PCT Exam Chapter 1

A PCT is caring for a patient who has a lower denture and requires assistance with oral hygiene. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• Slightly tug downward to remove the patient's denture.

• Remove the denture by turning it sideways and lifting it up.

• Clean the denture by soaking it in hydrogen peroxide.

• Hold the denture between the thumb and index finger when cleaning it.

A PCT enters the room of a patient who has a new diagnosis of cancer and finds the patient crying. Which of the following statements should the technician make?

• "Why are you crying?"

• "Don't worry. You will receive excellent treatment for your cancer."

• "You seem to be feeling sad. What are your thoughts right now?"

• "You shouldn't cry. You have a lot of people who support you."

A PCT is caring for a patient who requires supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula. Which one of the following actions should the technician take?

• fill the humidifier with 0.9% sodium chloride

• Place cotton between the cannula's tubing and the patient's ears

• Remove the nasal cannula when the patient is eating a meal.

• Report any bubbling in the humidifier container to the nurse.

A PCT is preparing a patient to receive an enteral feeding through a nasogastric tube. The patient is resting in their bed on their side. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• Ask the patient to turn from their side onto their back.

• Raise the head of the patient's bed to a semi-upright position.

• Assist the patient into orthopedic position

• Place am emesis basin under the patient's chin

A PCT is preparing to serve a meal tray to a patient who has vision loss. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• Feed the food to the patient

• Avoid having a conversation with the patient while they're eating

• Assist the patient to hold their fork

• Use the numbers of a clock to describe the food on the plate to the patient.

A PCT enters a patient's room and finds the patient sitting on the floor. The patient states, "I was getting out of bed when I felt dizzy and slid to the floor." Which of the following actions should the technician take first?

• Check the floor for any spilled liquids

• Reassure the patient

• Complete an incident report

• Notify the nurse

A PCT is removing a bedpan from a patient after defecation. Which of the following characteristics of the stool should the technician observe for and report to the nurse?

• dark brown stool

• stool with a mild odor

• soft, moist stool

• liquid stool

A PCT is replacing a colostomy appliance for a patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• peel off the used ostomy appliance from the bottom

• wipe away any feces around the stoma with an antiseptic wipe.

• press the wafer against the patient's skin for 30 seconds

• wash the skin around the stoma with warm water.

A PCT is assisting a nurse to replace a patient's ileostomy pouch for the first time following surgery. After cutting the skin protective wafer, the technician should expect the opening to have which of the following characteristics?

• the opening matches the circumference of the stoma

• the opening is 1/16 inch larger than the stoma

• the opening is 1/2 inch larger than the stoma

• the opening is 1 inch larger than the stoma

A PCT is calculating a patient's fluid intake for the previous hour. The patient had 50 mL IV fluid, 6 oz tea, 6 oz chicken broth, and 8 oz water. Which of the following amounts should the technician document?

• 410 mL

• 470 mL

• 600 mL

• 650 mL