NCCT PCT Exam
Question and Answers.
Which of the following should the patient care technician do when initiating first aid for a patient with a
second-degree burn? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
Apply moisturizing cream to the affected area.
Soak the affected area in Epsom salt.
Run cool water over affected area of intact skin.
Protect the burn from pressure or injury.
Drain large, intact blisters. Answer- Run cool water over affected area of intact skin., Protect the burn from
pressure or injury.
Rationale: Cool water should be ran over the affected area of intact skin, and the burn should be protected
from pressure injury. Oil or ointment application increases the risk of breaking blisters and increases the
potential for infection. Intact skin is a first line of defense in preventing infection, therefore the blisters should
not be broken or drained, and Epsom salt would not be used.
During a routine visit, a patient becomes very upset while discussing the recent death of a spouse and suddenly
faints. Which of the following actions should the patient care technician take NEXT?
Protect the patient from injury.
Activate EMS.
Notify the physician.
Draw blood for laboratory tests. Answer- Protect the patient from injury.
Rationale: Protecting the patient is the ultimate priority here. Quickly and carefully lay the patient flat (in the
supine position) with her head lower than her feet. Once you have tended to the patient, stay with her to
eliminate the potential for any injuries. Then call the physician or other medical personnel to alert them to your
,situation. Fainting itself does not constitute a reason for activating EMS (that would be necessary if the
patient's heart and/or breathing stopped). Phlebotomy is the last consideration; blood work is not the main
concern at this time.
Which of the following actions by the patient care technician is correct when administering medication to a
patient sublingually?
Placing the medication between the gum and cheek
Asking the patient to swallow the medication
Applying the medication directly to the skin
Placing the medication under the tongue Answer- Placing the medication under the tongue
Rationale: Sublingual medication is absorbed systemically through intact mucous membranes. Instruct the
patient to place the medication under the tongue, sit upright and swallow frequently until the medication
dissolves. Ex. Nitroglycerin tablets.
The medical abbreviation meaning both ears is
AU.
Bilat.
AD.
AS. Answer- AU.
Rationale: AU=both ears, AD=right ear, AS=left ear, Bilat=bilateral
The term oliguria is used to describe which of the following conditions?
Cystitis
Frequent urination
Low urine output
Renal calculi Answer- Low urine output
Rationale: The kidneys make more or less urine, depending on what the body needs to keep things in balance.
If a patient urinates too much or not enough, it can sometimes be a sign that something is wrong. Oliguria is
when someone urinates less than usual. For adults, that means less than 400 milliliters of urine a day.
,An adult patient presents with fever, muscular pain, and congestion. Which of the following is the appropriate
response for the patient care technician following the physician's orders?
Perform a rapid flu test
Place the patient in an exam room and provide a mask
Apply 10 liters of oxygen via non-rebreather
Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg po Answer- Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg po
Rationale: Acetaminophen is known to relieve pain (an analgesic), reduce fever, and aid in relieving nasal
congestion. The patient care technician should administer 650 mg orally of acetaminophen (Tylenol) since the
patient is presenting with those three symptoms. A rapid flu test would not be the appropriate action to take at
this time because the patient needs relief of the current symptoms before they worsen. The patient does not
need to be placed in an exam room with a mask, nor does he/she need a non-rebreather mask. He/she is not
showing any signs of hypoxia or respiratory distress.
The patient care technician is obtaining a blood pressure measurement on a patient with a right-sided
mastectomy. At which of the following sites should the technician take the blood pressure?
Right lower leg
Left lower leg
Right upper arm
Left upper arm Answer- Left upper arm
Rationale: After axillary lymph node clearance in patients with breast cancer, some women experience
lymphoedema and recurrent infections. To obtain accuracy of blood pressure, it is recommended to use the
opposite arm of surgery site.
Which of the following terms describes a wound that is pus-producing?
Parietal
Percutaneous
Pyogenic
Parenteral Answer- Pyogenic
Rationale: The prefix pyo refers to pus, and the suffix -genic refers to the formation of, therefore pyogenic
means pus-producing. The term parietal refers to something that is attached to or is touching a wall or cavity,
, and percutaneous means the skin was punctured. When something is delivered through the parenteral route,
it means it is not given through the intestinal tract, and is delivered somewhere else in the body, like through a
feeding tube.
A pulse oximetry monitor measures which of the following?
Pulse pressure
Respiratory rate
Oxygen saturation
Oxygen flow rate Answer- Oxygen saturation
Rationale: A pulse oximetry monitor is a noninvasive measurement of the oxygen saturation of a patient's
arterial blood. Pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory
rate is measured by counting the patient's breaths, and oxygen flow rate is the set amount of oxygen that a
patient is receiving while wearing a nasal cannula or oxygen mask.
An adult patient with vital signs of T 37.0 C, P 72, R 18, B/P 192/102 mm Hg indicates which of the following
conditions?
Orthostatic hypotension
Hypoxia
Tachycardia
Hypertension Answer- Hypertension
Rationale: These vital signs align with a patient experiencing hypertension (a.k.a. high blood pressure). Both the
systolic an asystolic readings are high. Postural hypotension (orthostatic hypotension) is low blood pressure
resulting when a patient stands after sitting or lying down. Tachycardia refers to a high heart rate. A normal
adult resting pulse rate is 60-100 beats per minute, so this patient is within normal limits at 72. Hypoxia
translates to low oxygen levels and that was not indicated in these vitals.
Metoprolol (Lopressor) 40mg tab po bid is prescribed for a patient with hypertension. The patient care
technician should help the patient take the medication
twice per day.
daily.
every other day.
Question and Answers.
Which of the following should the patient care technician do when initiating first aid for a patient with a
second-degree burn? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
Apply moisturizing cream to the affected area.
Soak the affected area in Epsom salt.
Run cool water over affected area of intact skin.
Protect the burn from pressure or injury.
Drain large, intact blisters. Answer- Run cool water over affected area of intact skin., Protect the burn from
pressure or injury.
Rationale: Cool water should be ran over the affected area of intact skin, and the burn should be protected
from pressure injury. Oil or ointment application increases the risk of breaking blisters and increases the
potential for infection. Intact skin is a first line of defense in preventing infection, therefore the blisters should
not be broken or drained, and Epsom salt would not be used.
During a routine visit, a patient becomes very upset while discussing the recent death of a spouse and suddenly
faints. Which of the following actions should the patient care technician take NEXT?
Protect the patient from injury.
Activate EMS.
Notify the physician.
Draw blood for laboratory tests. Answer- Protect the patient from injury.
Rationale: Protecting the patient is the ultimate priority here. Quickly and carefully lay the patient flat (in the
supine position) with her head lower than her feet. Once you have tended to the patient, stay with her to
eliminate the potential for any injuries. Then call the physician or other medical personnel to alert them to your
,situation. Fainting itself does not constitute a reason for activating EMS (that would be necessary if the
patient's heart and/or breathing stopped). Phlebotomy is the last consideration; blood work is not the main
concern at this time.
Which of the following actions by the patient care technician is correct when administering medication to a
patient sublingually?
Placing the medication between the gum and cheek
Asking the patient to swallow the medication
Applying the medication directly to the skin
Placing the medication under the tongue Answer- Placing the medication under the tongue
Rationale: Sublingual medication is absorbed systemically through intact mucous membranes. Instruct the
patient to place the medication under the tongue, sit upright and swallow frequently until the medication
dissolves. Ex. Nitroglycerin tablets.
The medical abbreviation meaning both ears is
AU.
Bilat.
AD.
AS. Answer- AU.
Rationale: AU=both ears, AD=right ear, AS=left ear, Bilat=bilateral
The term oliguria is used to describe which of the following conditions?
Cystitis
Frequent urination
Low urine output
Renal calculi Answer- Low urine output
Rationale: The kidneys make more or less urine, depending on what the body needs to keep things in balance.
If a patient urinates too much or not enough, it can sometimes be a sign that something is wrong. Oliguria is
when someone urinates less than usual. For adults, that means less than 400 milliliters of urine a day.
,An adult patient presents with fever, muscular pain, and congestion. Which of the following is the appropriate
response for the patient care technician following the physician's orders?
Perform a rapid flu test
Place the patient in an exam room and provide a mask
Apply 10 liters of oxygen via non-rebreather
Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg po Answer- Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg po
Rationale: Acetaminophen is known to relieve pain (an analgesic), reduce fever, and aid in relieving nasal
congestion. The patient care technician should administer 650 mg orally of acetaminophen (Tylenol) since the
patient is presenting with those three symptoms. A rapid flu test would not be the appropriate action to take at
this time because the patient needs relief of the current symptoms before they worsen. The patient does not
need to be placed in an exam room with a mask, nor does he/she need a non-rebreather mask. He/she is not
showing any signs of hypoxia or respiratory distress.
The patient care technician is obtaining a blood pressure measurement on a patient with a right-sided
mastectomy. At which of the following sites should the technician take the blood pressure?
Right lower leg
Left lower leg
Right upper arm
Left upper arm Answer- Left upper arm
Rationale: After axillary lymph node clearance in patients with breast cancer, some women experience
lymphoedema and recurrent infections. To obtain accuracy of blood pressure, it is recommended to use the
opposite arm of surgery site.
Which of the following terms describes a wound that is pus-producing?
Parietal
Percutaneous
Pyogenic
Parenteral Answer- Pyogenic
Rationale: The prefix pyo refers to pus, and the suffix -genic refers to the formation of, therefore pyogenic
means pus-producing. The term parietal refers to something that is attached to or is touching a wall or cavity,
, and percutaneous means the skin was punctured. When something is delivered through the parenteral route,
it means it is not given through the intestinal tract, and is delivered somewhere else in the body, like through a
feeding tube.
A pulse oximetry monitor measures which of the following?
Pulse pressure
Respiratory rate
Oxygen saturation
Oxygen flow rate Answer- Oxygen saturation
Rationale: A pulse oximetry monitor is a noninvasive measurement of the oxygen saturation of a patient's
arterial blood. Pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory
rate is measured by counting the patient's breaths, and oxygen flow rate is the set amount of oxygen that a
patient is receiving while wearing a nasal cannula or oxygen mask.
An adult patient with vital signs of T 37.0 C, P 72, R 18, B/P 192/102 mm Hg indicates which of the following
conditions?
Orthostatic hypotension
Hypoxia
Tachycardia
Hypertension Answer- Hypertension
Rationale: These vital signs align with a patient experiencing hypertension (a.k.a. high blood pressure). Both the
systolic an asystolic readings are high. Postural hypotension (orthostatic hypotension) is low blood pressure
resulting when a patient stands after sitting or lying down. Tachycardia refers to a high heart rate. A normal
adult resting pulse rate is 60-100 beats per minute, so this patient is within normal limits at 72. Hypoxia
translates to low oxygen levels and that was not indicated in these vitals.
Metoprolol (Lopressor) 40mg tab po bid is prescribed for a patient with hypertension. The patient care
technician should help the patient take the medication
twice per day.
daily.
every other day.
