CRCST practice questions

Patient Care Equipment & Distribution: CRCST practice questions and answers

Cleaning, tracking and distributing patient care equipment, case carts and supply replenishment. This topic is about 5% of the CRCST exam. Try each question before opening the answer.

1. 1. An infusion pump is returned to sterile processing after use on a patient. What is the first step?

   • A. Place it directly on the clean equipment shelf
   • B. Spray it with water and let it air dry
   • C. Clean and disinfect it according to the manufacturer's IFU before storing it
   • D. Send it to the patient care unit that requests it next
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   C. Clean and disinfect it according to the manufacturer's IFU before storing it

   Patient care equipment must be cleaned and disinfected using the products and methods listed in the manufacturer's IFU before being stored or reissued. Spraying with water could damage electronics and does not disinfect.

2. 2. A technician finds a sequential compression device (SCD) pump with a frayed power cord. What should be done?

   • A. Wrap the cord in tape and return it to stock
   • B. Remove it from service, tag it as defective, and send it to biomedical or clinical engineering
   • C. Clean it and place it back in service
   • D. Send it to the patient unit with a note to use it carefully
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   B. Remove it from service, tag it as defective, and send it to biomedical or clinical engineering

   Damaged cords create electrical and fire hazards, so the device must be tagged out of service and repaired by biomedical or clinical engineering. Tape does not make it safe to use.

3. 3. How can staff on a patient unit easily tell that a piece of equipment has been cleaned and is ready for use?

   • A. It has been placed in the hallway
   • B. It looks shiny
   • C. It was last used more than 24 hours ago
   • D. It has a clean tag or cover applied by sterile processing
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   D. It has a clean tag or cover applied by sterile processing

   A clean tag, label or cover clearly shows that equipment has been processed and is ready for patient use. Appearance or location alone is not a reliable sign that an item was cleaned.