granulation. how often should this won't be re-dressed?
1. Every four hours
2. every eight hours
3. every 12 hours
4. every 24 hours
Correct Answer
Every 24 hours
Question 5
A patient care Tech is collecting a urine specimen from a patient. The technician
should identify that which of the following urine characteristics is an unexpected
finding?
1. Straw colored urine
2. Pale yellow urine
3. Red tinged urine
4. Dark gold urine
Correct Answer
Red tinged urine
Question 6
A patient care technician is assisting with the physical examination of an older adult
patient which of the following statements by the patient indicates a risk factor for
elder abuse?
1. I sometimes forget where I put my cell phone
2. iam not able to see quite as well as I used to
3. I am able to walk well using a cane
4. I live alone and I don't get many visitors
Correct Answer
I live alone and I don't get many visitors
Page 2 of 59
,Question 7
A pca is preparing to preform documentation in a patients elc. Which of the following
is an example of appropriate documentation by the tech?
1. the tech on the previous shift reports....
2. the patient has a large dark brown bowel movement
3. the patient will receive and enema
4. the patient is upset because the nurse from the previous shift....
Correct Answer
the patient has a large dark brown bowel movment
Question 8
a pca is performing CPR for a patient. which of the following actions should the tech
take?
1. check for a pulse at the radial artery
2. give the patient rescue breath that have a 3 sec duration
3. depress 2 in into the chest while doing compressions
4. perform 80 to 90 chest compressions per min
Correct Answer
depress 2 in into the chest while doing compressions
Question 9
A pca is assisting a patient with bowel elimination. Which of the following actions
should the tech take to promote relaxation and emotional support?
1. Check on the patient frequently
2. Play soft music at the bedside
3. Place bed in supine position
4. Insist that the patient use a bedpan
Correct Answer
Play soft music at the beside
Page 3 of 59
, Question 10
A pca is assisting a nurse to perform an aseptic wound dressing change for a patient
who has a stage IV pressure ulcer. which of the following actions should the tech
take?
1. don new gloves after removing the soiled dressing
2. place the new dressing on the patients wound
3. dispose of the soiled dressing in a trash can
4. use sterile gloves to remove the soiled dressing
Correct Answer
don new gloves after removing the soiled dressing
Question 11
A pca is teaching a patient about HIPAA regulations. Which of the following client
statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?
1. I do not need to give my provider permission to share my health info
2. my provider is required to report if i receive a diagnosis of tb
3. if I require an interpreter, my provider cannot share my health info with them
4. if I am injured at work, my employer has a right to my health info
Correct Answer
my provider is required to report if I receive a diagnosis of tb
Question 12
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has died. Which of the following
actions to the technician take?
1. Pull the sheet over the patient's head prior to the family viewing
2. place the patient in semi Fowler's position
3. discourage the family from assisting in postmortem care
4. position a pillow under the patient's head
Correct Answer
Position a pillow under the patient's head
Page 4 of 59
