CPCT/A · 45% of the exam
Patient Care practice questions
10 free Patient Care questions for the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.
What this domain covers
The largest CPCT/A domain: hands-on care at the bedside, from vital signs and daily living to mobility, nutrition and collecting non-blood specimens.
- Exam weight
- 45%
- On a real exam
- ≈ 54 questions
- In our bank
- 266 questions
Topics that come up most
- Vital signs, height, weight and pain assessment
- Activities of daily living: bathing, grooming, toileting and feeding
- Positioning, transfers, ambulation and assistive devices
- Intake and output, catheter care and urine or stool specimens
- Recognising and reporting changes in a patient's condition
How to study it
Learn the normal adult ranges for each vital sign and what you must report straight away; many scenario questions hinge on spotting the abnormal reading.
Sample Patient Care questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.
Question 1
Why check weight limits on beds and lifts for bariatric patients?
- AWeight limits only matter for pediatric beds and cribs on the unit
- BEquipment used beyond its limit can fail
- CLimits are suggestions only
- DBariatric patients can't use lifts
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) Equipment used beyond its limit can fail
- AIncorrect. They matter for all.
- BCorrect. Use bariatric equipment.
- CIncorrect. They're safety limits.
- DIncorrect. Proper lifts are used.
Question 2
Passive range of motion means:
- AWalking laps
- BThe patient moves alone
- CLifting weights
- DStaff move the joints
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D) Staff move the joints
- AIncorrect. This is ambulation.
- BIncorrect. That is active ROM.
- CIncorrect. This is resistance exercise.
- DCorrect. The patient does not actively move.
Question 3
When communicating with a patient who has dementia, the patient care technician should:
- ACorrect the patient firmly whenever they state the wrong date
- BGive directions one simple step at a time
- CCombine several care tasks quickly to limit disruption
- DRaise your voice so instructions are clearly heard
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) Give directions one simple step at a time
Patients with dementia understand best with calm, simple, one-step directions and enough time to respond. Arguing, rushing, and raising your voice increase confusion and agitation.
- AIncorrect. Insisting on corrections tends to frustrate and agitate a person with dementia. Caregivers are advised not to insist on correcting them.
- BCorrect. Breaking directions into small, simple steps and allowing time to understand reduces confusion for a person with dementia.
- CIncorrect. Rushing and grouping several tasks together overwhelms the patient. Allow time for the person to understand and respond.
- DIncorrect. Talking loudly, as if the person were hard of hearing, does not help and can seem threatening. Speak in a quiet, calm voice.
Question 4
A patient care technician is helping an alert patient with no swallowing restrictions eat lunch. Which feeding technique best reduces the risk of aspiration?
- ARecline the head of the bed to about 30 degrees so the patient stays relaxed during the meal
- BOffer small bites and let the patient chew and swallow each one before giving the next
- COffer the next spoonful as soon as the patient opens their mouth so the meal ends before they tire
- DKeep offering food if the patient coughs briefly, because coughing clears the airway on its own
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) Offer small bites and let the patient chew and swallow each one before giving the next
To prevent aspiration, the patient sits upright and eats slowly in small bites, swallowing fully before the next bite. If the patient coughs or chokes, stop feeding and report it.
- AIncorrect. For oral intake the patient should be seated upright whenever possible. A semi-reclined position raises the risk of aspiration.
- BCorrect. Small bites and sips, eaten slowly with time to swallow fully, lower the risk of aspiration.
- CIncorrect. Patients should eat slowly. Rushing bites leaves food in the mouth and throat and increases the risk of aspiration.
- DIncorrect. Coughing or choking during a meal is a warning sign. Stop oral intake and report it for reassessment.
Question 5
Which signs suggest high blood sugar?
- ASudden confusion with pale skin
- BShakiness and sweating
- CExtreme thirst and frequent urination
- DHunger relieved by juice
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C) Extreme thirst and frequent urination
- AIncorrect. That suggests low blood sugar.
- BIncorrect. That suggests low blood sugar.
- CCorrect. Report them.
- DIncorrect. That suggests low blood sugar.
Question 6
A male patient on bed rest asks for a urinal. Which action by the patient care technician is most appropriate?
- AStay at the bedside and watch while he voids so the amount can be reported accurately
- BProvide privacy and the call light, then empty the urinal and measure output if I&O is ordered
- CPull the curtain, then leave the used urinal at the bedside for the nurse to measure at shift end
- DOffer the urinal only at scheduled times so his output can be measured once per shift
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) Provide privacy and the call light, then empty the urinal and measure output if I&O is ordered
Offer the urinal promptly and in private with the call light within reach, then empty it right away, measuring and recording the output if intake and output is ordered.
- AIncorrect. Watching the patient void violates his privacy during personal care and isn't needed to measure output. The amount is measured from the urinal's markings afterward.
- BCorrect. Personal care must be done with privacy, and the call light lets the patient signal when he is done. The urinal should then be emptied promptly, with the volume measured and recorded if intake and output is ordered, followed by hand hygiene.
- CIncorrect. Leaving urine at the bedside is unsanitary and causes odor and spill risk. The technician should empty and measure the urinal promptly after each use.
- DIncorrect. Toileting help should be given whenever the patient needs it. Making him wait risks incontinence and discomfort, and I&O is recorded each time he voids.
Question 7
Emesis (vomit) should be:
- ADiscarded unmeasured
- BMeasured and described
- CIgnored if small
- DMixed with urine output
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) Measured and described
- AIncorrect. Measure it first.
- BCorrect. Record the amount, color and contents and report concerns.
- CIncorrect. Document it.
- DIncorrect. Record it separately.
Question 8
When collecting a stool specimen, what should the technician avoid?
- AWearing gloves
- BMixing urine or toilet paper with the stool
- CLabeling the container
- DUsing a clean, labeled container with a lid for the specimen
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) Mixing urine or toilet paper with the stool
- AIncorrect. Gloves are needed.
- BCorrect. It can affect results.
- CIncorrect. Labeling is required.
- DIncorrect. A clean container is required.
Question 9
A patient's IV site is red, swollen and painful. What should the technician do?
- AReport it to the nurse promptly
- BRemove the IV themselves right away
- CApply ice and say nothing
- DIgnore it until the next shift
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) Report it to the nurse promptly
- ACorrect. It may be infiltration or phlebitis.
- BIncorrect. Follow scope and policy; tell the nurse.
- CIncorrect. Report it.
- DIncorrect. Report it promptly.
Question 10
What is a key part of bedtime (HS) care?
- ATurning on bright lights
- BWaking the patient every 10 minutes to check that they're comfortable
- CToileting, oral care and a comfortable, safe environment
- DRemoving the call light
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C) Toileting, oral care and a comfortable, safe environment
- AIncorrect. That disrupts sleep.
- BIncorrect. That disrupts sleep.
- CCorrect. It promotes rest.
- DIncorrect. Keep it in reach.
Patient Care: FAQs
How much of the CPCT/A exam is Patient Care?
Patient Care is 45% of the CPCT/A exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 120-question form works out to roughly 54 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.
What does the Patient Care domain cover?
The largest CPCT/A domain: hands-on care at the bedside, from vital signs and daily living to mobility, nutrition and collecting non-blood specimens.
How should I study Patient Care for CPCT/A?
Learn the normal adult ranges for each vital sign and what you must report straight away; many scenario questions hinge on spotting the abnormal reading.
Where can I practise more Patient Care questions?
This page has 10 free Patient Care questions with answers. The ExamWize CPCT/A question bank has 266 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.
Get Patient Care exam-ready
The full CPCT/A bank has 266 Patient Care questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.
Not affiliated with NHA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.