PCT Patient Rights 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient refuses a blood draw ordered by the physician. What is the PCT's appropriate response?
- Perform the draw quickly before the patient can object again
- Document the refusal and notify the nurse or charge nurse (Correct answer)
- Call security to restrain the patient
- Tell the patient they have no choice
Correct answer: Document the refusal and notify the nurse or charge nurse
Patients have the right to refuse any treatment or procedure, and the PCT must document the refusal and report it to the appropriate nurse.
Question 2: Which federal law establishes the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)?
- HIPAA
- Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Correct answer)
- ADA
- EMTALA
Correct answer: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 includes the PSDA, requiring healthcare facilities to inform patients of their rights to make advance directives.
Question 3: A patient asks to see their own medical records. What right does this reflect?
- Right to refuse treatment
- Right of access to medical records under HIPAA (Correct answer)
- Right to a second opinion
- Right to privacy during procedures
Correct answer: Right of access to medical records under HIPAA
HIPAA grants patients the right to access and obtain copies of their own medical records.
Question 4: What does the right to 'dignity and respect' mean in practice for a PCT?
- Addressing patients only by their last name
- Knocking before entering and using preferred names/pronouns (Correct answer)
- Limiting visitor access to protect patient privacy
- Only speaking to patients when necessary
Correct answer: Knocking before entering and using preferred names/pronouns
Respecting dignity includes knocking before entering, using the patient's preferred name/pronouns, and treating them with courtesy at all times.
Question 5: A patient with a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order goes into cardiac arrest. What should the PCT do?
- Begin CPR immediately
- Follow the DNR order and notify the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Call a rapid response team
- Ask family members what to do
Correct answer: Follow the DNR order and notify the nurse immediately
A valid DNR order must be honored; the PCT should not initiate CPR and must immediately notify the nurse.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of violating a patient's right to privacy?
- Closing the curtain during a bed bath
- Discussing a patient's diagnosis in the hallway with a coworker (Correct answer)
- Asking visitors to step out during assessment
- Knocking before entering the room
Correct answer: Discussing a patient's diagnosis in the hallway with a coworker
Discussing patient information in public or non-private settings is a violation of the patient's right to privacy and HIPAA.
Question 7: A patient asks the PCT not to share their room location with callers. What should the PCT do?
- Share the information anyway if the caller sounds concerned
- Honor the request and not disclose the patient's location (Correct answer)
- Transfer the call to the charge nurse to decide
- Ask the patient to reconsider for safety reasons
Correct answer: Honor the request and not disclose the patient's location
Patients have the right to confidentiality, including the right to restrict who knows they are hospitalized.
PCT Patient Rights 2
A patient refuses a blood draw ordered by the physician.
What is the PCT's appropriate response?