NHA PCT Final Exam Actual Exam Newest With Complete Questions And Correct Detailed
Answers| Brand New Version!
Question 1
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has COPD and is receiving oxygen therapy.
The technician notes that the patient appears restless and is short of breath. Which of the
following actions should the technician take?
A) Increase the flow of oxygen to the patient.
B) Notify the nurse immediately.
C) Assist the patient to ambulate.
D) Lower the head of the bed.
E) Provide the patient with a drink of water.
Correct Answer: B) Notify the nurse immediately.
Rationale: Restlessness and shortness of breath are signs of respiratory distress or hypoxia.
In patients with COPD, oxygen levels must be managed carefully as too much oxygen can
suppress their drive to breathe. Adjusting oxygen flow is outside the PCT's scope of
practice; therefore, immediate notification of the nurse is required for assessment and
intervention.
Question 2
A patient care technician is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG for a patient who had a left arm
amputation. In which of the following locations should the technician attach the left arm lead?
A) Right sternal border
B) On the amputation site
C) Anterior axillary line
D) Left deltoid
E) Left lower leg
Correct Answer: D) Left deltoid
Rationale: When a limb is missing or amputated, the electrode should be placed as close to
the original site as possible on the remaining stump or the nearest fleshy area of the torso,
such as the deltoid for an arm amputation. This ensures the electrical vector of the heart is
captured as accurately as possible compared to standard placement.
Question 3
A patient care technician is performing an EKG for a patient who has a pacemaker. Which of the
following controls should be adjusted to ensure an accurate EKG tracing?
A) Lead selector
B) Artifact filter
C) Heart rate limits
D) Speed
E) Gain
Correct Answer: B) Artifact filter
, 2
Rationale: Pacemakers emit electrical spikes that can sometimes be misinterpreted by the
EKG machine as artifact or can cause interference with the tracing. Adjusting the artifact
filter (or using specific pacemaker settings on modern machines) helps ensure that the
pacemaker spikes and the heart's underlying rhythm are clearly distinguished without
excessive noise.
Question 4
A patient care technician is reinforcing teaching with a patient who has a Holter monitor. Which
of the following statements should the technician make?
A) "Remove the wires at bedtime."
B) "Take tub baths instead of showers."
C) "Avoid adjusting the electrodes during the monitoring period."
D) "Set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitoring period."
E) "Keep a diary of all physical activities and symptoms."
Correct Answer: C) "Avoid adjusting the electrodes during the monitoring period."
Rationale: Electrodes must remain in constant contact with the skin to provide a
continuous, accurate recording of the heart's activity over 24 to 48 hours. Patients should
not touch or move them. They must also keep the monitor dry (no baths or showers) and
maintain a diary, but the specific instruction regarding electrode maintenance is vital for
data integrity.
Question 5
A patient care technician is preparing a patient for hospital discharge. The patient states, "I'm
afraid to go back home to my partner." Which of the following responses by the technician is
appropriate?
A) "Would you like to speak with a police officer?"
B) "If your partner is abusing you at home, would you tell me immediately?"
C) "Your partner loves you, and you have no reason to be afraid."
D) "Can you tell me if something happened that made you feel unsafe?"
E) "I will tell the nurse to cancel your discharge."
Correct Answer: D) "Can you tell me if something happened that made you feel unsafe?"
Rationale: This is an open-ended, therapeutic communication technique that allows the
patient to elaborate on their feelings without being led into a specific answer. It validates
the patient's concern while gathering more information to report to the nurse or social
worker for a safety assessment.
Question 6
A patient care technician should identify that adjusting a patient's bed to be between 60° and 90°
will place the patient in which of the following positions?
A) Fowler's
B) Orthopneic
, 3
C) Semi-Fowler's
D) High-Fowler's
E) Supine
Correct Answer: D) High-Fowler's
Rationale: High-Fowler's position is defined by an elevation of the head of the bed between
60 and 90 degrees. This position is commonly used to promote maximum lung expansion
and ease of breathing, or during episodes of severe respiratory distress.
Question 7
Which of the following provides specific definitions about the scope of practice for patient care
technicians?
A) The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
B) The doctrine of informed consent
C) The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)
D) The state nurse practice acts
E) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Correct Answer: D) The state nurse practice acts
Rationale: State Nurse Practice Acts (NPA) define the legal boundaries of nursing practice
and determine which tasks can be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), such
as Patient Care Technicians. Scope of practice varies by state.
Question 8
A patient care technician has assisted a patient into bed. In which of the following locations
should the technician place the drainage bag for the patient's indwelling urinary catheter?
A) Resting on the floor
B) Secured to a side rail
C) Hanging from the IV pole
D) Secured to the frame of the bed
E) Placed on the patient's abdomen
Correct Answer: D) Secured to the frame of the bed
Rationale: The urinary drainage bag must always be kept below the level of the bladder to
prevent the backflow (reflux) of urine, which can lead to infection. It should be secured to
the stationary frame of the bed rather than the side rail to prevent accidental pulling when
the rail is moved, and it should never touch the floor to prevent contamination.
Question 9
A patient care technician should identify that which of the following patients requires contact
precautions?
A) A patient who has rotavirus
B) A patient who has tuberculosis
C) A patient who has measles
, 4
D) A patient who has influenza
E) A patient who has bacterial pneumonia
Correct Answer: A) A patient who has rotavirus
Rationale: Rotavirus is an enteric pathogen transmitted via the fecal-oral route or through
contact with contaminated surfaces. This requires Contact Precautions (gloves and gown).
TB and measles require Airborne Precautions, while influenza requires Droplet
Precautions.
Question 10
Which of the following can reduce abnormal marks on an EKG tracing that are caused by patient
movement or muscle tremors?
A) Speed control
B) Calibration
C) Artifact filter
D) Gain control
E) Lead selector
Correct Answer: C) Artifact filter
Rationale: Somatic tremor (muscle movement) creates "noise" on an EKG tracing. The
artifact filter is a software feature that suppresses high-frequency electrical signals not
originating from the heart, resulting in a cleaner, more readable baseline.
Question 11
A patient care technician is performing postmortem care of a patient. Which of the following is a
correct technique for preparing the body?
A) Remove any dentures as soon as possible.
B) Place the body supine, with one hand crossed over the other.
C) Ensure all tubes, drains, and bandages are removed.
D) Place a folded towel under the head.
E) Close the eyes using adhesive tape.
Correct Answer: D) Place a folded towel under the head.
Rationale: Placing a towel or pillow under the head prevents blood from pooling in the
facial tissues (livor mortis), which could cause discoloration and swelling. Dentures should
typically be left in to maintain the natural shape of the face. Tubes are only removed if it is
not a coroner's case.
Question 12
A patient care technician is caring for a number of patients following a shift change. Which of
the following patients should the technician assess first?
A) A patient who has a temperature of 37.3° C (99.1° F)
B) A patient who is disoriented
C) A patient who is comatose
Answers| Brand New Version!
Question 1
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has COPD and is receiving oxygen therapy.
The technician notes that the patient appears restless and is short of breath. Which of the
following actions should the technician take?
A) Increase the flow of oxygen to the patient.
B) Notify the nurse immediately.
C) Assist the patient to ambulate.
D) Lower the head of the bed.
E) Provide the patient with a drink of water.
Correct Answer: B) Notify the nurse immediately.
Rationale: Restlessness and shortness of breath are signs of respiratory distress or hypoxia.
In patients with COPD, oxygen levels must be managed carefully as too much oxygen can
suppress their drive to breathe. Adjusting oxygen flow is outside the PCT's scope of
practice; therefore, immediate notification of the nurse is required for assessment and
intervention.
Question 2
A patient care technician is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG for a patient who had a left arm
amputation. In which of the following locations should the technician attach the left arm lead?
A) Right sternal border
B) On the amputation site
C) Anterior axillary line
D) Left deltoid
E) Left lower leg
Correct Answer: D) Left deltoid
Rationale: When a limb is missing or amputated, the electrode should be placed as close to
the original site as possible on the remaining stump or the nearest fleshy area of the torso,
such as the deltoid for an arm amputation. This ensures the electrical vector of the heart is
captured as accurately as possible compared to standard placement.
Question 3
A patient care technician is performing an EKG for a patient who has a pacemaker. Which of the
following controls should be adjusted to ensure an accurate EKG tracing?
A) Lead selector
B) Artifact filter
C) Heart rate limits
D) Speed
E) Gain
Correct Answer: B) Artifact filter
, 2
Rationale: Pacemakers emit electrical spikes that can sometimes be misinterpreted by the
EKG machine as artifact or can cause interference with the tracing. Adjusting the artifact
filter (or using specific pacemaker settings on modern machines) helps ensure that the
pacemaker spikes and the heart's underlying rhythm are clearly distinguished without
excessive noise.
Question 4
A patient care technician is reinforcing teaching with a patient who has a Holter monitor. Which
of the following statements should the technician make?
A) "Remove the wires at bedtime."
B) "Take tub baths instead of showers."
C) "Avoid adjusting the electrodes during the monitoring period."
D) "Set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitoring period."
E) "Keep a diary of all physical activities and symptoms."
Correct Answer: C) "Avoid adjusting the electrodes during the monitoring period."
Rationale: Electrodes must remain in constant contact with the skin to provide a
continuous, accurate recording of the heart's activity over 24 to 48 hours. Patients should
not touch or move them. They must also keep the monitor dry (no baths or showers) and
maintain a diary, but the specific instruction regarding electrode maintenance is vital for
data integrity.
Question 5
A patient care technician is preparing a patient for hospital discharge. The patient states, "I'm
afraid to go back home to my partner." Which of the following responses by the technician is
appropriate?
A) "Would you like to speak with a police officer?"
B) "If your partner is abusing you at home, would you tell me immediately?"
C) "Your partner loves you, and you have no reason to be afraid."
D) "Can you tell me if something happened that made you feel unsafe?"
E) "I will tell the nurse to cancel your discharge."
Correct Answer: D) "Can you tell me if something happened that made you feel unsafe?"
Rationale: This is an open-ended, therapeutic communication technique that allows the
patient to elaborate on their feelings without being led into a specific answer. It validates
the patient's concern while gathering more information to report to the nurse or social
worker for a safety assessment.
Question 6
A patient care technician should identify that adjusting a patient's bed to be between 60° and 90°
will place the patient in which of the following positions?
A) Fowler's
B) Orthopneic
, 3
C) Semi-Fowler's
D) High-Fowler's
E) Supine
Correct Answer: D) High-Fowler's
Rationale: High-Fowler's position is defined by an elevation of the head of the bed between
60 and 90 degrees. This position is commonly used to promote maximum lung expansion
and ease of breathing, or during episodes of severe respiratory distress.
Question 7
Which of the following provides specific definitions about the scope of practice for patient care
technicians?
A) The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
B) The doctrine of informed consent
C) The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)
D) The state nurse practice acts
E) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Correct Answer: D) The state nurse practice acts
Rationale: State Nurse Practice Acts (NPA) define the legal boundaries of nursing practice
and determine which tasks can be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), such
as Patient Care Technicians. Scope of practice varies by state.
Question 8
A patient care technician has assisted a patient into bed. In which of the following locations
should the technician place the drainage bag for the patient's indwelling urinary catheter?
A) Resting on the floor
B) Secured to a side rail
C) Hanging from the IV pole
D) Secured to the frame of the bed
E) Placed on the patient's abdomen
Correct Answer: D) Secured to the frame of the bed
Rationale: The urinary drainage bag must always be kept below the level of the bladder to
prevent the backflow (reflux) of urine, which can lead to infection. It should be secured to
the stationary frame of the bed rather than the side rail to prevent accidental pulling when
the rail is moved, and it should never touch the floor to prevent contamination.
Question 9
A patient care technician should identify that which of the following patients requires contact
precautions?
A) A patient who has rotavirus
B) A patient who has tuberculosis
C) A patient who has measles
, 4
D) A patient who has influenza
E) A patient who has bacterial pneumonia
Correct Answer: A) A patient who has rotavirus
Rationale: Rotavirus is an enteric pathogen transmitted via the fecal-oral route or through
contact with contaminated surfaces. This requires Contact Precautions (gloves and gown).
TB and measles require Airborne Precautions, while influenza requires Droplet
Precautions.
Question 10
Which of the following can reduce abnormal marks on an EKG tracing that are caused by patient
movement or muscle tremors?
A) Speed control
B) Calibration
C) Artifact filter
D) Gain control
E) Lead selector
Correct Answer: C) Artifact filter
Rationale: Somatic tremor (muscle movement) creates "noise" on an EKG tracing. The
artifact filter is a software feature that suppresses high-frequency electrical signals not
originating from the heart, resulting in a cleaner, more readable baseline.
Question 11
A patient care technician is performing postmortem care of a patient. Which of the following is a
correct technique for preparing the body?
A) Remove any dentures as soon as possible.
B) Place the body supine, with one hand crossed over the other.
C) Ensure all tubes, drains, and bandages are removed.
D) Place a folded towel under the head.
E) Close the eyes using adhesive tape.
Correct Answer: D) Place a folded towel under the head.
Rationale: Placing a towel or pillow under the head prevents blood from pooling in the
facial tissues (livor mortis), which could cause discoloration and swelling. Dentures should
typically be left in to maintain the natural shape of the face. Tubes are only removed if it is
not a coroner's case.
Question 12
A patient care technician is caring for a number of patients following a shift change. Which of
the following patients should the technician assess first?
A) A patient who has a temperature of 37.3° C (99.1° F)
B) A patient who is disoriented
C) A patient who is comatose
