Free PCT Practice Test 4- Patient Care Technician Exam Prep 2025

Mastectomy with lymph node removal increases infection and lymphedema risk. Blood draws and BP should be avoided on affected side when possible.

ST elevation during chest pain suggests acute MI requiring immediate intervention. Stop procedure and get emergency help – time is critical for cardiac outcomes.

Any contamination of sterile field requires complete replacement. Trying to clean or work around contamination compromises surgical asepsis.

Dizziness when standing suggests orthostatic hypotension. Have patient sit immediately to prevent falls then assess vital signs lying and standing.

Signs of syncope require immediate cessation of procedure and positioning patient safely (lying down, head lowered) to prevent injury from falling.

Explain that precautions protect family members from getting sick and prevent spread to other vulnerable patients, emphasizing care and protection.

Conscious talking patient cannot have V-fib. Check lead connections, electrode contact and patient movement before assuming life-threatening rhythm.

Stop immediately when patient experiences sudden pain during movement. Assess for injury and notify nurse – could indicate fracture or dislocation.

Most facilities have two-attempt policies. After unsuccessful attempts, ask more experienced staff to try rather than continuing to cause patient discomfort.

Blood glucose of 45 is severely low (hypoglycemic). Conscious patients still need immediate nursing assessment for appropriate intervention – don’t give food without orders.

Leads V3 and V4 provide anterior wall view of left ventricle helping detect anterior myocardial infarction or ischemia.

Hospital-approved disinfectants ensure proper pathogen elimination while being safe for electronic equipment according to manufacturer specifications.

Atrial flutter creates characteristic sawtooth or ‘flutter wave’ pattern between QRS complexes due to rapid regular atrial activity around 300 BPM.

Standard ECG paper speed is 25 mm/second allowing accurate measurement of intervals and durations using standard calibration markings.

Patient dignity requires privacy through closed doors/curtains, minimal exposure and proper draping while still allowing electrode placement and monitoring.

First-degree AV block shows consistently prolonged PR interval (>0.20 seconds) indicating delayed conduction through AV node but still 1:1 P wave to QRS ratio.

Stress testing evaluates heart’s response to increased workload revealing coronary artery disease or arrhythmias that may not appear at rest.

V-fib shows chaotic irregular waveform without identifiable P waves or QRS complexes. This is lethal rhythm requiring immediate defibrillation.

Normal QRS axis ranges from -30 to +90 degrees. Deviation outside this range suggests cardiac enlargement or conduction abnormalities.

Holter monitors record continuous ECG for 24-48 hours capturing intermittent arrhythmias that might not appear during short office visits.

Incorrect lead placement creates artifacts mimicking arrhythmias or ischemia leading to misinterpretation and potentially inappropriate treatment decisions.

Median cubital vein in antecubital fossa is large, well-anchored and less likely to roll making it safest and most successful venipuncture site.

Clean-catch midstream urine reduces contamination from urethral bacteria by collecting middle portion after initial flow clears the urethra.

Gentle inversion mixes blood with anticoagulants or preservatives in tubes. Each tube type requires specific number of inversions for proper mixing.

Capillary puncture is safer for infants and small children who have small blood volume and fragile veins making venipuncture more risky.

24-hour urine collection starts by discarding first morning void then collecting all urine for next 24 hours including final morning void.

If no blood flow, try gently repositioning needle slightly as it may be against vein wall or not fully inserted. Avoid excessive probing.

Gray top tubes contain sodium fluoride which preserves glucose by preventing glycolysis making them specific for glucose testing.

Occult blood testing requires avoiding red meat, iron supplements and certain medications that can cause false positive results.

Butterfly needles provide better control and stability for difficult venipunctures on small, fragile or rolling veins but have slower flow rate.

Hemolysis (broken red blood cells) results from rough handling, vigorous shaking, small needles or traumatic collection releasing cellular contents into serum/plasma.

Sputum specimens require deep coughing to bring up secretions from lungs, not just saliva from mouth. Early morning collection often most productive.

Specimens requiring cooling (like arterial blood gases) should be placed in ice slush to slow metabolic processes that could alter test results.

Throat cultures require swabbing posterior pharynx and tonsillar areas where streptococcal bacteria typically reside, avoiding tongue and teeth.

Tourniquets should occlude venous return while maintaining arterial flow. Too tight causes pain and hemoconcentration; too loose doesn’t help venipuncture.

Prolonged crying in infants can cause falsely elevated potassium levels due to muscle activity and hemolysis affecting test interpretation.

Wound cultures should be collected from center of active infection, not from wound edges or surrounding skin to identify causative organisms.

Torsades shows characteristic ‘twisting’ QRS morphology around isoelectric line. This dangerous arrhythmia often follows prolonged QT intervals.

Paced patients need special attention to electrode placement (away from device) and recognition of pacemaker spikes on ECG tracings.

Sinus bradycardia is regular sinus rhythm with rate less than 60 BPM. May be normal in athletes or indicate medical conditions.