Patient Care Technician Pre-Assessment

When should postmortem care be performed?

• After the family views the body.

• Immediately after the doctor pronounces the patient deceased.

• When rigor mortis sets in.

• After the body is transferred to the morgue.

Answer explanation

Postmortem care should be performed immediately after the doctor pronounces the patient deceased to ensure proper handling of the body.

The healthcare provider is helping a patient dress for the day, which of the following is an appropriate action?

• Check the physician's order.

• Select the patient's clothing.

• Close the door to provide privacy.

• Report to the charge nurse.

Answer explanation

Closing the door to provide privacy is important when helping a patient dress, as it respects the patient's dignity and confidentiality.

Which of the following this should the healthcare provider do to familiarize new patients with their surroundings?

• Demonstrate the location and use of the call light.

• Explain that the TV is not to used unless supervised.

• Instruct the family to leave the room after the healthcare provider has completed the admission.

• Raise the bed to the highest position and raise the safety rails.

Answer explanation

The healthcare provider should demonstrate the location and use of the call light to familiarize new patients with their surroundings, which is the correct choice.

A patient asks, "I need help during the night, who will be there?" The best response by the healthcare provider is:

• Don't worry, you'll be okay.

• Just yell; someone will hear you.

• Your roommate will ring the call bell for you.

• There are people here all night to help you.

Answer explanation

The correct response assures the patient that there are people available all night to help, addressing the patient's concern about needing assistance during the night.

A patient is scheduled for a partial bed bath. This means that the healthcare provider must wash the patient's

• face, neck, ears, arms, and hands.

• face, axillae, hands, and buttocks.

• face, hands, axillae, and legs.

• face, hands, axillae, genitals, and buttocks.

Answer explanation

A partial bed bath involves washing the patient's face, axillae, hands, and buttocks, making the second answer choice the correct one.

When working with a client who has urinary retention, the healthcare provider can expect that the patient will:

• Urinate large volumes.

• Be unable to urinate.

• Urinate frequently.

• Be incontinent of urine.

Answer explanation

Urinary retention is the inability to empty the bladder, so the patient will be unable to urinate.

A patient's dentures are lost. The first action should be to:

• notify the administrator.

• notify the patient's family members.

• notify the patient's physician.

• notify the charge nurse.

Answer explanation

Notifying the charge nurse is the correct action because they are responsible for coordinating the search and ensuring the patient's needs are met.

The patient's religion forbids them to consume pork. Bacon is being served for breakfast. The most appropriate response is to:

• Encourage the patient to eat because they require the protein to prevent skin breakdown.

• Instruct the patient that it is okay for them to consume the pork since their physician ordered it.

• Call the kitchen for a tray without bacon and request that this preference be added to their dietary restrictions.

• Inform the patient that dietary restrictions are not as important as their health.

Answer explanation

The most appropriate response is to call the kitchen for a tray without bacon and request that this preference be added to their dietary restrictions.

Which of the following best describes nail care?

• Nail care is not required for elderly because their nails do not grow due to aging.

• Use scissors only to administer nail care when working with elderly patients.

• All patients need nail care.

• Contact the charge nurse for nail care.

Answer explanation

Nail care is important for all patients, not just the elderly, so the correct choice is 'All patients need nail care.'

A patient turns on the call light when she needs to urinate. The appropriate action is to:

• ignore the light, since she is not the healthcare provider who notices the light's responsibility.

• announce on the intercom that two patients are ahead of her and she will be helped in the order that she called.

• answer the call light and assist the patient with urination.

• answer the call light when the healthcare provider has time.

Answer explanation

The appropriate action is to answer the call light and assist the patient with urination.