PCT PRACTICE TEST #1 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026
The 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: apply 60-80
compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
B: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths
-CORRECT ANSWER-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
A 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: increase flow of oxygen to patient
-CORRECT ANSWER-B: notify nurse immediately
C: Assist patient to ambulate
D: Lower head of bed
When collecting a venous sample, which of the following sites should the PCT attempt to draw
from first? -CORRECT ANSWER-A: Median cubital
B: Basilic
C: Cephalic
D: Radial
A 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:
encourage the patient to enter the hospice program
B: tell the patient that further treatment is not an option
,-CORRECT ANSWER-C: acknowledge the family's concern and notify the nurse
D: recommend alternative treatment options for the patient
A 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: right sternal
border
B: on the amputation site
C: anterior axillary line
-CORRECT ANSWER-D: left deltoid
A PCT obtains a sputum specimen from a patient. The technician should expect the specimen to
have which of the following characteristics? A: pink-tinged color
B: yellow color
-CORRECT ANSWER-C: watery consistency
D: thick consistency
A PCT should recognize that which of the following statements regarding preparation for blood
cultures is correct? A: I will cleanse the area w/ 70% ethyl alcohol
B: I will cleanse the area w/ sodium hypochlorite
-CORRECT ANSWER-C: I will cleanse the area w/ chlorhexidine gluconate
D: I will cleanse the area w/ sterile saline
A 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: lead selector
-CORRECT ANSWER-*B: artifact filter
C: heart rate limits
D: speed
, A PCT is performing ostomy care for a patient. Which of the following findings should the
technician report to the nurse? A: the stoma has a small amount of bloody drainage
B: the stoma is red in color
-CORRECT ANSWER-C: the stoma is leaking around the wafer
D: The stoma remains the same size
A 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? -CORRECT ANSWER-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
A PCT is reinforcing teaching w/ a patient who has a holter monitor. Which of the following
statements should the technician make? A: remove the wires @ bedtime
B: take tub baths instead of showers
-CORRECT ANSWER-C: avoid adjusting the electrodes during monitoring period
D: set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitor period
A PCT is transporting a patient using a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take? -CORRECT ANSWER-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
ANSWERS 2026
The 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: apply 60-80
compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
B: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths
-CORRECT ANSWER-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
A 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: increase flow of oxygen to patient
-CORRECT ANSWER-B: notify nurse immediately
C: Assist patient to ambulate
D: Lower head of bed
When collecting a venous sample, which of the following sites should the PCT attempt to draw
from first? -CORRECT ANSWER-A: Median cubital
B: Basilic
C: Cephalic
D: Radial
A 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:
encourage the patient to enter the hospice program
B: tell the patient that further treatment is not an option
,-CORRECT ANSWER-C: acknowledge the family's concern and notify the nurse
D: recommend alternative treatment options for the patient
A 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: right sternal
border
B: on the amputation site
C: anterior axillary line
-CORRECT ANSWER-D: left deltoid
A PCT obtains a sputum specimen from a patient. The technician should expect the specimen to
have which of the following characteristics? A: pink-tinged color
B: yellow color
-CORRECT ANSWER-C: watery consistency
D: thick consistency
A PCT should recognize that which of the following statements regarding preparation for blood
cultures is correct? A: I will cleanse the area w/ 70% ethyl alcohol
B: I will cleanse the area w/ sodium hypochlorite
-CORRECT ANSWER-C: I will cleanse the area w/ chlorhexidine gluconate
D: I will cleanse the area w/ sterile saline
A 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: lead selector
-CORRECT ANSWER-*B: artifact filter
C: heart rate limits
D: speed
, A PCT is performing ostomy care for a patient. Which of the following findings should the
technician report to the nurse? A: the stoma has a small amount of bloody drainage
B: the stoma is red in color
-CORRECT ANSWER-C: the stoma is leaking around the wafer
D: The stoma remains the same size
A 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? -CORRECT ANSWER-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
A PCT is reinforcing teaching w/ a patient who has a holter monitor. Which of the following
statements should the technician make? A: remove the wires @ bedtime
B: take tub baths instead of showers
-CORRECT ANSWER-C: avoid adjusting the electrodes during monitoring period
D: set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitor period
A PCT is transporting a patient using a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take? -CORRECT ANSWER-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
