PCT CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
ANSWERS
◉ Which of the following EKG findings differentiates accelerated
idioventricular rhythm from junctional rhythm?
A.) Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has P wave.
B.) The ventricular rate in accelerated idioventricular rhythm is slower
than junctional rhythm.
C.) junctional rhythm has P waves
D.) accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide QRS complexes.
Answer: D.) Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide QRS
complexes.
◉ A patient care technician is caring for a patient whose has a stage 3
pressure ulcer. Which of the following manifestations should the
technician expect?
A.) The area forms a blister, and the epidermis peels away or cracks
open
B.) The subcutaneous fat is visible, and there is drainage from the
wound.
C.) The area appears as reddened skin that does not return to its initial
color after pressure is removed.
,D.) The damaged tissue extends all the way through the tissues to the
muscle. Answer: B.) The subcutaneous fat is visible, and there is
drainage from the wound.
◉ Which of the following tubes should be collected first for dermal
samples?
A.) lavender top
B.) green top
C.) red top
D.) light blue top Answer: A.) lavender top
◉ A patient care technician is transferring a patient from a bed to a
wheelchair using a mechanical lift with a sling. As the patient is being
transferred the technician should place him in which of the following
position?
A.) Sims
B.) Fowlers
C.) Lithotomy
D.) Trendelenburg Answer: B.) Fowler's
◉ A patient care technician is performing a routine venipuncture for a
patient who becomes pallid and diaphoretic. Which of the following
conditions is this patient most likely to experience?
A.) Syncope
,B.) Seizure
C.) Nausea
D.) Shock Answer: A.) Syncope
◉ A patient care technician is assisting a nurse to apply a hand-wrist
immobility splint for a patient who has left-sided paralysis due to a
stroke. The technician should identify that the splint will secure the
patients hand and write in which of the following positions?
A.) wrist in slight dorsiflexion
B.) fingers in a extended position
C.) fingers rotated slightly in an external position
D.) thumb kept in close proximity to the index finger Answer: A.) wrist
in slight dorsiflexion
◉ A patient care technician recently attended a seminar about hospice
car. Which of the following statements by the technician indicates an
understanding of hospice care?
A.) "the cost of hospice care is reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid"
B.) "many hospice agencies do not require patients to have a primary
caregiver"
C.) "an immediate family member must accept responsibility for the
patients care"
D.) "hospice care covers curative therapies prescribed by the health care
provider" Answer: A.) "the cost of hospice care is reimbursed by
Medicare or Medicaid"
, ◉ A patient care technician is preparing a peripheral blood smear on a
slide. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A.) press down on the spreader slide to fix the cells on the lower slide
B.) Apply the spreader slide to the lower slide at a 60 degree angle
C.) verify that the smear covers about three-quarters of the slide
D.) apply blood to the clear portion of the slide Answer: C.) verify that
the smear covers about three-quarters of the slide
◉ A patient care technician is caring for four patients. Which of the
following should the technician report to the nurse?
A.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 190 mg/dL
B.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 90 mg/dL
C.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 100 mg/dL
D.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 130 mg/dL Answer: A.) a
patient who has a blood glucose level of 190 mg/dL
◉ A patient care technician is providing palliative care to a patient. The
patients family expresses feelings of anger and hopelessness. Which of
the following actions should the technician take?
A.) explain that anger is the first coping mechanism everyone experience
during grief.
B.) refer the family to the charge nurse
C.) recommend that the patient talk to social services
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
ANSWERS
◉ Which of the following EKG findings differentiates accelerated
idioventricular rhythm from junctional rhythm?
A.) Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has P wave.
B.) The ventricular rate in accelerated idioventricular rhythm is slower
than junctional rhythm.
C.) junctional rhythm has P waves
D.) accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide QRS complexes.
Answer: D.) Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide QRS
complexes.
◉ A patient care technician is caring for a patient whose has a stage 3
pressure ulcer. Which of the following manifestations should the
technician expect?
A.) The area forms a blister, and the epidermis peels away or cracks
open
B.) The subcutaneous fat is visible, and there is drainage from the
wound.
C.) The area appears as reddened skin that does not return to its initial
color after pressure is removed.
,D.) The damaged tissue extends all the way through the tissues to the
muscle. Answer: B.) The subcutaneous fat is visible, and there is
drainage from the wound.
◉ Which of the following tubes should be collected first for dermal
samples?
A.) lavender top
B.) green top
C.) red top
D.) light blue top Answer: A.) lavender top
◉ A patient care technician is transferring a patient from a bed to a
wheelchair using a mechanical lift with a sling. As the patient is being
transferred the technician should place him in which of the following
position?
A.) Sims
B.) Fowlers
C.) Lithotomy
D.) Trendelenburg Answer: B.) Fowler's
◉ A patient care technician is performing a routine venipuncture for a
patient who becomes pallid and diaphoretic. Which of the following
conditions is this patient most likely to experience?
A.) Syncope
,B.) Seizure
C.) Nausea
D.) Shock Answer: A.) Syncope
◉ A patient care technician is assisting a nurse to apply a hand-wrist
immobility splint for a patient who has left-sided paralysis due to a
stroke. The technician should identify that the splint will secure the
patients hand and write in which of the following positions?
A.) wrist in slight dorsiflexion
B.) fingers in a extended position
C.) fingers rotated slightly in an external position
D.) thumb kept in close proximity to the index finger Answer: A.) wrist
in slight dorsiflexion
◉ A patient care technician recently attended a seminar about hospice
car. Which of the following statements by the technician indicates an
understanding of hospice care?
A.) "the cost of hospice care is reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid"
B.) "many hospice agencies do not require patients to have a primary
caregiver"
C.) "an immediate family member must accept responsibility for the
patients care"
D.) "hospice care covers curative therapies prescribed by the health care
provider" Answer: A.) "the cost of hospice care is reimbursed by
Medicare or Medicaid"
, ◉ A patient care technician is preparing a peripheral blood smear on a
slide. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A.) press down on the spreader slide to fix the cells on the lower slide
B.) Apply the spreader slide to the lower slide at a 60 degree angle
C.) verify that the smear covers about three-quarters of the slide
D.) apply blood to the clear portion of the slide Answer: C.) verify that
the smear covers about three-quarters of the slide
◉ A patient care technician is caring for four patients. Which of the
following should the technician report to the nurse?
A.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 190 mg/dL
B.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 90 mg/dL
C.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 100 mg/dL
D.) a patient who has a blood glucose level of 130 mg/dL Answer: A.) a
patient who has a blood glucose level of 190 mg/dL
◉ A patient care technician is providing palliative care to a patient. The
patients family expresses feelings of anger and hopelessness. Which of
the following actions should the technician take?
A.) explain that anger is the first coping mechanism everyone experience
during grief.
B.) refer the family to the charge nurse
C.) recommend that the patient talk to social services
