PCT Practice TEST #1 Questions with 100%
Correct Answers | Updated to score A+
The patient care technician attended an in-service about performing CPR on a patient. When
performing CPR, which of the following actions should the technician take?
A: Apply 60-80 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
B: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths
***C: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
D: Apply 60 to 80 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths
A PCT is caring for a patient w COPD and is receiving oxygen therapy. The technician notes that the
patient appears restless and is short of breath. Which of the following actions should the technician
take?
A: increase flow of oxygen to patient
***B: notify nurse immediately
C: Assist patient to ambulate
D: Lower head of bed
When collecting a venous sample, which of the following sites should the PCT attempt to draw from
first?
***A: Median cubital
B: Basilic
C: Cephalic
D: Radial
A PCT is caring for a patient who has end-stage pancreatic cancer. The patient's family expresses
concern because the patient has refused admission to the hospice program and is seeking additional
medical treatment. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A: encourage the patient to enter the hospice program
B: tell the patient that further treatment is not an option
***C: acknowledge the family's concern and notify the nurse
D: recommend alternative treatment options for the patient
A PCT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG for a patient who had a left arm amputation. In which of
the following locations should the technician attach the left arm lead?
A: right sternal border
B: on the amputation site
C: anterior axillary line
***D: left deltoid
A PCT obtains a sputum specimen from a patient. The technician should expect the specimen to have
which of the following characteristics?
A: pink-tinged color
B: yellow color
***C: watery consistency
D: thick consistency
A PCT should recognize that which of the following statements regarding preparation for blood
cultures is correct?
A: I will cleanse the area w/ 70% ethyl alcohol
B: I will cleanse the area w/ sodium hypochlorite
,***C: I will cleanse the area w/ chlorhexidine gluconate
D: I will cleanse the area w/ sterile saline
A PCT is performing an EKG for a patient who has a pacemaker. Which of the following controls
should be adjusted to ensure an accurate EKG tracing?
A: lead selector
****B: artifact filter
C: heart rate limits
D: speed
A PCT is performing ostomy care for a patient. Which of the following findings should the technician
report to the nurse?
A: the stoma has a small amount of bloody drainage
B: the stoma is red in color
***C: the stoma is leaking around the wafer
D: The stoma remains the same size
A CPT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG for a patient who is being evaluated for chest pain in the
emergency department. Which of the following action should the technician take if the patient
expresses fear of the procedure?
***A: advise the patient that the test is painless
B: require the patient to remove all clothing
C: inform the patient refusal is not an option due to the presenting symptom
D: caution the patient that jewelry near wires and electrodes might cause sparks
A PCT is reinforcing teaching w/ a patient who has a holter monitor. Which of the following
statements should the technician make?
A: remove the wires @ bedtime
B: take tub baths instead of showers
***C: avoid adjusting the electrodes during monitoring period
D: set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitor period
A PCT is transporting a patient using a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
***A: ensure the patients feet are placed on the footrests
B: place a loose blanket over the patient's legs
C: fasten the seatbelt loosely around the patient's waist
D: pull the back wheels onto the curb first when going up a curb
A PCT is caring for a patient who is 24-hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty and has a
surgical wound. Which of the following should the technician identify as an indication of potential
wound infection?
A: serosanguineous drainage
B: general discomfort at the incision site
C: oral temp of 98.2 F
***D: increased warmth around incision site
A PCt is preparing a patient for hospital discharge. The patient states "I am afraid to go back home to
my partner". Which of the following responses by the technician is appropriate?
A: would you like me to speak w/ a police officer
, B: if your partner is abusing you at home, would you tell me immediately
C: your partner loves you , and you have no reason to be afraid
***D: can you tell me if something happened that made you feel unsafe?
A PCT is preparing to ambulate a patient who requires the use of a gait belt. Which of the following
actions should the technician take?
A: walk on the patient's stronger side while ambulating
B: walk slightly in front of the patient while ambulating
***C: apply the gait belt over the patient's clothing at the waist
D: grasp the gait belt on each side w/ palms facing downward
A PCT should identify that adjusting a patient's bed to be between 60 and 90 degrees will place the
patient in which of the following positions?
A: Fowler's
B: Orthopneic
C: Semi-Fowler's
***D: High Fowler's
Which of the following provides specific definitions about the scope of practice for PCTs?
A: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
B: The doctrine of informed consent
C: The PAtient Self-Determination Act (PDSA)
***D: The state nurse practice acts
A PCT is caring for a patient who has prescription for anti embolism stockings. Which of the following
actions should the technician take?
***A: avoid rolling the stockings partially down the patient's legs
B: remove the stocking once every 24 hrs
C: inform the patient the sticking help to prevent falls
D: instruct the patient to cross their legs for 10 min every hour
Which of the following blood specimens should a PCT keep chilled during transfer to the lab?
***A: ammonia
B: bilirubin
C: glucose
D: potassium
A PCT is to perform a venous blood draw for a 91 year old patient. The technician should use which of
the following methods?
***A: butterfly needle and syringe
B: hand draw
C: capillary collection
D: vacutainer collection
A PCT has assisted a patient into bed. In which of the following locations should the the technician
place the drainage bag for the patient's indwelling urinary catheter?
A: resting on the floor
B: secured to a side rail
C: hanging from the IV pole
***D: secured to the frame of the bed
Correct Answers | Updated to score A+
The patient care technician attended an in-service about performing CPR on a patient. When
performing CPR, which of the following actions should the technician take?
A: Apply 60-80 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
B: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths
***C: Apply 100 to 120 compressions per minute, followed by two slow breaths
D: Apply 60 to 80 compressions per minute, followed by four short breaths
A PCT is caring for a patient w COPD and is receiving oxygen therapy. The technician notes that the
patient appears restless and is short of breath. Which of the following actions should the technician
take?
A: increase flow of oxygen to patient
***B: notify nurse immediately
C: Assist patient to ambulate
D: Lower head of bed
When collecting a venous sample, which of the following sites should the PCT attempt to draw from
first?
***A: Median cubital
B: Basilic
C: Cephalic
D: Radial
A PCT is caring for a patient who has end-stage pancreatic cancer. The patient's family expresses
concern because the patient has refused admission to the hospice program and is seeking additional
medical treatment. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A: encourage the patient to enter the hospice program
B: tell the patient that further treatment is not an option
***C: acknowledge the family's concern and notify the nurse
D: recommend alternative treatment options for the patient
A PCT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG for a patient who had a left arm amputation. In which of
the following locations should the technician attach the left arm lead?
A: right sternal border
B: on the amputation site
C: anterior axillary line
***D: left deltoid
A PCT obtains a sputum specimen from a patient. The technician should expect the specimen to have
which of the following characteristics?
A: pink-tinged color
B: yellow color
***C: watery consistency
D: thick consistency
A PCT should recognize that which of the following statements regarding preparation for blood
cultures is correct?
A: I will cleanse the area w/ 70% ethyl alcohol
B: I will cleanse the area w/ sodium hypochlorite
,***C: I will cleanse the area w/ chlorhexidine gluconate
D: I will cleanse the area w/ sterile saline
A PCT is performing an EKG for a patient who has a pacemaker. Which of the following controls
should be adjusted to ensure an accurate EKG tracing?
A: lead selector
****B: artifact filter
C: heart rate limits
D: speed
A PCT is performing ostomy care for a patient. Which of the following findings should the technician
report to the nurse?
A: the stoma has a small amount of bloody drainage
B: the stoma is red in color
***C: the stoma is leaking around the wafer
D: The stoma remains the same size
A CPT is preparing to obtain a 12-lead EKG for a patient who is being evaluated for chest pain in the
emergency department. Which of the following action should the technician take if the patient
expresses fear of the procedure?
***A: advise the patient that the test is painless
B: require the patient to remove all clothing
C: inform the patient refusal is not an option due to the presenting symptom
D: caution the patient that jewelry near wires and electrodes might cause sparks
A PCT is reinforcing teaching w/ a patient who has a holter monitor. Which of the following
statements should the technician make?
A: remove the wires @ bedtime
B: take tub baths instead of showers
***C: avoid adjusting the electrodes during monitoring period
D: set the time on the digital clock at the beginning of the monitor period
A PCT is transporting a patient using a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the
technician take?
***A: ensure the patients feet are placed on the footrests
B: place a loose blanket over the patient's legs
C: fasten the seatbelt loosely around the patient's waist
D: pull the back wheels onto the curb first when going up a curb
A PCT is caring for a patient who is 24-hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty and has a
surgical wound. Which of the following should the technician identify as an indication of potential
wound infection?
A: serosanguineous drainage
B: general discomfort at the incision site
C: oral temp of 98.2 F
***D: increased warmth around incision site
A PCt is preparing a patient for hospital discharge. The patient states "I am afraid to go back home to
my partner". Which of the following responses by the technician is appropriate?
A: would you like me to speak w/ a police officer
, B: if your partner is abusing you at home, would you tell me immediately
C: your partner loves you , and you have no reason to be afraid
***D: can you tell me if something happened that made you feel unsafe?
A PCT is preparing to ambulate a patient who requires the use of a gait belt. Which of the following
actions should the technician take?
A: walk on the patient's stronger side while ambulating
B: walk slightly in front of the patient while ambulating
***C: apply the gait belt over the patient's clothing at the waist
D: grasp the gait belt on each side w/ palms facing downward
A PCT should identify that adjusting a patient's bed to be between 60 and 90 degrees will place the
patient in which of the following positions?
A: Fowler's
B: Orthopneic
C: Semi-Fowler's
***D: High Fowler's
Which of the following provides specific definitions about the scope of practice for PCTs?
A: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
B: The doctrine of informed consent
C: The PAtient Self-Determination Act (PDSA)
***D: The state nurse practice acts
A PCT is caring for a patient who has prescription for anti embolism stockings. Which of the following
actions should the technician take?
***A: avoid rolling the stockings partially down the patient's legs
B: remove the stocking once every 24 hrs
C: inform the patient the sticking help to prevent falls
D: instruct the patient to cross their legs for 10 min every hour
Which of the following blood specimens should a PCT keep chilled during transfer to the lab?
***A: ammonia
B: bilirubin
C: glucose
D: potassium
A PCT is to perform a venous blood draw for a 91 year old patient. The technician should use which of
the following methods?
***A: butterfly needle and syringe
B: hand draw
C: capillary collection
D: vacutainer collection
A PCT has assisted a patient into bed. In which of the following locations should the the technician
place the drainage bag for the patient's indwelling urinary catheter?
A: resting on the floor
B: secured to a side rail
C: hanging from the IV pole
***D: secured to the frame of the bed
