An Extra Hand Home Care

PCA EXAM

FIRST NAME LAST NAME *

Today's Date *//

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1. As a Personal Care Assistant, it is your responsibility to: *

A. Plan the client’s care.
B. Do only the tasks that the registered nurse or therapist assigns to you.
C. Try to do your best, but not ask for any help.
D. Compare assignments with your co-workers.

2. True or False. Always tell the patient what you are going to do before starting a procedure. *

A. True
B. False

3. Which of the following is important when communicating with people: *

A. Courtesy
B. Tact
C. Listening
D. All of the above

4. Body language is: *

A. A way of communicating feelings by using the body, facial expression and the eyes.
B. Only used by the clients to tell their doctors what is causing them problems.
C. Only used by persons who are deaf and mute.
D. The newest dance craze.

5. PCA care for a conscious patient should be preceded by: *

A. Asking the patient for his permission to go ahead with the procedure
B. Telling the patient you would like to have his cooperation
C. Giving an explanation of what is going to be done
D. Explanation to the patient that the doctor’s order is done

6. Miss Harris, a Personal Care Assistant, is assigned to care for Mr. Goodway. Miss Harris notices that she feels very angry when she is with Mr. Goodway. What should Mrs. Harris do because she feels this way? *

A. Tell Mr. Goodway how she is feeling
B. Find out if other PCAs have felt this way
C. Try to pretend Mr. Goodway is someone she likes
D. Talk with the agency supervisor about the situation

7. A patient accuses a Personal Care Assistant of stealing five dollars. The PCA has not taken the patient’s money, but the patient does not believe this. What should the PCA do? *

A. Ask the other PCAs who cares for the patient if they took the five dollars
B. Ask the patient why the PCA is being accused
C. Offer to give the patient five dollars
D. Notify the agency supervisor

8. True or False. If you do not chart a task that you do for a patient, legally, it was not done. *

A. True
B. False

9. True or False. If the patient has a new area of skin breakdown, and the nurse is coming in two days, you do not need to report the skin breakdown to your supervisor. *

A. True
B. False

10. True or False. A rapid pulse and shortness of breath in a patient usually indicates the patient is excited and does not need to be reported to the nurse. *

A. True
B. False

11. The nurses aide is asked by 11. The patient tells you he has not moved his bowels in three days. What should you do? a confused client what day it is. The nurses side should: *

A. Tell him not to worry about it
B. Tell him to take a laxative
C. Report it to the nursing supervisor
D. Pretend you didn’t hear him

12. Which of these actions is the Personal Care Assistant permitted to take in relation to drug administration? *

A. Record and report the patient’s reaction to the medication
B. Handing out nonprescription medications to the patient who asks for them
C. Adjusting the dosage of medication given to the patient
D. Adjusting the times medications are given to fit into the patient’s activities scheduled

13. When a patient complains of pain, what should the Personal Care Assistant do first? *

A. Ask the patient to describe the pain
B. Call the patient’s doctor
C. Offer the patient some warm tea
D. Change the patient’s position

14. A patient’s prescription for heart pills has recently been changed. The home health PCA should notify the agency supervisor immediately if the patient makes which of these comments: *

A. “The pills are very expensive.”
B. “These pills are a different shape from the pills I used to take.”
C. “I have a rash on my stomach since I’ve been taking these pills.”
D. “I can’t take these pills unless I have really cold water to drink.”

15. Mrs. Rand, who has diabetes and takes insulin regularly, tells the Personal Care Assistant that she feels very nervous and jittery. What should the PCA do immediately? *

A. Take her temperature
B. Find out when she has her next doctor’s appointment
C. Have her lie down in bed
D. Give her a glass of orange juice

16. True or False. Always report a pulse if the beats per minute are under 60 or over 100. *

A. True
B. False

17. True or False. The temperature of an unconscious patient should be taken orally since they are not moving about. *

A. True
B. False

18. True or False. Recording a patient’s TPR or vital signs is not important as long as you remember what they are. *

A. True
B. False

19. For which, if any, of these body areas is 99.6 degrees F. a normal temperature? *

A. Axilla
B. Mouth
C. Rectum
D. None of the above

20. When taking a patient pulse, you should take it for: *

A. 15 seconds
B. One full minute
C. 5 seconds
D. Two minutes

21. When a patient’s respirations are being counted, it is best that the patient: *

A. Tries to breathe evenly
B. Tries to breathe as deeply as he can
C. Sits up straight
D. Not be aware that the respirations are being counted

22. True or False. Hand washing is the single best way to decrease the number of pathogens. *

A. True
B. False

23. True or False. Gloves should be worn when handling items soiled by body fluids. *

A. True
B. False

24. True or False. The catheter drainage bag must be lower than the bladder, but not on the floor. *

A. True
B. False

25. During a visit, you need to wash your hands after removing gloves: *

A. Before you give physical care to the patient
B. After you pet the dog
C. Before you leave the patient’s home
D. All of the above