PCT full-length Practice Test

Active listening without becoming defensive helps de-escalate situations and shows respect for patient feelings while maintaining therapeutic relationship.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all healthcare workers to prevent transmission to vulnerable patients and maintain workforce health.

Weak, thready pulse at 120 BPM suggests possible shock, dehydration, or cardiac compromise requiring immediate nursing assessment and intervention.

Central plantar area of infant heel should be avoided during capillary puncture to prevent injury to underlying bone and nerves.

V5 electrode placement is at left anterior axillary line in 5th intercostal space, providing lateral wall view of left ventricle.

This ethical dilemma involving patient autonomy and family dynamics should be referred to the physician who can address family concerns appropriately.

Sudden severe headache could indicate serious conditions like stroke, increased intracranial pressure, or hypertensive crisis requiring immediate medical evaluation.

Lancets are sharps that must be disposed immediately in puncture-resistant sharps containers to prevent needlestick injuries to staff.

Nausea during blood draw may precede fainting. Stop procedure, position patient safely, and assess before continuing to prevent injury.

Rate of 180 BPM with wide QRS complexes indicates ventricular tachycardia, a life-threatening arrhythmia requiring immediate intervention.

Blood glucose of 350 mg/dL indicates severe hyperglycemia possibly leading to diabetic ketoacidosis requiring immediate medical intervention.

Patient safety requires working only within your competency level. Decline tasks outside your training and request proper education first.

Gloves should be removed first as they are most likely to be contaminated, preventing contamination of other PPE during removal.

Never compromise a dialysis fistula by drawing blood from that arm. Always use the opposite arm to protect the patient’s lifeline.

Pain management requires nursing assessment and physician orders. Inform nurse of patient’s request for proper evaluation and treatment.

U waves, when visible, follow T waves and may indicate electrolyte imbalances, particularly hypokalemia requiring medical attention.

HIPAA protects all patient health information including medical, personal, financial, and demographic data from unauthorized disclosure.

Parkinson’s disease causes tremors and movement difficulties making it challenging for patients to remain still during vital sign measurement.

Double-bagging is required when the outer bag becomes contaminated during waste removal to prevent environmental contamination.

Severe swelling may indicate infection, thrombosis, or other complications. Choose alternative site and notify appropriate personnel.

Redness over bony prominences in immobile patients indicates Stage 1 pressure ulcer development requiring immediate intervention.

Peaked (tall, pointed) T waves are classic sign of hyperkalemia which can cause dangerous cardiac arrhythmias requiring immediate treatment.

Safe delegation requires ensuring the person has appropriate training, competency, and supervision to perform assigned tasks safely.

TB requires N95 respirator (properly fitted) because TB bacteria are transmitted through small airborne particles that surgical masks cannot filter.

Chest pain with radiation to left arm suggests possible myocardial infarction requiring immediate medical evaluation – time is critical.

Milky or cloudy serum/plasma indicates lipemia (high fat content) often from recent meal, which can affect certain lab test results.

Normal QT interval should be less than half the R-R interval. Prolonged QT increases risk of dangerous arrhythmias like torsades de pointes.

Time clock fraud is dishonest and potentially illegal. Explain why you cannot participate in falsifying records while maintaining professional relationship.

Post-operative patients may experience orthostatic hypotension, weakness, or dizziness during first ambulation requiring careful monitoring for safety.

C. diff spores are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers requiring soap and water handwashing or sporicidal disinfectants for effective removal.

Two blood culture sets from different venipuncture sites help distinguish true bacteremia from contamination during collection.

Patients with dysphagia should sit upright at 90 degrees during eating/drinking to use gravity and reduce aspiration risk.

Muscle tremor from shivering creates irregular fine artifact on ECG baseline making rhythm interpretation difficult until tremor stops.

Quality improvement primarily aims to enhance patient outcomes through systematic changes in processes, safety, and care delivery.

Immediate washing with soap and water is first line defense after blood exposure to remove potential pathogens before other interventions.

Oxygen saturation of 85% during activity indicates hypoxemia requiring immediate cessation of activity and nursing assessment for intervention.

Serum should be separated from cells within 2 hours of collection to prevent cellular breakdown that could alter test results.

Heart rate of 200 BPM with narrow QRS complexes indicates supraventricular tachycardia requiring immediate medical evaluation and treatment.

Evidence-based practice integrates current best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences to guide healthcare decisions.

Patient has right to refuse food. Document refusal and notify nurse so nutritional status can be assessed and alternatives considered.

Standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of diagnosis treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious.

Rolling veins require firm anchoring with thumb to stabilize vein and prevent it from moving during needle insertion.

Least restrictive intervention first – use redirection and supervision before considering restraints which require physician orders.

Electrode adhesion problems require multiple interventions: proper skin preparation, adequate gel, and firm application pressure.

Healthcare workers are legally mandated to report suspected child abuse to protect vulnerable populations from harm.

Sharps must be disposed immediately after use in puncture-resistant containers without recapping to prevent needlestick injuries.

Blood pressure of 210/110 indicates hypertensive crisis requiring immediate medical intervention to prevent stroke or organ damage.

EDTA tubes (purple top) require 8-10 gentle inversions to properly mix anticoagulant with blood without causing hemolysis.

PR interval measures time for electrical impulse to travel from SA node through AV node to begin ventricular depolarization.

Patient autonomy includes right to refuse treatment after being informed of risks and consequences of their decision.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) requires contact precautions with gloves and gown to prevent transmission via direct contact.

Rectal thermometer should be inserted 1 inch in adults (1/2 inch in children) to ensure accurate reading while preventing rectal injury.

Fasting specimens are typically collected in early morning after 8-12 hour overnight fast to obtain accurate baseline values.

Leads II, III, and aVF are inferior leads providing view of inferior wall of left ventricle, fed by right coronary artery.

Complete informed consent requires patient understanding of procedure risks, benefits, alternatives, and their right to refuse treatment.

Severe itching after medication may indicate allergic reaction requiring immediate discontinuation and medical evaluation to prevent anaphylaxis.

Airborne precautions require negative pressure rooms that pull air in and filter it before exhaust to prevent airborne pathogens from escaping.

Central line blood draws require strict sterile technique including sterile gloves and maintaining sterile field to prevent line infections.

Normal adult urine output is approximately 30-50 mL per hour (0.5-1 mL/kg/hour). Less may indicate kidney problems or dehydration.

Atrial fibrillation shows no clear P waves due to chaotic atrial electrical activity with irregularly irregular ventricular response.

CQI uses systematic analysis of errors and near misses to identify system improvements that prevent future occurrences and enhance safety.

Equipment cleaning between patients requires EPA-approved hospital-grade disinfectants effective against healthcare-associated pathogens.

Severe post-operative pain (9/10) may indicate complications requiring immediate nursing assessment and pain management intervention.

Trough levels drawn just before next dose provide most accurate assessment of minimum therapeutic drug concentration.

QRS duration >0.12 seconds indicates delayed ventricular conduction suggesting bundle branch block or ventricular arrhythmia.

Patient advocacy involves supporting patient rights, ensuring informed decision-making, and helping navigate healthcare system complexities.

Blood pressure cuff should cover 80% of upper arm circumference for accurate readings. Wrong cuff size causes measurement errors.

Hepatitis B vaccination typically provides protection for 15-20 years or longer, with booster shots recommended based on antibody levels.

Coagulation studies require contamination-free collection with proper blood-to-anticoagulant ratio for accurate clotting time measurement.

Confusion and sweating in diabetic patient suggests possible hypoglycemia requiring immediate blood glucose assessment for appropriate intervention.

QT interval naturally shortens with faster heart rates, so corrected QT (QTc) calculations adjust for rate-related changes.

Working outside scope of practice can result in disciplinary action, legal liability, and harm to patients requiring various consequences.

Eye protection prevents blood and body fluid exposure to mucous membranes of eyes during procedures with splashing risk.

Incentive spirometry requires slow deep inspiration followed by 3-5 second breath hold to maximize lung expansion and prevent pneumonia.

If blood flow stops, needle may have gone through vein or against vein wall. Slightly withdrawing needle often restores flow.

Pacemaker spikes show electrical impulses from implanted device stimulating heart muscle when natural electrical system fails.

Patient satisfaction data helps facilities improve care quality, meet accreditation standards, and maintain competitive healthcare market position.

Walk beside patient on their weaker side to provide support and assistance if they become unsteady during ambulation.

TB spreads through small airborne droplets when infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, requiring airborne precautions for prevention.

Hemolysis releases intracellular potassium falsely elevating serum potassium levels, making results unreliable for clinical decisions.

Infection signs include increased warmth, redness, swelling, purulent drainage, and possibly fever requiring immediate medical attention.

Normal sinus rhythm has P wave before each QRS, rate 60-100 BPM, and regular intervals between beats.

Advance directives take effect when patient loses capacity to make healthcare decisions, ensuring previously expressed wishes are followed.

Remove gloves by turning inside-out to contain contamination and prevent touching contaminated outer surface with bare hands.

Heart failure patients need head elevation 30-45 degrees to reduce venous return and ease breathing by reducing pulmonary congestion.

Butterfly needles provide better control for elderly patients with fragile, small, or rolling veins reducing trauma and hematoma risk.

Leads V1-V6 are precordial (chest) leads placed across chest wall providing cross-sectional view of left ventricular electrical activity.

Core ethical principles include autonomy (patient self-determination), beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (do no harm), and justice.

Normal capillary refill should occur within 2-3 seconds after pressure release, indicating adequate peripheral circulation.

HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are primary bloodborne pathogens of concern requiring standard precautions and post-exposure protocols.

Bleeding disorders require extended pressure application after venipuncture and careful monitoring for prolonged bleeding or hematoma formation.

Prognosis discussions involve medical judgment and should be handled by physicians who can provide accurate, comprehensive information.

T wave represents ventricular repolarization – the recovery phase when heart muscle resets electrically for next heartbeat.

Violence prevention requires reporting threats or concerning behavior to supervisors and security for appropriate intervention and staff protection.

Post-exposure testing typically includes baseline and follow-up testing for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV depending on exposure circumstances.

Shortness of breath requires immediate oxygen saturation assessment to determine adequacy of oxygenation and need for intervention.

Ammonia specimens must be chilled immediately and processed quickly as ammonia levels rise rapidly at room temperature affecting accuracy.

Chest pain during stress testing may indicate myocardial ischemia or infarction requiring immediate test termination and medical evaluation.

Continuing education maintains current knowledge and skills as healthcare practices evolve ensuring safe, effective patient care.

Hot, dry skin can indicate fever, dehydration, or both conditions requiring temperature measurement and fluid status assessment.

PPE must be changed between patients to prevent cross-contamination and healthcare-associated infection transmission.

Order of draw prevents cross-contamination between tube additives: sterile specimens first, then tubes without additives, then additive tubes.

Pulse deficit exists when apical heart rate exceeds radial pulse rate, indicating some heartbeats don’t produce adequate circulation.

60-cycle interference from electrical equipment creates thick, fuzzy baseline artifact that can obscure cardiac rhythm interpretation.

Patient care plans must be individualized considering patient’s unique needs, preferences, cultural factors, and medical condition.

Most needlestick injuries occur during needle recapping, which should be avoided by using safety devices and immediate disposal.

Temporal artery thermometers require gentle scanning motion across forehead to detect peak temperature from temporal artery.

Clotted specimens (serum) are used for most chemistry tests after blood clots and serum is separated from cellular components.

Standard ECG calibration is 1 millivolt equals 10 millimeters (2 large boxes) ensuring consistent amplitude measurements across machines.

Risk management primarily aims to identify and reduce factors that could harm patients while secondarily protecting organization from liability.

Leg elevation above heart level uses gravity to reduce edema by promoting venous return and reducing fluid accumulation.

Standard precautions treat all body fluids (except sweat) as potentially infectious requiring appropriate barrier protection.

Patients with history of vasovagal response should lie down during blood collection to prevent injury from fainting.

Orthostatic vital signs measure blood pressure and pulse lying, sitting, and standing to assess for postural hypotension.

Incorrect lead placement can create ST changes and other artifacts that mimic myocardial infarction leading to inappropriate treatment.

Incident reports should be completed promptly, typically within 24 hours, while details are fresh for accurate documentation.

Clean blood spills from center outward to prevent spreading contamination to larger areas during cleanup process.

Diuretics increase fluid loss requiring monitoring for dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and kidney function changes.

SST tubes must clot completely (15-30 minutes) before centrifuging to ensure proper serum separation and accurate test results.

Leads V1 and V2 are positioned over right ventricle and ventricular septum providing septal wall view of the heart.

Patients have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain as part of quality healthcare delivery.

Deep breathing exercises require slow, deep inspiration through nose to maximize lung expansion and oxygenation.

Isolation precautions are determined by how the infectious agent is transmitted (contact, droplet, airborne) rather than specific diagnosis.

Legal specimens require documented chain of custody tracking specimen handling from collection through analysis for court admissibility.

ECG rhythm strips need minimum 6 seconds (30 large boxes at 25mm/second) to adequately assess cardiac rhythm and calculate rate.