CPCT/A practice questions
NHA · CPCT/A · 300 questions
Original practice questions for the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A), 2027 test plan exam, covering every domain of the official exam outline.
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About the CPCT/A exam
- Questions
- 100 scored + 20 pretest items
- Passing score
- Not published on the test plan (NHA uses scaled scoring)
- Format
- Computer-based, 2 hours
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Test your knowledge with standard 20-question practice sets.
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Patient Care (43%) · 129 questions
- An older adult recovering from a right hip repair is cleared for weight-bearing as tolerated, uses a standard walker, and needs to walk 20 feet to the bathroom with the PCT guarding closely and the hallway clear of clutter. The patient can grip well but fatigues quickly and tends to step ahead of the device. Which ambulation cue should the PCT reinforce to keep walker use safe and stable?
- In a long-term care unit, an 82-year-old resident with dementia is incontinent overnight, has damp gown and sheets, has intact but moisture-prone skin, and can turn side to side with assist but cannot leave bed. The nurse delegates a morning bed bath with an occupied-bed linen change. Which bathing and occupied-bed technique best meets hygiene and safety for this linen change?
- A post-surgical adult with a swollen ankle is prescribed a reusable cold pack, has reduced sensation in the foot, and can call for help. The pack was in the freezer, the skin is intact but pale, and the nurse approved a 20-minute application. Which cold-therapy safety measure should the PCT apply to prevent tissue injury?
- In long-term care, an 82-year-old resident is on bed rest after a hip fracture, incontinent of urine, and rarely repositions without help. During bathing you see intact buttock skin that is reddened, warm, does not blanch with pressure, and is painful to touch without open areas. Which pressure injury stage should the technician report and document for this skin breakdown?
- A PCT prepares a middle-aged adult for morning gallbladder surgery in a same-day unit, with orders for NPO after midnight, removal of jewelry and dentures, voiding, and a signed consent on the chart. The patient sipped coffee at 6 a.m. and asks to keep a wedding band on. Which pre-operative preparation action best meets PCT scope and safety priorities?
- On a busy morning surgery unit, a technician is preparing an adult scheduled for abdominal surgery in two hours who is anxious, wearing jewelry and nail polish, and has not voided. The consent is signed and NPO status is confirmed since midnight. Which pre-operative preparation checklist should the technician complete next for this surgical patient?
- A long-term care resident with a PEG tube receives continuous pump feeding, is slightly reclined flat for a linen change, and coughs when lying flat. The nurse asks the PCT/A to help maintain feeding safety and aspiration precautions during routine care. Which aspiration precaution should the PCT/A prioritize while assisting this resident receiving PEG feeding?
- In an outpatient clinic, a technician must obtain vital signs on a frightened 3-year-old with a small arm and on an 84-year-old with loose skin, tremor, and orthostatic dizziness. Supplies include multiple cuff sizes, axillary and tympanic thermometers, and a pulse oximeter. Which adapted vital-sign technique best fits pediatric, geriatric, and special-population needs?
- An older adult on bed rest needs a partial bath and an occupied bed change, has fragile skin and mild incontinence, can roll with help, and clean linens are ready. Soiled linens must not touch the floor or clean side. Which bathing and occupied bed-making technique should the PCT use for safety and comfort?
- A PCT witnesses an adult visitor collapse in the hospital lobby, unresponsive with no normal breathing and no pulse felt, while another bystander brings an AED and a wheelchair is nearby. Which first aid and BLS sequence follows current AHA guidelines for the PCT as responder?
- A stroke patient with left shoulder weakness lies in bed, reports stiffness but no sharp pain, has no new swelling or redness, understands instructions, and has an order for range-of-motion exercises twice daily with the siderails managed for safety. The shoulder elevates only halfway with effort and the elbow and wrist are also stiff. Which ROM approach should the PCT use to perform safe shoulder exercises?
- A frail older adult with an indwelling urinary catheter is incontinent of stool, has dentures, and needs morning hygiene to prevent odor, infection, and skin breakdown. The PCT/A plans oral, denture, perineal, and catheter care in one visit. Which combined oral, denture, perineal, and catheter care sequence best prevents infection and tissue injury?
- A stroke patient with a PEG tube receives intermittent pump feeding, coughs when flat, is mildly confused, and needs mouth care and midday assistance while the head of bed can be raised. Aspiration risk is high if positioning or tube handling is wrong. Which feeding-tube and aspiration-precaution assistance should the PCT provide?
- In a hospital cafeteria during lunch, a technician finds an adult visitor clutching the throat, unable to speak or cough, with a reddening face. A chair and table block access, bystanders are panicking, and the emergency code has been called. Which first aid and BLS choking response should the technician provide for this severe airway obstruction?
- A post-operative adult on bedrest has an order for sequential compression devices and knee-high anti-embolism stockings, has intact dry skin, equal pulses, no leg pain or swelling, and correctly sized sleeves and stockings available with the pump plugged in and alarms working. Which application step should the PCT prioritize to promote venous return and prevent skin injury?
- A PCT accepts a one-to-one assignment for a young adult on a medical floor with new suicidal statements, recent alcohol withdrawal, and rising restlessness near sharp meal trays and a bathroom with a locking door. Which monitoring approach best balances safety, withdrawal risk, and dignity?
- On a night shift on a behavioral health wing, a technician is assigned one-to-one observation of an adult with recent self-harm statements, alcohol withdrawal tremors, and rising agitation toward staff. The room has a belt, plastic bag, and extra visitors. Which one-to-one monitoring safety plan should the technician maintain for this high-risk assignment?
- On a night shift in a 36-bed telemetry unit, a technician records vital signs on a stable 72-year-old: temperature 99.2°F, heart rate 118, blood pressure 88/54, respiratory rate 26, SpO2 91% on room air. The patient feels lightheaded but denies chest pain. Which recognition and reporting action for values outside reference ranges is most appropriate?
- A bed-bound older adult has upper dentures, dry mouth, an indwelling urinary catheter with a full drainage bag, and mild perineal redness. dentures are out, the bag tubing is kinked, and privacy can be provided. Which combined oral, denture, perineal, and catheter-care sequence should the PCT perform?
- A PCT cares for an older adult in inpatient hospice with mottled extremities, irregular breathing, and family at the bedside asking for comfort, cultural rituals, and time alone after death. Which palliative, hospice, and postmortem approach respects goals and PCT scope?
- In a pediatric same-day surgery unit, a technician must reassess pain in a tearful 5-year-old who cannot reliably count to ten and in a 16-year-old athlete who can rank sensations precisely. Both had limb procedures and can point and speak. Which pain-scale assessment with FACES and numeric tools is correct for these patients?
- In a quiet hospice room, a technician cares for a dying older adult whose family wants comfort, cultural rituals, and time together. Breathing is irregular, skin is cool and mottled, and pain medication was given by the nurse. The family asks about after-death care. Which palliative, hospice, and postmortem care approach should the technician provide for this family?
- A new below-knee amputee with a prosthesis and elastic shrinker sock is learning transfers, has a healed incision without drainage, reports mild phantom tingling, can sit on the bed edge, and needs help before standing with a walker while skin remains the priority. Which assistance step should the PCT take to support the orthotic, prosthetic, and adaptive device safely?
- An adult with a new colostomy needs a pouch change, reports burning under the wafer, and also has a scheduled soapsuds enema ordered for constipation. The PCT/A is asked to assist within training and report concerns. Which ostomy care and enema assistance priority best protects peristomal skin and rectal safety?
- On a cardiac step-down unit, a 74-year-old with heart failure has new 2+ ankle pitting edema, shoes feeling tight, cool pale feet with slow capillary refill, and newly cloudy foul-smelling urine in the hat. Which recognition and reporting of edema, impaired circulation, and specimen abnormalities is correct?
- In a long-term care unit, a resident with an established ileostomy needs routine pouch emptying later, but first you must assist the nurse with a prescribed tap-water cleansing enema for a constipated roommate who can turn, has no bleeding, and has a clear low bed with a bedpan nearby. Which enema-assistance technique should the PCT use to provide safe enema support?
- A hospital patient newly told of a terminal illness is shouting at staff, refusing lunch, and saying this cannot be happening to him after a 40-bed unit transfer delays family arrival. He tells you as the PCT to leave him alone. Which grief-stage coping support best fits this angry moment?
- A post-surgical adult on strict intake and output has had 8 oz coffee, 4 oz juice, and 120 mL water by mouth, voided 350 mL urine, and vomited 100 mL into an emesis basin during your shift. The flow sheet requires all volumes in milliliters with emesis counted as output. Which intake and output totals should the PCT document for accurate fluid balance?
- A PCT must move a stable post-surgical adult from a med-surg bed to radiology by stretcher, with an IV pole and a urinary bag attached, down a busy corridor with elevators. The patient can assist slightly but cannot walk. Which stretcher transport technique should the PCT use to ensure safe movement?
- A PCT is doing night rounds on a medical-surgical unit for a postoperative older adult who was alert and oriented at bedtime. The patient is now difficult to arouse, responds only to sternal rub, has new labored breathing with low oxygen saturation, and has cool clammy skin. Which immediate recognition and nurse-reporting action for decreased consciousness with shortness of breath best fits PCT scope?
- An adult post-surgical patient has IV fluids infusing, is drinking water and broth, has a Foley catheter, and vomited once during the shift on a busy unit. The nurse asks for an accurate shift intake and output total to guide fluid management. Which intake and output documentation method ensures accurate fluid balance tracking?
- A PCT is sitting with a patient on an oncology unit whose spouse died last month and who now faces a new serious diagnosis. The patient says there is no point in treatment, has stopped eating, cries quietly, and declines visitors but accepts the PCT sitting nearby. Family asks why the patient is giving up. Which supportive action best aligns with coping support and the stages of grief for this presentation?
- A PCT is caring for an older adult in a busy emergency department who speaks limited English, averts eye contact, and declines a hospital gown because of modesty beliefs. The adult child offers to interpret and urges the PCT to hurry. The PCT needs vital signs and a clean gown before the provider exam. Which communication approach best demonstrates therapeutic communication and culturally competent care in this situation?
- During evening purposeful rounding on a 12-bed unit, the technician has a high fall-risk patient with an alarm ringing for toileting, a stable patient requesting extra blankets, and a message that stat morning labs need collection in 10 minutes. Which rounding prioritization should the technician use to balance fall risk and stat labs?
- A recently immigrated older adult admitted to a 24-bed medical unit avoids eye contact, answers softly, and declines a bed bath from a different-gender caregiver while family visits with home foods. Which therapeutic and culturally competent care response best supports trust and comfort?
- A PCT is coaching a post-laparotomy adult on day one who has a nasal cannula at low flow, an incentive spirometer at bedside, and thick oral secretions the nurse said to suction orally only. The patient fears pain and takes shallow breaths. Which coaching approach should the PCT use for oxygen, spirometry, oral suction, and TCDB exercises?
- A busy telemetry unit nurse asks a PCT to check a blood glucose on a stable patient with diabetes, record intake and output, and sit with a new post-fall patient who needs frequent observation. The PCT is trained and deemed competent in glucose testing, has three other patients, and the fall-risk patient is restless. Which delegation decision best applies the Five Rights of Delegation for this assignment?
- In a medical intensive care room, a 55-year-old adult with a pressure injury must remain flat on strict bed rest, cannot sit, stand, or transfer, has attached drainage bags and monitors, and needs an accurate daily weight in the same bed. Which bed-scale weighing procedure best ensures accuracy and line safety for this patient?
- An RN asks a hospital PCT to help with a scheduled aseptic abdominal dressing change and then to remove a discontinued peripheral IV from a stable adult forearm with no complications, with a supply cart and sharps container available. Which combined assistance and removal technique should the PCT perform within scope?
- A bed-bound older adult with incontinence has persistent sacral redness that does not blanch with fingertip pressure, skin remains intact without blisters, and the area feels warm after prolonged pressure on a standard mattress. Which skin care identification and action should the PCT perform for early skin breakdown?
- An adult who uses a wheelchair needs a weekly weight in a long-term care facility, cannot stand safely, wears a light gown, and has mild edema in the legs. The unit has a calibrated wheelchair scale available for use. Which weighing procedure ensures accurate weight using a wheelchair scale?
- On a hectic orthopedic floor the nurse asks you, a PCT checked off for vital signs and ambulation, to help a fresh post-operative patient with stable vitals walk to the bathroom now using a walker while you have three call lights ringing. Which application of the Five Rights of Delegation best supports safe acceptance?
- A PCT must prepare a 68-year-old adult for a morning cholecystectomy and for a fasting abdominal ultrasound, with orders for NPO after midnight, surgical site marking, allergy review, and voiding before transfer. The patient ate a snack and wears jewelry and dentures. Which pre-operative and pre-diagnostic preparation should the PCT complete?
- A PCT in a rehabilitation unit is asked to apply a warm moist pack to a patient's knee and a cold pack to another patient's sprained ankle. The knee patient has reduced sensation from neuropathy, and the ankle patient has a small open blister near the site. Both want fast relief and ask for extra-hot or extra-cold packs. Which application plan best applies hot and cold therapies safely for these conditions?
- An older adult with limited mobility has been in bed for several hours in long-term care, reports tailbone soreness, has intact skin with a warm reddened sacral area, and is incontinent of urine. The technician performs skin care and reports findings. Which skin assessment description correctly identifies early pressure injury staging?
- A technician must move a 180-pound adult patient with a left-leg non-weight-bearing order from bed to chair using a full-sling mechanical lift with a nurse and a gait belt available. The patient can sit at the edge but cannot stand on the left leg. Which transfer method should the technician use for safe non-weight-bearing movement?
- A PCT caring for a patient on fall precautions with a weak left side needs to provide a complete bed bath, change linens with the patient remaining in bed, and assist with a gown, perineal care, and oral hygiene. The patient is tired, modest, and worried about getting cold. Which care sequence best provides bathing, occupied bed-making, and personal care while preserving safety and dignity?
- A frail older adult with diabetes and poor leg sensation requests extra heat for knee pain in a rehab room where a heating pad is already warm, the call light is out of reach, and skin checks have not been documented for two hours. Which hot therapy safety practice best prevents burn injury?
- A frightened 5-year-old in urgent care needs temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry before immunizations, is clinging to a parent, crying loudly, and has very small arms that swim in the adult cuff at the bedside. Which vital-sign adaptation should the PCT use for accurate pediatric measurement?
- A PCT finds an adult visitor collapsed in a hospital hallway, unresponsive and not breathing normally with no pulse felt, alone with an AED nearby and no known trauma. Which first-aid and BLS sequence should the PCT initiate per AHA guidelines for this adult?
- During routine morning rounds on a stable adult medical unit, a PCT records temperature 99.1F, heart rate 118, blood pressure 88/54, respiratory rate 22, and oxygen saturation 91% on room air with mild confusion newly noted. Facility policy requires prompt nurse notification for abnormal trends. Which vital-sign recognition and reporting should the PCT prioritize for patient safety?
- A technician is assigned vital signs for a frightened 6-year-old in clinic, an older adult with fragile skin and tremor in long-term care, and an adult with a casted arm on a surgical unit. Each needs accurate temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and pain screening. Which vital signs technique correctly adapts measurement for special populations?
- A PCT assists a 68-year-old post-knee surgery patient learning a standard walker in a rehab hallway. The therapist ordered touch-down weight on the surgical leg, a gait belt in place, and the walker height at the wrist crease. Which ambulation sequence should the PCT reinforce for safe walker use?
- An older adult in a medical-surgical unit needs a complete bed bath and an occupied linen change after night sweats, has an IV in the forearm, and becomes chilled easily. The bed is against the wall with one side rail available and the call light in reach. Which occupied-bed bathing and linen technique should the technician use to maintain warmth, safety, and line integrity?
- On a busy medical-surgical unit you take routine morning vitals on four adult patients who are resting in bed. One has temperature 99.1F, pulse 88, respirations 18, BP 118/76. Another has pulse 112, respirations 22, BP 142/92, SpO2 94%. A third has pulse 58, respirations 12, BP 88/54, SpO2 97%. Which vital-sign pattern should the PCT report first as outside reference ranges?
- On an overnight medical-surgical unit you are assigned continuous one-to-one observation for an adult on suicide precautions who is also tremulous and irritable from alcohol withdrawal and keeps asking to use the bathroom alone and to be left to sleep. The nurse instructs constant line of sight with removal of sharp and ligature risks. Which one-to-one monitoring action best maintains safety for suicide risk with withdrawal agitation?
- In a busy medical-surgical unit, you are assisting the nurse with a middle-aged adult who has an NG tube and just finished a 30-minute bolus feeding. The patient reports back discomfort and asks to lie flat, and the nurse asks you to stay with the patient for the post-feeding period. Which aspiration precaution for tube feeding should the PCT maintain after the bolus?
- On a night shift you are monitoring a 78-year-old patient after hip surgery who is alert but hard of hearing, plus a 5-year-old child with a forearm injury who cannot reliably use numbers to describe pain. Both need pain reassessment before you report to the nurse. Which pain-scale selection correctly applies FACES and numeric tools for vital-signs monitoring?
- A PCT works with a 74-year-old stroke patient with left arm weakness in long-term care. The care plan orders assistive shoulder range of motion twice daily, support above and below the joint, and stop at pain. Which ROM technique should the PCT use for the shoulder exercises?
- A stroke-unit patient with dysphagia receives continuous nutrition through a PEG tube, must remain with the head of bed elevated, has a nurse-managed pump and residual checks, and coughs when lying flat. The technician is asked to assist with hygiene, position checks, and reporting. Which aspiration precaution should the technician maintain while supporting the patient receiving PEG tube feeding?
- You are caring for a frail older adult with full dentures, limited mobility, and an indwelling urinary catheter who needs morning mouth care, denture cleaning, and perineal-catheter care in a long-term care room. Which combined oral, denture, perineal, and catheter care technique should you use for this patient?
- A bed-bound older adult with an indwelling Foley catheter is incontinent of stool, has fragile perineal skin, and needs routine morning care including dentures, oral hygiene, and catheter care. Supplies include warm water, mild soap, washcloths, and a securement device. Which combined oral, perineal, and catheter care routine should the technician perform to prevent infection and injury?
- On a pediatric observation unit you care for a 5-year-old post-injury child with limited number concepts, an alert teenager with abdominal pain, and an older adult with dementia who cannot speak reliably. Which pain-assessment approach should the PCT use to match pain scales to patient ability?
- A PCT cares for a 62-year-old post-abdominal surgery patient ordered to wear sequential compression devices while in bed, remove them for walking, and receive skin checks each shift. The calves show intact skin, equal warmth, and no reported pain. Which SCD care should the PCT provide to support circulation safely?
- A PCT helps a 55-year-old new below-knee amputee in rehab practice morning prosthesis application. The residual limb is clean and dry, a shrinker sock is available, the liner has no cracks, and the patient can stand by. Which assistance should the PCT provide for the prosthetic and adaptive devices?
- A rehabilitation patient with a new colostomy has a one-piece pouch that is one-third full, reports burning under the wafer, and is anxious about odor and leaks. The nurse has verified the care plan and asked the technician to assist with a routine pouch change and document output. Which ostomy pouch change technique should the technician use to protect peristomal skin and ensure a secure seal?
- In a quiet hospice room an older adult receiving comfort care has just died, family members are tearfully at the bedside, cultural observances are important to them, and the nurse asks you to assist with postmortem care per facility policy. The body needs dignified preparation before transfer to the funeral home. Which palliative and postmortem action best shows respectful care while supporting the grieving family?
- During morning rounds in long-term care you notice a resident with new 2+ pitting edema at the ankles, socks leaving deep marks, and a urine specimen that looks unusually cloudy with a strong odor compared to yesterday’s clear yellow sample. The nurse needs concise objective data. Which recognition and reporting approach best addresses edema, circulation, and specimen changes?
- During afternoon care in a skilled nursing unit you notice one resident has new 2+ pitting ankle swelling with tight shoes, another has pale cool fingers with delayed capillary refill, and urine that looks red-tinged and cloudy. Which observation and reporting action should the PCT take for edema, circulation, and specimen abnormalities?
- You are assisting a post-surgical adult with a new colostomy who is anxious about odor and leakage, plus a different patient prescribed a cleansing enema for constipation who prefers privacy and clear instructions in a small shared room. Which ostomy and enema assistance approach should you provide within your scope for these tasks?
- In a long-term care room a resident with a new serious diagnosis paces, snaps at staff, insists the lab mixed up results, and then quietly asks whether anger at family and fear of dying are normal. The resident is not ready for problem-solving and responds best to unhurried presence. Which supportive response best applies grief-stage understanding and coping support for this resident?
- You are observing a 68-year-old rehabilitation patient who suddenly becomes unusually drowsy, speaks with new slurred words, shows one-sided facial droop, and reports shortness of breath when you help them sit up. Baseline mentation was alert and speech was clear an hour ago. Which change-in-condition recognition and reporting action best addresses LOC, breathing, and stroke signs?
- On a telemetry unit you are sitting with an adult patient who suddenly becomes confused, speaks with slurred words, has new facial droop, and breathes rapidly with shortness of breath and low oxygen saturation. Which change-in-condition response should the PCT take for altered consciousness, breathing distress, and stroke signs?
- You are monitoring a medical patient with heart failure who has IV fluids infusing, is eating meals, voiding into a hat and urinal, has a small wound drain, and had one episode of vomiting during the night shift. Which intake and output recording and monitoring practice should you follow for this shift?
- A PCT is assigned to transport a stable postoperative adult by stretcher from a same-floor holding room to a procedure suite down a busy corridor with narrow doorways. The patient has a peripheral IV with a pole, is covered for privacy with a blanket, and has side rails up. Which stretcher-transport technique for safe movement through doorways best protects the patient and equipment?
- A PCT coaches a 58-year-old post-laparotomy patient who is drowsy, splints the incision, has a nasal cannula at prescribed flow, and needs to clear secretions. The nurse delegated incentive spirometer, oral suction available only, and TCDB exercises. Which combined technique should the PCT use for oxygen, spirometer, suction and TCDB?
- A postoperative patient on a surgical unit has IV fluids infusing, sips water with pills, voids into a hat in the toilet, has one episode of emesis, and needs accurate shift intake and output for fluid balance. The technician has a graduated pitcher, specimen hat, and bedside flowsheet. Which intake and output recording method should the technician use to yield the most accurate shift totals?
- You must weigh three patients this morning: an unsteady older adult who can stand briefly, a patient who remains in a wheelchair, and a bedrest patient on a bariatric unit with strict fluid monitoring. Which standing, wheelchair, and bed scale weighing method should you use for accurate comparison?
- A PCT on a 32-bed medical-surgical unit starts purposeful rounds and finds three needs at once: a confused older adult with a high fall-risk bracelet trying to get up alone to use the bathroom, a stat potassium specimen waiting for transport to the lab, and a stable patient requesting extra blankets. Which rounding priority best balances fall prevention and timely stat lab handling?
- You are rounding on a busy medical-surgical unit where three call lights are on: a stable post-op patient requesting water, a high fall-risk patient with an alarm who needs toileting, and a nurse awaiting a redraw for a hemolyzed stat potassium. Which rounding priority should the patient care technician choose to prevent harm first?
- A patient care technician is helping a hospitalized older adult who is fasting for cultural reasons, speaks softly, and avoids eye contact while looking distressed before morning hygiene care. The unit is busy, the nurse is available, and family will visit later. Which therapeutic communication response best demonstrates culturally competent care?
- A rehabilitation unit has a 68-year-old patient who cannot stand after hip surgery, uses a wheelchair full-time, and needs an accurate daily weight to guide fluids. The room has a standing platform scale, a wheelchair roll-on scale, and no bed scale available today. Which weighing method best provides accurate weight using a wheelchair scale?
- A busy medical-surgical nurse asks a trained patient care technician to ambulate a stable postoperative patient who has walked before, with clear distance, assist level, and check-in instructions. The technician is competent in ambulation, the assignment fits policy, and the patient agrees. Which acceptance best satisfies the Five Rights of Delegation?
- During morning care in long-term care, a resident with limited mobility has an intact sacral area that is reddened, warm, and does not blanch with gentle pressure, with no blister or open skin. The resident reports tenderness when turned. Which skin-care assessment and action correctly identifies this stage of breakdown?
- In a rehabilitation gym, you must move two patients back to their rooms: one patient is partial weight-bearing after hip surgery and one is non-weight-bearing with strict orders for no pressure on the affected leg. Which transfer method should the technician select for safe handling?
- A PCT must move two patients for therapy: one post-op patient who is ordered partial weight-bearing with standby help, and one stroke patient ordered non-weight-bearing on the affected side who cannot assist. A gait belt and a mechanical sit-to-stand lift are available. Which transfer plan correctly matches assistance to weight-bearing status?
- A post-surgical technician is asked to assist the nurse with a sterile abdominal dressing change for an afebrile adult, then remove a saline-locked peripheral IV from the forearm per facility protocol after the nurse assesses the site. The overbed table is cleared for a sterile field. Which technician action best supports sterile and aseptic dressing changes and safe peripheral IV removal?
- On an orthopedic unit, a post-op patient with right leg weakness is learning to walk with a standard walker on a tile floor with a small rug edge and an IV pole. Which ambulation assistance should the technician provide for stable walker use?
- A nurse delegates a prescribed warm compress to a technician for an adult with a sore calf, requiring checking orders, skin condition, temperature safety, and time limits. The patient has intact but sensitive skin, can report discomfort, and call light is in reach. Which application best demonstrates safe hot therapy practice?
- In a rehabilitation gym, a 68-year-old with left knee arthritis is learning a single-point cane, bears weight on the right leg, holds the cane in the left hand, and leans heavily over the cane for balance on a dry level floor. Which cane-ambulation sequence should the PCT reinforce to ensure safe cane-assisted walking?
- A same-day surgery technician prepares a 55-year-old patient scheduled for morning abdominal surgery with general anesthesia and a pre-operative abdominal CT with contrast, whose chart lists NPO after midnight, allergies, and dentures. The nurse asks the technician to complete standard prep and reinforce teaching. Which pre-operative and pre-diagnostic preparation should the technician provide?
- A PCT provides morning care for an 82-year-old patient on prolonged bed rest who has limited mobility, incontinence, and a sacral area showing intact skin with non-blanchable redness and warmth. The skin is dry elsewhere and the patient reports tenderness when turned. Which skin-care and breakdown identification action best addresses this sacral finding?
- In an outpatient clinic you must obtain temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure on a frightened 4-year-old and then on an 85-year-old with fragile skin and hearing loss. Both need accurate baselines today. Which vital-signs approach best adapts technique for pediatric, geriatric, and special populations?
- A hospital technician witnesses a 60-year-old visitor collapse in the lobby, who is unresponsive, pulseless, and not breathing normally, while a second staff member brings the AED and a code is called. The floor is hard and the area is clear of hazards. Which first aid and BLS response per AHA guidelines should the technician provide?
- A PCT is assigned morning vitals for a fearful 3-year-old with a respiratory infection, a 78-year-old with stiff arteries and hearing loss, and a postoperative adult with an arm IV and mastectomy. Equipment includes multiple cuff sizes, a temporal thermometer, and a pulse oximeter. Which vital-sign adaptation best fits pediatric, geriatric, and special-population needs?
- A technician is assigned an occupied bed change and bath for an adult recovering from a fall who can roll with help, has an IV line, and worries about exposure and feeling cold. The side rail, gown, and fresh linen are available. Which occupied-bed and bathing practice best maintains hygiene, warmth, and safety?
- In a 16-bed stroke recovery unit, you are assigned morning exercises for an adult with left-arm weakness who can move with some help, a fully alert adult needing joint flexibility maintenance, and a post-operative adult with a provider-ordered shoulder motion limit. Which passive, active and assistive range-of-motion approach meets each need?
- On a medical unit, an older adult after prolonged bed rest for pneumonia can initiate right shoulder flexion halfway but tires quickly, has no acute pain or dislocation, follows commands, and needs to regain endurance without shoulder injury. Which range-of-motion approach should the PCT use to support safe shoulder recovery?
- A PCT cares for a postoperative patient ordered for sequential compression devices and anti-embolism stockings, plus another patient with a wrist splint and knee immobilizer after a fall. Skin checks show intact skin with mild leg swelling. Which application sequence best ensures safe and effective device use?
- At a rehabilitation facility you record morning vitals on a stable adult: temperature 99.1 F, pulse 118, respirations 22, blood pressure 88/54, and SpO2 97% on room air. The patient denies chest pain but feels lightheaded when standing. Which vital-sign finding requires immediate recognition and reporting as outside reference range?
- A technician is helping a drowsy older adult in a long-term care unit who receives nutrition through a PEG tube, needs head elevation, and coughs during the feeding. The pump is running, the nurse checked placement earlier, and suction is available. Which assistance best follows feeding-tube scope and aspiration precautions?
- On a post-surgical floor with 18 beds, you are asked to apply sequential compression devices to an adult with leg swelling observation, anti-embolism stockings to an adult after hip surgery, and check a knee immobilizer on an adult reporting numbness and pale toes. Which device application for SCDs, stockings, splints and immobilizers ensures circulation safety?
- A sitter technician is assigned one-to-one monitoring for an adult on suicide precautions after an overdose, who is agitated, making threats, and repeatedly trying to leave the room to use a bathroom with a locked door. The nurse requests constant observation without leaving the patient alone. Which one-to-one monitoring approach should the technician provide for suicide risk, withdrawal, and aggression?
- In a pediatric urgent-care room a 5-year-old with a sprained ankle cries when bearing weight, answers simply, and points vaguely to the leg. The parent wants a clear pain rating to guide care today. Which pain assessment using FACES or numeric scales best fits this child?
- A PCT records afternoon vitals for a stable adult postoperative patient receiving fluids: temperature 101.8°F, pulse 122, respirations 26, blood pressure 88/54, and oxygen saturation 91% on room air. The patient is drowsy but arousable and denies chest pain. Which recognition and reporting action best addresses values outside reference ranges?
- A hospital PCT cares for an older adult who is drowsy after surgery, wears upper dentures, and has an indwelling Foley catheter secured to the thigh. The dentures are out for mouth care and perineal-catheter care is due. Which combined oral, denture, perineal and catheter care routine best meets hygiene and safety standards?
- An adult post-surgical patient on bedrest has left ankle swelling that holds a pit for several seconds, the left foot is cool and pale with slow toenail color return, and a fresh urine sample looks cloudy with visible sediment. Which edema, circulation, and specimen observation set should the technician report to the nurse as abnormal?
- An adult patient on a surgical unit had a stroke with expressive aphasia, is alert but cannot state a number, and grimaces when turning in bed with stable vital signs. The nurse asks for a current pain score before ambulation. Which pain assessment method should the PCT use to obtain a reportable pain score?
- On a rehab unit, an older adult with a new below-knee prosthesis and a right knee-ankle-foot orthosis wants to walk to the bathroom, reports redness on the residual limb yesterday, and asks you to help apply both devices before standing. Which assistance approach best supports safe ambulation with orthotic, prosthetic and adaptive devices?
- In a rehab unit, a PCT/A helps an older adult with a new below-knee prosthesis and a walker to stand for first ambulation, with skin checks ordered and the physical therapist nearby. The residual limb sock is smooth and the prosthesis is aligned. Which assistance best supports safe use of the prosthetic and adaptive device?
- In a small hospice inpatient room, an older adult receiving comfort care has just died with family quietly present at the bedside. The nurse asks you to assist with postmortem care per facility policy while supporting the family's need for time and privacy. Which postmortem care step best provides dignified palliative, hospice and postmortem care?
- A home-health PCT visits a steady older adult with a colostomy who reports formed stool in the pouch and also needs a prescribed soapsuds enema for constipation, with no bleeding, pain, or orders to hold care. Which ostomy and enema assistance approach best follows standard PCT practice?
- In a long-term care facility, an older adult with a new serious diagnosis paces, raises their voice at staff, and says the test results must be wrong and care is unfair. The patient sleeps poorly and refuses activities but accepts your presence. Which response best supports coping and the stages of grief for anger?
- A stable adult on a hospital bed with a running peripheral IV needs transport from the medical unit to imaging down a long corridor and into a small elevator, with privacy and fall precautions required throughout. Which bed-transport technique maintains IV patency, fall protection, and clearance during the move?
- A 68-year-old rehabilitation patient who was alert at breakfast is now difficult to arouse, breathing fast and short of breath when speaking, and shows new drooping on one side of the face with slurred words. Which change-in-condition response correctly addresses level of consciousness, breathing, and stroke signs?
- A medical-surgical PCT tracks intake and output for a patient with heart failure who drinks broth and water from marked cups, voids in a hat, and has a continuous IV managed by the nurse. Which intake and output recording and monitoring method best ensures accuracy for the care team?
- A PCT cares for a post-surgical patient on bed rest whose left calf is more swollen than the right, pits with pressure, and the left foot is pale, cool, and slow to pink up, plus a urine sample looks cloudy with a strong odor. Which observation set should the PCT report promptly as impaired circulation with edema?
- A PCT/A must move a stable postoperative adult with an IV pole and urinary catheter from a hospital bed to a stretcher, then transport by stretcher to radiology down a busy corridor with elevators. Which transport sequence best protects the patient, lines, and safety?
- A PCT is sitting with a stable medical patient who suddenly becomes hard to arouse, speaks with new slurred words, shows one-sided facial droop, cannot lift one arm evenly, and breathes short and fast. Which change report signals possible stroke needing rapid response?
- During hourly rounding the technician faces a high fall-risk patient needing toileting, another patient with a stat potassium draw due in 15 minutes, and a stable patient requesting an extra blanket. Which purposeful rounding and prioritization sequence best manages fall risk and time-sensitive labs?
- In a post-surgical unit, an alert adult on 2 liters nasal cannula is due for turn, cough and deep breathe exercises and incentive spirometry, reports incisional pain rated 5 of 10, and has oral secretions pooling without distress. Which combined respiratory support sequence best reflects correct oxygen, spirometry, suction and TCDB use?
- In a large urban medical unit, you care for an adult patient who avoids direct eye contact, keeps family at the bedside for decisions, and eats only familiar foods brought from home. The patient answers quietly and seems uneasy with close physical proximity. Which communication action best applies therapeutic communication and culturally competent care?
- A PCT/A cares for a postoperative adult with a nasal cannula at low flow, an incentive spirometer at bedside, and orders for oral suction as needed plus turn, cough, and deep breathe every two hours. Which support best ensures safe oxygen, spirometry, suction, and TCDB exercises?
- On an orthopedic unit, a nurse delegates hourly vital signs for a stable postoperative adult to you while managing an unstable patient next door. You are trained in vital signs, have time, the task is routine, and the nurse gives clear parameters and check-ins. Which acceptance best applies the Five Rights of Delegation for this situation?
- A PCT/A is asked to assist the nurse with a sterile surgical wound dressing change and then remove a peripheral IV from a stable adult, with clean gloves, sterile kit, and disposal available. Which combined approach best follows sterile and aseptic practice for dressing and IV removal?
- On a surgical unit, a stable adult with a clean dry postoperative dressing has a provider order to change the dressing using aseptic technique and to discontinue a saline-locked peripheral IV, the site shows no redness or drainage, and supplies are ready at bedside. Which combined dressing and IV removal approach stays within PCT scope and aseptic principles?
- During hourly rounding a PCT faces three needs at once: a high fall-risk patient ringing for the toilet, a stat lab specimen waiting for transport to the lab, and a stable patient asking for extra water. Which rounding priority order best balances fall prevention and time-sensitive lab transport?
- Two patients need transfer to chairs: one can bear full weight after knee surgery with a walker, and one is ordered non-weight-bearing after a hip fracture and is heavy. Which transfer, gait belt, and lift selection correctly matches weight-bearing status?
- A rehabilitation PCT must weigh a steady patient who fatigues easily, uses a wheelchair, and has a draining leg wound with bulky dressings, with standing, wheelchair, and bed scales available. Which weighing method best ensures accuracy and safety for ongoing monitoring?
Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility (19%) · 57 questions
- Overnight on a small medical-surgical unit, a technician sees flames in a wastebasket, light smoke in the hallway, and two ambulatory patients nearby. The fire alarm has not yet been pulled and the door to the room is open. Which fire and disaster response sequence should the technician initiate first for this fire event?
- A PCT on a busy medical-surgical unit admits an older adult with hearing loss for heart failure, notices two patients with similar last names on the census, and sees unlabeled specimen tubes at the nurses' station. Which patient safety goal action should the PCT complete first to align with Joint Commission identification and HCAHPS communication standards?
- On a busy medical-surgical unit, a technician cares for a postoperative adult with limited mobility who reports new calf pain and swelling. The nurse asks for a timely EHR update before rounds using correct clinical terms that stays within the technician role. Which EHR communication best meets scope, ethics, and legal documentation responsibilities?
- In a busy emergency waiting area, the adult child of an alert older patient asks the PCT for test results, a coworker leaves a computer open with the census visible, and visitors can overhear the desk. The patient has not signed a release for family. Which HIPAA-compliant action should the PCT take to protect PHI?
- During morning care in long-term care, a dependent older adult has grouped bruises on the inner arms and torso, flinches when touched, and gives a vague history while the regular caregiver insists the injuries are from frequent falls despite no fall reports and a calm unit routine. The resident is alert, wants help, and asks that family not be confronted. Which mandated reporting action should the PCT take to address suspected abuse and neglect?
- On a busy medical-surgical unit, a nurse urgently asks the PCT/A to program an IV pump, assess a wound, and give a PRN pain pill because staffing is short. The PCT/A is trained in ADLs, vitals, EKG, and phlebotomy only. Which decision best keeps the PCT/A action within the lawful scope of practice?
- An alert older adult needs a nonurgent blood draw and EKG, and the PCT/A explains each step, confirms understanding, and asks permission, but the patient then says to skip the EKG today. The family urges the PCT/A to do it anyway while the patient is present. Which application of medical ethics and informed and implied consent should guide the PCT/A response?
- In a rehabilitation gym, a technician works with a frail 78-year-old who is impulsive, wears nonskid socks, and needs transfer from a high bed to a wheelchair with footrests and a lap belt before therapy. The bed alarm is available and the hallway is cluttered. Which combined fall, bed, wheelchair, and restraint-safety practice is correct?
- On a busy orthopedic floor, a nurse asks a technician to independently assess a fresh wound, administer pain medication, and adjust an IV drip for a postoperative adult with stable vitals and family present. The technician is trained in vital signs, ADLs, and specimen collection. Which PCT/A scope-of-practice decision should the technician make for this delegation request?
- In a busy medical unit, a PCT sustains a needlestick from a used needle while clearing a crowded tray, has no severe bleeding, the source patient is known, the sharps container was overfilled, and the shift is short-staffed with many call lights ringing. Which workplace safety and accident reporting action should the PCT take under OSHA, NIOSH, and CDC guidance?
- A PCT on a night shift hears a fire alarm near the linen room, smells smoke, sees a small wastebasket flame, and must protect two post-surgical patients with oxygen and limited mobility. Which fire, hazard, and disaster response sequence should the PCT follow first?
- A competent adult on a medical unit refuses morning medications, the family urges the PCT to give them anyway, the nurse is busy with another patient, and the PCT respects autonomy while ensuring safety. Which Patients’ Bill of Rights and chain-of-command response should the PCT provide?
- A competent adult on a busy surgical unit signed a procedure consent last night but now tells you before a scheduled blood transfusion setup that she no longer understands the risks and wants the doctor to explain again. The nurse is off the floor for five minutes. Which ethics and consent action should you take to honor informed consent?
- In a crowded emergency waiting area, a visitor asks a PCT for test results of an adult being evaluated for chest pain, while the PCT's workstation computer still shows that patient's chart and other people are within hearing distance. The patient has not signed a release for this visitor. Which HIPAA safeguard should the PCT apply to protect PHI in this situation?
- A PCT splashes a concentrated floor disinfectant on forearms and scrubs while cleaning a spill in a clinic utility room, with burning and odor present and the original labeled bottle nearby. Coworkers suggest rinsing, finding the binder, and calling for help. Which Safety Data Sheet use should the PCT prioritize to manage this chemical exposure safely?
- A patient care technician must collect a fasting blood specimen in a busy morning round, shares a semi-private room with another patient, and has a wristband and a printed requisition at bedside. Two patients on the unit have similar last names. Which identifier verification practice meets patient safety standards before specimen collection?
- A PCT working nights in long-term care is asked by a resident with diabetes to adjust an insulin pump setting, by a family member to explain lab results, and by a nurse to perform a routine fingerstick glucose and reposition a resident. Staffing is short and residents are waiting. Which action choice best demonstrates practice within the PCT/A scope of practice under nursing supervision?
- A technician assisting a 78-year-old long-term care resident with bathing notices multiple bruises in various healing stages on arms and torso, a fearful withdrawal from a visiting relative, and a report of missed meals. The resident whispers not to tell. Which mandated reporting action should the technician take for suspected abuse and neglect?
- At a crowded nurses station you need to update a post-procedure patient about discharge in a semi-private room where a visitor asks for the neighbor's diagnosis, the computer screen shows census data, and your phone holds a photo of a wound for education. Which HIPAA and PHI protection action best fits this situation?
- An alert long-term care resident refuses a scheduled shower, states a wish to remain in bed, and becomes upset when the PCT insists that the task must be done now for the unit routine. The resident asks to speak with the nurse supervisor about personal choice. Which response best applies the Patients' Bill of Rights and chain of command?
- A PCT admits an adult with a similar name to another patient on a busy unit, with wristband, chart labels, and hourly rounding needed, and the patient worries about call-light response and feeling heard. Which action best reflects Joint Commission safety goals with CLSI and HCAHPS expectations?
- A patient care technician receives a verbal update about a post-operative adult with low urine output, needs to chart intake, output, and vital signs in the EHR, and will hand off to the next shift using approved terms. The entry must be clear, timely, and professional. Which EHR documentation entry uses approved medical terminology and complete communication?
- A technician in a busy hospital unit sustains a needlestick from a used venipuncture needle while clearing a tray, with visible blood on gloves. The sharps container is full and the floor is crowded. Which OSHA, NIOSH, and CDC workplace safety response should the technician follow for the work-related accident?
- An alert adult on a medical-surgical unit agreed to a dressing change with the nurse, then asks you what will happen and if it can be declined while you set up supplies at the bedside. The consent form is signed and the nurse is available. Which application of informed and implied consent should guide your assistance with this consented procedure?
- Late afternoon in a small outpatient clinic, the fire alarm sounds with light smoke coming from a storage room, a tornado watch is in effect, and two waiting patients look to you for direction while one hallway is already hazy. Facility policy uses RACE and directs staff to avoid elevators during fire alerts. Which fire and disaster evacuation response best follows the facility plan for this combined alert?
- A long-term care resident with decision-making capacity refuses morning care and states no one explained the right to refuse treatment, then asks the assistant to change the care plan immediately. The assistant has listened, offered information about daily choices, and documented the preference. Which chain-of-command action should the technician take next to uphold the Patients' Bill of Rights?
- In a crowded emergency department you are asked to collect a urine specimen and apply an identification band on an older adult who is confused and shares a similar last name with another patient in the next bed. The armband, chart, and verbal response must align before any procedure. Which two-identifier practice fulfills scope, ethics, and legal responsibilities for patient identification?
- On a night shift in a rehab wing you assist a weak older adult who is restless, tries to climb over bed rails, and needs frequent toileting. The bed is high, wheels are unlocked, and a wheelchair with footrests up is nearby. Which fall-prevention and equipment-safety action should the PCT take to prevent injuries?
- On a crowded hospital unit you need to update a family member at the nurses' station, transport a chart with lab results down the hall, and answer a phone question about a patient in a semi-private room with visitors present. Which HIPAA and PHI protection practice should guide your communication and handling of information in this situation?
- You are documenting morning vital signs and intake in the EHR for a medical unit where the nurse, dietitian, and therapist all rely on your entries to plan care. An abbreviation you want to use is not on the approved list, and the patient described dizziness when standing. Which EHR and medical terminology communication best meets professional and legal responsibilities?
- A PCT in a hospital utility room splashes a concentrated floor disinfectant on forearms while refilling a mop bucket. The label says corrosive, the dispenser leaks, and coworkers suggest home remedies. Which use of Safety Data Sheets should guide the PCT response to this chemical exposure?
- On a postoperative orthopedic unit a stable adult asks you to cut their pills in half for easier swallowing, adjust their IV drip rate because it seems slow, and tell them what their morning lab results mean for discharge. You are the PCT/A assigned to vital signs and activities of daily living. Which decision best keeps your actions within the PCT/A scope of practice and legal responsibility?
- A hospital technician must collect a fasting glucose sample, deliver a breakfast tray to a patient with dysphagia, and transport a patient with a similar name on the same hall, under policy requiring two identifiers before any care. The wristband, chart, and verbal response are available but the room number is posted on the door. Which two-identifier verification should the technician perform before providing care or testing?
- In a home-care visit you notice an older adult has unexplained bruises in various healing stages, appears fearful around a caregiver, misses meals, and has poor hygiene with a pressure injury. The caregiver asks you not to tell anyone. Which abuse-and-neglect action should the PCT take under mandated reporting duties?
- On a night shift in a 12-bed rehab unit, you are settling a confused older adult with a history of falls who keeps trying to climb over raised side rails, uses a wheelchair to the bathroom, and has a prescribed belt restraint for chair time only. Which bed, wheelchair and restraint safety action best prevents falls and injuries tonight?
- A medical-surgical technician is assigned hourly rounding, bedside shift report, and discharge teaching for a 68-year-old patient with hearing loss who is at fall risk and needs repeated blood draws. The charge nurse reminds staff of survey priorities for safety and experience. Which combined practice best follows Joint Commission patient safety goals, CLSI venipuncture guidance, and HCAHPS standards?
- A competent adult inpatient tells the patient care technician they do not want morning blood work after the purpose, steps, and risks were explained, and the patient speaks clearly without confusion. The nurse is nearby, the order remains active, and no emergency exists. Which ethical action best upholds informed and implied consent principles?
- On a medical-surgical unit a competent adult patient refuses a scheduled bed bath and says visitors must leave during care, while the nurse is tied up with an emergency. The patient is alert, calm, and concerned about privacy. Which staff response best applies the Patients Bill of Rights while following chain of command?
- A PCT assists with a postoperative patient who reports new calf pain and swelling, helps with ambulation, and must update the care team in the EHR before shift change. The nurse asks for a clear, professional entry using proper medical terminology. Which EHR documentation entry best demonstrates correct medical terminology in communication?
- On a busy telemetry unit you are asked to collect a routine venous sample for morning labs from a drowsy older adult in a shared room. The bedside chart, wristband, and breakfast tray all show slightly different first names. Which identification method correctly applies two patient identifiers before specimen collection?
- A PCT in a hospital laundry and patient-care area notices an overflowing sharps container, a wet floor with no sign, and then slips without injury while carrying linens. The supervisor asks what to do next per workplace safety rules. Which action best follows OSHA, NIOSH, and CDC safety expectations and incident reporting?
- While providing morning care in a long-term care facility for a withdrawn older adult with unexplained bruises on the upper arms, poor hygiene, and a fearful reaction to a family caregiver, plus conflicting explanations for injuries, which mandated reporting action best addresses suspected abuse and neglect?
- A night-shift technician on a 30-bed medical unit hears the fire alarm, smells smoke near the linen room, and sees staff moving a crash cart and oxygen tanks through the smoke-filled corridor while visitors crowd the exits. The charge nurse calls for evacuation assistance. Which response to fire, biological hazard and disaster events should the technician prioritize?
- A night-shift PCT cares for an 84-year-old patient with confusion, a history of falls, and a bed alarm, who needs to use the bathroom urgently while the wheelchair brakes and bed rails are available. Family asks about keeping all rails up and using a vest restraint for safety. Which fall and injury prevention action best ensures bed, wheelchair, and restraint safety?
- A technician is charting at a busy nurses station when a visitor asks for details about a roommate’s test results, while a phone speaker broadcasts updates and papers with identifiers face up. The census screen is visible to hallway traffic. Which response best follows HIPAA and protects protected health information?
- During evening rounds on a medical-surgical unit, a housekeeper splashes concentrated floor disinfectant on forearms and eyes, the bottle label warns of corrosive hazard, and the charge nurse asks you to bring safety information to the bedside while help arrives. Which Safety Data Sheet section should you locate first to guide immediate decontamination and first aid?
- On a busy medical-surgical unit, a registered nurse asks you, the PCT, to help catch up by taking vital signs, ambulating a stable postoperative patient, administering oral pain medication, and documenting intake. The patient is stable and all tasks seem routine. Which assigned task should you decline to remain within PCT/A scope of practice?
- On a night shift on an orthopedic unit, you help a post-surgical adult who reports dizziness when standing to walk with a walker to the bathroom and observe cloudy urine with a strong odor. The nurse asks you to record the assistance and observations in the EHR before handoff using proper medical terminology. Which EHR entry using medical terminology best meets legal documentation standards?
- A long-term care resident who is alert refuses morning hygiene and asks that family not be told details, while the PCT is behind schedule and the nurse is busy with medications. Which response best applies the Patients' Bill of Rights while following the chain of command?
- A PCT in long-term care notices a withdrawn older resident with a new bruised wrist shaped like fingers, flinches when a visiting relative raises a voice, and whispers not to tell. The relative insists on staying during care. Which mandated reporting action should the PCT take to address suspected elder abuse?
- On a night shift, a PCT/A slips on a wet floor without a caution sign, sustains a needlestick from an overfilled sharps box, and notices housekeeping lacks proper PPE. The charge nurse asks for immediate action. Which response best follows OSHA, NIOSH, CDC workplace safety and accident reporting?
- In a crowded emergency department, an alert adult patient needs nonurgent stitches and hesitates, asking about pain, scarring, and the right to refuse. The provider stepped away briefly and no signed consent is on file. Which consent action best applies medical ethics, informed and implied consent before the procedure?
- A confused older adult with a high fall score needs to move from bed to wheelchair for breakfast, the bed is high, the wheelchair brakes are off, footrests are up, and a soft wrist restraint order is being considered. Which fall, bed, wheelchair, and restraint safety sequence should the technician follow?
- During morning rounds on a telemetry unit with hourly leadership rounding, a confused older adult is scheduled for venipuncture and ECG, has a similar name to the neighboring patient, and rates pain 6 of 10 while family asks about responsiveness to call lights. Which integrated Joint Commission, CLSI and experience practice best prevents error and supports safe care?
- A busy PCT must give a routine fingerstick glucose test to a patient who shares a last name with the roommate, with wristbands, charts, and labeled meters available. Which two-identifier verification best prevents misidentification before testing?
- A PCT sustains a needlestick while clearing an overfilled sharps box on a night shift, with blood on gloves, a busy assignment, and no supervisor yet notified. Which OSHA-aligned response addresses exposure and reporting obligation?
- During evening cleaning, a PCT/A spills a surface disinfectant, feels dizzy, and must quickly find first aid, PPE, spill cleanup, and storage rules before continuing work. Which use of Safety Data Sheets best resolves this chemical exposure?
Infection Control (16%) · 48 questions
- A hospitalized adult has new watery diarrhea and is on contact precautions for suspected Clostridioides difficile, needing vital signs and linen help. The room has gown, gloves, soap, and alcohol sanitizer available. Which CDC Standard plus Transmission-based Precautions and hand hygiene combination should the PCT/A apply during this assignment?
- A PCT enters a single room to check vitals on an adult with productive cough and suspected tuberculosis, with an N95 available, gloves, gown, and alcohol sanitizer at the doorway. The patient is coughing without a mask and the PCT just shook hands on greeting. Which infection prevention sequence meets CDC Standard plus airborne Transmission-based Precautions and hand hygiene?
- A patient with sudden watery diarrhea tests positive for Clostridioides difficile, shares a bathroom, needs a bedpan, and has soiled hands and linens. Gowns and gloves are required plus dedicated equipment. Which combined precaution and hand-hygiene action should the PCT apply to limit spread?
- A hospitalized adult has new watery diarrhea, a test ordered for Clostridioides difficile, shares a bathroom, and needs vital signs and linen change with the door closed and supplies stocked outside the room. The PCT has no open skin lesions but will have contact with stool and surrounding surfaces. Which precaution and hand hygiene combination should the PCT apply for this care?
- On a crowded medical unit with a new measles case, an influenza patient, and a wound infection, a technician must move between rooms with shared equipment. Hands are visibly clean between tasks and alcohol sanitizer and sinks are available. Which CDC Standard and Transmission-based Precautions and hand hygiene plan should the technician follow for these assignments?
- In a 24-bed medical unit, a technician must care for a patient with draining MRSA wound infection and another with suspected influenza cough, with alcohol sanitizer, gowns, gloves, masks, and eye protection available. Turnover is rapid and hand sinks are nearby. Which combined use of CDC Standard and Transmission-based Precautions and hand hygiene is correct?
- A PCT/A finishes vital signs for a patient on airborne plus contact precautions in a negative-pressure room and must exit without contaminating self or hallway. Gown, gloves, N95, and face shield were worn inside the room. Which donning-aware doffing sequence should the PCT/A use to remove PPE correctly after this combined-precautions care?
- A PCT prepares to enter the room of a patient with influenza-like illness requiring droplet plus contact precautions, has a gown, surgical mask, goggles, and gloves ready, has clean hands, and will provide close bedside care and remove a soiled gown afterward. Which donning and doffing sequence should the PCT follow to maintain protection and prevent self-contamination?
- A PCT prepares to check vital signs on an isolation patient with influenza, has a gown, gloves, surgical mask, and goggles ready, and must later remove them without self-contamination before hand hygiene. Which correct donning and doffing sequence should the PCT follow for PPE?
- A PCT prepares to leave an isolation room for Clostridioides difficile diarrhea after changing linens, wearing a gown and gloves with hand sanitizer and a sink nearby. Which donning-verified doffing and hygiene sequence correctly prevents self-contamination and spore spread?
- Outside an isolation room for a patient with profuse diarrhea and vomiting, a technician must enter to check vitals and then exit to handle clean linens. Gown, gloves, mask with goggles, and hand sanitizer are available at the doorway station. Which PPE donning and doffing sequence should the technician use for this contact-precaution entry?
- A patient care technician prepares to enter the room of an adult patient on contact and droplet precautions for influenza who needs vital signs. A gown, surgical mask, goggles, and gloves are available at the doorway with hand sanitizer. Which donning sequence should the technician follow to achieve correct PPE protection?
- A long-term care unit has new cases of MRSA wound infections and C. difficile diarrhea plus a recent CAUTI, and staff review hand hygiene, catheter care, and room cleaning. The PCT must explain prevention to a new aide. Which chain-of-infection explanation should the PCT give to address these common HAIs correctly?
- A long-term care resident with an indwelling urinary catheter develops fever and cloudy urine, a roommate carries MRSA in the nose, and a third resident has watery diarrhea later confirmed as C. difficile on a 60-resident wing with shared toilets. Which chain-of-infection explanation best guides your prevention priorities?
- A PCT is assigned to a patient with new watery diarrhea testing positive for C. difficile and a roommate with a urinary catheter and a healing MRSA wound. The PCT must check vital signs in both beds, empty the catheter bag, and tidy the shared bathroom. Which infection-control sequence best reflects the chain of infection and precautions for common HAIs such as CAUTI, MRSA, and C. difficile?
- A long-term care resident with an indwelling urinary catheter develops fever and burning urine, while the roommate on antibiotics develops watery diarrhea and the unit notes recent lapses in hand hygiene and shared equipment cleaning. Which chain-of-infection and HAI explanation should the PCT use for CAUTI and C. difficile prevention?
- A technician reviews a unit huddle on rising Clostridioides difficile cases where patients share bathrooms and staff move between rooms. The discussion covers reservoirs, portals, and transmission. Which chain-of-infection explanation should the technician use to guide C. difficile prevention?
- A nursing assistant cares for older adults on a unit with recent diarrhea illness and wound infections, handles bedpans, linens, and catheters, and must prevent spread between rooms. The nurse mentions C. difficile, MRSA, and CAUTI during huddle. Which infection prevention action best interrupts the chain of infection for common HAIs?
- You are cleaning a shared blood pressure cuff between patients on a busy medical-surgical unit. The disinfectant wipe label requires the surface to stay visibly wet for the full contact time and then air-dry, and the next patient is already waiting. Which disinfectant dry-time practice maintains effective infection prevention on shared equipment?
- You are assigned to clean shared glucometers and a blood pressure cuff between patients on a busy clinic afternoon, with manufacturer wipes available and the label stating a two-minute wet contact time. Turnover pressure is high and the next patient is waiting. Which disinfectant dry time practice should you follow to complete disinfection of this shared equipment?
- A PCT cleans a shared glucometer and blood pressure cuffs in a busy med-surg room after use. The facility policy requires EPA-registered wipes, visible wet contact, and air drying on a clean surface. Which disinfection technique should the PCT use to meet required disinfectant dry times?
- A busy hospital technician must reuse a glucometer, stethoscope, and blood pressure cuff between patients, has facility-approved disinfectant wipes, gloves, and a wall clock, and notices visible soil on the cuff. The manufacturer label requires surfaces to remain visibly wet for the stated contact time. Which equipment disinfection sequence should the technician follow to satisfy cleaning and disinfectant dry times?
- In a busy primary care office you must prepare a shared glucometer and a reusable blood pressure cuff between patients, and the disinfectant wipe label states a two-minute wet contact time followed by air drying. The schedule is behind and the next patient is already roomed. Which equipment disinfection technique correctly applies disinfectant contact and dry time for shared devices?
- In a long-term care facility you must clean a shared blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter probe, and bedside table between residents. The disinfectant wipe label requires the surface to stay visibly wet for two minutes and air-dry. Which disinfection practice should the PCT follow to meet equipment disinfection and dry-time requirements?
- During morning rounds on a busy telemetry unit you change linens soiled with blood, replace a full sharps container from a bedside procedure, and notice an overfilled red bag bin with used gloves and gauze in the hallway. OSHA bloodborne pathogen rules and facility waste segregation guide your actions. Which biohazardous waste and sharps disposal sequence best meets OSHA segregation and handling requirements?
- A PCT finishes morning glucose checks and dressing changes for three medical patients in one room. The tray holds used lancets, bloodied gauze, an uncapped needle, and a full sharps box nearby. Which disposal action should the PCT take to meet OSHA biohazardous waste and sharps rules?
- A medical assistant in a clinic must dispose of a blood-filled gauze dressing, a used glucose lancet, and a cracked glass capillary tube after bedside testing, with red biohazard bags and puncture-resistant sharps containers nearby. Facility policy follows OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens disposal rules. Which OSHA-compliant disposal action should the technician take for the contaminated sharps and biohazard waste?
- After helping with wound care in a hospital room you have blood-soaked gauze, a used glucose lancet, and an overfilled sharps box with needles sticking out. Housekeeping is delayed and another PCT asks to recap the needle for safety. Which biohazardous waste and sharps disposal action should the PCT take per OSHA standards?
- After morning rounds on an isolation unit you have used needles, blood-soaked gauze, a cracked specimen tube, and an overfilled sharps box, with housekeeping waiting and a new admission arriving soon. Which OSHA-compliant biohazardous waste and sharps disposal action should you take to clear the room safely?
- After a bedside glucose check and venipuncture in a hospital room, you have a used lancet, a bloodied needle, saturated gauze, and an empty saline flush wrapper on the tray. The sharps container is half full and the biohazard bag is nearby, and housekeeping is waiting to enter. Which OSHA-compliant disposal separates biohazardous waste and sharps correctly?
- A patient care technician sustains a needlestick from a used venipuncture needle while recapping in a busy outpatient clinic, with visible blood on the glove and a small puncture that bleeds slightly. The exposure control plan is posted at the sharps station. Which post-exposure sequence should the technician follow to comply with the exposure control plan after occupational exposure?
- A PCT sustains a needlestick from a used venipuncture needle while recapping in a busy outpatient clinic, with visible blood on the finger and a source patient still present. The clinic has a written exposure control plan and sharps containers nearby. Which immediate response best follows the exposure control plan after this occupational exposure?
- A PCT sustains a needlestick from a used needle during bedside sharps disposal, has a small puncture with slight bleeding, and the source patient is still in the room. The facility has a written exposure control plan requiring immediate care and reporting. Which immediate response best follows the exposure control plan after occupational exposure?
- A patient care technician sustains a needlestick from a used needle during cleanup in a crowded emergency department, with visible blood on the glove and a small puncture. The source patient is present, sharps container is nearby, and the supervisor is on site. Which immediate response best follows the exposure control plan after occupational exposure?
- In the emergency department you sustain a needlestick from a used needle while clearing a tray, with a small puncture that bleeds slightly. The source patient is still in the room and the exposure control plan is posted at the nurses station. Which immediate sequence best follows the exposure control plan after occupational exposure?
- During morning rounds in a 40-bed hospital unit, you sustain a needlestick from a used needle while recapping, with blood splashing near your eye, and you are unsure of the source patient’s infection status. Which exposure control plan action should you take first after occupational exposure?
- In an outpatient clinic treatment room, you assist with a sterile dressing change on an adult patient's leg wound. The provider asks you to set up the sterile field on a cleaned overbed table while the patient is positioned and alert. Which sterile-field action best maintains aseptic and sterile technique during setup?
- A PCT/A prepares a small procedure tray in a clinic room for a sterile dressing change, with limited table space and a drape kit available. The field must stay sterile until the nurse arrives in 5 minutes. Which technique best establishes and maintains the sterile field?
- A PCT is asked to set up a sterile field on a small bedside table for a nurse dressing change, with limited space, a wandering roommate, and a need to leave the field briefly. The kit contains a drape, gauze, and solution. Which setup behavior maintains sterile field integrity during preparation?
- A PCT is asked to set up a sterile dressing tray in a small double room while the roommate watches television and the patient needs to cough. The outer wrap is intact and the tray will be used within minutes. Which sterile field setup and maintenance technique best preserves sterility until use?
- In an outpatient clinic procedure room, the nurse asks you to set up a sterile tray for a minor procedure, the wrapped kit is dry and intact with a future expiration date, and you must keep the field ready until the provider arrives. Which sterile field setup and maintenance action best preserves aseptic technique?
- A nurse asks the technician to open a sterile dressing tray for a bedside change in a small double room where a visitor is present, the trash bin is full, and the bedside table is cluttered. Which sterile field setup and maintenance approach preserves aseptic and sterile technique?
- In a fast-paced same-day surgery center, you receive bloodied forceps and scissors after a minor procedure. The central sterile department is down the hall, and the instruments must not be sterilized on the unit. Which preparation step best prepares soiled equipment for sterile processing and transport?
- After a bedside procedure in a long-term care facility, you collect reusable metal instruments visibly soiled with blood, the utility room is shared with clean storage, and sterilization is handled by central supply off-site. How should you prepare soiled equipment for sterile processing and pickup?
- After a wound care procedure on an isolation unit, a PCT/A gathers bloody forceps, scissors, and a kidney basin with dried blood, needing transport to sterile processing with limited water access. Which preparation best readies soiled equipment for sterile processing?
- After a dressing change, a PCT must handle bloody forceps and scissors for central processing while the next admission waits and the utility room is shared. Which preparation of soiled reusable equipment best protects staff and preserves instruments for sterile processing?
- After a bedside procedure in a clinic room, a PCT must handle bloody forceps and scissors with limited counter space before transport to sterile processing. Which preparation step readies soiled instruments for sterile processing without spreading contamination?
- After a bedside suture removal the technician must handle bloody forceps and scissors, a disposable drape soaked with blood, and a reusable kidney basin with clots for return to sterile processing. Which soiled-equipment preparation protects staff and preserves sterilization processing?
Phlebotomy and Nonblood Specimen Collection (12%) · 36 questions
- In an outpatient clinic bathroom, a technician must instruct a female patient with limited health literacy on a midstream clean-catch urine culture. Supplies include antiseptic wipes, a sterile cup, and written pictures. The patient asks how to avoid germ contamination. Which clean-catch urine collection instruction should the technician teach for this specimen?
- A morning draw requires blood cultures, a light-blue coagulation tube, a serum tube, and a lavender hematology tube, the patient is properly identified, and only a straight needle is available. The tubes must prevent additive carryover that alters clotting and cell results. Which collection sequence correctly applies order of draw and tube additives?
- In an outpatient lab, a fasting adult needs a morning metabolic panel and a coagulation tube drawn, and the tray holds mixed tubes with varied dates and one cracked tube. The requisition notes fasting status and test priorities for collection. Which equipment, tube, expiration, and testing-requirement verification should the PCT/A complete before venipuncture?
- A PCT receives orders for blood cultures on a febrile adult in the emergency department with chills, with instructions for two sets from two separate venipunctures before antibiotics, using chlorhexidine and aerobic plus anaerobic bottles. Which blood culture collection technique best prevents contamination and preserves accuracy?
- At a rural clinic, a technician draws morning labs including a light-sensitive bilirubin on a newborn and a chilled lactate, then faces a 45-minute courier ride with ice packs, amber bags, and insulated carriers available. The tubes are labeled at the bedside and need intact results. Which handling and transport method meets CDC and temperature, light, and time requirements for blood specimens?
- An older adult needs routine venous labs, has small fragile hand veins that roll, is well hydrated and warm, has no fistula or mastectomy restriction, and becomes anxious with repeated sticks while the PCT has evacuated tubes, a winged set, and a syringe available at the bedside. Which venipuncture technique should the PCT choose to collect blood safely on the first attempt?
- A PCT draws morning labs on a medical-surgical unit for a patient needing bilirubin and lactate testing. The requisitions note protect from light, keep chilled, and deliver to the lab within 30 minutes. The unit clerk asks the PCT to batch the tubes with routine specimens for the next porter round. Which specimen transport method best meets CDC and temperature, light, and time requirements for these tests?
- A PCT receives orders for blood cultures, a light-blue coagulation tube, a serum separator tube, and a lavender EDTA tube from a single venipuncture on an adult with no IV fluids infusing. The kit contains sterile culture bottles, citrate, clot activator, and EDTA additives. Which collection order should the PCT follow to apply order of draw and tube additives correctly?
- In a small clinic you perform morning fingerstick glucose point-of-care testing with a meter that requires daily quality control, and today's control result falls outside the expected range while a fasting patient waits and the strip lot is newly opened. Which CLIA-waived quality-control action best ensures accurate results?
- An adult female outpatient in a clinic bathroom needs a midstream clean-catch urine culture for suspected urinary infection and asks how to avoid contamination. She has towelettes, a sterile cup, and written instructions. Which collection instruction should the technician reinforce for an accurate clean-catch specimen?
- In an outpatient draw station, a 68-year-old adult has small superficial forearm veins that collapse under strong vacuum, needs one small-volume chemistry tube today, reports sharp pain with large needles, and is alert and well hydrated. Which venipuncture device and collection method best balances vein preservation and sample quality for this draw?
- A young adult needs a routine venipuncture in an outpatient clinic, has visible veins in both antecubital fossae, reports a previous right mastectomy with lymphedema precautions, and is anxious about multiple sticks. The technician must choose the first attempt site. Which venipuncture site selection best supports safe first-attempt venipuncture collection?
- In a busy emergency department a provider orders a forensic urine drug collection for a suspected assault case with police waiting, the bathroom is shared, and the patient needs clear instructions while maintaining legal admissibility. Which chain-of-custody practice best preserves the forensic specimen?
- A busy clinic PCT must instruct an adult female patient on a clean-catch urine sample, collect a stool sample for occult blood, coach a sputum sample, and explain a semen sample collection to another patient. Supplies are limited and patients are embarrassed. Which collection guidance best meets requirements for clean catch, stool, sputum, and semen specimens?
- A technician in a clinic performs a CLIA-waived rapid strep test on a throat swab and a fingerstick glucose, with control solutions and log sheets ready. Morning controls have not been run. Which point-of-care testing and quality-control action should the technician take for valid waived results?
- In outpatient lab you receive orders for blood cultures, a light-blue coagulation tube, a serum chemistry tube, and a lavender hematology tube from a single venipuncture on an adult with accessible antecubital veins. The tubes must be filled in an order that prevents additive carryover between tubes. Which order-of-draw sequence with correct tube additives prevents cross-contamination for blood collection?
- During morning rounds on a hospital unit you are drawing blood from an adult patient who reports feeling dizzy, then becomes pale and sweaty. A large tender swelling forms at the site and the patient reports sharp shooting pain down the forearm with tingling fingers. Which complication-response action should the PCT take for syncope with hematoma and possible nerve injury?
- In an outpatient lab a middle-aged adult needs a routine venipuncture, the right arm has an active IV infusion, the left antecubital area shows a well-defined median cubital vein, and the patient reports prior difficult draws when dehydrated. You have warm packs, a blood pressure cuff approach, and anchored palpation available. Which venipuncture site selection best demonstrates assessment of venous accessibility while avoiding contraindicated areas?
- In a crowded donation center a healthy young adult becomes pale and sweaty during venipuncture, says the room is spinning, and then reports sharp shooting pain with tingling down the forearm as the needle is repositioned. The collection tube is filling slowly and the donor grips the chair. Which recognition and response best addresses developing syncope with possible nerve involvement during blood collection?
- In a same-day surgery unit you must draw morning labs on an adult whose median cubital vein feels bouncy and large, but the forearm shows a recent IV site with slight bruising and the other arm has an active infusion. You have one attempt before the nurse must reassess the difficult stick. Which venipuncture site selection best assesses venous accessibility within PCT scope?
- An emergency department technician collects a court-ordered urine drug screen from an adult trauma patient who cannot consent, with a nurse witness present, using a sealed kit that requires locked storage. The provider orders continuous documentation of every handler until lab pickup. Which chain-of-custody action should the technician complete to preserve forensic specimen integrity?
- In an afternoon inpatient room, a patient scheduled for a fasting glucose and basic metabolic panel sipped sweet tea 30 minutes ago, the order requires a mint-green and a gold-top tube, and the only mint-green tube expired last month. Which equipment and requirement verification best supports proper blood collection?
- A busy family clinic asks you to run morning rapid strep point-of-care tests before patients are seen. The kit was opened last week, controls are due today, and a patient sample is already waiting. The insert requires daily liquid controls logged in range. Which quality-control action should you complete first to validate CLIA-waived testing?
- A PCT in the emergency department must draw basic metabolic panel and CBC tubes, and the tubes are small-volume with strict fill requirements. The patient has a fragile hand vein, the department is rushed, and policy requires bedside labeling. Which collection technique best prevents hemolysis and quantity-not-sufficient rejection while ensuring correct identification?
- In a same-day surgery center, a middle-aged adult needs two evacuated tubes, has a large hematoma in the left antecubital fossa, has fluids infusing in the right forearm, and offers a soft hand vein below the infusion site without edema. Which venipuncture device selection best demonstrates correct capillary and venipuncture technique?
- A clinic technician must collect fasting glucose and blood cultures from a 62-year-old outpatient who reports taking morning insulin, using a rolling phlebotomy tray shared by several rooms in a warm storage area. The requisitions list tube types and priority order. Which verification of equipment, tubes, expiration dates and patient testing requirements should the technician perform before venipuncture?
- A technician must collect morning labs from a dehydrated older adult with fragile veins after one unsuccessful attempt, needing sufficient volume and accurate labels for two tubes. The patient is identified, alcohol is available, and the bedside printer works. Which collection practice best avoids hemolysis, insufficient quantity, and labeling errors?
- The emergency department asks you to collect a urine drug screen ordered as legal evidence after a workplace accident, with a supervisor observing and special seals available. The patient is able to provide a sample privately with precautions. Which chain-of-custody practice should you maintain for this forensic specimen?
- While drawing blood in a crowded outpatient lab, an anxious adult becomes pale, sweaty and dizzy, another adult develops a rapidly swelling bluish area at the puncture site, and a third reports sharp shooting pain with numbness down the arm during needle insertion. Which response to syncope, hematoma and nerve injury best protects patients?
- A PCT must collect two sets of blood cultures from an adult with new fever and chills before antibiotics start, using a butterfly and culture bottles on a medical unit. The patient has intact antecubital veins and no IV in the draw arm. Which collection method best preserves culture accuracy and prevents contamination?
- For early morning rounds a technician has orders for a fasting metabolic panel, a light-blue coagulation tube, and a lavender tube, but the cart has one lavender tube past its expiration date, the ice pack is missing, and the patient sipped juice an hour ago. Which equipment, expiration, and testing-requirement check should the technician complete before collection?
- A PCT in a medical-surgical unit must collect ordered blood cultures from a postoperative older adult with new spiking fever whose IV antibiotics are scheduled within the hour, using a closed safety needle system and aerobic and anaerobic bottles for two separate venipunctures. Which blood culture collection technique should the PCT use to prevent contamination and preserve accuracy?
- On a busy morning, a PCT/A must draw two tubes from a dehydrated older adult with fragile veins for timed labs, using a small needle and proper order, with labels printed at the nurse station. Which collection approach best avoids hemolysis, QNS, and labeling errors?
- In a hospital outpatient lab, an anxious adult with small fragile hand veins needs two tubes for routine chemistry after two failed antecubital attempts. The patient prefers one more try, remains hydrated, and has a visible dorsal hand vein. Which collection choice best performs capillary puncture and venipuncture using winged, syringe or tube methods?
- A PCT receives orders for coagulation studies, a complete blood count, and a basic metabolic panel using a light-blue citrate tube, a lavender EDTA tube, and a serum separator tube with no blood cultures ordered. Which collection sequence follows correct order of draw for these tubes?
- At a rural clinic draw station without onsite testing, you collect routine chemistry and light-sensitive bilirubin specimens on a hot afternoon, the courier pickup is delayed 45 minutes, and manufacturer inserts specify protection and prompt cooling for chemistry. How should you handle and transport blood specimens to meet CDC and temperature, light and time requirements?
EKG (10%) · 30 questions
- A patient care technician is monitoring an older adult on telemetry with a history of dizziness who now reports chest pressure, appears pale and confused, is short of breath, and shows a regular very slow rhythm near 30/min with low blood pressure while leads are confirmed attached. Which immediate response should the technician take for symptomatic bradycardia with cardiopulmonary compromise?
- A middle-aged patient in the emergency department is sweaty, has dense chest hair, is breathing fast, and needs a STAT 12-lead EKG while lying still with the bed flat, skin intact, and no implanted device or allergy noted. The monitor shows wandering baseline and loose limb tracings during the first attempt. Which patient preparation and electrode placement step should the PCT perform to obtain an accurate 12-lead tracing?
- In a cardiology clinic, a technician applies a 24-hour Holter monitor to an active older adult who showers daily, takes beta blockers, and fears interfering with the tracing. Skin is prepped, electrodes are secure, and the recorder is charged. Which Holter and telemetry monitoring education should the technician provide for this recording period?
- A PCT monitors telemetry on a post-cardiac unit and sees a previously stable older adult develop a wide-complex rapid rhythm around 180 beats per minute with no visible P waves and a faint pulse reported by the nurse. Which rhythm recognition and monitoring action best addresses this suspected ventricular tachycardia?
- During EKG acquisition for a stable adult with palpitations, the tracing shows distinct P waves, narrow QRS complexes, and upright T waves with a regular rhythm. The nurse asks what electrical events the waveforms represent for documentation. Which description correctly links the cardiac conduction system to the EKG waveform components?
- A clinic PCT must obtain a routine 12-lead EKG on a stable adult, the portable machine shows low battery and curled thermal paper, the order specifies standard calibration, and the tracing must allow accurate interval measurement. Which machine operation and paper-speed selection should the PCT use?
- In a pediatric outpatient clinic, a calm 9-year-old with a congenital left below-elbow stump needs a 12-lead EKG for a heart murmur, the parent will stay at the bedside, the chest is small, and the right arm is intact for comparison. Which EKG adaptation should the PCT use to obtain an accurate pediatric amputee tracing?
- An adult scheduled for preoperative screening needs a resting 12-lead EKG in a chilly outpatient room, has light chest hair and oily skin, and is anxious about exposure and cold electrodes. The order requires a clean tracing with correct anatomical placement. Which patient preparation and electrode placement should the PCT perform for 12-lead acquisition?
- On a busy afternoon in a 12-bed step-down unit, a bedside monitor alarms asystole for a postoperative adult who is sitting up, talking, and eating lunch. The tracing shows a flat line with occasional sharp spikes, and the chest electrode edge is visibly lifting with sweat. Which telemetry alarm response best verifies a possible asystole artifact?
- A technician fits a 55-year-old cardiac outpatient with a 24-hour Holter monitor after the nurse explains the order for palpitations. The patient worries about showering, exercise, and what to do if electrodes itch. Which monitor application and education should the technician provide for reliable Holter recording?
- A PCT monitoring telemetry on a post-surgical unit sees a sudden flatline on the central monitor for a patient who was talking comfortably minutes ago. The bedside monitor shows a loose lead, the patient is pale and difficult to rouse, and the nurse is in another room. Which immediate response best addresses suspected cardiopulmonary compromise during rhythm monitoring?
- A clinic PCT must obtain a routine 12-lead EKG using a portable cart unit that was unplugged overnight, with paper loaded but calibration unknown, before a provider visit for a calm adult. The order specifies a standard recording. Which machine operation and maintenance sequence should the PCT use to ensure standard paper speed acquisition?
- In an outpatient clinic you are recording a STAT 12-lead EKG on a middle-age adult who is cold, tense, and talking during the tracing. The tracing shows slow rolling baseline drift, fuzzy jagged muscle spikes, and regular sharp 60-cycle spikes. Which artifact-correction action should the PCT take first to obtain a clean EKG tracing?
- A middle-aged outpatient is fitted with a 48-hour Holter monitor for palpitations, has sensitive skin, works around shop equipment, and asks how to manage bathing, daily activities, and the symptom diary. Which Holter and telemetry application and patient education approach should you provide at hookup?
- A PCT watches central telemetry on a night shift when a bed alarm sounds for suspected ventricular tachycardia in a patient who was resting comfortably. The unit requires immediate bedside check, keeping the patient on the monitor, and prompt nurse notification. Which response should the PCT initiate for this telemetry alert?
- In a small urgent care room you must obtain a routine 12-lead EKG on an older adult who has a below-knee left leg amputation with a healed stump and a right modified mastectomy with a flat chest dressing, and the patient is anxious about lead placement. The machine allows quality tracings with documented modifications. Which EKG adaptation correctly balances accurate placement with respectful modification for amputation and mastectomy?
- You are setting up a portable EKG unit in a clinic room for a routine 12-lead tracing on a stable adult. The machine shows low paper, the default speed setting was changed by the prior shift, and the tracing must show standard intervals for interpretation. Which EKG machine operation with correct paper speed ensures an accurate acquisition?
- A technician in an outpatient clinic prepares a resting 12-lead EKG on a calm adult with a regular pulse, must verify normal sinus rhythm for the tracing, and recalls the sinoatrial node initiates each beat. The provider expects atrial depolarization, ventricular depolarization, and repolarization to appear in order. Which cardiac conduction-to-waveform sequence should the technician recognize to confirm the expected components?
- In a busy emergency department, a 62-year-old adult with crushing chest pain has a bulky dressing over the right chest after recent mastectomy, has a left above-elbow amputation with a short stump, is diaphoretic, and needs a stat 12-lead EKG without delay. Which adapted electrode placement best preserves signal quality for this mastectomy and amputee EKG?
- A PCT monitoring telemetry on a medical unit sees a sudden change on the bedside monitor: a rapid wide-complex rhythm at 180 beats per minute with no clear P waves in a patient who is pale and unresponsive, and the alarm is sounding. Which rhythm recognition and response best addresses this potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia?
- A PCT is recording a resting 12-lead ECG on a middle-aged adult in a chilly outpatient room who is shivering, chatting, and holding tense arms overhead, and the tracing shows irregular jagged spikes with a thick fuzzy baseline while all electrodes remain firmly attached. Which somatic artifact correction should the technician apply first to obtain a clear tracing?
- During night shift on telemetry, a high-pitched alarm signals possible ventricular tachycardia for a patient assigned to your observation. The monitor shows a wild tracing, the patient room is quiet, and the nurse is down the hall. Which telemetry response best addresses the alert and alarm safely?
- A 56-year-old patient arrives to the clinic for a routine 12-lead EKG, has chest hair, light lotion on the skin, and reports a racing heartbeat but is stable, clean, and able to lie still. The machine has new electrodes, skin prep pads, and 3-, 5-, and 12-lead cables. Which patient preparation and electrode placement action best ensures accurate 12-lead acquisition?
- A cardiology technician reviews a telemetry strip for a stable adult with a regular rhythm, narrow QRS complexes, and one upright P wave before each QRS with consistent PR intervals. The nurse asks what the waveforms show about electrical activity. Which description of the cardiac conduction system and waveform components is accurate?
- During a routine 12-lead ECG on an anxious adult who is shivering, talking, and breathing deeply in a cool room with nearby electrical equipment, the tracing shows wandering baseline, fuzzy thick lines, and sharp spikes. Which artifact correction sequence best produces a clean EKG acquisition?
- A PCT transports a portable EKG machine to a busy medical unit for a routine 12-lead EKG on a stable adult with a regular rhythm, and the last tracing looked wide and stretched with depleted paper. Which machine operation produces a standard diagnostic tracing for interpretation?
- While on cardiac monitoring rounds on a telemetry unit, your assigned patient with chest discomfort becomes unresponsive, the monitor shows a flat line with loose leads, and no carotid pulse is felt while the nurse runs for the code cart. Which immediate response to cardiopulmonary compromise should you initiate as the patient care technician?
- A telemetry aide asks the technician to explain a normal EKG strip showing a small rounded P wave, a sharp tall QRS complex, and a rounded T wave during a calm sinus rhythm. Which cardiac conduction and waveform description correctly links the system sequence to the components?
- A PCT monitoring telemetry sees a sudden wide-complex rapid rhythm at 180 beats per minute with no clear P waves in a patient who was talking but now is pale and reports chest pressure. Which rhythm recognition and monitoring action best addresses suspected ventricular tachycardia?
- In a busy emergency department bay, a sweaty middle-aged patient reports chest pressure and needs a STAT 12-lead EKG. The chest is hairy with lotion residue, the patient is anxious, and the cardiac monitor shows artifact. Which preparation and placement step best prepares the patient and places 12-lead electrodes for acquisition?
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