DAVITA PCT FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
| 2 PRACTICE EXAM VERSIONS | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE
PCT EXAM PREP
DAVITA PCT FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
Comprehensive Patient Care Technician Exam Preparation
• This study guide contains 200 verified PCT exam questions designed to build
confidence and mastery across all critical domains including patient care, infection
control, vital signs, dialysis operations, phlebotomy, and professional standards.
• Study this material by practicing untimed first, then with time constraints (90
seconds per question), reviewing detailed rationales for every answer to strengthen
your understanding of foundational patient care concepts and DaVita-specific
protocols.
1. What is the primary responsibility of a Patient Care Technician in a dialysis
facility?
A) Prescribe medications for dialysis patients
B) Monitor and document patient vital signs, provide direct patient care, and
prepare equipment according to facility protocols
C) Make treatment decisions for patients with kidney disease
D) Perform all laboratory testing independently
E) Schedule all patient appointments without supervisor approval
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Monitor and document patient vital signs, provide
direct patient care, and prepare equipment according to facility protocols
RATIONALE: The primary responsibility of a PCT is to provide direct patient care,
which includes monitoring vital signs, maintaining patient comfort, preparing
dialysis equipment, and documenting observations. PCTs work under supervision
and do not prescribe medications, make treatment decisions, or perform
,unsupervised laboratory testing—these are roles of physicians, nurses, or lab
technicians.
2. Which of the following is the correct order for handwashing to prevent
infection?
A) Apply soap, rinse with water, dry hands, apply lotion
B) Wet hands, apply soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse thoroughly, dry with
clean towel
C) Rinse hands, apply soap, dry immediately, apply sanitizer
D) Apply sanitizer, scrub hands, rinse with cold water only
E) Wash only palms, skip between fingers to save time
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Wet hands, apply soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds,
rinse thoroughly, dry with clean towel
RATIONALE: Proper handwashing is critical for infection control. The correct
sequence is: wet hands with warm water, apply soap, scrub all surfaces including
between fingers and under nails for at least 20 seconds, rinse thoroughly under
running water, and dry with a clean towel. This sequence removes pathogens
effectively. Skipping areas or rushing the process reduces effectiveness and
increases infection risk.
3. What is the normal range for adult systolic blood pressure?
A) 90-110 mmHg
B) 100-120 mmHg
C) 120-139 mmHg
D) 140-160 mmHg
,E) 160-180 mmHg
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) 120-139 mmHg
RATIONALE: Normal systolic blood pressure for adults is generally considered to
be less than 120 mmHg. A reading of 120-139 mmHg is classified as elevated.
Readings below 120 are normal, while 140 and above indicate hypertension.
Dialysis patients may have different target ranges depending on their clinical
conditions and physician orders.
4. When should you report a patient's temperature of 101.5°F to the nurse
immediately?
A) Only if the patient complains of chills
B) Only if it is the patient's second elevated reading
C) Immediately, as fever may indicate infection or other serious conditions
D) Wait until the end of your shift to report it
E) Only if accompanied by other vital sign abnormalities
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) Immediately, as fever may indicate infection or other
serious conditions
RATIONALE: A temperature of 101.5°F is a fever and should be reported to the
nurse immediately. Fever in a dialysis patient may indicate infection, which requires
prompt evaluation and intervention. Delaying this report or waiting for additional
signs could compromise patient safety. Early detection and intervention of
infections are critical in immunocompromised dialysis patients.
5. What does HIPAA stand for?
A) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
, B) Health Information Privacy and Accessibility Authorization
C) Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act
D) Healthcare Integrity and Personal Access Authority
E) Health Institutional Privacy Assessment Act
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act
RATIONALE: HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act. This federal law protects patient privacy and establishes standards for the use
and disclosure of protected health information (PHI). Understanding HIPAA is
essential for all healthcare workers, including PCTs, to maintain patient
confidentiality and comply with legal requirements.
6. Which of the following is NOT permitted under HIPAA's privacy rule?
A) Sharing patient information with other healthcare providers involved in the
patient's care
B) Discussing a patient's medical history in a hallway where others can hear
C) Using patient information for treatment, payment, and operations
D) Informing a nurse about a patient's vital sign changes
E) Documenting observations in the patient's medical record
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Discussing a patient's medical history in a hallway
where others can hear
RATIONALE: HIPAA requires that patient information be kept confidential and only
disclosed on a need-to-know basis to appropriate healthcare personnel. Discussing
a patient's medical history in a public hallway violates patient privacy and is not
permitted. Healthcare workers can share information with other team members
involved in care (treatment), for billing purposes (payment), and for facility
operations, but this must be done in private settings.
| 2 PRACTICE EXAM VERSIONS | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE
PCT EXAM PREP
DAVITA PCT FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
Comprehensive Patient Care Technician Exam Preparation
• This study guide contains 200 verified PCT exam questions designed to build
confidence and mastery across all critical domains including patient care, infection
control, vital signs, dialysis operations, phlebotomy, and professional standards.
• Study this material by practicing untimed first, then with time constraints (90
seconds per question), reviewing detailed rationales for every answer to strengthen
your understanding of foundational patient care concepts and DaVita-specific
protocols.
1. What is the primary responsibility of a Patient Care Technician in a dialysis
facility?
A) Prescribe medications for dialysis patients
B) Monitor and document patient vital signs, provide direct patient care, and
prepare equipment according to facility protocols
C) Make treatment decisions for patients with kidney disease
D) Perform all laboratory testing independently
E) Schedule all patient appointments without supervisor approval
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Monitor and document patient vital signs, provide
direct patient care, and prepare equipment according to facility protocols
RATIONALE: The primary responsibility of a PCT is to provide direct patient care,
which includes monitoring vital signs, maintaining patient comfort, preparing
dialysis equipment, and documenting observations. PCTs work under supervision
and do not prescribe medications, make treatment decisions, or perform
,unsupervised laboratory testing—these are roles of physicians, nurses, or lab
technicians.
2. Which of the following is the correct order for handwashing to prevent
infection?
A) Apply soap, rinse with water, dry hands, apply lotion
B) Wet hands, apply soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse thoroughly, dry with
clean towel
C) Rinse hands, apply soap, dry immediately, apply sanitizer
D) Apply sanitizer, scrub hands, rinse with cold water only
E) Wash only palms, skip between fingers to save time
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Wet hands, apply soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds,
rinse thoroughly, dry with clean towel
RATIONALE: Proper handwashing is critical for infection control. The correct
sequence is: wet hands with warm water, apply soap, scrub all surfaces including
between fingers and under nails for at least 20 seconds, rinse thoroughly under
running water, and dry with a clean towel. This sequence removes pathogens
effectively. Skipping areas or rushing the process reduces effectiveness and
increases infection risk.
3. What is the normal range for adult systolic blood pressure?
A) 90-110 mmHg
B) 100-120 mmHg
C) 120-139 mmHg
D) 140-160 mmHg
,E) 160-180 mmHg
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) 120-139 mmHg
RATIONALE: Normal systolic blood pressure for adults is generally considered to
be less than 120 mmHg. A reading of 120-139 mmHg is classified as elevated.
Readings below 120 are normal, while 140 and above indicate hypertension.
Dialysis patients may have different target ranges depending on their clinical
conditions and physician orders.
4. When should you report a patient's temperature of 101.5°F to the nurse
immediately?
A) Only if the patient complains of chills
B) Only if it is the patient's second elevated reading
C) Immediately, as fever may indicate infection or other serious conditions
D) Wait until the end of your shift to report it
E) Only if accompanied by other vital sign abnormalities
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) Immediately, as fever may indicate infection or other
serious conditions
RATIONALE: A temperature of 101.5°F is a fever and should be reported to the
nurse immediately. Fever in a dialysis patient may indicate infection, which requires
prompt evaluation and intervention. Delaying this report or waiting for additional
signs could compromise patient safety. Early detection and intervention of
infections are critical in immunocompromised dialysis patients.
5. What does HIPAA stand for?
A) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
, B) Health Information Privacy and Accessibility Authorization
C) Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act
D) Healthcare Integrity and Personal Access Authority
E) Health Institutional Privacy Assessment Act
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act
RATIONALE: HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act. This federal law protects patient privacy and establishes standards for the use
and disclosure of protected health information (PHI). Understanding HIPAA is
essential for all healthcare workers, including PCTs, to maintain patient
confidentiality and comply with legal requirements.
6. Which of the following is NOT permitted under HIPAA's privacy rule?
A) Sharing patient information with other healthcare providers involved in the
patient's care
B) Discussing a patient's medical history in a hallway where others can hear
C) Using patient information for treatment, payment, and operations
D) Informing a nurse about a patient's vital sign changes
E) Documenting observations in the patient's medical record
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Discussing a patient's medical history in a hallway
where others can hear
RATIONALE: HIPAA requires that patient information be kept confidential and only
disclosed on a need-to-know basis to appropriate healthcare personnel. Discussing
a patient's medical history in a public hallway violates patient privacy and is not
permitted. Healthcare workers can share information with other team members
involved in care (treatment), for billing purposes (payment), and for facility
operations, but this must be done in private settings.
