PCA Competency Exam Prep: 180 Actual
Questions and Verified Answers – Your
Guide to Passing on the First Attempt and
Avoiding Resits
a patient usually indicates the patient is excited and
does not need to be reported to the nurse. -
ANSWER//False The patient tells you he has not
moved his bowels in three days: What should you
do? - ANSWER//Report it to the nursing supervisor.
Which of these actions is the Personal Care
Assistant permitted to take in relation to drug
administration? - ANSWER//Recording and
reporting the patient's reaction to the medication.
When a patient complains of pain, what should the
Personal Care Assistant do first? - ANSWER//Ask
the patient to describe the pain. A patient's
prescription for heart pills has recently been
changed. The home health PCA should notify the
agency supervisor immediately if the patient makes
which of these comments? - ANSWER//"I have a
rash on my stomach since I've been taking these
pills." Mrs. Rand, who has diabetes and takes
insulin regularly, tells the Personal Care Assistant
that she feels very nervous and jittery. What should
the PCA do immediately? - ANSWER//Give her a
glass of orange juice Always report a pulse rate if
the beats per minute are under 60 or over 100 -
ANSWER//True The temperature of an unconscious
patient should be taken orally since they are not
moving about. - ANSWER//False Recording a
patient's "TPR" or vital signs is not important as
long as you remember what they were. -
,ANSWER//False For which, if any, of these body
areas is 99.6 degrees F. a normal temperature? -
ANSWER//Rectum When taking a patient's pulse,
you should take it for: - ANSWER//one full minute.
When a patient's respirations are being counted, it
is best that the patient: - ANSWER//not be aware
that the respirations are being counted Hand
washing is the single best way to decrease the
transfer of pathogens. - ANSWER//True Gloves
should be worn when handling items soiled by body
fluids. - ANSWER//True The catheter drainage bag
must be lower than the bladder, but not on the floor.
- ANSWER//True During a visit, you need to wash
your hands after removing gloves: - ANSWER//All
of the above: before you give physical care to the
patient.,after you pet the dog.,before you leave the
patient's home In what situation should gloves be
used? - ANSWER//All of the above:The patient is
vomiting,The patient has been incontinent of
stool.,The patient has drainage wound Diarrhea can
cause dehydration and other serious complications
and should be reported. - ANSWER//True If a
person complains of pain, it is important to have the
patient describe the pain and then report it to the
nurse and record it in your notes. - ANSWER//True
It's normal for most people to complain of pressure,
swelling, or bloating in their ankles, feet, stomach or
legs. - ANSWER//False Ifyou notice the patient's
catheter is not draining, the first thing you should do
is: - ANSWER//C. Check the tubing to see if it is
kinked . Which of the following is not recommended
for promoting good daily bowel habits: -
ANSWER//B. laxatives Mrs.Morris has not had a
, BM for 3 days.She has always given herself an
enema if she doesn't have a bowel movement for a
long time. Mrs. Morris ask the PCA to give her an
enema. What should the PCA do? - ANSWER//D.
Contact the agency supervisor to discuss the
situation. Bedrails should never be used to secure
vest restraints - ANSWER//True Smoking in bed is
a fine for anyone who is not confused. -
ANSWER//False Part of your duty as a PCA are to
assure a safe home environment. This includes: -
ANSWER//All these above: Proper infection control
with good hand washing, Electrical & fore safety,
moving this which may cause the patient to fall. A
patient is receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula.
What safety precautions should the PCA take? -
ANSWER//Allow NO SMOKING in the room For an
injury with profuse bleeding, apply pressure and call
for assistance. - ANSWER//True If the patient
begins to have a seizure, your first responsibility is
to prevent the patient from injuring himself -
ANSWER//True If the patient falls and complains
ofpain in his hip, you should help him to get up and
walk to the bed. - ANSWER//False A patient is
choking on some object that is caught in his airway.
Before first-aid measures are applied, find out: -
ANSWER//C. If the patient can speak or cough
While giving a bath on a shower chair, the patient
suddenly gasps and becomes unresponsive.
ThePersonalCareAssistantshould: -
ANSWER//lower the patient to the floor, call for the
family call 911,determine if CPR is needed and
initiate it ifindicated. For which ofthese emergencies
is a knowledge ofpressure points essential? -
Questions and Verified Answers – Your
Guide to Passing on the First Attempt and
Avoiding Resits
a patient usually indicates the patient is excited and
does not need to be reported to the nurse. -
ANSWER//False The patient tells you he has not
moved his bowels in three days: What should you
do? - ANSWER//Report it to the nursing supervisor.
Which of these actions is the Personal Care
Assistant permitted to take in relation to drug
administration? - ANSWER//Recording and
reporting the patient's reaction to the medication.
When a patient complains of pain, what should the
Personal Care Assistant do first? - ANSWER//Ask
the patient to describe the pain. A patient's
prescription for heart pills has recently been
changed. The home health PCA should notify the
agency supervisor immediately if the patient makes
which of these comments? - ANSWER//"I have a
rash on my stomach since I've been taking these
pills." Mrs. Rand, who has diabetes and takes
insulin regularly, tells the Personal Care Assistant
that she feels very nervous and jittery. What should
the PCA do immediately? - ANSWER//Give her a
glass of orange juice Always report a pulse rate if
the beats per minute are under 60 or over 100 -
ANSWER//True The temperature of an unconscious
patient should be taken orally since they are not
moving about. - ANSWER//False Recording a
patient's "TPR" or vital signs is not important as
long as you remember what they were. -
,ANSWER//False For which, if any, of these body
areas is 99.6 degrees F. a normal temperature? -
ANSWER//Rectum When taking a patient's pulse,
you should take it for: - ANSWER//one full minute.
When a patient's respirations are being counted, it
is best that the patient: - ANSWER//not be aware
that the respirations are being counted Hand
washing is the single best way to decrease the
transfer of pathogens. - ANSWER//True Gloves
should be worn when handling items soiled by body
fluids. - ANSWER//True The catheter drainage bag
must be lower than the bladder, but not on the floor.
- ANSWER//True During a visit, you need to wash
your hands after removing gloves: - ANSWER//All
of the above: before you give physical care to the
patient.,after you pet the dog.,before you leave the
patient's home In what situation should gloves be
used? - ANSWER//All of the above:The patient is
vomiting,The patient has been incontinent of
stool.,The patient has drainage wound Diarrhea can
cause dehydration and other serious complications
and should be reported. - ANSWER//True If a
person complains of pain, it is important to have the
patient describe the pain and then report it to the
nurse and record it in your notes. - ANSWER//True
It's normal for most people to complain of pressure,
swelling, or bloating in their ankles, feet, stomach or
legs. - ANSWER//False Ifyou notice the patient's
catheter is not draining, the first thing you should do
is: - ANSWER//C. Check the tubing to see if it is
kinked . Which of the following is not recommended
for promoting good daily bowel habits: -
ANSWER//B. laxatives Mrs.Morris has not had a
, BM for 3 days.She has always given herself an
enema if she doesn't have a bowel movement for a
long time. Mrs. Morris ask the PCA to give her an
enema. What should the PCA do? - ANSWER//D.
Contact the agency supervisor to discuss the
situation. Bedrails should never be used to secure
vest restraints - ANSWER//True Smoking in bed is
a fine for anyone who is not confused. -
ANSWER//False Part of your duty as a PCA are to
assure a safe home environment. This includes: -
ANSWER//All these above: Proper infection control
with good hand washing, Electrical & fore safety,
moving this which may cause the patient to fall. A
patient is receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula.
What safety precautions should the PCA take? -
ANSWER//Allow NO SMOKING in the room For an
injury with profuse bleeding, apply pressure and call
for assistance. - ANSWER//True If the patient
begins to have a seizure, your first responsibility is
to prevent the patient from injuring himself -
ANSWER//True If the patient falls and complains
ofpain in his hip, you should help him to get up and
walk to the bed. - ANSWER//False A patient is
choking on some object that is caught in his airway.
Before first-aid measures are applied, find out: -
ANSWER//C. If the patient can speak or cough
While giving a bath on a shower chair, the patient
suddenly gasps and becomes unresponsive.
ThePersonalCareAssistantshould: -
ANSWER//lower the patient to the floor, call for the
family call 911,determine if CPR is needed and
initiate it ifindicated. For which ofthese emergencies
is a knowledge ofpressure points essential? -
