PCT EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
When are sterile dressings used and can you remove them? - CORRECT ANSWER -reserved for
operating room and cpct cannot remove dressings without nurse or physician's approval
What type of dressing should you put on a wound when asked to change to change a patient's
dressing - CORRECT ANSWER -aseptic dressing
What are the steps for changing dressings? - CORRECT ANSWER -1.Wash hands.
2.Place the patient in a comfortable position.
3.Don gloves.
4.Remove soiled dressings.
5.Assess the wound and note the amount, color, and odor of any drainage.
6.Remove gloves
.7.Wash hands.
8.Establish an aseptic working area.
9.Open replacement sterile dressing and saturate with sterile water.
10.Cleanse the wound.1
1.Assess the wound size, depth, color, and odor.
12.Apply a new sterile dressing.
13.Wash hands.
Where are nasogastric feeding tubes inserted? - CORRECT ANSWER -nose
where are gastric tubes inserted? - CORRECT ANSWER -they are surgically inserted into the
stomach through the abdominal wall
,what angle should someone with a feeding tube be set at? - CORRECT ANSWER -45 degree
angle
Where should arm be placed when taking blood pressure? - CORRECT ANSWER -placed at level
to the heart
What artery is used to listen to blood pressure? - CORRECT ANSWER -brachial artery
While using an electronic blood pressure cuff, when should you use a manual cuff? - CORRECT
ANSWER -The CPCT should measure the patient's blood pressure manually if the electronic
device measures an abnormal blood pressure, or if the patient has an irregular heart rate
What are the most common sites used to take the pulse, and where are they located? -
CORRECT ANSWER -radial, brachial, and carotid arteries. The radial site is located on the thumb
side of the back of the wrist. The brachial site is located on the inside of the elbow closest to the
body. The carotid site is located in the neck to the right and left of the windpipe at the level of
the Adam's apple.
normal adult pulse - CORRECT ANSWER -60-100 bpm
when pulse feels irregular what should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER -CPCT should measure the
pulse rate for a full 60 seconds and report the findings to the nurse. Report pulse rates outside
the normal range to the nursing staff immediately.
Where is the Apical pulse? - CORRECT ANSWER -an be felt over the left chest in the area of the
fifth intercostal space at the mid-clavicular line.
When should you use the apical pulse? - CORRECT ANSWER -he CPCT should measure the pulse
rate at the apical site if the heart rate is irregular.
, how long should you listen to the apical pulse? - CORRECT ANSWER -The CPCT can palpate the
pulse or use a stethoscope to listen to the heart and measure the rate over a full 60-second
time interval.
What is the Apical-radial deficit? - CORRECT ANSWER -is the difference between the apical and
radial pulse rate. This measurement requires two health care workers to simultaneously
measure the pulse at the apical site and at the radial site.
What should cpct monitor about patient's stool? - CORRECT ANSWER -amount, color, and
consistency
How often should patient defecate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Patients should have at least one
bowel movement every 3 days.
When should nurse be notified of findings? - CORRECT ANSWER -The CPCT is responsible for
notifying the nursing staff if the patient has not had a bowel movement over a 3-day period. The
CPCT should also inform the nurse of any abnormal findings in the stool such as green or red
color, and diarrhea.
What is independent transfer? - CORRECT ANSWER -is used when a patient is able to move
freely.
When is assisted transfer used? - CORRECT ANSWER -If the patient has trouble getting up, is
unsteady on his or her feet, or requires assistance when moving, use an assisted transfer.
What should you do before moving the patient? - CORRECT ANSWER -lock bed and chair wheels
and explain procedure to patient
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
When are sterile dressings used and can you remove them? - CORRECT ANSWER -reserved for
operating room and cpct cannot remove dressings without nurse or physician's approval
What type of dressing should you put on a wound when asked to change to change a patient's
dressing - CORRECT ANSWER -aseptic dressing
What are the steps for changing dressings? - CORRECT ANSWER -1.Wash hands.
2.Place the patient in a comfortable position.
3.Don gloves.
4.Remove soiled dressings.
5.Assess the wound and note the amount, color, and odor of any drainage.
6.Remove gloves
.7.Wash hands.
8.Establish an aseptic working area.
9.Open replacement sterile dressing and saturate with sterile water.
10.Cleanse the wound.1
1.Assess the wound size, depth, color, and odor.
12.Apply a new sterile dressing.
13.Wash hands.
Where are nasogastric feeding tubes inserted? - CORRECT ANSWER -nose
where are gastric tubes inserted? - CORRECT ANSWER -they are surgically inserted into the
stomach through the abdominal wall
,what angle should someone with a feeding tube be set at? - CORRECT ANSWER -45 degree
angle
Where should arm be placed when taking blood pressure? - CORRECT ANSWER -placed at level
to the heart
What artery is used to listen to blood pressure? - CORRECT ANSWER -brachial artery
While using an electronic blood pressure cuff, when should you use a manual cuff? - CORRECT
ANSWER -The CPCT should measure the patient's blood pressure manually if the electronic
device measures an abnormal blood pressure, or if the patient has an irregular heart rate
What are the most common sites used to take the pulse, and where are they located? -
CORRECT ANSWER -radial, brachial, and carotid arteries. The radial site is located on the thumb
side of the back of the wrist. The brachial site is located on the inside of the elbow closest to the
body. The carotid site is located in the neck to the right and left of the windpipe at the level of
the Adam's apple.
normal adult pulse - CORRECT ANSWER -60-100 bpm
when pulse feels irregular what should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER -CPCT should measure the
pulse rate for a full 60 seconds and report the findings to the nurse. Report pulse rates outside
the normal range to the nursing staff immediately.
Where is the Apical pulse? - CORRECT ANSWER -an be felt over the left chest in the area of the
fifth intercostal space at the mid-clavicular line.
When should you use the apical pulse? - CORRECT ANSWER -he CPCT should measure the pulse
rate at the apical site if the heart rate is irregular.
, how long should you listen to the apical pulse? - CORRECT ANSWER -The CPCT can palpate the
pulse or use a stethoscope to listen to the heart and measure the rate over a full 60-second
time interval.
What is the Apical-radial deficit? - CORRECT ANSWER -is the difference between the apical and
radial pulse rate. This measurement requires two health care workers to simultaneously
measure the pulse at the apical site and at the radial site.
What should cpct monitor about patient's stool? - CORRECT ANSWER -amount, color, and
consistency
How often should patient defecate? - CORRECT ANSWER -Patients should have at least one
bowel movement every 3 days.
When should nurse be notified of findings? - CORRECT ANSWER -The CPCT is responsible for
notifying the nursing staff if the patient has not had a bowel movement over a 3-day period. The
CPCT should also inform the nurse of any abnormal findings in the stool such as green or red
color, and diarrhea.
What is independent transfer? - CORRECT ANSWER -is used when a patient is able to move
freely.
When is assisted transfer used? - CORRECT ANSWER -If the patient has trouble getting up, is
unsteady on his or her feet, or requires assistance when moving, use an assisted transfer.
What should you do before moving the patient? - CORRECT ANSWER -lock bed and chair wheels
and explain procedure to patient
