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Free CPCT/A Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CPCT/A practice test to study every exam domain.

Question 1

A patient care technician is caring for four patients. Which patient should be attended to FIRST?

  1. A patient requesting a blanket
  2. A patient who needs help to the bathroom
  3. A patient whose SpO2 alarm is reading 86%
  4. A patient who wants their meal tray removed
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - A patient whose SpO2 alarm is reading 86%

Question 2

C. difficile requires hand hygiene with soap and water instead of alcohol-based sanitizer because:

  1. Alcohol-based sanitizers can increase C. difficile spore germination rates
  2. Soap and water provide superior antimicrobial coverage against C. difficile vegetative cells
  3. Alcohol-based products may cause skin irritation in patients with C. difficile infections
  4. C. difficile produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - C. difficile produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers

Question 3

A patient says, 'I'm scared about my surgery tomorrow.' The BEST therapeutic response by the patient care technician is:

  1. Tell me more about what concerns you.
  2. Don't worry, everything will be fine.
  3. You shouldn't be scared; surgery is routine.
  4. I know exactly how you feel.
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Tell me more about what concerns you.

Question 4

A physician orders a CBC, a BMP (basic metabolic panel), and coagulation studies. The correct order of draw for these tubes is:

  1. Lavender, green, light blue
  2. Green, lavender, light blue
  3. Lavender, light blue, green
  4. Light blue, gold/red, green, lavender
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Light blue, gold/red, green, lavender

Question 5

A patient has a dialysis access (AV fistula) in the left arm and an IV in the right arm. Where should the patient care technician take the blood pressure?

  1. The left arm above the fistula
  2. The left or right thigh/leg with appropriate cuff
  3. Blood pressure cannot be taken on this patient
  4. The right arm above the IV site
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - The left or right thigh/leg with appropriate cuff

Question 6

A patient care technician accidentally gives a patient the wrong meal tray (a regular tray instead of the prescribed diabetic tray). The technician should:

  1. Wait until the next meal to give the correct tray
  2. Say nothing since the patient did not notice
  3. Immediately retrieve the tray and report the error
  4. Blame the dietary department for the mistake
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Immediately retrieve the tray and report the error

Question 7

A patient reports a sharp, shooting, electric-like pain during venipuncture. This may indicate:

  1. The tourniquet is too tight and should be loosened immediately
  2. Normal sensation during blood draw that will resolve spontaneously
  3. The needle is in the correct position and collection should continue
  4. Nerve involvement - the needle should be removed immediately
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Nerve involvement - the needle should be removed immediately

Question 8

A patient care technician observes that a physician has not washed their hands before examining a patient. The technician should:

  1. Politely remind the physician about hand hygiene or report the observation to the charge nurse
  2. Document the incident in the patient's medical record and continue with the examination
  3. Immediately interrupt the examination and insist the physician wash their hands before proceeding
  4. Complete the examination first, then discuss proper hand hygiene protocols with the physician privately
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Politely remind the physician about hand hygiene or report the observation to the charge nurse

Question 9

A patient care technician is feeding a patient who has left-sided facial weakness from a stroke. Food should be placed on which side of the mouth?

  1. Directly in the center of the mouth
  2. The affected (left/weaker) side of the mouth
  3. The unaffected (right/stronger) side of the mouth
  4. Alternating between both sides of the mouth
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - The unaffected (right/stronger) side of the mouth

Question 10

A patient on a telemetry monitor is displaying ventricular tachycardia. The patient care technician should FIRST:

  1. Turn off the telemetry monitor and reset it to clear the alarm
  2. Alert the nurse or code team immediately - this is a life-threatening arrhythmia
  3. Increase the patient's oxygen flow rate and elevate their legs
  4. Document the rhythm strip and continue monitoring for changes
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Alert the nurse or code team immediately - this is a life-threatening arrhythmia

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