PCA COMPETENCY TEST (GEORGIA EXAM) 2026| COMPLETE EXAM SET (QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS)FREQUENTLY MOST TESTED QUESTIONS | ALREADY PASSED!!
Question 1
According to the Georgia PCA scope of practice, which of the following tasks is a Personal Care
Assistant permitted to perform?
A) Change a sterile dressing
B) Administer a rectal suppository
C) Reinforce a non-sterile dressing
D) Give a tubal feeding
E) Apply a hot pack
Correct Answer: C) Reinforce a non-sterile dressing
Rationale: PCAs are permitted to reinforce an existing dressing to keep it secure, but they
are strictly prohibited from performing invasive or sterile procedures, such as changing
sterile dressings, administering medications (including suppositories), or managing tube
feedings, as these require licensed nursing clinical judgment.
Question 2
Which of the following tasks is considered outside the legal scope of a Personal Care Assistant?
A) Assisting with a colostomy bag change
B) Providing a bed bath
C) Helping a patient with a walker
D) Administering a prescribed medication
E) Encouraging fluid intake
Correct Answer: D) Administering a prescribed medication
Rationale: Medication administration is a licensed task. PCAs may remind a patient to take
their medication or assist them in opening a container (medication assistance), but they
cannot legally "administer" the drugs, which includes calculating dosages or physically
giving the medication to the patient.
Question 3
When a patient asks a PCA to give them an enema because they are constipated, what is the
correct response?
A) Give the enema as requested by the patient
B) Tell the patient to wait until they are alone to do it themselves
C) Explain that you cannot perform this task and notify the supervisor
D) Ask the neighbor to help the patient with the enema
E) Provide a laxative instead of an enema
Correct Answer: C) Explain that you cannot perform this task and notify the supervisor
Rationale: Giving an enema is a nursing-level task that is not permitted for PCAs. If a
patient is having bowel issues, the PCA must report this to the nursing supervisor so a
proper medical intervention can be ordered and performed by authorized personnel.
, 2
Question 4
A PCA is providing nail care to an elderly patient. Which of the following is a prohibited action?
A) Soaking the patient's hands in warm water
B) Cleaning under the fingernails with an orange stick
C) Filing the edges of the nails with an emery board
D) Cutting the patient's fingernails or toenails with clippers
E) Applying lotion to the patient's hands
Correct Answer: D) Cutting the patient's fingernails or toenails with clippers
Rationale: In personal care settings, PCAs are generally prohibited from cutting nails,
especially for diabetic patients, due to the high risk of infection and injury. Nail care for
PCAs is limited to soaking, cleaning, and filing.
Question 5
Which statement best describes the role of the Personal Care Assistant within the healthcare
system?
A) The PCA works independently and makes medical decisions
B) The PCA works as a part of the healthcare team under professional supervision
C) The PCA is responsible for changing the patient's prescriptions
D) The PCA acts as the primary doctor in the home setting
E) The PCA only performs tasks they feel comfortable with regardless of assignments
Correct Answer: B) work as part of the health care team.
Rationale: A PCA is a vital member of the healthcare team but must always work under the
guidance and supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a professional supervisor. They
carry out the specific care plan developed by the clinical team.
Question 6
When working in a patient’s home, who is responsible for assigning tasks to the Personal Care
Assistant?
A) The patient's family members
B) The patient's neighbor
C) The Registered Nurse or therapist
D) The patient themselves
E) The PCA decides their own tasks based on what they see
Correct Answer: C) do only the tasks that the registered nurse or therapist assigns to you
Rationale: To ensure patient safety and legal compliance, a PCA must strictly follow the
written assignment sheet provided by the RN or therapist. Taking on unassigned tasks can
lead to medical errors or legal liability.
Question 7
A PCA is asked to give a tubal feeding to a patient. What is the correct action?
A) Perform the task if you have seen it done before
, 3
B) Refuse the task as it is not within the PCA scope of practice
C) Ask the patient's spouse to show you how to do it
D) Do it only if the patient is very hungry
E) Attempt it but stop if the patient complains
Correct Answer: B) Refuse the task as it is not within the PCA scope of practice
Rationale: Tubal feedings are complex and involve risks such as aspiration or tube
displacement. Only licensed nurses or specifically trained individuals under medical
oversight can perform this; it is never a standard PCA duty.
Question 8
Which of the following is a PCA allowed to do regarding wound care?
A) Debride a wound
B) Change a sterile dressing
C) Clean a deep surgical wound
D) Assist with the change of a colostomy bag
E) Apply antibiotic ointment to a fresh incision
Correct Answer: D) Assist with the change of a colostomy bag
Rationale: PCAs are permitted to assist with colostomy care, which is considered part of
personal hygiene and daily living. However, sterile dressing changes and medication
applications to wounds are strictly nursing tasks.
Question 9
If a patient has diabetes and requires an insulin injection, the PCA should:
A) Give the injection if the patient's hands are shaking
B) Draw up the insulin but let the patient inject it
C) Refuse to give the insulin as it is a medication administration task
D) Teach the patient's child how to give the injection
E) Give half the dose if the patient hasn't eaten
Correct Answer: C) Refuse to give the insulin as it is a medication administration task
Rationale: Insulin is a high-alert medication. Administering injections is a licensed nursing
task. A PCA cannot give insulin under any circumstances within their standard scope of
practice.
Question 10
As a PCA, you are helping a patient with a bed bath. You notice a small red area on the patient’s
sacrum. You should:
A) Apply a hot pack to the area
B) Massage the area vigorously to increase blood flow
C) Report the observation to your supervisor immediately
D) Put a band-aid over the area
E) Wait two days until the nurse visits to show her
VERIFIED ANSWERS)FREQUENTLY MOST TESTED QUESTIONS | ALREADY PASSED!!
Question 1
According to the Georgia PCA scope of practice, which of the following tasks is a Personal Care
Assistant permitted to perform?
A) Change a sterile dressing
B) Administer a rectal suppository
C) Reinforce a non-sterile dressing
D) Give a tubal feeding
E) Apply a hot pack
Correct Answer: C) Reinforce a non-sterile dressing
Rationale: PCAs are permitted to reinforce an existing dressing to keep it secure, but they
are strictly prohibited from performing invasive or sterile procedures, such as changing
sterile dressings, administering medications (including suppositories), or managing tube
feedings, as these require licensed nursing clinical judgment.
Question 2
Which of the following tasks is considered outside the legal scope of a Personal Care Assistant?
A) Assisting with a colostomy bag change
B) Providing a bed bath
C) Helping a patient with a walker
D) Administering a prescribed medication
E) Encouraging fluid intake
Correct Answer: D) Administering a prescribed medication
Rationale: Medication administration is a licensed task. PCAs may remind a patient to take
their medication or assist them in opening a container (medication assistance), but they
cannot legally "administer" the drugs, which includes calculating dosages or physically
giving the medication to the patient.
Question 3
When a patient asks a PCA to give them an enema because they are constipated, what is the
correct response?
A) Give the enema as requested by the patient
B) Tell the patient to wait until they are alone to do it themselves
C) Explain that you cannot perform this task and notify the supervisor
D) Ask the neighbor to help the patient with the enema
E) Provide a laxative instead of an enema
Correct Answer: C) Explain that you cannot perform this task and notify the supervisor
Rationale: Giving an enema is a nursing-level task that is not permitted for PCAs. If a
patient is having bowel issues, the PCA must report this to the nursing supervisor so a
proper medical intervention can be ordered and performed by authorized personnel.
, 2
Question 4
A PCA is providing nail care to an elderly patient. Which of the following is a prohibited action?
A) Soaking the patient's hands in warm water
B) Cleaning under the fingernails with an orange stick
C) Filing the edges of the nails with an emery board
D) Cutting the patient's fingernails or toenails with clippers
E) Applying lotion to the patient's hands
Correct Answer: D) Cutting the patient's fingernails or toenails with clippers
Rationale: In personal care settings, PCAs are generally prohibited from cutting nails,
especially for diabetic patients, due to the high risk of infection and injury. Nail care for
PCAs is limited to soaking, cleaning, and filing.
Question 5
Which statement best describes the role of the Personal Care Assistant within the healthcare
system?
A) The PCA works independently and makes medical decisions
B) The PCA works as a part of the healthcare team under professional supervision
C) The PCA is responsible for changing the patient's prescriptions
D) The PCA acts as the primary doctor in the home setting
E) The PCA only performs tasks they feel comfortable with regardless of assignments
Correct Answer: B) work as part of the health care team.
Rationale: A PCA is a vital member of the healthcare team but must always work under the
guidance and supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a professional supervisor. They
carry out the specific care plan developed by the clinical team.
Question 6
When working in a patient’s home, who is responsible for assigning tasks to the Personal Care
Assistant?
A) The patient's family members
B) The patient's neighbor
C) The Registered Nurse or therapist
D) The patient themselves
E) The PCA decides their own tasks based on what they see
Correct Answer: C) do only the tasks that the registered nurse or therapist assigns to you
Rationale: To ensure patient safety and legal compliance, a PCA must strictly follow the
written assignment sheet provided by the RN or therapist. Taking on unassigned tasks can
lead to medical errors or legal liability.
Question 7
A PCA is asked to give a tubal feeding to a patient. What is the correct action?
A) Perform the task if you have seen it done before
, 3
B) Refuse the task as it is not within the PCA scope of practice
C) Ask the patient's spouse to show you how to do it
D) Do it only if the patient is very hungry
E) Attempt it but stop if the patient complains
Correct Answer: B) Refuse the task as it is not within the PCA scope of practice
Rationale: Tubal feedings are complex and involve risks such as aspiration or tube
displacement. Only licensed nurses or specifically trained individuals under medical
oversight can perform this; it is never a standard PCA duty.
Question 8
Which of the following is a PCA allowed to do regarding wound care?
A) Debride a wound
B) Change a sterile dressing
C) Clean a deep surgical wound
D) Assist with the change of a colostomy bag
E) Apply antibiotic ointment to a fresh incision
Correct Answer: D) Assist with the change of a colostomy bag
Rationale: PCAs are permitted to assist with colostomy care, which is considered part of
personal hygiene and daily living. However, sterile dressing changes and medication
applications to wounds are strictly nursing tasks.
Question 9
If a patient has diabetes and requires an insulin injection, the PCA should:
A) Give the injection if the patient's hands are shaking
B) Draw up the insulin but let the patient inject it
C) Refuse to give the insulin as it is a medication administration task
D) Teach the patient's child how to give the injection
E) Give half the dose if the patient hasn't eaten
Correct Answer: C) Refuse to give the insulin as it is a medication administration task
Rationale: Insulin is a high-alert medication. Administering injections is a licensed nursing
task. A PCA cannot give insulin under any circumstances within their standard scope of
practice.
Question 10
As a PCA, you are helping a patient with a bed bath. You notice a small red area on the patient’s
sacrum. You should:
A) Apply a hot pack to the area
B) Massage the area vigorously to increase blood flow
C) Report the observation to your supervisor immediately
D) Put a band-aid over the area
E) Wait two days until the nurse visits to show her
