PCT – PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION EXAM
READY - VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE
LATEST VERSION 2026/2027
Q1. What does PPE stand for?
ANSWER Personal Protective Equipment — includes gloves, gowns, masks, eye
protection, and face shields used to protect healthcare workers from exposure to
infectious materials.
Q2. What are the five moments for hand hygiene (WHO)?
ANSWER Before touching a patient, before a clean/aseptic procedure, after body
fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient, and after touching patient
surroundings.
Q3. What is the correct order for donning PPE?
ANSWER Gown first, then mask/respirator, then goggles/face shield, then gloves.
Gloves are donned last and should cover the gown cuffs.
Q4. What is the correct order for doffing PPE?
ANSWER Gloves first, then goggles/face shield, then gown, and finally the
mask/respirator. Perform hand hygiene between each step.
Q5. What is Standard Precautions?
ANSWER A set of infection control practices that treat all patient blood, body
fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as potentially infectious, regardless
of known diagnosis.
Q6. What type of isolation requires a private room with negative air pressure?
ANSWER Airborne Precautions — used for diseases transmitted through small
airborne particles such as tuberculosis (TB), measles, and varicella.
Q7. What precautions are used for MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus)?
ANSWER Contact Precautions — requires gloves and gown upon entry to the
patient's room and dedicated or properly cleaned equipment.
Q8. How long should you wash your hands with soap and water?
, ANSWER At least 20 seconds, rubbing all surfaces including the back of hands,
between fingers, and under nails, then rinse and dry with a clean towel.
Q9. When should alcohol-based hand sanitizer NOT be used?
ANSWER When hands are visibly soiled, after caring for a patient with C. difficile
(Clostridium difficile) or norovirus, as alcohol is not effective against these
organisms.
Q10. What is a sharps container and when must it be replaced?
ANSWER A puncture-resistant container for disposing of needles, lancets, and
other sharp instruments. It must be replaced when it is three-quarters (75%) full to
prevent needlestick injuries.
Q11. What is the chain of infection?
ANSWER The six links are: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of
transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any link prevents
infection.
Q12. What color bag is used for biohazardous/infectious waste?
ANSWER Red or orange biohazard bags are used for infectious waste. Regular
trash goes in clear or black bags; sharps go in rigid red sharps containers.
Q13. Define nosocomial infection.
ANSWER A nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infection is one acquired in a
healthcare setting that was not present or incubating at the time of admission.
Q14. What is the purpose of a N95 respirator?
ANSWER An N95 respirator filters at least 95% of airborne particles. It must be fit-
tested annually and is required for airborne precautions (e.g., TB, COVID-19
aerosol-generating procedures).
Q15. What does OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard require?
ANSWER It requires employers to provide PPE, hepatitis B vaccination, post-
exposure follow-up, and training to all employees with occupational exposure to
blood or OPIM (other potentially infectious materials).
2. Vital Signs
Q16. What are the five vital signs?
, ANSWER Temperature, pulse (heart rate), respiration rate, blood pressure, and
oxygen saturation (SpO₂). Pain is often considered the fifth or sixth vital sign.
Q17. What is the normal adult body temperature (oral)?
ANSWER The normal oral temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). The range is
approximately 97°F–99°F (36.1°C–37.2°C).
Q18. What is the normal adult resting heart rate?
ANSWER 60–100 beats per minute (bpm). Below 60 is bradycardia; above 100 is
tachycardia.
Q19. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
ANSWER 12–20 breaths per minute. Below 12 is bradypnea; above 20 is
tachypnea.
Q20. What is a normal adult blood pressure?
ANSWER Less than 120/80 mmHg. Elevated is 120–129/<80; Stage 1 hypertension
is 130–139/80–89; Stage 2 is ≥140/≥90.
Q21. What is normal oxygen saturation (SpO₂)?
ANSWER 95–100% on room air. Below 90% is considered hypoxic and requires
immediate intervention.
Q22. How long should you count respirations?
ANSWER For 30 seconds and multiply by 2, or a full 60 seconds if the rate is
irregular. Do not tell the patient you are counting breaths as this can alter their
rate.
Q23. Where is the apical pulse assessed?
ANSWER At the apex of the heart, located at the 5th intercostal space at the
midclavicular line. It is auscultated with a stethoscope for a full 60 seconds.
Q24. What is orthostatic hypotension?
ANSWER A drop of ≥20 mmHg systolic or ≥10 mmHg diastolic when moving from
lying to standing. It causes dizziness and falls; check BP supine, sitting, and
standing.
Q25. What is the correct cuff size for blood pressure measurement?
ANSWER The bladder of the cuff should encircle 80% of the arm's circumference.
Using too small a cuff gives falsely high readings; too large gives falsely low
readings.
, Q26. What site should be avoided when measuring blood pressure?
ANSWER An arm with an IV, AV fistula, lymphedema, recent mastectomy, or
injury. Use the opposite arm or the thigh if necessary.
Q27. What is pulse oximetry and what does it measure?
ANSWER Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method using infrared light to measure
the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen (SpO₂) in the peripheral
blood.
Q28. What factors can cause inaccurate pulse oximetry readings?
ANSWER Nail polish, acrylic nails, cold extremities, poor perfusion, severe anemia,
carbon monoxide poisoning, and excessive patient movement.
Q29. What temperature route gives the highest reading?
ANSWER Rectal temperature is typically 0.5°F–1°F higher than oral. Axillary is
0.5°F–1°F lower than oral. Tympanic approximates core temperature.
Q30. How do you assess a radial pulse?
ANSWER Place the index and middle fingers on the inner wrist at the thumb side.
Count beats for 30 seconds (×2) or 60 seconds if irregular. Note rate, rhythm, and
quality.
3. Patient Care & Activities of Daily Living
Q31. What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?
ANSWER ADLs are basic self-care tasks including bathing, dressing, grooming,
toileting, eating, and transferring/mobility. PCTs assist patients who cannot
perform these independently.
Q32. What is the purpose of proper patient positioning?
ANSWER Prevents pressure injuries, maintains airway patency, promotes comfort,
facilitates breathing and circulation, and prevents contractures and complications
of immobility.
Q33. Describe the Fowler's position.
ANSWER The head of the bed is elevated 45–60°. Semi-Fowler's is 15–45°. High
Fowler's is 60–90°. Used to improve breathing, reduce aspiration risk, and aid
digestion.
Q34. What is the Sim's position and when is it used?
READY - VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE
LATEST VERSION 2026/2027
Q1. What does PPE stand for?
ANSWER Personal Protective Equipment — includes gloves, gowns, masks, eye
protection, and face shields used to protect healthcare workers from exposure to
infectious materials.
Q2. What are the five moments for hand hygiene (WHO)?
ANSWER Before touching a patient, before a clean/aseptic procedure, after body
fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient, and after touching patient
surroundings.
Q3. What is the correct order for donning PPE?
ANSWER Gown first, then mask/respirator, then goggles/face shield, then gloves.
Gloves are donned last and should cover the gown cuffs.
Q4. What is the correct order for doffing PPE?
ANSWER Gloves first, then goggles/face shield, then gown, and finally the
mask/respirator. Perform hand hygiene between each step.
Q5. What is Standard Precautions?
ANSWER A set of infection control practices that treat all patient blood, body
fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as potentially infectious, regardless
of known diagnosis.
Q6. What type of isolation requires a private room with negative air pressure?
ANSWER Airborne Precautions — used for diseases transmitted through small
airborne particles such as tuberculosis (TB), measles, and varicella.
Q7. What precautions are used for MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus)?
ANSWER Contact Precautions — requires gloves and gown upon entry to the
patient's room and dedicated or properly cleaned equipment.
Q8. How long should you wash your hands with soap and water?
, ANSWER At least 20 seconds, rubbing all surfaces including the back of hands,
between fingers, and under nails, then rinse and dry with a clean towel.
Q9. When should alcohol-based hand sanitizer NOT be used?
ANSWER When hands are visibly soiled, after caring for a patient with C. difficile
(Clostridium difficile) or norovirus, as alcohol is not effective against these
organisms.
Q10. What is a sharps container and when must it be replaced?
ANSWER A puncture-resistant container for disposing of needles, lancets, and
other sharp instruments. It must be replaced when it is three-quarters (75%) full to
prevent needlestick injuries.
Q11. What is the chain of infection?
ANSWER The six links are: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of
transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any link prevents
infection.
Q12. What color bag is used for biohazardous/infectious waste?
ANSWER Red or orange biohazard bags are used for infectious waste. Regular
trash goes in clear or black bags; sharps go in rigid red sharps containers.
Q13. Define nosocomial infection.
ANSWER A nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infection is one acquired in a
healthcare setting that was not present or incubating at the time of admission.
Q14. What is the purpose of a N95 respirator?
ANSWER An N95 respirator filters at least 95% of airborne particles. It must be fit-
tested annually and is required for airborne precautions (e.g., TB, COVID-19
aerosol-generating procedures).
Q15. What does OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard require?
ANSWER It requires employers to provide PPE, hepatitis B vaccination, post-
exposure follow-up, and training to all employees with occupational exposure to
blood or OPIM (other potentially infectious materials).
2. Vital Signs
Q16. What are the five vital signs?
, ANSWER Temperature, pulse (heart rate), respiration rate, blood pressure, and
oxygen saturation (SpO₂). Pain is often considered the fifth or sixth vital sign.
Q17. What is the normal adult body temperature (oral)?
ANSWER The normal oral temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). The range is
approximately 97°F–99°F (36.1°C–37.2°C).
Q18. What is the normal adult resting heart rate?
ANSWER 60–100 beats per minute (bpm). Below 60 is bradycardia; above 100 is
tachycardia.
Q19. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
ANSWER 12–20 breaths per minute. Below 12 is bradypnea; above 20 is
tachypnea.
Q20. What is a normal adult blood pressure?
ANSWER Less than 120/80 mmHg. Elevated is 120–129/<80; Stage 1 hypertension
is 130–139/80–89; Stage 2 is ≥140/≥90.
Q21. What is normal oxygen saturation (SpO₂)?
ANSWER 95–100% on room air. Below 90% is considered hypoxic and requires
immediate intervention.
Q22. How long should you count respirations?
ANSWER For 30 seconds and multiply by 2, or a full 60 seconds if the rate is
irregular. Do not tell the patient you are counting breaths as this can alter their
rate.
Q23. Where is the apical pulse assessed?
ANSWER At the apex of the heart, located at the 5th intercostal space at the
midclavicular line. It is auscultated with a stethoscope for a full 60 seconds.
Q24. What is orthostatic hypotension?
ANSWER A drop of ≥20 mmHg systolic or ≥10 mmHg diastolic when moving from
lying to standing. It causes dizziness and falls; check BP supine, sitting, and
standing.
Q25. What is the correct cuff size for blood pressure measurement?
ANSWER The bladder of the cuff should encircle 80% of the arm's circumference.
Using too small a cuff gives falsely high readings; too large gives falsely low
readings.
, Q26. What site should be avoided when measuring blood pressure?
ANSWER An arm with an IV, AV fistula, lymphedema, recent mastectomy, or
injury. Use the opposite arm or the thigh if necessary.
Q27. What is pulse oximetry and what does it measure?
ANSWER Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method using infrared light to measure
the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen (SpO₂) in the peripheral
blood.
Q28. What factors can cause inaccurate pulse oximetry readings?
ANSWER Nail polish, acrylic nails, cold extremities, poor perfusion, severe anemia,
carbon monoxide poisoning, and excessive patient movement.
Q29. What temperature route gives the highest reading?
ANSWER Rectal temperature is typically 0.5°F–1°F higher than oral. Axillary is
0.5°F–1°F lower than oral. Tympanic approximates core temperature.
Q30. How do you assess a radial pulse?
ANSWER Place the index and middle fingers on the inner wrist at the thumb side.
Count beats for 30 seconds (×2) or 60 seconds if irregular. Note rate, rhythm, and
quality.
3. Patient Care & Activities of Daily Living
Q31. What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?
ANSWER ADLs are basic self-care tasks including bathing, dressing, grooming,
toileting, eating, and transferring/mobility. PCTs assist patients who cannot
perform these independently.
Q32. What is the purpose of proper patient positioning?
ANSWER Prevents pressure injuries, maintains airway patency, promotes comfort,
facilitates breathing and circulation, and prevents contractures and complications
of immobility.
Q33. Describe the Fowler's position.
ANSWER The head of the bed is elevated 45–60°. Semi-Fowler's is 15–45°. High
Fowler's is 60–90°. Used to improve breathing, reduce aspiration risk, and aid
digestion.
Q34. What is the Sim's position and when is it used?
