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This is the our full-length Practice Test . It comprises 125 multiple-choice questions covers all the domain that include Direct Patient Care , Professional Responsibilities , Safety and Infection Control , Phlebotomy and ECG/EKG with in-depth explanations.

These free Practice questions are designed to assist you in preparing for Your Patient Care Technician certification examination.

In this section of free PCT Exam Study Guide , we covers ECG (Electrocardiogram) which is mention in domain 5 and represent 15% of PCT exam content. Electrocardiogram includes three essential tasks that every Patient Care Technician must learn to operate heart monitoring equipment and record the heart’s electrical activity. These skills help detect heart problems and provide crucial information for patient care decisions.

• Patient Preparation and Lead Placement

• Recording and Rhythm Interpretation

• Equipment Management and Troubleshooting

These are the main topics of ECG (Electrocardiogram) with detail explanation are given below:

a. Patient Preparation and Lead Placement

Positioning and Education of the Patient.

Indicate that an ECG is a recording of the electric activity of the heart, lasts 5-10 minutes and does not hurt.

Ask the patient to take off jewelry and clothes at the waistline, place a gown that has an opening in the front and lie them on their back comfortably.

Examples include telling the patient “This test indicates the manner in which your heart is beating electrically. You’ll have sticky pads on your chest and arms, and no electricity going into your body.

Proper Electrode Placement

Wipe the skin with alcohol when necessary, and have electrodes touching certain landmarks of the anatomy to get reliable readings.

The 12-lead ECG involves the use of 10 electrodes (4 of which are limb electrodes and 6 of which are chest electrodes).

As an example, V1 is located at right sternal border 4 th intercostal space, V2 is located at left sternal border 4 th intercostal space, and V4 is located at left midclavicle line 5 th intercostal space.

b. Recording and Rhythm Interpretation.

ECG Rhythm Recognition Basics

Learn to distinguish between simple rhythmic patterns: normal sinus rhythm is regular P waves leading to every QRS complex, atrial fibrillation is irregular P waves have no distinct P waves, and premature ventricular contractions (PVC) is wide and abnormal beats that occur early.

To illustrate this example, when you observe a rhythm, which is generally regular with some exceptions of wide beats that seem out of place, these may be PVCs that need to be reported.

Monitoring During Testing

Monitor the patient during the test with a focus on such symptoms as chest pains, dyspnea, or light-headedness and monitor the ECG recording on dangerous rhythm.

When you observe asystole (flatline) or ventricular fibrillation (chaotic rhythm), have a look at the patient, as this could be a loose lead and not an emergency.

As an illustration, a monitor may indicate flatline with the patient speaking normally, so verify all electrode connections.

c. Equipment Management and Troubleshooting

Artifact Recognition and Correction

Artifacts are falsely read because of patient movements, electrical interference or loose electrodes. Common problems include:

• 60-cycle interference: Electrical buzz from nearby equipment

• Muscle tremor: Tremor upon the baseline of the patient because of shivering or tension.

• Baseline wander: Drifting line due to breathing or movement of patient.

In case, as an example, you observe a very wiggly tracing, request the patient to relax the muscles and take the normal breath, or to see whether cold or warm, and give a blanket.

Machine Calibration and Maintenance

Calibrate the ECG machine (standardization mark must be 10mm high), make sure that the paper speed is adjusted to 25mm/second, and disinfect and clean electrodes and cables as recommended by the manufacturer.

To illustrate, make one calibration check at the start of every shift and record any maintenance problems in the equipment log book.

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In this section of free PCT Exam Study Guide , we covers Phlebotomy which is mention in domain 4 and represent 16% of PCT exam content. It includes three essential tasks that every Patient Care Technician must mastered for effective skill in safely drawing blood specimens for laboratory testing:

• Equipment selection and Preparation

• Collection Techniques and Problem Solving

• Specimen Handling and Quality Control

These are the main topics of Phlebotomy with detail explanation are given below:

4-A: Equipment Selection and Preparation

Venipuncture Equipment Setup

Stock your tray with the correct size of a needle (typically 2122 gauge in adults), correct collection tubes to the ordered tests, a tourniquet, alcohol pads, gauze, tape, and labels.

An example is when you get to perform a CBC, take a lavender-top tube with EDTA, and when you get to perform a basic metabolic panel, a green-top tube with heparin.

Tube Color System and Additives

The colors at the top of the tube reveal what inside and what test it is:

• Lavender/Purple – EDTA (good for CBCs and blood typing)
• Light Blue -Sodium citrate (in use in PT/INR clotting studies).
• Red – No additives, chemistry and serology tests.
• Green – Heparin (great for electrolytes and blood gases)
• Gray – Fluoride (for glucose tests)

Always fill the tubes following the order given on the list and to the line to ensure the results will be accurate.

4.B: Collection Techniques and Problem Solving

Venipuncture Procedure Steps

Choose a vein, with the median cubital vein on the front of the elbow most frequently. Wipe the area clean in a small circular motion, then place the tourniquet approximately 3-4 inches above the place where you will place the needle.

At an angle of 15-30, stick the needle with the bevel facing up, allow blood to fall into the tubes, keep the tourniquet off as you remove the needle and immediately follow with firm compression.

When the median cubital vein is not obvious, then use the cephalic vein of the thumb side of the wrist.

Treatment Collection Complications

When hematoma begins (blood collecting under the skin), then immediately withdraw the needle, firmly apply pressure on the area about 5 minutes, and raise the arm whenever possible.

When you are not drawing blood, consider fishing the needle a little different or simply performing a lighter pull. Indicatively, when blood flow stops, the needle may be pinned against the wall of a vein- reverse it slightly, or swivel the tube to re-establish the flow.

Capillary Puncture Technique

When doing finger sticks, take the side of the tip (not pad), heat up hand when it is cold, dry out with alcohol pad and dry.

Select a lancet of appropriate depth, use paper towel to touch the first drop of blood and then collect the subsequent drops in the tiny microtainer tubes. In case of the heel sticks in infants, the outer edges of the heel should be used and the middle arch area should be avoided.

4.C: Specimen Handling and Quality Control

Proper Labeling and Documentation

Label the tubes immediately after the sample has been taken. Record the full name of the patient, his or her date of birth, date of collection and time of collection and also your initials.

Embark on never pre-labeling of tubes or those that were not collected on the same patient. So, when you are taking three tubes on John Smith, who was born on 1/15/1975, at 8:00 AM on 3/22/2024, be sure that all that information is visible on the tubes.

Eliminating Pre‑analytical Errors

These are errors that occur prior to the actual testing of the blood in the lab- such as a wrong tube, failure to fill the tube sufficiently, improper mixing, or taking excessive time to get it to the laboratory.

Fill the tubes to the mark, shake them carefully 5-8 times when required in the instructions and take them to the laboratory immediately. As an example, coagulation tubes must be filled to the line, and inverted to mix with citrus.

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Next PCT Study Guide Topic
ECG(Electrocardiogram) >>

n this section of free PCT Exam Study Guide , we covers Safety and Infection Control which is mention in domain 3 and represent 20% of PCT exam content. Safety and Infection Control includes three essential tasks that every Patient Care Technician must mastered  the rules and ethical standards that keep everyone safe and respected.

• Standard Precautions

• Transmission – Based Precautions

• Equipment and Environmental Safety

These are the main topics of Safety and Infection Control with detail explanation are given below:

a. Standard Precautions

Hand Hygiene Techniques

Wash your hands before and after every patient contact with soap and water for 20 seconds or alcohol-based cleanser for 15 seconds. This is summarized as the number one way to stop germs from spreading. Wash with soap when hands are visibly soiled or after using the restroom.

“Such as wash hands before body temperature measurement, after removing gloves, before meals and before and after entering/leaving enclosed space.”

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Pick the appropriate protective equipment depending on the type of exposure you’ll have with the patient. Gloves protect from blood and body fluids, gowns protect clothes and skin, masks protect from respiratory droplets while eye protection are for splashes.

For example, those treating wounds could wear gloves and a gown, and a mask if the patient is coughing; for any procedures that could lead to splashes, wear an eye protection shield.

b. Transmission-Based Precautions

Contact Precautions

Worn for patients with infections that move through direct contact or contaminated surfaces, such as MRSA or C. diff. Don gown and gloves before entering the room, discard before leaving and clean hands. Isolate patient belongings in the room, and avoid sharing equipment between patients.

For that patient, use your dedicated stethoscope and when you finish seeing that patient, wipe down your stethoscope and store it in their room.

Droplet Precautions

For infections transmitted through large respiratory droplets, such as influenza or strep throat. Wear a surgical mask while within 3 feet of the patient and keep the patient’s door closed. … The patient should mask when leaving his/her room for interventions.

For instance, if you are taking a patient with pneumonia to X-ray, both you and the patient should wear a mask.

Airborne Precautions

For illnesses transmitted on small particles through the air, as from tuberculosis or measles. Use a fitted-tested N95 respirator, keep the patient in a negative pressure room with the door closed, and minimize room entries.

For instance, when attending to a patient sick with TB, you should don your fitted N95 mask before entering the room and not take it off until you are out of the area entirely.

c. Equipment and Environmental Safety

Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization

Select the level of germ removal that’s suitable for your equipment:

• A clean object is one with visible dirt and some germs removed (e.g., soap and water washing a stethoscope).

• Disinfection kills the germs that cause disease (example: using hospital-issued disinfectant wipes on bed rails)

• Sterilizations: kills every microorganism (e.g.: autoclaving surgical instruments)

Follow the manufacturer’s recommended product and contact time.

Sharps Safety and Needle Handling

Inject through an automatic or safety needle that has built-in safety features, which is deployed immediately after use. Do not manually recap, bend, or overfill sharps containers. If you must recap, use the one-handed scoop method or a recapping device.

For instance, once the blood is drawn, press the needle safety guard in to position and dispose of the whole needle unit directly into the sharps container without having to touch the needle.

Body Mechanics and Injury Prevention

Mind your back and joints by lifting correctly: Don’t lift objects above your waist, bend your knees, not your back, keep your back straight, keep objects close to your body, and ask for help when lifting anything heavy. Good supportive shoes with good traction are best also.

“In other words, when lifting a patient, bend your knees, grasp firmly, tighten your stomach muscles, and use your leg muscles to do the lifting, holding the patient against your chest.”

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Next PCT Study Guide Topic
Phlebotomy >>

In this section of free PCT Exam Study Guide , we covers Professional Responsibilities which is mention in domain 2 and represent 19% of PCT exam content. Professional Responsibilities includes three essential tasks that every Patient Care Technician must mastered to understand and follow healthcare regulations and standards, maintain patient privacy, and work only within their training and always putting patient well-being first , while upholding honesty, respect, and professional integrity in every action.

• Legal and Ethical Compliance

• Communication Skills

• Professional Practice

These are the main topics of Professional Responsibilities with detail explanation are given below:

2-A: Legal and Ethical Compliance

Incident Reporting and Safety

Adhere to incident regulations and report accidents, injuries or any mistake as soon as possible to your supervisor. This would be needle stick injuries, patient falls, medication errors, or equipment failures.

Incidentally, in case you end up accidentally with a used needle when disposing of it clean the area with immediate effect, inform your charge nurse and take the necessary exposure procedure advised by your facility.

You are required to document within 24 hours and possibly you may be required to take blood tests to ascertain whether you have infection or not.

Patient Privacy Protection (HIPAA)

Always keep patient health information confidential, by maintaining medical records, conversations and personal information. Do not talk about patient information in places where people can hear like elevators, cafeterias, and hallways.

As an illustration, when a colleague inquires about a diagnosis of a patient in the break room, to be polite, imply that we discuss it at the nurse station. Share information only with the members of the healthcare team who require it in order to provide care to patients.

Scope of Practice

Work only within your training and state-approved duties as a PCT. This implies that you must subscribe to your job description and should never do duties that are the preserve of nurses or doctors.

You can, e.g., take vital signs and assist with personal care, but not administer medications by injection and/or make medical diagnoses. In case any patient inquires about their test results, clarify to them that their doctor or nurse will explain that to them.

Patient Rights and Consent

Always uphold the Bill of Rights that entitles the patient to refuse care, ask questions, and be treated respectfully. Give them permission before you begin any procedure, by explaining what you are going to do.

As an example, prior to obtaining a blood pressure reading, state that you need to check the blood pressure. May I put this cuff on your arm?” In case of no, they should be allowed to make the decision and inform the nurse.

2-B: Communication Skills

Therapeutic Communication Techniques

Avoid unhelpful communication: be a good listener, open-ended questions, and empathy. This earns confidence and makes patients at ease.

As an example, rather than asking: Are you okay? attempt “So how does that feel? or “Tell me about your pain.” Eye contact, nod to indicate that you are paying attention, and silence when patients are talking.

Fitting Communication to Varied demands.

Vary your communication approach according to the age, culture, language and mental status of a patient.

• In the case of pediatric patients, use plain-language, talk with low tones, and possibly illustrate procedures with pictures or toys.

• In the case of elderly patients who are hearing impaired, speak directly to them and face them.

When language is an issue, get hospital interpreters or translation services instead of family to provide medical information.

Professional Medical Communication

Reporting to doctors or nurses, speak clearly and in factual language using the appropriate medical terms. Use SBAR format (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) when possible.

Or, e.g.,: Mrs. Johnson in room 302 (situation) has diabetes and is post-op day 1 (background). She has 250 sugar in the blood, and she complains about nausea (assessment). Should I alert the doctor and test ketones? (recommendation).

2-C: Professional Practice

Chain of Command and Team Work

When you need help or have any concerns follow your organizational structure at the facility. Begin with your immediate supervisor or the charge nurse and then go upwards as required.

As an example, in case you have a safety issue concerning equipment, inform your charge nurse first. Unless the problem is remedied, then discuss with the unit manager. Do not jump levels unless there are some emergency cases that need urgent assistance.

Task Prioritization and Time Management

Prioritize your tasks with urgent and safety need first, then routine care activities. Apply ABC priority system: Airway, Breathing, Circulation problems are priority.

As an illustration, when one of the patients has to be assisted to the bathroom and another is experiencing chest pains, assist the patient with the chest pain first and request a fellow worker to assist the patient who has to be taken to the bathroom. Make a written task list and cross out the ones that have been done.

Documentation and Record Keeping

Chart all care accurately and on time in the electronic health record (EHR). Record the actions, time and manner of action and the reaction of the patient. Use objective language and avoid opinions.

See, e.g., write “Patient ambulated 50 feet in hallway using walker, no shortness of breath observed,” instead of writing “Patient well with regard to walking. Always make sure you sign your notes with your name and credentials.

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Next PCT Study Guide Topic
Safety and Infection Control >>

In this section of free PCT Exam Study Guide , we covers Patient Care which is mention in domain 1 and represent 30%of PCT exam content. Patient Care includes five essential tasks that every Patient Care Technician must mastered for effective skill to assist patients with everyday needs and monitor their well-being.

• Assessment and Monitoring

• Mobility and Positioning

• Wound and Skin Care

• Tubes , Lines and Medical Devices

• Respiratory Supports and Rehabilitation

These are the main topics of Patient Care with detail explanation are given below:

1-A: Assessment and Monitoring

Vital Signs Collection

Monitor the blood pressure, breathing, pulse and temperature of the patient. Record them on the chart at the times and when you notice a difference.

As an example, normal adult vitals are: temperature 98 o F, pulse 60-100 bpm, respiratory rate 12-20 bpm, blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg. Call the nurse immediately in case something appears to be wrong.

Pain Assessment Using Scales

Have the patient rate his/her pain on a scale between 0 and 10- 0 no pain and 10 worst. Determine the location of pain, its nature (sharp, dull, burning), and the factors which aggravate/severe it.

An example is a patient stating, The incision is a 7 out of 10, sharp, stabbing and it is even worse when I cough. Note it down, so that the nurse would schedule pain medications.

Intake and Output Monitoring

Monitor all that is taken in (water, food) and out (urine, poop, vomit, drainage). This will assist in monitoring the kidney well-being, fluid retention, and recovery.

When a patient consumes 240 mL of water and 120 mL of juice, and only passes 200 mL of urine in eight hours, then it may be an indicator that the patient is retaining fluids.

1-B: Mobility and Positioning

Safe Patient Repositioning

Roll bedridden patients at an interval of 2 hours in order to prevent pressure sores as well as to enhance circulation. Make use of a draw sheet or lift sheet to facilitate the move.

As an illustration, when a patient has to be rolled on his back to his left, position one of the staff at the head and the other at the hips, roll them and place the pillows between the knees and behind the back.

Mechanical Lift Operation

When the patient is unable to lift the weight or is too heavy to be lifted by hand, then a mechanical lift must be used with the correct sling. Safety: there should always be two on the lift.

An example is to place the lift above the bed, place the sling, then smoothly lift the patient, then transfer them to a chair or stretcher, then down, holding their head and arms.

Range of Motion Exercises

Passive ROM implies that the staff moves the joints of the patient. Active ROM indicates that the patient moves them through assistance.

In passive shoulder ROM, add support to the arm by the elbow and wrist, and carefully move the arm through extension and rotation as well as flexion. Do not push it when it stings or it is against.

1-C: Wound and Skin Care

Dressing Assessment and Changes

Look to check how much drainage the wound has and its appearance:

• Serous drainage: clear or light yellow (normal healing)
• Sanguineous drainage: bloody (sometimes okay early on)
• Purulent drainage – thick, coloured, may have a bad smell (infection possible)

To make it simple, collect your supplies, wash your hands, remove the old dressing, inspect the wound, clean it (where necessary) and replace it with a new sterile dressing. Record what you see.

Pressure Injury Prevention

Prevention of bedsores consists in maintaining clean skin and dry skin, regularly turning patients, applying pressure-relieving devices, and searching red spots. Areas of high risk include heels, tailbone, hips and elbows.

As one example, place a foam wedge between knees when the patient is on his or her side, use heel protectors when the patient cannot get out, and apply lather barrier cream on wet areas.

1-D: Tubes, Lines and Medical Devices

Nasogastric (NG) Tube Care

Maintain patients with NG tube at a 30 angle to prevent inhaling. Look at the skin around the nose to see whether it is being irritated by the tape then clean it by use of warm water. Note to keep the tube in place and to avoid pulling or irrigating unless trained and advised to.

Peripheral IV Care and Removal

Removing a peripheral IV, you should take your gauze and tape and gloves, tell the patient what you are about to do, remove the tape, in one quick movement, the catheter, apply the gauze to the area 2 minutes, then a small bandage. Ensure that the tip is fine after which record time and site appearance.

Urinary Catheter Maintenance

Always keep the drainage bag lower than the bladder to prevent the urine from flowing back, ensure that the tubing runs straight, wash the area around the insertion on a daily basis with mild soap, and empty the bag when half full.

An example is during personal care, when you wipe around the entry point of the catheter, take the motion to the direction outside the hole to avoid bringing any germs into the hole.

1-E: Respiratory Support and Rehabilitation

Oxygen Therapy Assistance

Assist patients using nasal cannulas and face masks by maintaining a proper fit and proper flow rate. Ensure that prongs are placed in the nostrils, the tube is not bent and the patient is comfortable.

When the order is 2 L/min through cannula, ensure that the wall meter indicates that it is 2 L/min and the patient does not complain of dryness or discomfort.

Incentive Spirometry Coaching

Educate patients to operate incentive spirometer to combat postoperative pneumonia. Make them sit up, close lips around the mouthpiece, inhale slowly and deeply to lift the ball or strike the target, retain the breath 2-3 seconds and also exhale smoothly.

Have them take it every hour when awake and to cough and walk before getting out of bed.

Breathing Deep and Coughing.

Demonstrate to the patients how to clear their lungs through effective coughing. Make them have a deep breath, take a moment and cough hard with a pillow covering any surgical wounds.

In the case of post-op patients, demonstrate splinting with a pillow placed on the abdomen during coughing to reduce the pain and increase the effectiveness.

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Next PCT Study Guide Topic
Professional Responsibilities >>

Our free PCT study guide is an excellent resource for aspiring Patient Care Technicians preparing for their certification exam. This comprehensive online guide covers all 5 major exam domains with detailed explanations and examples. Each domain includes practice questions with answer keys to help you test your understanding and build confidence.

What You’ll Find in This Study Guide:

✅ All 5 critical exam areas covered – from patient care basics to advanced skills like phlebotomy and EKG monitoring

✅ Clear, friendly explanations that break down complex healthcare concepts into easy-to-understand language

✅ Interactive practice tests for every domain featuring realistic exam-style questions with detailed explanations

✅ Practical examples showing real situations you’ll encounter as a working PCT

Ready to start your PCT journey? Jump into any section or follow our recommended study sequence – either way, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to excel in your certification exam and healthcare career!

This is the PCT Practice Test 6 and last one in our series of six Practice Tests. It comprises 40 multiple-choice questions covers all the domain that include Direct Patient Care , Professional Responsibilities , Safety and Infection Control , Phlebotomy and ECG/EKG with in-depth explanations.

These free PCT Practice questions are designed to assist you in preparing for Your Patient Care Technician certification examination.

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Next Practice Test
PCT Full-Length Practice Test >>

This is the PCT Practice Test 5 in our series of six Practice Tests. It comprises 40 multiple-choice questions covers all the domain that include Direct Patient Care , Professional Responsibilities , Safety and Infection Control , Phlebotomy and ECG/EKG with in-depth explanations.

These free PCT Practice questions are designed to assist you in preparing for Your Patient Care Technician certification examination.

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Next Practice Test
PCT Practice Test 6 >>