PCT practice exam{QUESTIONS WITH ALL
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PCT PRACTICE EXAM
MOST TESTED & TOUGHEST QUESTIONS (1–10)
QUESTION 1 — PRIORITY & SAFETY (VERY HIGHLY TESTED)
A PCT enters a client’s room and finds the client on the floor next to the bed. What is the FIRST action
the PCT should take?
A. Help the client back into bed
B. Call the nurse immediately
C. Check the client for responsiveness and injuries
D. Complete an incident report
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The first priority is patient safety and assessment. The PCT must assess responsiveness and obvious
injuries before moving the client or reporting.
QUESTION 2 — VITAL SIGNS (COMMON TRAP)
Which blood pressure reading should the PCT report IMMEDIATELY to the nurse?
A. 118/76 mm Hg
B. 132/84 mm Hg
C. 98/60 mm Hg in a resting adult
D. 86/50 mm Hg in a postoperative client
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Hypotension in a postoperative client may indicate bleeding or shock and requires immediate
intervention.
,QUESTION 3 — INFECTION CONTROL (EXTREMELY TESTED)
Which action by the PCT requires intervention by the nurse?
A. Wearing gloves when handling soiled linens
B. Removing gloves before leaving the room
C. Using hand sanitizer instead of handwashing after C. diff care
D. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Clostridioides difficile requires soap and water, not alcohol-based sanitizer.
QUESTION 4 — RANGE OF MOTION & MOBILITY
Which action is appropriate when performing passive range-of-motion (PROM) exercises?
A. Move joints quickly to prevent stiffness
B. Stop the exercise if the client reports pain
C. Perform exercises only once per week
D. Encourage the client to hold their breath
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
PROM should be slow and gentle. Pain indicates potential injury.
QUESTION 5 — INTAKE & OUTPUT (VERY COMMON)
Which fluid must the PCT include when documenting intake?
A. Ice chips that melt
B. Mouth rinse solution
C. Fluids used to flush a catheter
D. IV fluids administered by the nurse
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Ice chips count as intake once melted. Mouth rinses are not swallowed.
QUESTION 6 — URINE SPECIMENS (FREQUENTLY TESTED)
Which instruction is MOST important when collecting a midstream clean-catch urine specimen?
,A. Collect the first urine expelled
B. Use sterile gloves
C. Clean the urinary meatus before voiding
D. Refrigerate the sample immediately
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Cleaning the meatus reduces contamination, which is critical for accurate results.
QUESTION 7 — SKIN CARE & PRESSURE INJURY PREVENTION
Which client is at HIGHEST risk for developing a pressure injury?
A. A young adult with a sprained ankle
B. A client who ambulates independently
C. An immobile client with incontinence
D. A client receiving IV antibiotics
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Immobility + moisture dramatically increases pressure injury risk.
QUESTION 8 — SCOPE OF PRACTICE (VERY HIGH-YIELD)
Which task is OUTSIDE the PCT’s scope of practice?
A. Measuring blood glucose
B. Assisting with ambulation
C. Administering oral medications
D. Collecting a stool specimen
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Medication administration is not within the PCT scope and must be performed by licensed staff.
QUESTION 9 — COMMUNICATION & REPORTING (TESTED OFTEN)
Which situation requires the PCT to report immediately to the nurse?
A. Client requests an extra blanket
B. Client refuses a bath
C. New onset shortness of breath
D. Client is sleeping during rounds
, ✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
New respiratory symptoms are a medical priority and must be reported immediately.
QUESTION 10 — END-OF-LIFE CARE (COMMON EXAM TOPIC)
Which action by the PCT is MOST appropriate for a dying client?
A. Encouraging the client to eat
B. Providing frequent mouth care
C. Withholding family visits
D. Forcing repositioning every hour
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Comfort measures like oral care are essential in end-of-life care. Nutrition is not forced.
QUESTION 11 — FALL PREVENTION (VERY HIGH-YIELD)
A client who is confused attempts to get out of bed without assistance. Which action by the PCT is
MOST appropriate?
A. Apply wrist restraints
B. Lower the bed, activate the bed alarm, and stay with the client
C. Leave the room and notify the nurse later
D. Move the client to a chair without assistance
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Immediate fall prevention actions are within PCT scope. Restraints require provider orders and nursing
assessment.
QUESTION 12 — BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING (COMMON EXAM TRAP)
Before checking a client’s capillary blood glucose, which step is MOST important?
A. Clean the puncture site with an alcohol swab and allow it to dry
B. Apply pressure to the finger
C. Massage the finger vigorously
D. Use the same lancet if it appears clean
✅ Correct Answer: A
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT} () (Verified
by Experts)
PCT PRACTICE EXAM
MOST TESTED & TOUGHEST QUESTIONS (1–10)
QUESTION 1 — PRIORITY & SAFETY (VERY HIGHLY TESTED)
A PCT enters a client’s room and finds the client on the floor next to the bed. What is the FIRST action
the PCT should take?
A. Help the client back into bed
B. Call the nurse immediately
C. Check the client for responsiveness and injuries
D. Complete an incident report
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The first priority is patient safety and assessment. The PCT must assess responsiveness and obvious
injuries before moving the client or reporting.
QUESTION 2 — VITAL SIGNS (COMMON TRAP)
Which blood pressure reading should the PCT report IMMEDIATELY to the nurse?
A. 118/76 mm Hg
B. 132/84 mm Hg
C. 98/60 mm Hg in a resting adult
D. 86/50 mm Hg in a postoperative client
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Hypotension in a postoperative client may indicate bleeding or shock and requires immediate
intervention.
,QUESTION 3 — INFECTION CONTROL (EXTREMELY TESTED)
Which action by the PCT requires intervention by the nurse?
A. Wearing gloves when handling soiled linens
B. Removing gloves before leaving the room
C. Using hand sanitizer instead of handwashing after C. diff care
D. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Clostridioides difficile requires soap and water, not alcohol-based sanitizer.
QUESTION 4 — RANGE OF MOTION & MOBILITY
Which action is appropriate when performing passive range-of-motion (PROM) exercises?
A. Move joints quickly to prevent stiffness
B. Stop the exercise if the client reports pain
C. Perform exercises only once per week
D. Encourage the client to hold their breath
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
PROM should be slow and gentle. Pain indicates potential injury.
QUESTION 5 — INTAKE & OUTPUT (VERY COMMON)
Which fluid must the PCT include when documenting intake?
A. Ice chips that melt
B. Mouth rinse solution
C. Fluids used to flush a catheter
D. IV fluids administered by the nurse
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Ice chips count as intake once melted. Mouth rinses are not swallowed.
QUESTION 6 — URINE SPECIMENS (FREQUENTLY TESTED)
Which instruction is MOST important when collecting a midstream clean-catch urine specimen?
,A. Collect the first urine expelled
B. Use sterile gloves
C. Clean the urinary meatus before voiding
D. Refrigerate the sample immediately
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Cleaning the meatus reduces contamination, which is critical for accurate results.
QUESTION 7 — SKIN CARE & PRESSURE INJURY PREVENTION
Which client is at HIGHEST risk for developing a pressure injury?
A. A young adult with a sprained ankle
B. A client who ambulates independently
C. An immobile client with incontinence
D. A client receiving IV antibiotics
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Immobility + moisture dramatically increases pressure injury risk.
QUESTION 8 — SCOPE OF PRACTICE (VERY HIGH-YIELD)
Which task is OUTSIDE the PCT’s scope of practice?
A. Measuring blood glucose
B. Assisting with ambulation
C. Administering oral medications
D. Collecting a stool specimen
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Medication administration is not within the PCT scope and must be performed by licensed staff.
QUESTION 9 — COMMUNICATION & REPORTING (TESTED OFTEN)
Which situation requires the PCT to report immediately to the nurse?
A. Client requests an extra blanket
B. Client refuses a bath
C. New onset shortness of breath
D. Client is sleeping during rounds
, ✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
New respiratory symptoms are a medical priority and must be reported immediately.
QUESTION 10 — END-OF-LIFE CARE (COMMON EXAM TOPIC)
Which action by the PCT is MOST appropriate for a dying client?
A. Encouraging the client to eat
B. Providing frequent mouth care
C. Withholding family visits
D. Forcing repositioning every hour
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Comfort measures like oral care are essential in end-of-life care. Nutrition is not forced.
QUESTION 11 — FALL PREVENTION (VERY HIGH-YIELD)
A client who is confused attempts to get out of bed without assistance. Which action by the PCT is
MOST appropriate?
A. Apply wrist restraints
B. Lower the bed, activate the bed alarm, and stay with the client
C. Leave the room and notify the nurse later
D. Move the client to a chair without assistance
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Immediate fall prevention actions are within PCT scope. Restraints require provider orders and nursing
assessment.
QUESTION 12 — BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING (COMMON EXAM TRAP)
Before checking a client’s capillary blood glucose, which step is MOST important?
A. Clean the puncture site with an alcohol swab and allow it to dry
B. Apply pressure to the finger
C. Massage the finger vigorously
D. Use the same lancet if it appears clean
✅ Correct Answer: A
