Hartford Health Care PCT PCA APPROVED Final Exam 2026

Hartford Health Care PCT PCA APPROVED Final Exam 2026 Anorexia - -loss of appetite Dysphagia - -difficulty swallowing Dysphasia - -difficulty speaking Dyspnea - -difficulty breathing Dehydrated - -Lack of fluids "dry" Aspirate - -Food or liquids down the wind pipe instead of esophagus N/G - -Naso/Grastric TF - -Tube Feed GI - -Gastro/Intestinal Edema - -Swelling PO - -By Mouth NPO - -Nothing by mouth I&O - -Input and Output cc/ml - -cubic centimeter (milliliter) ADA - -American Diabetes Association NA - -Soduim gm - -Gram 30cc = - -1 oz Chipped Ice - -1/2 the volume of water Hartford Health Creamer - -15 mL Mug(hot water, coffee) - -180 mL Soup bowl (hot cereal, grits, soup) - -180 cc Gelatin - -120 mL Ginger Ale 7 oz - -210 cc Ice Cream - -120 mL Italian Ice - -180 mL Juice Containers - -120 cc Popsicle - -48 mL When are vital signs first taken? - -- On Admission - before, during, and after treatments (medications) - MD order - Change of patient condition (delagated by RN) What factors impact vital signs - -sleep, activity, noise, fear, and anxiety are a few factors that may affect VS results. WOW - -Workstation on Wheels or Computer How do you properly identify patient prior to performing VS - -Name, DOB, Room #, Patient Wristband (Validate/Verify) When unsure of VS results or there is a drastic change from previous VS - -Notify RN IMMEDIATELY! NO DELAY! Temperature - -The amount of heat in the body that is a balance between the amount of heat the body produces and loses. - Routinely taken tympanic/ Occasionally taken rectal Afebrile - -Without Fever Febrile - -Temperature (above) 100 Hypothermia - -low body temperature Hyperthermia - -high body temperature Hartford Health Hartford Health Tympanic Temps - --Make sure ear is clear of wax - Stand on side where taking temp DO NOT REACH ACROSS 1 respiration - -inhalation and exhalation How to do respiration - -- Count rise and fall of chest for 1 full min or 30 secs x 2 -NOT ALL PT HAVE A RATE OF 20 Apnea - -absence of respirations Dyspnea - -difficulty breathing Orthopnea - -positional breathing (standing or sitting) Hyperventilation - -rapid and deep respirations Hypoventilation - -slow, shallow, irregular respirations Cheyne-Stokes - -increased rate and depth, then slow/shallow then a period of apnea (associated with end of life) Hypertension - -high blood pressure 140/90 Hypotension - -low blood pressure 100/60 Normal BP Range - -100/60 - 140/90 Systole - -Top Number (heart contraction) Diastole - -Bottom Number (heart at rest) How to secure BP accuracy - --proper cuff size: pedi, regular, bariatric, extra long, thigh - improper size will affect result -bladder of cuff centered over the brachial artery - 1 to 2 inch over bend of the arm - dont take in lower arm unless instructed by RN Dont take BP if? - -- on arm w/ pink wrist band - IV line or heparin lock - picc line or other long term IV sites - cast -AV shunt or fistula - Paralysis - Break Surgery What pusle is used most? - -Radial pulse Hartford Health Hartford Health Tachycardia - -fast heart rate (100 bpm) Bradycardia - -slow heart rate (less than 60 bpm) How to determine HR - --Count # of beats felt in 1 min or count for 30 sec x 2 - beat of heart can be felt as it passed through the artery pulse oximetry - -An assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation levels. Should be in the mid to high 90s (NOTIFY RN IMMEDIATELY IF OUT OF RANGE. DO NOT LEAVE ROOM. CONTACT NURSE FROM ROOM) 98.6; Temps below 97 is normal? - -No, notify and document immedielty 60-100 beats per min is normal? - -Yes, it is normal DNR? - -do not resuscitate B.E.F.A.S.T - -B: balance E: eyes F: face A: arms S: speech T: time What is the medical response #? - -Medical Response # is 2-2345 Non Patient Medical Response # is 2-1111 Who responds to medical response - -Providers, Nurse Educators, PCAs, Respiratory, Spiritual Care.... BLS Steps - - 1.Unresponsive 2.Active Emergency Response or get crash cart 3.Check carotid artery 4. Start CPR 5. Shock when indicated/stop cpr if directed Crash cart - -red cart (locate on unit) Difficult airway Cart - -Blue cart (locate on unit) Medication Box - -orange (bring to pharmacy to exchange) Intubation Box - -yellow (bring to pharmacy to exchange) Hartford Health Hartford Health Hartford Health Temporal Artery - -head Facial Artery - -face/mouth/nose Carotid artery - -neck Brachial artery - -upper arm Radial artery - -wrist Femoral artery - -upper thigh/groin area Popliteal artery - -behind the knee Posterior tribal artery - -foot/ankle Doralis pedis artery - -top of foot/toe ADL - -Activities of Daily Living AC - -before meals PC - -after meals Amb - -ambulate pm - -evening ad lib - -as tolerated/ as desired BRP - -bathroom privileges E&M - -empty and measure ES - -elastic stockings OOB - -out of bed (up and about) R&R - -remove and reapply Q2 - -turn every 2 hours SMC - -special mouth care SCD - -sequential compression device Hartford Health Hartford Health TPR - -temperature, pulse, respiration VS - -vital signs ROM - -range of motion Shaving? - -Do not shave w/o permission from nurse (some patient are on blood thinners, cant fight infecions, etc). Who should have a daily CHG bath? - -All pts with central lines or foley catheters (unless allergic to CHG confirm w/ RN) What to bathe patients with if allergic to CHG? - -Comfort bath wipes Steps for CHG bath - - 1. Neck (Jawline Down) and Chest 2. Arms (shoulder to finger tips) armpits last 3. Left and Right Hips, then groin 4.Right leg and foot 5. Left leg and foot 6. Back an Buttocks is FOLEY care come after bath (Yes or No) - -Yes - dispense of gloves from bath care and use new ones + new pack of chg wipes When do you perform perineal care? - -at the end of the bath, as needed (after bowel movements/daily) How to perform perineal care for females - -wipe front to back, using one chg cloth for each wipe. NEVER wipe from back (rectal area) to front (vaginal and foley area) How to perform perineal care for males - -if uncircumcised: pull the foreskin back to cleanse underneath. Return foreskin back over the end of the penis once cleansing is complete. Always clean urinary area first and then rectal area Do pcts apply medical hygiene? - -No, medical hygiene products such as medicated powder will be applied by RN. What are the 5Ps? - -Pain, proactive toileting, positioning, place items within reach, pose the question (anything else you need?) If PT refuse hygiene care inform nurse and document POA - -present of admission HAPI - -hospital acquired pressure injury Hartford Health Fall risk signs - -yellow socks, fall risk bracelet, fall risk signs in pt room keep gait belt on hand WARDX - -- 3 tags (belongings, body bag, and pt toe) - transporter will come receive pt -drape over sketcher -dont take anything off pt Post Mortem Care - -care of the body after death - clean pt (presentable for family visit) - if auto posy is wanted everything stays, if not every can be taken -EOL traditions are allowed as long as no harm to patient or others. STAT - -Immediately DTV - -due to void 5 Hospital Core Values - -Safety, Integrity, Caring, Equity, and Excellence Best way to maintain infection control? - -frequent hand washing Restraints - -attached to metal bed frame (NOT RAILINGS) Incontinence - -unable to have bowel movements S.A.F.E - -S: seating A: assistance F: food modifications E: equipment When to empty ostomy pouch - -1/3 to 1/2 full Pre OP care - - - make sure hygiene tasks are done (oral and body care) - make sure patied voids - remove all jewlerey, prosthetics, hearing aids/glasses etc - make sure dentured are cleaned and locked - run vitals and document all task - once transport arrives; clean and prep room for new admission Post op care - -Post-Op Vitals (q=every) q 15 minutes x 4 (q 15 x 4) q 30 minutes x 2 (q 30 x 2) q 1 hour x 4 (q 1 hr x 4) Every 4 hours (q 4 hours) Hartford Health Hartford Health Know ranges and report abnormal values and significant changes Check level of consciousness - especially at night Should be able to respond and follow commands Drains Tree of Life - -Tree of Life = point of transitioning → more visitors CMO - -comfort measures only Hartford Health