PCT PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS(RATED A+)
A: apply 60-80 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
B: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths
***C: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
D: Apply 60 to 80 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths -
ANSWERThe patient care technician attended an in-service about performing CPR on a
patient. When performing CPR, which of the following actions should the technician
take?
A: increase flow of oxygen to patient
***B: notify nurse immediately
C: Assist patient to ambulate
D: Lower head of bed - ANSWERA PCT is caring for a patient w 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: Median cubital
B: Basilic
C: Cephalic
D: Radial - ANSWERWhen collecting a venous sample, which of the following sites
should the PCT attempt to draw from first?
A: encourage the patient to enter the hospice program
B: tell the patient that further treatment is not an option
***C: acknowledge the family's concern and notify the nurse
D: recommend alternative treatment options for the patient - ANSWERA PCT is caring
for a patient who has end-stage pancreatic cancer. The patient's family expresses
concern because the patient has refused admission to the hospice program and is
seeking additional medical treatment. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
A: right sternal border
B: on the amputation site
C: anterior axillary line
***D: left deltoid - ANSWERA PCT 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: pink-tinged color
B: yellow color
C: watery consistency
,***D: thick consistency - ANSWERA PCT obtains a sputum specimen from a patient.
The technician should expect the specimen to have which of the following
characteristics?
A: I will cleanse the area w/ 70% ethyl alcohol
B: I will cleanse the area w/ sodium hypochlorite
***C: I will cleanse the area w/ chlorhexidine gluconate
D: I will cleanse the area w/ sterile saline - ANSWERA PCT should recognize that which
of the following statements regarding preparation for blood cultures is correct?
A: lead selector
****B: artifact filter
C: heart rate limits
D: speed - ANSWERA PCT 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: the stoma has a small amount of bloody drainage
B: the stoma is red in color
***C: the stoma is leaking around the wafer
D: The stoma remains the same size - ANSWERA PCT is performing ostomy care for a
patient. Which of the following findings should the technician report to the nurse?
***A: advise the patient that the test is painless
B: require the patient to remove all clothing
C: inform the patient refusal is not an option due to the presenting symptom
D: caution the patient that jewelry near wires and electrodes might cause sparks -
ANSWERA CPT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG for a patient who is being
evaluated for chest pain in the emergency department. Which of the following action
should the technician take if the patient expresses fear of the procedure?
A: remove the wires @ bedtime
B: take tub baths instead of showers
***C: avoid adjusting the electrodes during monitoring period
D: set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitor period - ANSWERA
PCT is reinforcing teaching w/ a patient who has a holter monitor. Which of the following
statements should the technician make?
***A: ensure the patients feet are placed on the footrests
B: place a loose blanket over the patient's legs
C: fasten the seatbelt loosely around the patient's waist
D: pull the back wheels onto the curb first when going up a curb - ANSWERA PCT is
transporting a patient using a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
A: serosanguineous drainage
B: general discomfort at the incision site
, C: oral temp of 98.2 F
***D: increased warmth around incision site - ANSWERA PCT is caring for a patient
who is 24-hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty and has a surgical wound.
Which of the following should the technician identify as an indication of potential wound
infection?
A: would you like me to speak w/ 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? - ANSWERA
PCt is preparing a patient for hospital discharge. The patient states "I am afraid to go
back home to my partner". Which of the following responses by the technician is
appropriate?
A: walk on the patient's stronger side while ambulating
B: walk slightly in front of the patient while ambulating
***C: apply the gait belt over the patient's clothing at the waist
D: grasp the gait belt on each side w/ palms facing downward - ANSWERA PCT is
preparing to ambulate a patient who requires the use of a gait belt. Which of the
following actions should the technician take?
A: Fowler's
B: Orthopneic
C: Semi-Fowler's
***D: High Fowler's - ANSWERA PCT should identify that adjusting a patient's bed to be
between 60 and 90 degrees will place the patient in which of the following positions?
A: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
B: The doctrine of informed consent
C: The PAtient Self-Determination Act (PDSA)
***D: The state nurse practice acts - ANSWERWhich of the following provides specific
definitions about the scope of practice for PCTs?
A: patient who refuses to take prescribed medications
B: patient who reports receiving phone calls from family, but never any visits
***C: patient who reports his checking account is being mismanaged by his adult
grandchild
D: patient who's provider has refused to sign paperwork to allow for renewal of the
patient's driver's license - ANSWERA PCT should report which of the following as elder
neglect?
***A: patient w/ rotavirus
B: patient w/ TB
C: patient w/ measles
ANSWERS(RATED A+)
A: apply 60-80 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
B: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths
***C: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
D: Apply 60 to 80 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths -
ANSWERThe patient care technician attended an in-service about performing CPR on a
patient. When performing CPR, which of the following actions should the technician
take?
A: increase flow of oxygen to patient
***B: notify nurse immediately
C: Assist patient to ambulate
D: Lower head of bed - ANSWERA PCT is caring for a patient w 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: Median cubital
B: Basilic
C: Cephalic
D: Radial - ANSWERWhen collecting a venous sample, which of the following sites
should the PCT attempt to draw from first?
A: encourage the patient to enter the hospice program
B: tell the patient that further treatment is not an option
***C: acknowledge the family's concern and notify the nurse
D: recommend alternative treatment options for the patient - ANSWERA PCT is caring
for a patient who has end-stage pancreatic cancer. The patient's family expresses
concern because the patient has refused admission to the hospice program and is
seeking additional medical treatment. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
A: right sternal border
B: on the amputation site
C: anterior axillary line
***D: left deltoid - ANSWERA PCT 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: pink-tinged color
B: yellow color
C: watery consistency
,***D: thick consistency - ANSWERA PCT obtains a sputum specimen from a patient.
The technician should expect the specimen to have which of the following
characteristics?
A: I will cleanse the area w/ 70% ethyl alcohol
B: I will cleanse the area w/ sodium hypochlorite
***C: I will cleanse the area w/ chlorhexidine gluconate
D: I will cleanse the area w/ sterile saline - ANSWERA PCT should recognize that which
of the following statements regarding preparation for blood cultures is correct?
A: lead selector
****B: artifact filter
C: heart rate limits
D: speed - ANSWERA PCT 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: the stoma has a small amount of bloody drainage
B: the stoma is red in color
***C: the stoma is leaking around the wafer
D: The stoma remains the same size - ANSWERA PCT is performing ostomy care for a
patient. Which of the following findings should the technician report to the nurse?
***A: advise the patient that the test is painless
B: require the patient to remove all clothing
C: inform the patient refusal is not an option due to the presenting symptom
D: caution the patient that jewelry near wires and electrodes might cause sparks -
ANSWERA CPT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG for a patient who is being
evaluated for chest pain in the emergency department. Which of the following action
should the technician take if the patient expresses fear of the procedure?
A: remove the wires @ bedtime
B: take tub baths instead of showers
***C: avoid adjusting the electrodes during monitoring period
D: set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitor period - ANSWERA
PCT is reinforcing teaching w/ a patient who has a holter monitor. Which of the following
statements should the technician make?
***A: ensure the patients feet are placed on the footrests
B: place a loose blanket over the patient's legs
C: fasten the seatbelt loosely around the patient's waist
D: pull the back wheels onto the curb first when going up a curb - ANSWERA PCT is
transporting a patient using a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
A: serosanguineous drainage
B: general discomfort at the incision site
, C: oral temp of 98.2 F
***D: increased warmth around incision site - ANSWERA PCT is caring for a patient
who is 24-hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty and has a surgical wound.
Which of the following should the technician identify as an indication of potential wound
infection?
A: would you like me to speak w/ 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? - ANSWERA
PCt is preparing a patient for hospital discharge. The patient states "I am afraid to go
back home to my partner". Which of the following responses by the technician is
appropriate?
A: walk on the patient's stronger side while ambulating
B: walk slightly in front of the patient while ambulating
***C: apply the gait belt over the patient's clothing at the waist
D: grasp the gait belt on each side w/ palms facing downward - ANSWERA PCT is
preparing to ambulate a patient who requires the use of a gait belt. Which of the
following actions should the technician take?
A: Fowler's
B: Orthopneic
C: Semi-Fowler's
***D: High Fowler's - ANSWERA PCT should identify that adjusting a patient's bed to be
between 60 and 90 degrees will place the patient in which of the following positions?
A: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
B: The doctrine of informed consent
C: The PAtient Self-Determination Act (PDSA)
***D: The state nurse practice acts - ANSWERWhich of the following provides specific
definitions about the scope of practice for PCTs?
A: patient who refuses to take prescribed medications
B: patient who reports receiving phone calls from family, but never any visits
***C: patient who reports his checking account is being mismanaged by his adult
grandchild
D: patient who's provider has refused to sign paperwork to allow for renewal of the
patient's driver's license - ANSWERA PCT should report which of the following as elder
neglect?
***A: patient w/ rotavirus
B: patient w/ TB
C: patient w/ measles
