CRCST Patient Care Equipment Practice Test

25 practice questions

Choose an answer, then check it under Show answer.

1. Question 1 of 25Easy

   During the inspection of an intravenous (IV) infusion pump, a technician spots a hairline crack across the transparent plastic display screen. The unit still powers on and the keypad responds normally. How should the technician proceed?

   1. AA. Decontaminate the exterior, tag the unit for repair, and notify biomedical engineering.
   2. BB. Clean and disinfect the exterior while avoiding the crack, then return it to service.
   3. CC. Seal the crack with clear waterproof silicone before wiping the pump down.
   4. DD. Restrict the pump for use only in non-critical outpatient clinical areas.
   Show answer to question 1

   Answer: A. Decontaminate the exterior, tag the unit for repair, and notify biomedical engineering.

   Cracks in the housing or display screens of electronic equipment create an entry point for liquid disinfectants and body fluids, leading to internal component corrosion, electrical failure, or fire hazards. The technician must thoroughly decontaminate the device, label it with a maintenance tag describing the defect, and route it to biomedical engineering. Attempting to seal the crack or returning the unit to service compromises patient safety.

2. Question 2 of 25Hard

   A central service technician must deliver a cart of clean patient care supplies to a nursing unit in a facility that has only one service elevator for both clean and soiled items. What rule must the technician follow during transit?

   1. AA. Soiled items take precedence in the elevator, requiring clean carts to be moved via public stairs
   2. BB. The elevator interior must be chemically fogged after every trip before clean items enter
   3. CC. Clean supply carts may share the elevator with soiled carts if separated by at least three feet
   4. DD. Clean and soiled carts must never be transported together in the elevator car at the same time
   Show answer to question 2

   Answer: D. Clean and soiled carts must never be transported together in the elevator car at the same time

   To prevent cross-contamination, clean and soiled items must never be transported together in the same elevator car at the same time. While dedicated clean and soiled elevators are ideal, sharing a single service elevator is permitted only when clean and dirty loads travel on separate trips, and clean supplies are adequately covered or in closed carts.

3. Question 3 of 25Easy

   When disconnecting patient care equipment from a wall outlet, which practice is required to prevent internal wire breakage?

   1. AA. Grasp and pull the molded plug body
   2. BB. Twist the cord while yanking firmly
   3. CC. Pull directly on the flexible electrical cord
   4. DD. Rock the plug back and forth sideways
   Show answer to question 3

   Answer: A. Grasp and pull the molded plug body

   Grasping and pulling the molded plug body ensures that mechanical force is applied to the solid connector rather than the internal copper conductors. Pulling directly on the flexible electrical cord can stretch the insulation, separate internal wiring, and create a serious shock or fire hazard. Rocking or twisting the plug can bend the prongs and damage the wall receptacle.

4. Question 4 of 25Easy

   A hospital attaches radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to its infusion pumps and installs readers throughout its patient care units. What is the main advantage of this system over a barcode system?

   1. AA. Pumps no longer need scheduled inspections by biomedical engineering
   2. BB. Each pump must be scanned by hand at close range each time it moves
   3. CC. Each pump's cleaning is checked and recorded automatically by its tag
   4. DD. Pump locations update without anyone having to scan them by hand
   Show answer to question 4

   Answer: D. Pump locations update without anyone having to scan them by hand

   RFID tags send radio signals that readers pick up without a direct line of sight, so the system can show where each tagged pump is without anyone scanning it. This helps staff find equipment quickly and see where units are being held.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • ATracking technology does not replace the scheduled inspections that biomedical engineering performs.
   • BScanning each item by hand at close range describes a barcode system, not an RFID system.
   • CA location tag shows where a pump is, not whether it was cleaned, which staff must still check and record.

5. Question 5 of 25Hard

   After being plugged into an approved charging station for the manufacturer-recommended duration, an electronic portable monitor displays a persistent 'low battery' warning upon startup. What should the technician do next?

   1. AA. Replace the internal fuse and cycle the power switch three times
   2. BB. Perform a hard factory reset and place the unit on a distribution cart
   3. CC. Deploy the monitor with an instruction tag to keep it plugged in at the bedside
   4. DD. Tag the device as defective and route it to biomedical engineering
   Show answer to question 5

   Answer: D. Tag the device as defective and route it to biomedical engineering

   If a battery-powered device fails to hold an adequate charge after completing the specified charging cycle, the battery or internal circuitry is faulty and must be removed from service and sent to biomedical engineering. Distributing an improperly functioning device creates a critical safety hazard if a patient requires transport or if bedside AC power fails. Technicians must not attempt internal electrical repairs or override device fault warnings.

6. Question 6 of 25Medium

   A central service technician has finished cleaning and disinfecting an SCD machine and its reusable connector assembly. What step must be completed before placing a protective dust cover over the unit?

   1. AA. Wrap the power cord tightly around the pneumatic ports
   2. BB. Ensure the device and tubing are completely dry
   3. CC. Apply medical-grade lubricant to the quick-connect fittings
   4. DD. Seal the protective cover hermetically with indicator tape
   Show answer to question 6

   Answer: B. Ensure the device and tubing are completely dry

   The device and tubing must be completely dry before covering to prevent trapping residual moisture, which encourages microbial proliferation and can damage internal electronics. Power cords should never be wrapped tightly around delicate components, and lubricants should never be introduced into pneumatic connection lines.

7. Question 7 of 25Medium

   Before issuing an enteral feeding pump that has a current PM label, a technician switches it on, and it stops partway through its self-test and displays an error code. What should the technician do?

   1. AA. Tag it out of service and send it to biomedical engineering
   2. BB. Issue it, since biomedical engineering inspected it recently
   3. CC. Restart it until the self-test passes, then issue it as usual
   4. DD. Issue it with a note asking the nurse to look up the error code
   Show answer to question 7

   Answer: A. Tag it out of service and send it to biomedical engineering

   A failed self-test means the pump found a fault in its own functions, so it is not safe to issue, whatever its PM label shows. The technician removes it from service, records the error code on the repair tag and sends it to biomedical engineering.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • BA current PM label reflects a past inspection, not that the pump works correctly now.
   • CRestarting until the test passes can hide an intermittent fault that may recur during patient use.
   • DA pump that failed its self-test must be repaired before issue, not left for nurses to troubleshoot.

8. Question 8 of 25Medium

   Which design and workflow principle is required for patient care equipment holding and processing areas to prevent cross-contamination?

   1. AA. Routing soiled equipment through clean staging corridors to access mechanical washers
   2. BB. Establishing physical separation between soiled intake and clean charging and distribution areas
   3. CC. Locating primary equipment charging stations within the negative-pressure decontamination room
   4. DD. Combining soiled collection staging and clean equipment charging inside a single shared room
   Show answer to question 8

   Answer: B. Establishing physical separation between soiled intake and clean charging and distribution areas

   One-way flow requires distinct physical separation or clear demarcation between soiled receiving areas and clean processing, charging, and storage areas to ensure dirty items never cross paths with or contaminate clean devices. Locating charging stations in decontamination is unsafe because moisture and bioburden in that room could contaminate clean inventory and pose electrical hazards.

9. Question 9 of 25Medium

   The clean equipment room has more infusion pumps to charge than it has wall outlets. A coworker plugs one power strip into another power strip so that all of the pumps can charge overnight. What should the technician do?

   1. AA. Leave the setup in place, since each strip has its own circuit breaker
   2. BB. Replace both strips with a long extension cord from a hallway outlet
   3. CC. Leave the setup in place for now and report it at the next staff meeting
   4. DD. Unplug the second strip and report that more outlets are needed
   Show answer to question 9

   Answer: D. Unplug the second strip and report that more outlets are needed

   Plugging one power strip into another, called daisy chaining, can overload outlets and wiring and is a fire hazard that electrical safety rules prohibit. The technician removes the hazard now and reports the shortage so that proper outlets or charging stations can be added.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AChaining strips is prohibited whatever breakers they have, because it raises the risk of overheating and fire.
   • BAn extension cord from a hallway outlet is not a safe substitute for permanent outlets and creates a trip hazard.
   • CLeaving a known fire hazard in place until a later meeting keeps the room at risk in the meantime.

10. Question 10 of 25Medium

    Which activity falls strictly under the scope of biomedical engineering rather than Central Service technicians during equipment processing?

    1. AA. Verifying that the current preventive maintenance sticker is intact and unexpired
    2. BB. Performing internal diagnostic calibrations and electrical leakage safety testing
    3. CC. Inspecting electrical cords for fraying and cracked insulation
    4. DD. Wiping down equipment surfaces with hospital-approved disinfectant wipes
    Show answer to question 10

    Answer: B. Performing internal diagnostic calibrations and electrical leakage safety testing

    Electrical safety testing, leakage current measurement, and internal diagnostic calibrations require specialized electronic testing equipment and biomedical training. Central Service technicians are responsible for cleaning, external visual inspection, checking PM sticker validity, and identifying visible damage, but not internal technical diagnostics.

11. Question 11 of 25Medium

    Why should clean patient care equipment be enclosed in clear plastic bags or dust covers before being stored or transported for delivery?

    1. AA. To allow residual chemical disinfectants to gas off safely
    2. BB. To prevent recontamination by dust and airborne particulates
    3. CC. To indicate to staff that the device requires electrical servicing
    4. DD. To complete the final phase of high-level liquid disinfection
    Show answer to question 11

    Answer: B. To prevent recontamination by dust and airborne particulates

    Placing clean patient care devices in clean plastic bags or covers protects them from dust, debris, and environmental microorganisms while staged in clean holding or during transit. Plastic covers do not perform or complete disinfection; their sole purpose is physical barrier protection.

12. Question 12 of 25Hard

    A central service department is evaluating passive RFID tags to replace manual logs for transport wheelchairs and feeding pumps. What is a key technical characteristic of passive RFID tags?

    1. AA. They broadcast continuous radio signals across distances exceeding several hundred feet.
    2. BB. They maintain an internal battery that requires replacement every one to two years.
    3. CC. They rely on the electromagnetic signal from a reader to energize and transmit data.
    4. DD. They store extensive real-time patient physiological data during medical transport.
    Show answer to question 12

    Answer: C. They rely on the electromagnetic signal from a reader to energize and transmit data.

    Passive RFID tags have no onboard power source; they harvest power from the radio frequency energy emitted by an interrogating reader to transmit their identifier. Internal batteries and long-range continuous signal transmission are features of active RFID tags, not passive ones.

13. Question 13 of 25Easy

    After a syringe pump is cleaned, inspected and tested, the technician attaches a tag showing that it is clean and ready for use. Which information belongs on this tag?

    1. AA. The name and room number of the last patient who used it
    2. BB. The date it was processed and the technician's initials
    3. CC. The date that its next preventive maintenance is due
    4. DD. The lot number and expiration date of the disinfectant used
    Show answer to question 13

    Answer: B. The date it was processed and the technician's initials

    A clean tag tells users that the unit has been processed and is ready, and the date and the technician's initials show when it was done and who did it. This supports quality checks and follow-up if a problem is found later.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • APatient names and room numbers are protected health information and do not belong on equipment tags.
    • CThe next preventive maintenance date appears on the label that biomedical engineering applies, not on the clean tag.
    • DDisinfectant lot numbers are not part of the information placed on an equipment clean tag.

14. Question 14 of 25Medium

    After cleaning and inspecting an intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) device, which step is required during functional testing before returning it to distribution storage?

    1. AA. Disassemble the internal compressor motor to inspect the drive belt for wear
    2. BB. Override the low-pressure alarm to ensure the unit operates under low-voltage conditions
    3. CC. Connect test sleeves or use manufacturer test ports to verify pressure delivery and alarm cycling
    4. DD. Submerge the pneumatic connector hoses in enzymatic solution to verify airtight seals
    Show answer to question 14

    Answer: C. Connect test sleeves or use manufacturer test ports to verify pressure delivery and alarm cycling

    Functional testing of pneumatic compression units requires attaching test sleeves or test ports to confirm that air is delivered at correct pressures and that cycle indicators and alarms operate properly per manufacturer instructions. Internal motor disassembly is performed by biomedical engineering, not during standard Central Service functional testing.

15. Question 15 of 25Medium

    While removing soiled tape and cleaning the power cord of a sequential compression device (SCD), a technician notices that the grounding pin is missing from the three-prong plug. What is the most appropriate action?

    1. AA. Rewire the damaged plug using an approved hospital-grade replacement component
    2. BB. Clean the cord thoroughly and apply heat-shrink insulation over the plug base
    3. CC. Place the device into clean storage with an informational tag noting the missing pin
    4. DD. Complete the cleaning process and tag the device out of service for biomedical repair
    Show answer to question 15

    Answer: D. Complete the cleaning process and tag the device out of service for biomedical repair

    Any equipment with a damaged power cord or missing ground pin presents a severe electrical hazard and must be decontaminated, tagged out of service, and forwarded to biomedical engineering for repair. Central service technicians are not authorized to rewire electrical plugs, and damaged equipment must never be returned to clean storage or clinical service.

16. Question 16 of 25Hard

    A technician is transporting an enclosed cart filled with soiled patient care equipment through hospital hallways to the decontamination area. What is the recommended practice regarding glove use to avoid contaminating the environment?

    1. AA. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene before pushing the enclosed cart through public corridors
    2. BB. Wear soiled utility gloves from the nursing unit to ensure continuous barrier protection
    3. CC. Double-glove with heavy latex gloves throughout the entire transit process outside the unit
    4. DD. Keep one sterile surgical glove on the dominant hand to open doors and press elevator buttons
    Show answer to question 16

    Answer: A. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene before pushing the enclosed cart through public corridors

    To prevent transferring pathogens to clean environments, elevator buttons, and door handles, technicians must remove contaminated gloves and perform hand hygiene prior to pushing enclosed transport carts through non-decontamination corridors. Pushing transport carts through public areas while wearing contaminated gloves spreads bioburden to common touchpoints.

17. Question 17 of 25Medium

    A sequential compression device controller comes back from the room of a patient who has gone home, with the patient's leg sleeves still attached. What should the technician do with the sleeves?

    1. AA. Discard them, since they are labeled for use on one patient only
    2. BB. Wipe them with disinfectant and keep them with the controller for reuse
    3. CC. Send them to the laundry and put them back on the supply shelf when clean
    4. DD. Leave them attached so the controller is ready to send out again
    Show answer to question 17

    Answer: A. Discard them, since they are labeled for use on one patient only

    Compression sleeves are single-patient-use items, so once that patient no longer needs them they are removed and discarded. The controller is then cleaned and disinfected as its IFU directs, and the next patient receives new sleeves in the right size.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • BWiping does not make a single-patient-use item safe to use on another patient.
    • CThe sleeves are not made to be laundered, and laundering does not make a single-patient-use item reusable.
    • DSending the controller out with a previous patient's sleeves attached exposes the next patient to contamination.

18. Question 18 of 25Medium

    During inspection of a cleaned volumetric infusion pump, which finding means the pump must be removed from service?

    1. AA. A crack in the case beside the door that holds the tubing
    2. BB. A PM label showing that the next inspection is due later this month
    3. CC. A battery indicator that shows a partial charge after a day off the charger
    4. DD. An old clean tag from its last processing still attached
    Show answer to question 18

    Answer: A. A crack in the case beside the door that holds the tubing

    A cracked case can let fluid reach internal parts, and damage near the door can affect how the tubing is held, which can cause delivery errors or free flow. The pump is tagged out of service and sent to biomedical engineering for repair.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • BA PM date later this month is routine scheduling and shows no damage or fault in the pump itself.
    • CA partial charge after a day off the charger is corrected by charging; it does not mean the pump is damaged.
    • DAn old clean tag is simply removed and replaced with a new one when processing is complete.

19. Question 19 of 25Medium

    A technician takes infusion pumps off the charging station by pulling each power cord from a few feet away until the plug comes out of the wall outlet. What is the main problem with this practice?

    1. AA. It turns the pumps off as each plug comes out, before charging finishes
    2. BB. It wears out the batteries faster each time a cord is pulled this way
    3. CC. It strains the cord and plug, which can damage wires and cause shocks
    4. DD. It erases each pump's settings when its cord is pulled from the outlet
    Show answer to question 19

    Answer: C. It strains the cord and plug, which can damage wires and cause shocks

    Pulling on the cord instead of grasping the plug strains the joint between cord and plug, which can loosen or break wires and damage the insulation. A damaged cord or plug can cause shocks, sparks or fire, so a plug is removed by grasping the plug itself.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AUnplugging stops charging however the plug is removed, and pulling on the cord does not switch a pump off.
    • BThe way a plug is pulled out has no effect on how fast a rechargeable battery wears out.
    • DUnplugging does not erase a pump's settings; the real risk is damage to the cord and plug.

20. Question 20 of 25Hard

    A technician inspects a loaned infusion device upon delivery and discovers that the manufacturer-specified mounting clamp and dedicated power cord are missing. What is the appropriate response?

    1. AA. Issue the unit to the patient floor with instructions to run exclusively on internal battery power
    2. BB. Substitute a power cord from an obsolete hospital-owned pump of a different model
    3. CC. Tag the unit as incomplete, notify the vendor immediately, and withhold it from distribution
    4. DD. Send the unit to biomedical engineering to fabricate a temporary mounting bracket
    Show answer to question 20

    Answer: C. Tag the unit as incomplete, notify the vendor immediately, and withhold it from distribution

    If a rented or loaned medical unit arrives without essential manufacturer-approved components, it must be tagged and held while the vendor is notified for remediation. Operating the unit solely on battery power or using unapproved cords introduces patient safety hazards and violates manufacturer specifications.

21. Question 21 of 25Medium

    While cleaning a specialty bed mattress returned from a patient room, a technician finds a small tear in its fluid-resistant cover. The foam beneath the tear has a dark stain. What should the technician do?

    1. AA. Clean the stain through the tear with extra disinfectant, then return it to use
    2. BB. Disinfect the cover, seal the tear with tape and report it for later repair
    3. CC. Take the mattress out of use and report the damage so it can be replaced
    4. DD. Turn the mattress so the tear faces down, then return it to use
    Show answer to question 21

    Answer: C. Take the mattress out of use and report the damage so it can be replaced

    A torn cover lets blood and body fluids reach the inner foam, which cannot be reliably cleaned or disinfected, and the stain shows that fluid has already soaked in. The mattress is removed from use and reported so that the damaged cover and contaminated parts can be replaced.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • ADisinfectant cannot reliably decontaminate fluid that has soaked into foam, so the stain stays a contamination source.
    • BTape does not restore the fluid barrier, and the stained foam underneath stays contaminated while in use.
    • DTurning the mattress hides the tear but leaves contaminated foam inside, so the next patient is still exposed.

22. Question 22 of 25Hard

    A patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump arrives in the SPD for cleaning. Its medication compartment still holds a syringe with some morphine left in it. What should the technician do?

    1. AA. Remove the syringe and discard it, with the drug inside, in a sharps container
    2. BB. Empty the syringe into a sink, then discard it in a sharps container
    3. CC. Leave the syringe in place and call the unit to have licensed staff remove it
    4. DD. Discard the syringe in a sharps container, then notify the unit it was found
    Show answer to question 22

    Answer: C. Leave the syringe in place and call the unit to have licensed staff remove it

    Morphine is a controlled substance, so any amount left over must be removed, disposed of and recorded by licensed staff, usually with a witness, under facility policy. The technician leaves the syringe in place and contacts the unit, or pharmacy if policy directs, instead of handling the drug.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • ADiscarding a controlled substance without licensed staff and a record breaks drug control rules and could hide a drug loss.
    • BThe technician is not authorized to dispose of a controlled substance by any method, and the disposal must be recorded by licensed staff.
    • DTelling the unit after the drug is discarded prevents the required witnessed disposal and record.

23. Question 23 of 25Easy

    A small green dot appears on some wall receptacles in patient care areas and on the power plugs of many medical devices. What does this marking indicate?

    1. AA. It has passed its most recent electrical safety inspection
    2. BB. It is built and tested to the hospital-grade standard
    3. CC. It is connected to the facility's emergency power system
    4. DD. It has built-in ground-fault circuit interrupter protection
    Show answer to question 23

    Answer: B. It is built and tested to the hospital-grade standard

    The green dot identifies hospital-grade plugs and receptacles, which are built and tested to stricter requirements for grounding reliability, durability and grip than general-use devices. This lowers the risk of shock and of a plug working loose.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • AThe date of a device's last safety inspection appears on the label that biomedical engineering applies, not as a green dot.
    • CReceptacles on emergency power have a distinctive color or marking, most often red, not a green dot.
    • DGround-fault circuit interrupter outlets are identified by their test and reset buttons, not by a green dot.

24. Question 24 of 25Hard

    The ED calls for an infusion pump right away. The only pump ready in clean storage has a PM label that expired last week, and the ED charge nurse says to send it anyway because it worked well on its last patient. What should the technician do?

    1. AA. Send it, since the pump worked normally on its last patient and looks fine
    2. BB. Send it, and notify biomedical engineering to inspect it on the unit today
    3. CC. Keep it out of service, notify biomedical engineering, and find another pump
    4. DD. Send it after running its self-test, and document the expired label in the log
    Show answer to question 24

    Answer: C. Keep it out of service, notify biomedical engineering, and find another pump

    Equipment with an expired PM label is not issued, even under pressure, because its scheduled safety and performance check is overdue. The technician keeps it out of service for biomedical engineering and fills the request another way, such as from another unit or a rental, with the supervisor's help if needed.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • ANormal use on the last patient does not show that the overdue inspection was done.
    • BSending it before the inspection puts an ED patient on a device that is out of compliance.
    • DA self-test does not replace the scheduled inspection, and recording the problem does not make the pump safe to issue.

25. Question 25 of 25Medium

    While inspecting a returned portable suction unit, a technician sees that the outer jacket of its power cord is frayed near the plug and the colored inner wires show through. A coworker offers to wrap the spot with electrical tape so the unit can go back out today. What should the technician do?

    1. AA. Tag the unit out of service and send it to biomedical engineering for repair
    2. BB. Wrap the frayed spot with electrical tape and return the unit to service today
    3. CC. Return it to service and ask biomedical engineering to replace the cord later
    4. DD. Wrap the frayed spot with tape and add a note asking users to handle it gently
    Show answer to question 25

    Answer: A. Tag the unit out of service and send it to biomedical engineering for repair

    A cord with damaged insulation and exposed inner wires can shock staff or patients or start a fire, so the unit is taken out of service at once. Biomedical engineering repairs or replaces the cord and checks the unit's electrical safety before it is used again.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • BTape is not an approved repair for a medical device power cord and leaves the damaged insulation in place.
    • CKeeping a unit with exposed wires in use until a later repair exposes users and patients to shock in the meantime.
    • DA note asking for gentle handling does not remove the shock or fire hazard of exposed wires.

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