Patient Care and Safety Flashcards
6 cards from real CCT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Patient Care and Safety flashcards as text
Which hand hygiene technique is required when caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection?
Answer: Soap and water handwashing — alcohol-based hand sanitizers are NOT effective against C. diff spores
C. difficile produces hardy spores that are resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Soap and water mechanically removes spores from hands and is the only effective hand hygiene method for C. diff.
A patient refuses to have an ECG performed despite a physician's order. What is the correct course of action?
Answer: Respect the refusal, document it, and notify the ordering physician — competent patients have the right to refuse treatment
Competent adults have the fundamental right to refuse any medical treatment or procedure, including diagnostic tests. The technician must respect this refusal, document it carefully, and notify the ordering provider.
What is the appropriate response if a CCT technician notices a patient in the telemetry unit appears unresponsive and is not breathing normally?
Answer: Immediately activate the emergency response system (call code/RRT) and begin CPR if no pulse is detected
Cardiopulmonary arrest requires immediate activation of the emergency response system and initiation of CPR. Every minute without CPR decreases survival from cardiac arrest by approximately 10%; early response is critical.
Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when performing an ECG on a patient under contact and droplet precautions?
Answer: Gown, gloves, and surgical mask at minimum; eye protection if splashing risk is present
Contact precautions require a gown and gloves; droplet precautions add a surgical mask. Eye protection is added if there is a risk of secretion splashing. This PPE combination protects against contact and droplet transmission.
When should a CCT technician perform hand hygiene according to WHO's 'Five Moments' guidelines?
Answer: Before patient contact, before an aseptic task, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, and after touching the patient's surroundings
WHO's Five Moments for Hand Hygiene defines the five critical moments requiring hand hygiene to prevent healthcare-associated infections: before patient contact, before aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure, after patient contact, and after contact with patient surroundings.
A CCT technician is preparing to take an ECG on a female patient. The patient appears anxious and asks if the test requires removing clothing. What is the most appropriate response?
Answer: Explain that the chest must be exposed for electrode placement, ensure privacy with draping, and offer to have a same-gender staff member present if the patient prefers
Addressing the patient's anxiety with a clear explanation, offering maximum privacy through proper draping, and offering a same-gender chaperon respects patient dignity and autonomy while maintaining the clinical necessity of the procedure.