CPCT EXAM #1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Which of the following actions should the CPCT take when preparing to transfer the
patient from a bed to a stretcher? - Answers - Elevating the bed to a position equal to
the height of the stretcher
During a stress test, a CPCT notices the patient appears to be hyperventilating. Which
of the following is an appropriate course of action for the technician - Answers - Check
the respiratory rate: will allow CPCT to confirm hyperventilation.
Ventricular tachycardia - Answers -
A CPCT is assisting with a patient to take self-administered medications. The CPCT
should recognize that which of the following medications should not be crushed? -
Answers - Enteric-coated: This medication is used for sustained preparations.
When a CPCT is distributing laboratory results to ordering physicians, which results
have the priority? - Answers - Presurgical: they may alter how the surgery is performed.
A CPCT is changing a patients' bedding and is accidentally stuck with a needle. Which
of the following actions should the CPCT take first? - Answers - Milk the affected site:
Report the incident to his or her supervisor, complete an incident report, and take that
report to the occupational health facility.
A CPCT should recognize that a chain of custody is used for which of the following
reasons? - Answers - To guarantee the identification and integrity of samples.
Industry standards states that the needle insertion in the antecubital area should be at
_______. - Answers - 15 to 30 degree angle..
A CPCT makes a mistake while measuring a patients' blood pressure. What should the
CPCT do? - Answers - Release all of the air from the cuff before retesting.
A CPCT is caring for a new patient. Which of the following statements made by the
patient indicates a need for further teaching, regarding HIPAA? - Answers - "If
necessary, my doctor can release my test results at his own discretion.": The doctor
needs the patient's permission to release any test results.
A CPCT is caring for a patient who is to receive continuous tube feedings. The CPCT
should place the patient into which of the following positions? - Answers - Semi-
Fowler's: This position is used to help avoid aspiration because of the angle; therefore,
the CPCT should recognize that this position will be the most effective for these
feedings.
, A CPCT should recognize that which of the following statements regarding skin
preparation for blood cultures is correct? - Answers - "I will cleanse the area with
chlorhexidine gluconate.": This is the appropriate antiseptic.
The CPCT is monitoring a patient who has severe hypertension. Which of the following
findings related to the patient's condition should the CPCT report to the nurse
immediately? - Answers - The patient's lower limbs showing pitting edema: Minor
swelling is an expected finding should be immediately, but pitting edema is more critical.
Which of the following tubes should be collected first for dermal samples? - Answers -
Lavender Top: This minimizes platelet clumping and microclot forming.
When should the code of the glucose cuvettes be compared to the code on the
glucometer? - Answers - When the patient is tested: to ensure the most accurate results
A CPCT informs the nurse concerning swelling at the peripheral IV site. The CPCT
should recognize that which of the following is the most likely cause of this finding? -
Answers - Catheter infiltration: Infiltration occurs when I.V. fluid or medications leak into
the surrounding tissue. Infiltration can be caused by improper placement or dislodgment
of the catheter. Patient movement can cause the catheter to slip out or through the
blood vessel lumen.
Premature atrial complex - Answers - The third complex occurs early and is preceded by
a wave of P wave indicating a premature atrial complex.
A CPCT is drawing blood from a patient and observes red spots. Which of the following
is an appropriate action for the CPCT to take? - Answers - Apply more pressure to the
site: The development of petechiae is a sign of reduced platelet function and carries an
increased risk of bleeding.
Which of the following is a consequence of mislabeling a blood blank specimen? -
Answers - A transfusion reaction: an undetected error could cause a fatal transfusion
reaction.
A CPCT is taking a patient's pulse oximetry reading. The CPCT cannot get the reading
to appear on the monitor. Which of the following cause be the cause? - Answers - The
patient has a BP of 84/62 mm Hg with cold hands and fingers: Low BP and cold hands
and fingers indicate poor circulation causing problems on a pulse oximetry readout.
A CPCT is caring for a patient who is non-ambulatory. Before manually lifting the
patient, which of the following factors should the CPCT consider first? - Answers - The
patient's ability to assist.
Pacemaker spikes - Answers -
Which of the following actions should the CPCT take when preparing to transfer the
patient from a bed to a stretcher? - Answers - Elevating the bed to a position equal to
the height of the stretcher
During a stress test, a CPCT notices the patient appears to be hyperventilating. Which
of the following is an appropriate course of action for the technician - Answers - Check
the respiratory rate: will allow CPCT to confirm hyperventilation.
Ventricular tachycardia - Answers -
A CPCT is assisting with a patient to take self-administered medications. The CPCT
should recognize that which of the following medications should not be crushed? -
Answers - Enteric-coated: This medication is used for sustained preparations.
When a CPCT is distributing laboratory results to ordering physicians, which results
have the priority? - Answers - Presurgical: they may alter how the surgery is performed.
A CPCT is changing a patients' bedding and is accidentally stuck with a needle. Which
of the following actions should the CPCT take first? - Answers - Milk the affected site:
Report the incident to his or her supervisor, complete an incident report, and take that
report to the occupational health facility.
A CPCT should recognize that a chain of custody is used for which of the following
reasons? - Answers - To guarantee the identification and integrity of samples.
Industry standards states that the needle insertion in the antecubital area should be at
_______. - Answers - 15 to 30 degree angle..
A CPCT makes a mistake while measuring a patients' blood pressure. What should the
CPCT do? - Answers - Release all of the air from the cuff before retesting.
A CPCT is caring for a new patient. Which of the following statements made by the
patient indicates a need for further teaching, regarding HIPAA? - Answers - "If
necessary, my doctor can release my test results at his own discretion.": The doctor
needs the patient's permission to release any test results.
A CPCT is caring for a patient who is to receive continuous tube feedings. The CPCT
should place the patient into which of the following positions? - Answers - Semi-
Fowler's: This position is used to help avoid aspiration because of the angle; therefore,
the CPCT should recognize that this position will be the most effective for these
feedings.
, A CPCT should recognize that which of the following statements regarding skin
preparation for blood cultures is correct? - Answers - "I will cleanse the area with
chlorhexidine gluconate.": This is the appropriate antiseptic.
The CPCT is monitoring a patient who has severe hypertension. Which of the following
findings related to the patient's condition should the CPCT report to the nurse
immediately? - Answers - The patient's lower limbs showing pitting edema: Minor
swelling is an expected finding should be immediately, but pitting edema is more critical.
Which of the following tubes should be collected first for dermal samples? - Answers -
Lavender Top: This minimizes platelet clumping and microclot forming.
When should the code of the glucose cuvettes be compared to the code on the
glucometer? - Answers - When the patient is tested: to ensure the most accurate results
A CPCT informs the nurse concerning swelling at the peripheral IV site. The CPCT
should recognize that which of the following is the most likely cause of this finding? -
Answers - Catheter infiltration: Infiltration occurs when I.V. fluid or medications leak into
the surrounding tissue. Infiltration can be caused by improper placement or dislodgment
of the catheter. Patient movement can cause the catheter to slip out or through the
blood vessel lumen.
Premature atrial complex - Answers - The third complex occurs early and is preceded by
a wave of P wave indicating a premature atrial complex.
A CPCT is drawing blood from a patient and observes red spots. Which of the following
is an appropriate action for the CPCT to take? - Answers - Apply more pressure to the
site: The development of petechiae is a sign of reduced platelet function and carries an
increased risk of bleeding.
Which of the following is a consequence of mislabeling a blood blank specimen? -
Answers - A transfusion reaction: an undetected error could cause a fatal transfusion
reaction.
A CPCT is taking a patient's pulse oximetry reading. The CPCT cannot get the reading
to appear on the monitor. Which of the following cause be the cause? - Answers - The
patient has a BP of 84/62 mm Hg with cold hands and fingers: Low BP and cold hands
and fingers indicate poor circulation causing problems on a pulse oximetry readout.
A CPCT is caring for a patient who is non-ambulatory. Before manually lifting the
patient, which of the following factors should the CPCT consider first? - Answers - The
patient's ability to assist.
Pacemaker spikes - Answers -
