PCT Practice Questions and answers
A PCT is measuring an adult's vital signs, which of the following findings should be reported to the
nurse immediately?
Oral temperature 37.4(99.3)
Heart rate 124/minute
Respiratory rate 18/minute
Blood pressure 118/78 mm Hg
Heart rate 124/minute
A PCT is caring for a patient who requires supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula. Which of he
following steps should the technician take?
Fill the humidifier with 0.9% sodium chloride
Place cotton between the cannula's tubing and the patient's ears
Remove the nasal cannula when the patient is eating a meal
Report any bubbling in the humidifier container to the nurse
Fill the humidifier with 0.9% sodium chloride
Placing the cotton breakdown between the tubing and the skin helps prevent skin irritation and skin
breakdown
After wrapping a sequential cpmpression devicesleeve around the post-operaitve patient's leg, how
many fingers should fit between the sleeve and the patient's skin?
One
Two
Three
Four
Two
A PCT is preparing a patient to receive an enteral feeding through a NG tube. The patient is positioned
in their side. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
Ask the patient to turn from their side to a supine position
Raise the head of the bed to a semi-upright position
Assist the patient to an orthopneic position
Place an emesis basin under the patient's chin
Raise the head of the bed to a semi-upright position
A PCT is performing hourly checks on several patients. To help anticipate and prevent patient falls,
which of the following questions should the PCT routinely ask?
Do you need pain medication?
Do you need to use the restroom?
Can I assist you to a more comfortable position?
Are you feeling any better since the last time I checked on you?
Do you need to use the restroom?
A patient care technician is removing a bedpan after a patient has defecated. Which of the following
characteristics of the stool should the technician observe for and report to the nurse?
,Dark brown stool
Stool with a mild odor
Soft, moist stool
Liquid stool
Liquid stool
A PCT is assisting a postoperative patient to ambulate. Which of the following actions should the PCT
take before assisting the patient?
Measure the patient's vital signs
OptDisconnect the patient's IV fluidsion 2
Apply a gait belt decurely around the patient's waist
Have the patient sit on the side of the bed
Have the patient sit on the side of the bed
The PCT enters a patient's room and finds the patient motionless on the floor. Which of the following
findings indicates the patient requires CPR?
The patient begins coughing intermittently
The patient's heart monitor shows a rate of 58/minute
The patient's respiratory monitor shows a rate of 9/minute
The patient does not respond when shaken and asked " Are you all right?"
The patient does not respond when shaken and asked " Are you all right?"
The PCT is collecting specimens for a patient. Which of the following findings should the technician
report to the nurse?
Sputum that is grayish-white
Urine that is pale amber color
Urine that measures 30ml
Blood in the stool
Sputum that is grayish-white
A PCT is caring for a patient who has a lower denture and requires assistance with oral hygiene. Which
of the following actions should the technician take?
Slightly tug downward to remove the patient's denture.Option 1
Remove the denture by turning it sideways and lifting up
Clean the denture between the thumb and index finger when cleaning it
Clean the denture by soaking it in hydrogen peroxide
Remove the denture by turning it sideways and lifting up
PCT is calculating a patient's fluid intake for the previous hour. The patient received 50 ml of IV fluids,
6 oz of tea, 6oz of chicken broth and 8 oz of water. Which of the following amounts should the
technician record?
410 ml
470 ml
600 ml
650 ml
650 ml
, A PCT is caring for a patient who has a terminal illness. The patient tells the technician "I've had a
difficult life, so it's OK that I'm going to die. The technician should identify that the patient is
demonstrating which of the following coping mechanisms?
Displacement
Projection
Rationalization
Conversion
Rationalization
A PCT is weighing a patient using an upright mechanical scale. Which of the following actions should
the technician take?
Ensure the balance bar's pointer is at the lowest point when the weights are at zero.
Move the small and the large weights all the way to the right of the balance bar befire weighing the
patient
Move the large weight to the point where it is closest, but still below the patient's estimated weight
Move the smaller weight to the point that is the closest to the patient's last recorded weight
Move the large weight to the point where it is closest, but still below the patient's estimated weight
A PCT is caring for a patient who is 1 day post-operative after abdominal surgery. When assisting the
patient to perform coughing and deep breathing exercises, which of the following actions should the
PCT take?
Instruct the patient to lie in a supine position
Place a pillow over the incision site
Ask the patient to inhale through their mouth and exhale through their nose
Explain to the patient that the diaphragm will move upward during inhalation
Place a pillow over the incision site
The pillow should be placed over the incision site. The patient should be placed in a sitting position,
the patient should inhale through their nose, and the diaphragm moves downward during inhalation
A PCT is preparing to serve a meal tray to a patient who has vision loss. Which of the following actions
should the technician take?
Feed the patient
Avoid having a conversation with the patient while they are eating
Assist the patient holding the fork
Use the numbers of a clock to describe the food on the plate
Use the numbers of a clock to describe the food on the plate
A PCT is caring for a patient who has newly been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. The patient
states "I know I will be fine because I have never smoked". The technician should recognize that the
patient is in which stage of grief?
Denial
Bargaining
Anger
Depression
Denial
A PCT is measuring an adult's vital signs, which of the following findings should be reported to the
nurse immediately?
Oral temperature 37.4(99.3)
Heart rate 124/minute
Respiratory rate 18/minute
Blood pressure 118/78 mm Hg
Heart rate 124/minute
A PCT is caring for a patient who requires supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula. Which of he
following steps should the technician take?
Fill the humidifier with 0.9% sodium chloride
Place cotton between the cannula's tubing and the patient's ears
Remove the nasal cannula when the patient is eating a meal
Report any bubbling in the humidifier container to the nurse
Fill the humidifier with 0.9% sodium chloride
Placing the cotton breakdown between the tubing and the skin helps prevent skin irritation and skin
breakdown
After wrapping a sequential cpmpression devicesleeve around the post-operaitve patient's leg, how
many fingers should fit between the sleeve and the patient's skin?
One
Two
Three
Four
Two
A PCT is preparing a patient to receive an enteral feeding through a NG tube. The patient is positioned
in their side. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
Ask the patient to turn from their side to a supine position
Raise the head of the bed to a semi-upright position
Assist the patient to an orthopneic position
Place an emesis basin under the patient's chin
Raise the head of the bed to a semi-upright position
A PCT is performing hourly checks on several patients. To help anticipate and prevent patient falls,
which of the following questions should the PCT routinely ask?
Do you need pain medication?
Do you need to use the restroom?
Can I assist you to a more comfortable position?
Are you feeling any better since the last time I checked on you?
Do you need to use the restroom?
A patient care technician is removing a bedpan after a patient has defecated. Which of the following
characteristics of the stool should the technician observe for and report to the nurse?
,Dark brown stool
Stool with a mild odor
Soft, moist stool
Liquid stool
Liquid stool
A PCT is assisting a postoperative patient to ambulate. Which of the following actions should the PCT
take before assisting the patient?
Measure the patient's vital signs
OptDisconnect the patient's IV fluidsion 2
Apply a gait belt decurely around the patient's waist
Have the patient sit on the side of the bed
Have the patient sit on the side of the bed
The PCT enters a patient's room and finds the patient motionless on the floor. Which of the following
findings indicates the patient requires CPR?
The patient begins coughing intermittently
The patient's heart monitor shows a rate of 58/minute
The patient's respiratory monitor shows a rate of 9/minute
The patient does not respond when shaken and asked " Are you all right?"
The patient does not respond when shaken and asked " Are you all right?"
The PCT is collecting specimens for a patient. Which of the following findings should the technician
report to the nurse?
Sputum that is grayish-white
Urine that is pale amber color
Urine that measures 30ml
Blood in the stool
Sputum that is grayish-white
A PCT is caring for a patient who has a lower denture and requires assistance with oral hygiene. Which
of the following actions should the technician take?
Slightly tug downward to remove the patient's denture.Option 1
Remove the denture by turning it sideways and lifting up
Clean the denture between the thumb and index finger when cleaning it
Clean the denture by soaking it in hydrogen peroxide
Remove the denture by turning it sideways and lifting up
PCT is calculating a patient's fluid intake for the previous hour. The patient received 50 ml of IV fluids,
6 oz of tea, 6oz of chicken broth and 8 oz of water. Which of the following amounts should the
technician record?
410 ml
470 ml
600 ml
650 ml
650 ml
, A PCT is caring for a patient who has a terminal illness. The patient tells the technician "I've had a
difficult life, so it's OK that I'm going to die. The technician should identify that the patient is
demonstrating which of the following coping mechanisms?
Displacement
Projection
Rationalization
Conversion
Rationalization
A PCT is weighing a patient using an upright mechanical scale. Which of the following actions should
the technician take?
Ensure the balance bar's pointer is at the lowest point when the weights are at zero.
Move the small and the large weights all the way to the right of the balance bar befire weighing the
patient
Move the large weight to the point where it is closest, but still below the patient's estimated weight
Move the smaller weight to the point that is the closest to the patient's last recorded weight
Move the large weight to the point where it is closest, but still below the patient's estimated weight
A PCT is caring for a patient who is 1 day post-operative after abdominal surgery. When assisting the
patient to perform coughing and deep breathing exercises, which of the following actions should the
PCT take?
Instruct the patient to lie in a supine position
Place a pillow over the incision site
Ask the patient to inhale through their mouth and exhale through their nose
Explain to the patient that the diaphragm will move upward during inhalation
Place a pillow over the incision site
The pillow should be placed over the incision site. The patient should be placed in a sitting position,
the patient should inhale through their nose, and the diaphragm moves downward during inhalation
A PCT is preparing to serve a meal tray to a patient who has vision loss. Which of the following actions
should the technician take?
Feed the patient
Avoid having a conversation with the patient while they are eating
Assist the patient holding the fork
Use the numbers of a clock to describe the food on the plate
Use the numbers of a clock to describe the food on the plate
A PCT is caring for a patient who has newly been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. The patient
states "I know I will be fine because I have never smoked". The technician should recognize that the
patient is in which stage of grief?
Denial
Bargaining
Anger
Depression
Denial
