pct exam review

A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has significant hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the technician take to communicate with the patient?

• speak faster than usual when communicating

• use a picture board to provide instructions

• speak in a higher tone of voice

• avoid facing the patient directly when speaking

Answer explanation

the technician can use a picture board to communicate with a patient who has hearing loss. if the patient knows sign language, the technician can also use a sign language interpreter to assist with communication

A patient care technician is taking a patient's pulse oximetry reading. The technician cannot get the reading to appear on the monitor. Which of the following could be the cause?

• The patient is running a fever of 38.5° C (101.4° F).

• the patient blood pressure of 84/62 mm Hg with cold hands and fingers

• the patient elevated in semi-fowlers position with a cold pack on her forehead

• the patients skins appears flushed

Answer explanation

low blood pressure ,cold hands and fingers indicate poor circulation which can make it difficult to obtain a pulse oximetry reading

A patient care technician 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 technician expect the nurse to use?

• gauze

• occlusive

• semi-occlusive

• transparent

Answer explanation

the technician should identify that an occlusive dressing does not allow air or oxygen to pass through to the wound

A patient care technician is providing instructions to a newly hired technician about transporting and handling blood specimens. Which of the following instructions should the technician include?

• avoid inverting a specimen tube if it includes an additive

• ensure the blood In the specimen tube maintains contact with the tube stopper

• ensure the blood specimen transport bag has a liquid-tight closure

• avoid wearing gloves when carrying with the specimen transports bag

Answer explanation

when transporting specimen, the technician should ensure the transport bag has a liquid tight closure

A patient care technician is monitoring a patient who has severe hypertension. Which of the following findings related to the patient's condition should the technician report to the nurse immediately?

• the patient reports stiffness in his hands and feet

• the patient needs help lifting his legs onto the bed

• the patients lower limbs show pitting edema

• the patients fingers are thick and fat

Answer explanation

minor swelling is an expected finding that should be monitored; however, pitting edema should be reported immediately

A patient care technician is caring for a patient who suddenly becomes unresponsive. Which of the following actions should the technician take first?

• check the movement of the patients chest for 10 sec

• tap the patients should and ask."are you okay?"

• start chest compressions after placing the patient flat

• notify the emergency response team

Answer explanation

The first action the technician should take is to confirm unresponsiveness. Then, if the patient does not respond, the technician should initiate CPR. It is also essential to get help by notifying the rapid response team.

A patient care technician should identify that which of the following structures of the heart is immediately affected if a sinoatrial (SA) node fails?

• bundle of his

• purkinje fibers

• atrioventricular node

• interventricular septum

Answer explanation

if an SA node fails, it will fail to simulate the atrioventricular (AV) node, causing cardiopulmonary compromise

A patient care technician is caring for a patient who requires oral suctioning. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• wear sterile gloves while suctioning the patient

• wait 30 sec between suctioning attempts

• limit suctioning to no more than 15 sec at a time

• insert the suction catheter into the patients throat

Answer explanation

The technician should apply suction for no longer than 15 seconds and repeat it after 1 to 2 min if necessary.

A patient care technician is caring for a patient who has a stage Il pressure ulcer. Which of the following findings should the technician expect?

• skin that is intact and nonblanchable

• tissue loss with exposed bone

• visible subcutaneous fat

• blister-like appearance

Answer explanation

the technician should expect a blister-like appearance for a stage ll pressure ulcer

A patient care technician is preparing to transport a patient via a stretcher. Which of the following actions should the technician take when transferring the patient from a bed to the stretcher?

• roll the sheets away from the patient

• remove the patients IV and indwelling urinary catheter prior to transferring the patient

• instruct the patient to put their hands by their sides

• raise the patients bed to the same level as the stretcher

Answer explanation

The technician should raise the patient's bed to the same level of the stretcher.