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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

PCT Practice Test: Check Your Patient Care Technician Skills

Quick, free patient care technician practice test to spot gaps. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Beltran ArtagameUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a PCT practice test quiz on a golden yellow background.

This PCT practice test helps you check core skills in vital signs, hygiene, safety, and patient communication before exam day. Get instant feedback to see where you're strong and what to review next, then focus your study time. For extra practice, try the cpct practice test or the free cna practice exam.

Which action should a patient care technician take first before assisting with any patient care task?
Put on gloves immediately upon entering the room
Call the nurse to approve the task
Ask the patient to sign a consent form
Introduce yourself and verify the patient using two identifiers
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Proper body mechanics when lifting a box from the floor include which of the following?
Bend at the knees, keep the load close, and lift with your legs
Twist your torso while lifting to turn quickly
Hold the load away from the body for balance
Keep knees locked and bend at the waist while lifting
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When performing hand hygiene, how long should you scrub with soap and water?
At least 20 seconds
Until hands feel dry
Exactly 45 seconds
At least 5 seconds
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The best site for measuring a radial pulse is located where?
Top of the foot between the first and second toes
Neck, beside the trachea
Inside of the elbow at the brachial artery
Thumb side of the wrist, below the base of the thumb
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Which PPE is required when there is a risk of splashing blood or body fluids into the face?
Shoe covers only
Hair cover only
Face shield or goggles with mask
Nonsterile gloves only
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Which action helps prevent pressure injuries in a bedbound patient?
Keep the head of bed at 45 degrees at all times
Massage reddened areas vigorously
Use a donut cushion under the sacrum
Reposition at least every 2 hours and protect bony prominences
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A PCT is asked to obtain a weight for a patient with heart failure. What is the best practice?
Weigh only once weekly to minimize variability
Weigh with shoes on to protect the feet
Weigh at the same time each day with the same scale and clothing
Weigh after meals for consistency
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A patient on contact precautions for C. difficile needs transport. What is the correct preparation?
Use alcohol-based hand rub only for the patient and staff
Remove the contact precaution sign during transport
Have the patient perform hand hygiene with soap and water before leaving the room
Place the patient in a surgical mask for transport
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Which blood pressure reading requires immediate reporting to the nurse for an adult patient at rest?
130/84 mm Hg
82/50 mm Hg
142/90 mm Hg in a patient with known hypertension
118/72 mm Hg
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A patient with a new right-sided weakness needs to transfer from bed to chair. What is the safest technique?
Place the chair on the right side and pivot toward the weaker leg
Place the chair on the patient's left side and pivot toward the stronger leg
Have the patient pull up on your neck while you lift
Stand in front and lift under the patient's arms
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When collecting a midstream clean-catch urine specimen from a female patient, which instruction is correct?
Clean front to back with towelettes, start voiding, then collect midstream
Hold urine for at least 8 hours before collection
Collect the first urine that appears after cleansing
Do not clean; collect any urine midstream
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The correct angle for venipuncture using a straight needle is approximately:
5 degrees perpendicular to the skin
Any angle as long as blood flows
45 to 60 degrees with the bevel down
15 to 30 degrees with the bevel up
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When assisting with oral care for an unconscious patient, which step is most important to reduce aspiration risk?
Place the patient supine with chin up
Use large volumes of water to rinse quickly
Keep a bite block out to avoid discomfort
Position the patient in side-lying with head turned to the side
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Which is the correct order of draw for venipuncture using vacuum tubes?
Blood culture, light blue, red or SST, green, lavender, gray
Red or SST, light blue, blood culture, lavender, gray, green
Light blue, blood culture, red or SST, lavender, green, gray
Lavender, green, red or SST, light blue, blood culture, gray
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Where should V1 and V2 chest electrodes be placed for a standard 12-lead ECG?
V1 at apex of the heart; V2 at the xiphoid process
V1 and V2 both at 5th intercostal space, midclavicular
V1 at 4th intercostal space, right sternal border; V2 at 4th intercostal space, left sternal border
V1 at 2nd intercostal space, right midclavicular; V2 at 5th intercostal space, midaxillary
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Which isolation precaution is appropriate for a patient with active tuberculosis during transport within the facility?
Patient wears a surgical mask; staff use airborne precautions in the room
No mask is needed for the patient during transport
Use only contact precautions
Staff must wear N95 during transport even if patient is masked
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Which sequence correctly describes donning PPE for contact precautions?
Gloves, mask, eye protection, then gown
Eye protection, gown, gloves, then mask
Gown, mask or respirator if required, eye protection if needed, then gloves
Mask, gloves, gown, then eye protection
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Which sign suggests infiltration of a peripheral IV during monitoring?
Patient reports metallic taste in mouth
Warmth and redness tracking along the vein
Dry, intact dressing with no swelling
Cool, swollen, and pale skin around the insertion site with slowed infusion
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For stool specimen collection testing for occult blood, which food should the patient avoid per typical instructions before testing?
Red meat for 3 days prior
Bananas the morning of the test
Skim milk for 24 hours prior
White rice for 1 day prior
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A clean technique is sufficient for inserting an indwelling urinary catheter.
True
False
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Study Outcomes

  1. Assess Core PCT Knowledge -

    Identify and recall fundamental patient care technician principles through targeted pct practice test questions.

  2. Apply Patient Care Techniques -

    Demonstrate proper patient handling, vital sign measurement, and infection control procedures in patient care technician practice test scenarios.

  3. Evaluate Patient Safety Procedures -

    Analyze and reinforce safety protocols to ensure compliance with industry standards on the pct exam.

  4. Analyze Exam-Style Questions -

    Develop efficient strategies for interpreting and answering diverse patient care technician practice exam items under timed conditions.

  5. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses -

    Pinpoint areas for improvement by reviewing performance feedback from the pct practice exam and focusing study efforts effectively.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Vital Signs Mastery -

    Memorize normal vital sign ranges - temperature (36.5 - 37.5°C), heart rate (60 - 100 bpm), respiratory rate (12 - 20 breaths/min), and blood pressure (≈120/80 mmHg). When practicing for the pct practice test, use the rule of thumb: count a pulse for 30 seconds then multiply by two to increase speed without sacrificing accuracy. Knowing Korotkoff sounds phases I and V during blood pressure measurement can boost confidence on patient care technician practice exam questions.

  2. Body Mechanics and Safe Patient Handling -

    Apply proper body mechanics to prevent injury: keep a wide base, bend your knees, and tuck in your pelvis when lifting or transferring patients (OSHA recommends this technique). Use the mnemonic "Wide Stance, Neutral Spine, Enter from Close" to recall these steps. Practicing safe transfers with slide boards or gait belts enhances your performance on a patient care technician practice test scenario.

  3. Infection Control & Hand Hygiene -

    Adhere to WHO's "My Five Moments for Hand Hygiene" by cleaning hands before patient contact, after body fluid exposure, and at other key points. Remember the 20”second rule - sing "Happy Birthday" twice while scrubbing - to ensure you meet CDC guidelines. Mastering this for your patient care technician practice exam reduces cross”contamination and builds your clinical credibility.

  4. SBAR Communication Technique -

    Use the SBAR framework (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) to deliver concise and effective handoffs. For example, you might say, "S: Mr. Smith's glucose is 58 mg/dL; B: He's diabetic with a history of hypoglycemia; A: He's diaphoretic and confused; R: Administer 15 g fast”acting carbs." This structure, endorsed by The Joint Commission, will help you excel on pct practice exam communication scenarios.

  5. SOAP Documentation Skills -

    Structure your notes with Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan to ensure clarity and compliance. For instance, "S: Patient reports 7/10 pain in the lower back; O: Vital signs stable, slight grimace observed; A: Likely musculoskeletal strain; P: Encourage gentle ROM exercises and reassess in 1 hour." Consistent SOAP documentation is a key focus of any patient care technician practice test and real”world clinical setting.

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