PCT Safety Procedures 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, a PCT who is exposed to blood via a needlestick must FIRST:
- Complete an incident report
- Wash the site with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Notify the charge nurse
- Go to the emergency department
Correct answer: Wash the site with soap and water
Immediately washing the exposure site with soap and water for several minutes is the first step before any reporting or evaluation.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a Material Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS)?
- To track chemical inventory levels
- To provide hazard and safe handling information for chemical substances (Correct answer)
- To document when chemicals were purchased
- To list approved vendors for medical supplies
Correct answer: To provide hazard and safe handling information for chemical substances
Safety Data Sheets provide essential information on chemical hazards, safe handling, storage, and emergency response procedures under OSHA's HazCom standard.
Question 3: A patient on contact precautions needs vital signs. Which PPE is required before entering the room?
- Gloves only
- Gloves and gown (Correct answer)
- Gown, gloves, and N95 respirator
- Surgical mask only
Correct answer: Gloves and gown
Contact precautions require both gloves and gown to prevent transmission of organisms spread through direct or indirect contact.
Question 4: When securing a patient with a soft vest restraint, two fingers should fit between the restraint and the patient to ensure:
- The restraint will not loosen during the shift
- It is tight enough to prevent all movement
- The restraint is not too tight, preserving circulation (Correct answer)
- The patient cannot slide down in bed
Correct answer: The restraint is not too tight, preserving circulation
The two-finger rule confirms the restraint is snug enough to be effective without restricting circulation or causing pressure injury.
Question 5: A patient's call light is ringing and when you enter, you find them on the floor. After ensuring scene safety, your next action is to:
- Help the patient back to bed immediately
- Assess the patient for injury and call for help (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient why they got up without calling
- Check the patient's vital signs before doing anything else
Correct answer: Assess the patient for injury and call for help
You must assess for injury and call for nursing assistance before moving the patient, as moving an injured patient can cause further harm.
Question 6: Which practice is essential to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)?
- Keeping the drainage bag on the bed beside the patient
- Ensuring the drainage bag is always below the level of the bladder (Correct answer)
- Clamping the catheter tubing periodically
- Irrigating the catheter daily with saline
Correct answer: Ensuring the drainage bag is always below the level of the bladder
Maintaining the drainage bag below bladder level at all times prevents backflow of urine into the bladder, a major cause of CAUTI.
Question 7: In a hospital using the RACE acronym for fire response, what does the 'C' stand for?
- Call the fire department
- Contain the fire by closing doors (Correct answer)
- Check for victims
- Clear the area of hazardous materials
Correct answer: Contain the fire by closing doors
RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain (close doors to limit fire/smoke spread), and Extinguish or Evacuate.
PCT Safety Procedures 4
According to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, a PCT who is exposed to blood via a needlestick must FIRST: