PCT NHA Certification Exam Questions and Answers, Exams of Nursing

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PCT NHA CERTIFICATION NEWEST 2025

ACTUAL EXAM 2 VERSIONS LATEST

EXAM QUESTIONS AND DETAILED

CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED

ANSWERS) | A+ GRADE

1. A patient in the reception area suddenly slides out of her chair to the floor and begins having a tonic-clonic seizure. The PCT's best response is to a. Move the patient to an examination room b. Insert a tongue blade to keep her from swallowing her tongue c. Restrain her d. Remove nearby objects Correct Answer d. Remove nearby objects The PCT is interviewing a 24-year-old man who was hit on the head with a softball. Which of the following is least helpful in eliciting useful information? a. "Please describe the event as it occurred." b. "Do you have any neck pain?" c. "Describe your symptoms." d. "Who threw the ball?" Correct Answer d. Who threw the ball? A 24-year-old man enters the urgent-care clinic accompanied by his friend. He is holding an icepack to the side of his head and states that he was hit by a softball

during a game. Which of the following questions by the PCT will best elicit data about the severity and extent of his injury? a. "When did this happen?" b. "Did you lose consciousness?" c. "Where did this occur?" d. "Did it leave a bruise?" Correct Answer b. Did you lose consciousness? A PCT is assisting with the care of a 3-year-old child who has several bruises on the arms in various stages of healing. The child's guardian states that the child "falls down a lot." Which of the following actions should the tech take? A) Ask the guardian why the child falls down a lot. B) Report the signs of injury to a supervisor. C) Ask the child in private how the injuries occurred. D) Confront the guardian about the possible abuse. Correct Answer B) Report the signs of injury to a supervisor. A PCT is changing the linens for a pt who is prescribed contact precautions for clostridium difficile. The tech finds the disposable underpad is heavily soiled blood and feces. The tech should dispose of the pad in which of the following containers?

A) Biohazard waste container B) Biohazard sharps container C) Linen container D) Trash container Correct Answer A) Biohazard waste container A PCT is caring for a pt whose roommate asks about her diagnosis. The tech should identify that disclosing this information would violate which of the following? A) Standards of care B) Informed consent C) Patient Self-Determination Act D) Patients' Bill of Rights Correct Answer D) Patients' Bill of Rights A PCT is preparing to bathe a pt who has diarrhea and has soiled the bed. Which of the following actions should the tech take to control the spread of infection? A) Wear gloves B) Wear a mask C) Give the pt an alcohol hand rub

D) Apply petroleum jelly to the pt rectal area Correct Answer A) Wear gloves A PCT is providing oral care to a pt who wears upper and lower dentures. Which of the following actions should the tech take when reinserting the dentures? A) Dry the dentures well before reinserting them B) Brush the gums after replacing the dentures C) Remove gloves to facilitate reinsertion of dentures D) Replace the upper denture before the lower denture Correct Answer D) Replace the upper denture before the lower denture A PCT should identify that which of the following provides residents in long-term care facilities with the right to be free of physical or psychological abuse? A) Patients' Bill of Rights B) Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) C) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

D) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Correct Answer B) Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) A PCT in a hospital is preparing to sterilize equipment that was soiled with blood. Which of the following methods should the technician use? A) Bleach B) Dry heat C) Boiling water D) Autoclave Correct Answer D) Autoclave A PCT is providing instructions to a newly hired tech about transporting and handling blood specimens. Which of the following instructions should the technician include? A) Avoid inverting a specimen tube if it includes an additive B) Ensure the blood in the specimen tube maintains contact with the tube stopper C) Ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid- tight closure

D) Avoid wearing gloves when carrying the specimen transport bag Correct Answer C) Ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid-tight closure A PCT is changing a pt bedding and receives a needlestick. Which of the following actions should the technician take first? A) Visit the occupational health facility B) Complete an incident report C) Wash the affected area with antimicrobial soap D) Report the incident to supervisor Correct Answer C) Wash the affected area with antimicrobial soap A PCT is assisting during mealtime with a pt who is at risk for dysphagia. The tech should identify which of the following foods should be calculated as fluid intake for the intake and output record? A) Sliced banana B) Scrambled eggs C) Mashed potatoes D) Chocolate pudding Correct Answer D) Chocolate pudding

A PCT is caring for a patient who requires oral suctioning. Which of the following actions should the tech take? A) Wear sterile gloves while suctioning the pt. B) Wait 30 seconds between suctioning attempts C) Limit suctioning to no more than 15 seconds at a time D) Insert the suction catheter into the patient's throat Correct Answer C) Limit suctioning to no more than 15 seconds at a time A PCT is preparing to assist a pt to ambulate using a gait belt. Which of the following statements should the tech make? A) "I will apply the gait belt under your arms" B) "You can support yourself by holding onto my arms" C) "You should walk slightly behind me" D) "I will support you by walking on your stronger side" Correct Answer B) "You can support yourself by holding onto my arms" A PCT should identify that which of the following situations will likely cause somatic interference during EKG testing? A) A pt who is sweating profusely

B) A pt who is experiencing a seizure C) A pt who is watching TV D) A pt whose respiration are 16/min Correct Answer B) A pt who is experiencing a seizure A PCT is assisting with the physical examination of an older adult pt. Which of the following statements by the pt indicates risk factor for elder abuse? A) "I sometimes forget where i put my cell phone" B) "I am not able to see quite as well as I used to" C) "I am able to walk well using a cane" D) "I live alone, and I don't get many visitors." Correct Answer D) "I live alone, and I don't get many visitors." A patient care technician is preparing to determine the pulse rate of a patient who has atrial fibrillation. Which of the following methods should the technician use? A). Manually, using the apical area B) Manually, using the radial artery C) Electronically, using a pulse oximeter

D) Electronically, using an EKG machine Correct Answer A). Manually, using the apical area A patient care technician is performing postmortem care for a patient who is scheduled for an autopsy. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Remove tubing from the patient's body. B) Discard any of the patient's dressings. C) Collect and document the patient's valuables. D) Remove the patient's dentures. Correct Answer C) Collect and document the patient's valuables. A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has died. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Pull the sheet over the patient's head prior to the family viewing. B) Place the patient in semi-Fowler's position. C) Discourage the patient's family from assisting with postmortem care. D) Position a pillow under the patient's head. Correct Answer D) Position a pillow under the patient's head.

A patient care technician is performing a venipuncture for a patient and observes a hematoma developing at the needle insertion site. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Observe the site for 3 min to see if the hematoma worsens. B) Remove the needle while keeping the tourniquet in place. C) Apply pressure to the site for a minimum of 5 min. D) Continue the blood collection and send to the laboratory for analysis. Correct Answer C) Apply pressure to the site for a minimum of 5 min. If a patient who has influenza is coughing, a patient care technician should understand that the cough is which of the following links in the chain of infection? A) Entrance B) Reservoir C) Host D) Mode of transmission Correct Answer D) Mode of transmission

A patient care technician is assisting a patient who is recovering from abdominal surgery with deep-breathing and coughing exercises. Which of the following findings should the technician expect to observe in the patient? A) Reduced abdominal pain from surgery B) Cleared airway blockage of fluid and mucus C) Ability to take short and shallow breaths for proper oxygenation D) Ability to take four or five deep breaths per hour Correct Answer B) Cleared airway blockage of fluid and mucus A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has an ostomy. Which of the following actions should the technician take when providing ostomy care? A) Use toilet paper to wipe around the stoma. B) Wipe the area around the stoma vigorously when cleaning. C) Use hot water to clean around the stoma. D) Apply a bag that is 3.8 cm (1.5 in) larger than stoma. Correct Answer A) Use toilet paper to wipe around the stoma.

A patient care technician is transferring a weight-bearing patient from a wheelchair to the bed. Which of the following pieces of equipment should the technician use? A) Trapeze B) Crutches C) Gait belt D) Slide board Correct Answer C) Gait belt A patient tells a patient care technician, "I don't like the overnight staff because nobody ever comes to help me use the bathroom when I use the call light. Please don't tell anyone because I don't want them to ignore me more." Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Respect the patient's wishes and not tell anyone. B) Come in early and talk to the overnight staff about the patient's concerns. C) Inform the patient that this concern will be reported to the charge nurse. D) Apply an adult diaper to the patient for overnight toileting. Correct Answer C) Inform the patient that this concern will be reported to the charge nurse.

A patient care technician should identify that which of the following represents the first link in the chain of infection? A) Infectious agent B) Portal of entry C) Mode of transmission D) Susceptible host Correct Answer A) Infectious agent A patient care technician is preparing to collect a stool specimen from a patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Collect the specimen in a sterile container. B) Wear sterile gloves while collecting the specimen. C) Prevent contaminating the specimen with urine. D) Place the specimen hat toward the front of the toilet. Correct Answer C) Prevent contaminating the specimen with urine. A patient care technician is assisting a weight-bearing patient from a wheelchair to the toilet in the patient's bathroom. Which of the following actions should the technician take to keep the patient safe during the transfer?

A) Place a towel on the floor. B) Lock the wheels on the wheelchair. C) Use a mechanical lift with a sling for the transfer. D) Apply a gait belt under the patient's arms. Correct Answer B) Lock the wheels on the wheelchair. A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is receiving an enteral feeding via an NG tube. In which of the following positions should the technician place the patient? A) Supine B) Semi-Fowler's C) Trendelenburg D) Orthopneic Correct Answer B) Semi-Fowler's A patient care technician is collecting a urine specimen from a patient. The technician should identify that which of the following urine characteristics is an unexpected finding? A) Straw-colored urine B) Pale yellow urine

C) Red-tinged urine D) Dark gold urine Correct Answer C) Red-tinged urine A patient care technician is caring for a patient who is at risk for falls. At which of the following times should the technician check and document on this patient? A) Every 1 hr B) Every 2 hr C) Every 3 hr D) Every 4 hr Correct Answer A) Every 1 hr A patient care technician is caring for a patient whose daughter is visiting. The daughter asks about the health of the patient's roommate. Which of the following statements by the technician is an appropriate response? A) "I'll get the nurse." B) "You can ask the patient about his condition." C) "I'II send a request to the medical records department." D) "I need you to fax over a written request." Correct Answer B) "You can ask the patient about his condition."

A patient care technician is caring for a 5-year-old child who reports pain. Which of the following pain scales should the technician use to measure the child's pain? A) Visual analog B) Numerical C) Verbal descriptive D) Wong-Baker FACES Correct Answer D) Wong-Baker FACES A patient care technician is preparing to place electrodes for an EKG on a patient who has large breasts. In which of the following locations should the technician place the electrodes for V4 and V5? A) In the closest position possible to normal, on top of the breast B) In the closest position possible to normal, underneath the breast C) On the lateral surface of the breast D) On the medial surface of the breast Correct Answer B) In the closest position possible to normal, underneath the breast

A PCT is manually transferring a pt who has right-sided weakness from the bed to the wheelchair. Which of the following methods should the tech use to promote proper body mechanics? A) Have the PT wrap her arms around his neck, bend at the waist. and lift using his back muscles. B) Have the PT hold his hand, stand using weak side first, while he supports the pt strong side. C) Ask the PT to to lean backwards in the bed, grasp the front of the transfer belt, pull up, and transfer into the wheelchair. D) Grasp the back of the transfer belt and have the pt stand using stronger side while lifting with legs and keeping back straight. Correct Answer D) Grasp the back of the transfer belt and have the pt stand using stronger side while lifting with legs and keeping back straight. A PCT is caring for several adult patients. Which of the following should the technician report to the nurse first? A) Blood pressure 139/88 mm Hg B) Apical pulse 108/min C) Respiratory rate 22/min

D) Temperature 38.5° C (100.5° F) Correct Answer D) Temperature 38.5° C (100.5° F) A PCT is using a new disinfectant to clean a soiled mattress. The Technician notes a skull and crossbones symbol on the label of the disinfectant. Which of the following hazards does the symbol indicate? A) Explosive B) flammable C) skin irritant D) Acute toxicity Correct Answer D) Acute toxicity A PCT is preparing to transport a PT via a stretcher. Which of the following actions should the tech take when transferring the PT from a bed to the stretcher? A) Roll the sheets away from the PT B) Remove the PT IV and indwelling urinary catheter prior to transferring the pt to the stretcher. C) Instruct the PT to put their hands by their sides. D) Raise the PT bed to the same level as the stretcher. Correct Answer D) Raise the PT bed to the same level as the stretcher.

A PCT should identify that a health care facility's infection control program is required by which of the following institutions? A) Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) B) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) C) The Joint Commission (TJC) D) Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Correct Answer C) The Joint Commission (TJC) A PCT is preparing to label a PT specimen tube following a blood collection. Which of the following actions should the tech take? A) Face the PT while labeling the specimen tube B) Use pencil to label the specimen C) Avoid using computer-generated labels D) Initial the label prior to blood collection Correct Answer A) Face the PT while labeling the specimen tube A PCT is applying antiembolism stockings to a pt. the tech should identify that the provider has prescribed antiembolism stockings for which of the following reasons? A) To reduce the risk for deep-vein thrombosis

B) To protect the skin from injury C) To prevent air embolisms from circulating to the legs D) To dislodge existing embolisms Correct Answer A) To reduce the risk for deep-vein thrombosis Which of the following actions should PCT take to verify the quality of venipuncture supplies before beginning a blood draw? A) Determine that the tourniquet is the proper size. B) Check the vacuum of the tube. C) Inspect the integrity of the needle's seal. D) Verify that the adapter is the correct color. Correct Answer C) Inspect the integrity of the needle's seal. A PCT is to collect a 2 hr postprandial glucose by dermal puncture. Upon entering the room, she sees the pt pushing away the overbed table with the lunch tray still on it. Which of the following actions should the tech take? A) Ask the pt if he has eaten within the past 2 hr. B) Mark the test as random instead of 2 hr postprandial. C) Contact the pt provider

D) Perform the test and mark as 2 hr postprandial. Correct Answer A) Ask the pt if he has eaten within the past 2 hr. A PCT is obtaining a blood specimen from a pt. The tech should identify that which of the following errors could cause specimen hemolysis? A) Excessively massaging the antecubital space when locating a vein B) Failing to release the tourniquet within 1 min C) Redirecting the needle several times to locate a vein D) Transporting the tubes horizontally Correct Answer D) Transporting the tubes horizontally A PCT is preparing to preform passive ROM exercises for a pt. Which of the following motions should the tech perform on the pt elbows? A) Flexion B) Abduction C) Adduction D) Dorsiflexion Correct Answer A) Flexion

A PCT is is assisting a nurse to change a dressing on a surgical wound. The wound should not have contact with air or oxygen. Which of the following types of dressing should the tech expect the nurse to use? A) Occlusive B) Gauze C) Semi-Occlusive D) Transparent Correct Answer A) Occlusive A PCT must invert anticoagulant tubes to prevent which of the following? A) Hemolysis B) Clotting C) Hemoconcentration D) Reflux Correct Answer B) Clotting A PCT should identify that the pt benefit from the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems in which of the following ways? A) The pt can review real time charting about their medical care.

B) The pt receives improved coordination of care C) These systems are similar enough that special training is not required to across facilities. D) These systems provide documentation for pt who might be involved medical malpractice lawsuits. Correct Answer B) The pt receives improved coordination of care Which of the following actions should a pct take to help prevent health care-associated infections? A) Use a new respirator for each pt B) Wear sterile gloves when performing a venipuncture. C) Follow standard precautions when caring for patients who have surgical incisions. D) Place used needles in a biohazardous waste bag Correct Answer C) Follow standard precautions when caring for patients who have surgical incisions. Which of the following actions is outside the scope of practice for a pct? A) Collecting a blood sample B) Receiving a medication prescription C) Providing catheter care

D) preparing a sterile tray Correct Answer B) Receiving a medication prescription A PCT is assisting a pt with bowel elimination. Which of the following actions should the tech take to promote relaxation and emotional support? A) Check on the pt frequently B) Play soft music at the pt bedside C) Place the pt bed in the supine position D) Insist the pt use a bed pan Correct Answer B) Play soft music at the pt bedside A PCT is monitoring a pt who has sever hypertension. Which of the following findings related to the pt condition should the tech report to the nurse immediately? A) The pt reports stiffness in his hands and feet. B) The pt needs help lifting his legs onto the bed. C) The pt lower limbs show pitting edema. D) The pt fingers are thick and flat. Correct Answer C) The pt lower limbs show pitting edema.

For which of the following procedures should a pct use sterile technique? A) Performing a venipuncture B) Inserting a straight catheter C) Collecting a stool specimen D) Discontinuing peripheral IV access Correct Answer B) Inserting a straight catheter A PCT is performing a 12-lead EKG for a pt. The Tech should identify that which of the following rates indicates bradycardia? A) 50/min B) 100/min C) 110/min D) 75/min Correct Answer A) 50/min A PCT is measuring intake for a pt who has consumed 2 oz of iced tea, 6 oz of chicken broth, and 4 oz of flavored gelatin. Which of the following amounts is the pt total intake? A) 120mL