Mixed Deck — All PCT Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real PCT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All PCT Topics flashcards as text
Maintaining patient confidentiality means a PCT should NEVER:
Answer: Share patient information with unauthorized individuals
HIPAA requires that patient information only be shared with those directly involved in their care.
You notice a coworker documenting care that was not provided. You should:
Answer: Report the concern to your supervisor
Falsifying medical records is a serious legal and ethical violation that must be reported to a supervisor.
When a needle accidentally punctures the phlebotomist's skin, the FIRST action is to:
Answer: Immediately wash the area with soap and water
Immediate washing with soap and water is the first response to a needlestick, removing potential pathogens before further steps are taken.
A PCT forgets to document intake and output (I&O) for a two-hour period. What is the best course of action?
Answer: Document the known information as a late entry, noting the delay
A late entry is acceptable when clearly labeled as such; fabricating or guessing values is falsification of records.
Under HIPAA, who is authorized to access a patient's medical record?
Answer: Only staff directly involved in the patient's care
HIPAA restricts medical record access to those with a need-to-know based on their role in the patient's care.
Which of the following best describes how to clean the urethral meatus of a female patient during catheter insertion?
Answer: Use one wipe for each stroke, always moving from the meatus outward
Each cleansing stroke must use a fresh swab moving from the clean meatus outward to prevent contamination of the sterile urethral opening.
An N95 respirator is required for which type of transmission-based precaution?
Answer: Airborne precautions
Airborne precautions require an N95 or higher respirator because pathogens travel on small particles that can penetrate surgical masks.
What is the primary reason healthcare facilities require staff to use only approved abbreviations in documentation?
Answer: To prevent misinterpretation that could lead to patient harm
Unapproved abbreviations can be misread and lead to medication errors, incorrect procedures, or other patient safety incidents.
What should a PCT do if asked to sign off on documentation for care they did not personally provide?
Answer: Refuse, as signing attests that you personally performed or observed the care
Signing documentation is a legal attestation that the signer performed or directly observed the care, and signing for another's work constitutes falsification.
The term 'afebrile' means the patient has:
Answer: No fever
Afebrile means the patient has no fever and the temperature is within the normal range.
Which of the following best describes 'charting by exception' (CBE)?
Answer: Documenting only abnormal findings or deviations from the norm
CBE requires documentation only when findings are outside established norms, with normal findings assumed unless otherwise noted.
What technique is required when inserting an indwelling urinary catheter?
Answer: Sterile technique to prevent urinary tract infection
Indwelling catheter insertion requires sterile technique because introducing a foreign object directly into the bladder creates a serious infection risk.
When labeling a blood specimen tube, the PCT should:
Answer: Label tubes at the bedside immediately after collection
Labeling at the bedside immediately after collection prevents specimen mix-ups, a critical patient safety requirement.
Which of the following is an endogenous source of infection?
Answer: The patient's own intestinal bacteria entering the bloodstream
Endogenous infections arise from the patient's own normal flora that enter a new body site (e.g., gut bacteria entering the bloodstream).
Which ethical principle requires PCT professionals to act in the patient's best interest?
Answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the ethical principle that obligates healthcare professionals to act in ways that promote the well-being and best interests of the patient.
A urinalysis report shows 3+ protein. Which condition should the PCT alert the nurse about?
Answer: Possible kidney disease or nephrotic syndrome
Significant proteinuria (3+) is a hallmark of nephrotic syndrome and other serious kidney disorders requiring medical evaluation.
A patient who is NPO (nothing by mouth) asks for water before surgery. The PCT should:
Answer: Explain that NPO means no food or fluids and notify the nurse
NPO means no oral intake of any kind; the PCT should explain the restriction and report the request to the nurse.
A PCT notices a patient's indwelling catheter tubing is kinked and drainage has stopped. The FIRST action is to:
Answer: Straighten the tubing to restore flow
Straightening a kinked tube is the simplest, non-invasive first step to restore urinary drainage.
When documenting patient care, the PCT should:
Answer: Record care promptly after it is performed, using approved terms
Documentation must be timely, accurate, and use facility-approved terminology to ensure legal and clinical integrity of the medical record.
Which professional attribute is most valued in lab procedures within the PCT field?
Answer: Accountability and commitment to standards
Accountability and commitment to professional standards build trust and ensure consistent, high-quality practice.