Patient Care Technician Exam
Patient Care Technician Exam is a trademark of its owner, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse Test Treasure Publication or TTP Prep.
Patient Care Technician Exam is a trademark of its owner, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse Test Treasure Publication or TTP Prep.
10 sample questions for the Patient Care Technician Exam, with the correct answer and an explanation for each. No account needed. Try each one before you open the answer.
Sections covered on the exam: Basic Care, Hygiene and Activities of Daily Living, Infection Control, Mobility, Transfers, Positioning and Skin Integrity, Nutrition, Elimination, Feeding Tubes and Ostomies, Respiratory Care, Wound Care and Clinical Procedures, Changes in Condition, Priorities, Emergencies and End-of-Life Care, Patient Rights, Legal and Ethical Practice and Communication, Workplace Safety, Patient Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Phlebotomy: Venipuncture, Capillary Puncture and Blood Cultures, Specimen Handling, Non-Blood Specimens and Point-of-Care Testing, EKG Acquisition and Rhythm Recognition.
Question 1 · Basic Care, Hygiene and Activities of Daily Living
Answer: B. Wipe from the inner to the outer corner with plain water, using a clean part of the cloth for each eye
Eyes are washed first, with water only, from the inner canthus to the outer canthus so debris moves away from the tear duct. A clean section of the washcloth for each eye prevents carrying organisms from one eye to the other. Soap irritates the eyes, and wiping toward the inner corner pushes debris into the tear duct.
Question 2 · Nutrition, Elimination, Feeding Tubes and Ostomies
Answer: B. It is likely falsely high because the cuff is too small
A cuff that is too small needs extra pressure to compress the artery, which gives a falsely high reading; a cuff that is too large gives a falsely low reading. The bladder should cover about 80% of the arm's circumference. The PCT should repeat the measurement with a large adult cuff, with the arm supported at heart level, and report the result.
Question 3 · Changes in Condition, Priorities, Emergencies and End-of-Life Care
Answer: A. A patient whose pulse oximeter reads 87% and who seems newly confused
Low oxygen saturation with new confusion is an airway-breathing problem and an acute change, so it comes first by the ABCs. The other requests are routine comfort or hygiene needs that can safely wait a few minutes while the nurse is notified about the unstable patient.
Question 4 · Workplace Safety, Patient Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Answer: B. Have the patient state name and birth date and match them to the ID band
The Joint Commission requires two patient identifiers, such as name and date of birth, checked against the ID band before care, specimens and meals. A room number is never an identifier, and a yes-or-no question can be answered wrongly by a confused or hard-of-hearing patient.
Question 5 · Phlebotomy: Venipuncture, Capillary Puncture and Blood Cultures
Answer: B. Medial or lateral plantar surface of the heel
Infant heel punctures are made on the medial or lateral plantar surface of the heel, no deeper than 2.0 mm, to avoid the heel bone. The center back curve of the heel risks puncturing bone and causing osteomyelitis. Fingersticks are used for older children and adults, not for infants under 12 months.
Question 6 · Infection Control
Answer: B. Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
The CDC donning sequence is gown first, then the mask or respirator, then goggles or a face shield, and gloves last so their cuffs can be pulled over the gown sleeves. Gloves put on earlier are contaminated or torn while tying the gown and adjusting the mask, and the gown would then cover the glove cuffs instead of being covered by them.
Question 7 · Nutrition, Elimination, Feeding Tubes and Ostomies
Answer: C. Report the 3-lb weight gain to the nurse
In heart failure, a gain of 2 to 3 lb in a day or 5 lb in a week can mean fluid is building up, so the PCT reports it to the nurse. Daily weights stay accurate only when taken at the same time, on the same scale, in similar clothing after voiding. Reweighing after a meal or on a different scale makes the comparison less reliable.
Question 8 · Changes in Condition, Priorities, Emergencies and End-of-Life Care
Answer: A. Give 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts and repeat
A responsive infant with severe airway obstruction receives cycles of 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the infant becomes unresponsive. Abdominal thrusts are not used on infants, and blind finger sweeps can push the object deeper.
Question 9 · Workplace Safety, Patient Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Answer: A. Go to the patient right away, make the patient safe, and reset the alarm after fixing the cause
A bed alarm means the patient may be getting up unassisted, so the PCT responds at once, helps the patient back to a safe position, addresses the reason (such as a need to use the toilet), and makes sure the alarm is reset and on. Alarms ordered for fall prevention are never turned off, silenced or muted for convenience, and relying on a visitor to watch the patient is unsafe.
Question 10 · Phlebotomy: Venipuncture, Capillary Puncture and Blood Cultures
Answer: B. The lavender EDTA microtube
In capillary collection, the EDTA tube is filled first because platelets begin clumping at the puncture site, which would affect the CBC. Other additive tubes come next, and serum tubes are filled last. This order differs from the venipuncture order of draw.
TTP Prep has 200 Patient Care Technician practice questions with explanations, timed and mock-exam modes, 332 flashcards, interactive lessons, a printable cheat sheet and a readiness score. Start free, no card needed.
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