PCT Patient Care Fundamentals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient states, 'I don't want any more treatments.' The PCT's best response is to:
- Continue treatments as scheduled and ignore the statement
- Immediately stop all care and leave the room
- Acknowledge the patient's feelings and report to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Call the physician directly to discuss the refusal
Correct answer: Acknowledge the patient's feelings and report to the nurse
The PCT should listen empathetically and promptly report a patient's refusal of treatment to the supervising nurse.
Question 2: When performing perineal care on a female patient, the PCT should cleanse:
- From back to front using one stroke
- From front to back using a clean area of cloth for each stroke (Correct answer)
- In a circular motion starting at the center
- Only the external labia with soap and water
Correct answer: From front to back using a clean area of cloth for each stroke
Front-to-back cleansing using a clean section of cloth each time prevents transfer of microorganisms from the rectal area to the urethra.
Question 3: Which pulse site is most commonly used by PCT staff during routine vital sign assessment?
- Apical
- Femoral
- Radial (Correct answer)
- Carotid
Correct answer: Radial
The radial pulse at the wrist is the most accessible and commonly used site for routine pulse assessment.
Question 4: A resident in a long-term care facility refuses to bathe for three days. The PCT should:
- Force the resident into the shower
- Document the refusal and report it to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Skip bathing indefinitely and say nothing
- Have the resident's family force compliance
Correct answer: Document the refusal and report it to the nurse
Documenting and reporting refusal respects patient autonomy while ensuring the care team can assess and address the underlying reason.
Question 5: The correct way to measure urinary output from a urinary catheter drainage bag is to:
- Estimate visually without emptying the bag
- Empty the bag into a calibrated graduate at eye level (Correct answer)
- Pour the urine into any container and estimate
- Weigh the drainage bag before and after collection
Correct answer: Empty the bag into a calibrated graduate at eye level
Draining urine into a calibrated graduate and reading at eye level ensures an accurate measurement of output.
Question 6: When caring for a patient in contact isolation, the PCT should don PPE in which order?
- Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
- Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask, gown, gloves, eye protection
- Eye protection, gloves, gown, mask
Correct answer: Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
CDC donning sequence is: gown first, then mask/respirator, eye protection, and finally gloves.
Question 7: A PCT notices a patient's indwelling catheter tubing is kinked and drainage has stopped. The FIRST action is to:
- Irrigate the catheter with sterile water
- Straighten the tubing to restore flow (Correct answer)
- Notify the nurse immediately
- Replace the entire catheter system
Correct answer: Straighten the tubing to restore flow
Straightening a kinked tube is the simplest, non-invasive first step to restore urinary drainage.
PCT Patient Care Fundamentals 3
A patient states, 'I don't want any more treatments.' The PCT's best response is to: