Annual PCT Exam Questions with Answers Correct!!

Poor or incomplete documentation: - ANSWERSwill open an attack on your care in the event of an adverse patient outcome. What is the purpose of professional boundaries? - ANSWERSThey keep the relationship between you and your patient appropriate and safe. Discussing personal problems with your patients: - ANSWERSis considered unprofessional behavior. Attempting to remove a large amount of fluid weight gain from the patient: - ANSWERScan lead to hypovolemia during the treatment which is associated with an increased mortality rate. When sodium loading occurs during the dialysis treatment: - ANSWERSIt leads to an increase in thirst and larger fluid weight gains with hypertension between treatments and can contribute to headaches after the treatment. During data collection, a patient mentions her bowel movements have been looking quite dark the last two days and asks if this could be caused by something she ate. You: - ANSWERSinform the nurse to assess the patient prior to treatment initiation. How long prior to initiating the hemodialysis treatment should the initial loading dose of heparin be administered through the venous fistula needle or venous port of the central venous catheter (CVC) to anticoagulated the patient? - ANSWERSAt least 3 to 5 minutes prior to treatment initiation. Are patients allowed to take over the counter medications? - ANSWERSThey do not require a physician order but should be approved by the nephrologist. Prior to each medication preparation, the medication preparation surface should be disinfected with what? - ANSWERS1:100 Bleach solution or approved disinfectant An opened multidose vial may be kept for how many days? - ANSWERS28 What is NOT an acceptable assignment for a PCT working in a facility that cares for patients with Hepatitis B infection (HBV+)? - ANSWERSCaring for HBV+ and susceptible patients at the same time What is the standard on fingernails? - ANSWERSFingernail length should not exceed more than 1/4 inch and traditional nail polish that is not chipped may be worn. To make a 1:10 bleach solution for cleaning gross blood spills, you would combine: - ANSWERS1 part bleach with 9 parts water Cleaning blood pressure cuffs between patients: - ANSWERSRemoves microorganisms such as MRSA or VRE that may be colonized in a patient's axillary area. Cleaning and disinfecting priming buckets after each treatment is needed for what reason? - ANSWERSIt is required to decrease gram-negative bacterial growth which may occur in solutions such as water. The foot rest of a patient chair is torn and the inner foam is exposed. Can it still be used for patient treatments? - ANSWERSNo, because the surface can no longer allow for effective cleaning and provides a potential for microbial growth. Hand hygiene is required when gloves are removed: - ANSWERSAlways, even gloved hands can become contaminated through microscopic holes in the gloves. Attention to infection control, proper hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection procedures are of the utmost importance in the dialysis setting. Why is this? - ANSWERSMRSA bacteria can survive on surfaces especially plastic or vinyl for days. What is the most common infectious complication in hemodialysis patients? - ANSWERSVascular access infections What is the single most important intervention in preventing healthcare associated infections (HAIs)? - ANSWERSHand hygiene A patient's heart rate is irregular. Which method of taking her blood pressure will provide the most accurate reading? - ANSWERSTaking manual blood pressure is more accurate. During initial data collection, the PCT notices a patient has an irregular pulse. What action should she take? - ANSWERSReport the irregular pulse to the nurse prior to initiating the treatment. How does One determine if a blood pressure cuff is the right size for a patient? - ANSWERSWhen wrapping the cuff around the patient's arm, verify the index mark is within the "OK range" markings. A patient complains of shortness of breath. Her pre-dialysis weight is 4.7kg over the last post-treatment weight. What action should the PCT take first? - ANSWERSInform the nurse to assess the patient prior to treatment initiation. A patient comes for treatment after the long weekend and complains of having trouble moving, his legs "feel paralyzed", and his heart rate is 37. These symptoms should be related to: - ANSWERSElevated Serum Potassium A patient tells you she is drinking low-fat milk to "kill two birds with one stone": she gets the needed protein and controls phosphorous at the same time. What would you tell her? - ANSWERSYou tell her that the phosphorous content is the same in regular and low-fat milk and refer her to the dietician to discuss better food choices. A patient is eating a piece of pizza during the last half-hour of his treatment. When you ask him if he remembered to bring his phosphate binder, he tells you he'll be home soon enough to take the binder then. What should you tell him? - ANSWERSYou should explain the binders should be taken with a meal to be effective. A patient is eating a 2 cup size container of strawberries during dialysis. As she eats her strawberries, she smiles and tells you she can eat a lot more potassium during dialysis because it won't harm her. What is your appropriate response? - ANSWERSYou explain to her that the potassium in the food eaten during dialysis is not dialyzed off. To verify no anticoagulant or saline remains in the catheter limb prior to drawing a lab specimen from a CVC, you should: - ANSWERSRemove the anticoagulant, then attach a 10ml syringe to the arterial limb and gently flush blood back and forth a minimum of 5 times. What is the correct procedure for drawing a post BUN lab specimen at the completion of the dialysis treatment? - ANSWERSTurn off or decrease the UFR to 50ml/hr, decrease the DFR to 300ml/min or place in bypass, reduce BFR to 100ml/min, wait 15 seconds, and draw the sample from the arterial line. What must be done to lavender tubes after drawing them? - ANSWERSMust be inverted a minimum of 8 to 10 times to properly mix and avoid clotting. When the lab receives a laboratory test tube with double labeling: - ANSWERSRegulations prohibit the lab from processing such a tube.