PCT Certification Exam Questions and
Answers
A patient care technician is assisting a nurse to change a dressing on a surgical wound. The wound
should not have contact with air or oxygen. Which of the following types of dressing should the
technician expect the nurse to use?
Occlusive
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has significant hearing loss. Which of the
following actions should the technician take to communicate with the patient?
Use a picture board to provide instructions
A patient care technician is taking a patient's oximetry reading. The technician cannot get the reading
to appear on the monitor. Which of the following could be the cause?
The patient has a blood pressure of 84/62 mm Hg with cold finger and hands
A patient care technician is caring for a patient whose daughter is visiting. The daughter asks about
the health of the patient's roommate. which of the following statements by the technician is an
appropriate response?
"You can ask the patient about his condition"
A patient care technician is providing instructions to a new;y hired technician about transporting and
handling blood specimens. Which of the following instructions should the technician include?
Ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid-tight closure
A patient care technician is monitoring a patient who has severe hypertension. Which of the following
findings related to the patient's condition should the technician report to the nurse immediately?
The patient's lower limbs show pitting edema
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who suddenly becomes unresponsive. Which of the
following actions should the technician take first?
Tap the patient's shoulders and ask "are you ok?"
A patient care technician should identify that which of the following structures of the heart is
immediately affected if a sinoatrial (SA) node fails?
Atrioventricular (AV) node
A PCT is caring for a patient who has a stage II pressure ulcer. Which of the following findings should
the technician expect?
Blister-like appearance
A PCT us assisting with the physical examination of an older adult patient. Which of the following
statements by the patient indicated a risk of elder abuse?
"I live alone and I don't get many visitors"
A PCT is preparing to transport a patient via a stretcher. Which of the following actions should the
technician take when transferring the patient from a bed to the stretcher?
, Raise the patient's bed to the same height as the stretcher
A PCT should identify that which of the following is the most commonly used paper speeds for an EKG
machine?
25 mm/sec
A PCT is caring for a patient who has an ostomy. Which of the following actions should the technician
take when providing ostomy care?
Use toilet paper to wipe around the stoma
A PCT is caring for a patient who requires oral suctioning. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
Limit suctioning to nor more than 15 sec at a time
A PCT enters the room of a patient who is receiving oxygen and finds the nasal cannula on the floor.
Which of the following actions should the technician take?
Obtain a new cannula, connect it, and place it on the patient
A PCT is preparing to determine the pulse rate of a patient who has atrial fibrillation. Which of the
following methods should the technician use?
Manually, using the apical area
Which of the following assistive devices should a patient care technician use to improve vertebral
alignment in a patient who is immobile?
bed board
A PCT is assisting during mealtime with a patient who is at risk of dysphagia. The technician should
identify that which of the following foods should be calculated as intake for the intake and output
record?
chocolate pudding
A PCT is reinforcing teaching about using an incentive spirometer with a patient. Which of the
following instructions should the technician include?
"The goal is to get the ball to rise in the chamber of the incentive spirometer"
A PCT is preparing to assist a patient to ambulate using a gait belt. Which of the following statements
should the technician make?
"You can support yourself by holding onto my arms"
A PCT has conflict with another technician. Which of the following actions should the technician take
first?
Discuss these concerns with the other technician in private
A nurse instructs a PCT to perform a procedure. The technician then considers whether the procedure
is within their scope of practice. Which of the following five rights of delegation is the technician
following?
Answers
A patient care technician is assisting a nurse to change a dressing on a surgical wound. The wound
should not have contact with air or oxygen. Which of the following types of dressing should the
technician expect the nurse to use?
Occlusive
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has significant hearing loss. Which of the
following actions should the technician take to communicate with the patient?
Use a picture board to provide instructions
A patient care technician is taking a patient's oximetry reading. The technician cannot get the reading
to appear on the monitor. Which of the following could be the cause?
The patient has a blood pressure of 84/62 mm Hg with cold finger and hands
A patient care technician is caring for a patient whose daughter is visiting. The daughter asks about
the health of the patient's roommate. which of the following statements by the technician is an
appropriate response?
"You can ask the patient about his condition"
A patient care technician is providing instructions to a new;y hired technician about transporting and
handling blood specimens. Which of the following instructions should the technician include?
Ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid-tight closure
A patient care technician is monitoring a patient who has severe hypertension. Which of the following
findings related to the patient's condition should the technician report to the nurse immediately?
The patient's lower limbs show pitting edema
A patient care technician is caring for a patient who suddenly becomes unresponsive. Which of the
following actions should the technician take first?
Tap the patient's shoulders and ask "are you ok?"
A patient care technician should identify that which of the following structures of the heart is
immediately affected if a sinoatrial (SA) node fails?
Atrioventricular (AV) node
A PCT is caring for a patient who has a stage II pressure ulcer. Which of the following findings should
the technician expect?
Blister-like appearance
A PCT us assisting with the physical examination of an older adult patient. Which of the following
statements by the patient indicated a risk of elder abuse?
"I live alone and I don't get many visitors"
A PCT is preparing to transport a patient via a stretcher. Which of the following actions should the
technician take when transferring the patient from a bed to the stretcher?
, Raise the patient's bed to the same height as the stretcher
A PCT should identify that which of the following is the most commonly used paper speeds for an EKG
machine?
25 mm/sec
A PCT is caring for a patient who has an ostomy. Which of the following actions should the technician
take when providing ostomy care?
Use toilet paper to wipe around the stoma
A PCT is caring for a patient who requires oral suctioning. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
Limit suctioning to nor more than 15 sec at a time
A PCT enters the room of a patient who is receiving oxygen and finds the nasal cannula on the floor.
Which of the following actions should the technician take?
Obtain a new cannula, connect it, and place it on the patient
A PCT is preparing to determine the pulse rate of a patient who has atrial fibrillation. Which of the
following methods should the technician use?
Manually, using the apical area
Which of the following assistive devices should a patient care technician use to improve vertebral
alignment in a patient who is immobile?
bed board
A PCT is assisting during mealtime with a patient who is at risk of dysphagia. The technician should
identify that which of the following foods should be calculated as intake for the intake and output
record?
chocolate pudding
A PCT is reinforcing teaching about using an incentive spirometer with a patient. Which of the
following instructions should the technician include?
"The goal is to get the ball to rise in the chamber of the incentive spirometer"
A PCT is preparing to assist a patient to ambulate using a gait belt. Which of the following statements
should the technician make?
"You can support yourself by holding onto my arms"
A PCT has conflict with another technician. Which of the following actions should the technician take
first?
Discuss these concerns with the other technician in private
A nurse instructs a PCT to perform a procedure. The technician then considers whether the procedure
is within their scope of practice. Which of the following five rights of delegation is the technician
following?
