NHA PCT Exam Practice Test Questions
A PCT is teaching a patient about HIPAA regulations. "My provider is required to report if I receive a diagnosis of tuberculosis."
Which of the following client statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching? (HIPAA regulations require providers to report instances of communicable diseases,
including tuberculosis, to prevent an outbreak in the community.)
A PCT is assisting a nurse to insert an indwelling urinary Obtain another sterile kit.
catheter for a patient. After setting up a sterile field, the
technician drops the catheter on clean sheets. Which of (The PCT should obtain another sterile kit and discard the catheter because it
the following actions should the technician take? touched a non-sterile surface.)
A PCT is recording a patient's output and notes that the Dehydration.
patient voided a small amount of dark yellow urine. The
patient is flushed and reports dry mouth. The technician (With dehydration, urine output decreases, and the urine is concentrated, taking on
should identify that these findings indicate which of the a dark yellow color. The PCT should report this finding and the amount of urine
following? output over the past 4 hr to the nurse.)
A PCT overhears the son of a patient who is terminally ill The right to information about one's condition.
asking a nurse to keep the diagnosis secret from his father,
and the nurse agrees. The technician should recognize (The PCT should recognize that, according to the Patients' Bill of Rights, a patient's
that the nurse's action is a violation of which of the health care team is required to share information with patients about their diagnoses
following parts of the Patients' Bill of Rights? and treatment. By agreeing to keep this patient's diagnosis a secret, the nurse is
violating the patient's right to information about his condition.)
A PCT is assisting with the admission of a patient who has Write questions and instructions on a notepad for the patient.
hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the
technician take when communicating with this patient? (The PCT should use a notepad to communicate important questions and
instructions to a patient who has hearing loss so that the patient can read the
information.)
A PCT is caring for a 6-year-old child. Which of the Malnutrition.
following findings should the technician identify as a
potential indication of child maltreatment? (Malnutrition, poor hygiene, bruising, and other injuries are potential indications of
child maltreatment.)
A PCT is preparing to transfer a nonambulatory patient Lock the wheels of the wheelchair and the bed.
from a bed to a wheelchair. Which of the following steps
should the technician take? (Moving dependent patients can result in injury if the wheels on the bed and transfer
devices are not locked.)
A PCT is transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair Fowler's.
using a mechanical lift with a sling. As the patient is being
transferred, the technician should place him in which of the (To transfer a patient from a bed to a wheelchair using a mechanical lift with a sling,
following positions? the technician should place the patient in Fowler's position. This helps to properly
align the patient with the wheelchair.)
A PCT is caring for a patient whose has a stage III The subcutaneous fat is visible, and there is drainage from the wound.
pressure ulcer. Which of the following manifestations
should the technician expect? (The technician should identify these as manifestations of a stage III pressure
ulcer.)
A PCT is caring for a patient who is on bedrest. Which of Reposition the patient at least every 2 hr.
the following actions should the technician take to prevent
a pressure ulcer from forming? (The PCT should reposition the patient at least every 2 hr to prevent a pressure
ulcer from forming.)
A PCT is assisting a nurse to perform an aseptic wound Don new gloves after removing the soiled dressing.
dressing change for a patient who has a stage IV pressure
ulcer. Which of the following actions should the technician
take?
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, NHA PCT Exam Practice Test Questions
Identify the rhythm in the tracing below. (ECG/EKG) Atrial fibrillation.
(Characterized by the absence of P waves, an irregular rhythm, and a ventricular
rate of 60 to 100/min.)
A PCT is preparing to ambulate a patient who is at "Gait belts are an added safety feature when assisting patients to walk."
increased risk for falls. The patient asks the technician,
"Why do you have to place a belt around me?" Which of (The PCT should explain to the patient that gait belts are used to assist with safe
the following responses should the technician make? ambulation.)
A PCT is performing a routine venipuncture for a patient Syncope.
who becomes pallid and diaphoretic. Which of the
following conditions is this patient most likely to (If a patient becomes pallid and diaphoretic, it can indicate that the patient might
experience? faint, and the technician should take the appropriate precautions.)
A PCT should identify that which of the following settings Gain control.
adjusts the height of the EKD waveform on a tracing?
(The PCT should identify that gain control adjusts the height of the waveforms on
the EKG tracing. Adjusting the gain control can increase or reduce the height of the
waveforms to make the EKG tracing easier to read. If the technicians adjusts the
gain for a tracing, they should record the change on the tracing or EKG report.)
A PCT is caring for a 4-year-old patient who reports right Ask the child to point to the drawing of the face that matches their pain level.
arm pain. The technician should identify that which of the
following methods should be used to measure pain (The PCT should identify that the Wong-Bake FACES pain scale should be used to
intensity for this patient? identify pain intensity for a 4-year-old child. This scale allows the child to select the
drawing of the face that best matches their pain level.)
A PCT is assisting a patient who is postoperative following During the exercises, have the patient place a pillow over the incisional area.
abdominal surgery and has a prescription for deep-
breathing and coughing exercises. Which of the following If the patient has an abdominal surgical incision, the technician should instruct the
actions should the technician take? patient to place a pillow over the incisional area during the exercises to splint and
support the surgical site.)
A PCT accidentally drops a thermometer and mercury is Evacuate the room.
spilled onto the floor. Which of the following actions should
the technician take first? (The PCT should first evacuate the room and notify an occupational health nurse.
Mercury is dangerous and can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin.)
A PCT is caring for a patient who is receiving oxygen at 2 Report the pulse oximetry level to a nurse.
L/min via nasal cannula. The technician notes that the
patient's pulse oximetry level is 91%. Which of the (The technician should recognize that a patient's oxygen level should be above
following actions should the technician take? 95%. A pulse oximetry reading of less than 95% should be reported to a nurse
immediately.)
Which of the following tasks is within the scope of practice Reinforcing teaching about a wound care technique taught to the patient by a nurse.
for a PCT?
(Reinforcing teaching after a nurse provides the initial teaching is within the scope
of practice for a patient care technician.)
A PCT is performing passive range-of-motion (ROM) Dorsiflexion.
exercises on a patient's ankle. Which of the following
motions should the technician perform? (The technician should reform dorsiflexion on the patient's ankle. Dorsiflexion
involves flexing the ankle so that the toes are pointed upward.)
A PCT is preparing to transport a patient using a Have the patient push off the bed using his hands when prompted.
wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take when assisting the patient out of bed? (The technician should instruct the patient to place his hands alongside his thighs
on the bed. The patient should use his hands to push off the bed when transferring
to a wheelchair.)9
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A PCT is teaching a patient about HIPAA regulations. "My provider is required to report if I receive a diagnosis of tuberculosis."
Which of the following client statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching? (HIPAA regulations require providers to report instances of communicable diseases,
including tuberculosis, to prevent an outbreak in the community.)
A PCT is assisting a nurse to insert an indwelling urinary Obtain another sterile kit.
catheter for a patient. After setting up a sterile field, the
technician drops the catheter on clean sheets. Which of (The PCT should obtain another sterile kit and discard the catheter because it
the following actions should the technician take? touched a non-sterile surface.)
A PCT is recording a patient's output and notes that the Dehydration.
patient voided a small amount of dark yellow urine. The
patient is flushed and reports dry mouth. The technician (With dehydration, urine output decreases, and the urine is concentrated, taking on
should identify that these findings indicate which of the a dark yellow color. The PCT should report this finding and the amount of urine
following? output over the past 4 hr to the nurse.)
A PCT overhears the son of a patient who is terminally ill The right to information about one's condition.
asking a nurse to keep the diagnosis secret from his father,
and the nurse agrees. The technician should recognize (The PCT should recognize that, according to the Patients' Bill of Rights, a patient's
that the nurse's action is a violation of which of the health care team is required to share information with patients about their diagnoses
following parts of the Patients' Bill of Rights? and treatment. By agreeing to keep this patient's diagnosis a secret, the nurse is
violating the patient's right to information about his condition.)
A PCT is assisting with the admission of a patient who has Write questions and instructions on a notepad for the patient.
hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the
technician take when communicating with this patient? (The PCT should use a notepad to communicate important questions and
instructions to a patient who has hearing loss so that the patient can read the
information.)
A PCT is caring for a 6-year-old child. Which of the Malnutrition.
following findings should the technician identify as a
potential indication of child maltreatment? (Malnutrition, poor hygiene, bruising, and other injuries are potential indications of
child maltreatment.)
A PCT is preparing to transfer a nonambulatory patient Lock the wheels of the wheelchair and the bed.
from a bed to a wheelchair. Which of the following steps
should the technician take? (Moving dependent patients can result in injury if the wheels on the bed and transfer
devices are not locked.)
A PCT is transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair Fowler's.
using a mechanical lift with a sling. As the patient is being
transferred, the technician should place him in which of the (To transfer a patient from a bed to a wheelchair using a mechanical lift with a sling,
following positions? the technician should place the patient in Fowler's position. This helps to properly
align the patient with the wheelchair.)
A PCT is caring for a patient whose has a stage III The subcutaneous fat is visible, and there is drainage from the wound.
pressure ulcer. Which of the following manifestations
should the technician expect? (The technician should identify these as manifestations of a stage III pressure
ulcer.)
A PCT is caring for a patient who is on bedrest. Which of Reposition the patient at least every 2 hr.
the following actions should the technician take to prevent
a pressure ulcer from forming? (The PCT should reposition the patient at least every 2 hr to prevent a pressure
ulcer from forming.)
A PCT is assisting a nurse to perform an aseptic wound Don new gloves after removing the soiled dressing.
dressing change for a patient who has a stage IV pressure
ulcer. Which of the following actions should the technician
take?
Stuvia 2026-2027 | Latest Version
, NHA PCT Exam Practice Test Questions
Identify the rhythm in the tracing below. (ECG/EKG) Atrial fibrillation.
(Characterized by the absence of P waves, an irregular rhythm, and a ventricular
rate of 60 to 100/min.)
A PCT is preparing to ambulate a patient who is at "Gait belts are an added safety feature when assisting patients to walk."
increased risk for falls. The patient asks the technician,
"Why do you have to place a belt around me?" Which of (The PCT should explain to the patient that gait belts are used to assist with safe
the following responses should the technician make? ambulation.)
A PCT is performing a routine venipuncture for a patient Syncope.
who becomes pallid and diaphoretic. Which of the
following conditions is this patient most likely to (If a patient becomes pallid and diaphoretic, it can indicate that the patient might
experience? faint, and the technician should take the appropriate precautions.)
A PCT should identify that which of the following settings Gain control.
adjusts the height of the EKD waveform on a tracing?
(The PCT should identify that gain control adjusts the height of the waveforms on
the EKG tracing. Adjusting the gain control can increase or reduce the height of the
waveforms to make the EKG tracing easier to read. If the technicians adjusts the
gain for a tracing, they should record the change on the tracing or EKG report.)
A PCT is caring for a 4-year-old patient who reports right Ask the child to point to the drawing of the face that matches their pain level.
arm pain. The technician should identify that which of the
following methods should be used to measure pain (The PCT should identify that the Wong-Bake FACES pain scale should be used to
intensity for this patient? identify pain intensity for a 4-year-old child. This scale allows the child to select the
drawing of the face that best matches their pain level.)
A PCT is assisting a patient who is postoperative following During the exercises, have the patient place a pillow over the incisional area.
abdominal surgery and has a prescription for deep-
breathing and coughing exercises. Which of the following If the patient has an abdominal surgical incision, the technician should instruct the
actions should the technician take? patient to place a pillow over the incisional area during the exercises to splint and
support the surgical site.)
A PCT accidentally drops a thermometer and mercury is Evacuate the room.
spilled onto the floor. Which of the following actions should
the technician take first? (The PCT should first evacuate the room and notify an occupational health nurse.
Mercury is dangerous and can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin.)
A PCT is caring for a patient who is receiving oxygen at 2 Report the pulse oximetry level to a nurse.
L/min via nasal cannula. The technician notes that the
patient's pulse oximetry level is 91%. Which of the (The technician should recognize that a patient's oxygen level should be above
following actions should the technician take? 95%. A pulse oximetry reading of less than 95% should be reported to a nurse
immediately.)
Which of the following tasks is within the scope of practice Reinforcing teaching about a wound care technique taught to the patient by a nurse.
for a PCT?
(Reinforcing teaching after a nurse provides the initial teaching is within the scope
of practice for a patient care technician.)
A PCT is performing passive range-of-motion (ROM) Dorsiflexion.
exercises on a patient's ankle. Which of the following
motions should the technician perform? (The technician should reform dorsiflexion on the patient's ankle. Dorsiflexion
involves flexing the ankle so that the toes are pointed upward.)
A PCT is preparing to transport a patient using a Have the patient push off the bed using his hands when prompted.
wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take when assisting the patient out of bed? (The technician should instruct the patient to place his hands alongside his thighs
on the bed. The patient should use his hands to push off the bed when transferring
to a wheelchair.)9
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