Chapter 14 Critical thinking and Clinical Decision Making Flashcards
1
Q
- After gathering information from the patient, scene, and any bystanders, you must next:
A) formulate a care plan based on the information.
B) determine which information is valid and which may be invalid.
C) synthesize the information to form a thought process.
D) determine the most likely cause of the patient’s problem.
A
Ans: B
Page: 695
Type: General Knowledge
2
Q
- Synthesizing information about a patient with multiple medical conditions involves:
A) determining the validity of each of the patient’s medical problems.
B) ruling out each condition as the cause of the patient’s chief complaint.
C) determining the patient’s perception of his or her multiple conditions.
D) assessing each condition’s potential for having a life-threatening impact.
A
Ans: D
Page: 696
Type: General Knowledge
3
Q
- The care plan that you implement based on your working field diagnosis of a patient is almost always defined by:
A) your EMS system’s patient care protocols or standing orders.
B) your previous experience with patients who had a similar condition.
C) direct orders from the physician at the receiving medical facility.
D) a combination of your and your partner’s knowledge and experience.
A
Ans: A
Page: 696
Type: General Knowledge
4
Q
- Protocols, or standing orders, specify the paramedic’s performance parameters, which:
A) allow the paramedic to function autonomously on every EMS call.
B) outline the care that is provided after contacting online medical control.
C) limit the skills that the paramedic can perform in his or her EMS system.
D) define what the paramedic can or cannot do without direct medical control.
A
Ans: D
Page: 696
Type: General Knowledge
5
Q
- The main disadvantage of patient care algorithms is that they:
A) are revised or updated too frequently.
B) are often overridden by medical control.
C) only address classic patient presentations.
D) discourage contact with direct medical control.
A
Ans: C
Page: 696
Type: General Knowledge
6
Q
- If a patient’s clinical presentation is not addressed in a specific algorithm, the paramedic must:
A) focus exclusively on the patient’s ABCs.
B) determine what is in the patient’s best interest.
C) perform a comprehensive head-to-toe exam.
D) provide supportive care and transport promptly.
A
Ans: B
Page: 696
Type: General Knowledge
7
Q
- Documenting difficulties such as darkness, limited access, and unruly crowds that you encounter while caring for a patient is MOST important because it:
A) paints a mental picture for the receiving physician.
B) is used to help substantiate delayed on-scene times.
C) will help justify the patient care decisions you make.
D) provides legal immunity if the patient decides to sue.
A
Ans: C
Page: 699
Type: General Knowledge
8
Q
- Which of the following scenarios is the BEST example of independent decision making?
A) Controlling severe bleeding from an open wound, establishing an IV to maintain perfusion, and contacting medical control en route to the hospital
B) Selecting the appropriate patient care algorithm from your protocol book when treating a middle-aged male patient with symptomatic bradycardia
C) Definitively diagnosing a patient with cholecystitis who has right upper quadrant abdominal pain and nausea that began shortly after eating a meal
D) Contacting medical control and requesting permission to administer adenosine to a patient with a heart rate of 190 beats/min and a stable blood pressure
A
Ans: A
Page: 697
Type: General Knowledge
9
Q
- In order to be a competent and effective paramedic, it is MOST important for you to:
A) be familiar with patient care algorithms and guidelines.
B) possess the knowledge to diagnose a patient definitively.
C) have a high success rate of IV insertions and intubations.
D) think and perform quickly and effectively under pressure.
A
Ans: D
Page: 697-698
Type: General Knowledge
10
Q
10. Once you determine that your patient is sick, you must next: A) provide aggressive care. B) quantify how sick he or she is. C) contact online medical control. D) transport him or her immediately.
A
Ans: B
Page: 698
Type: General Knowledge
11
Q
- Which of the following conditions or situations is the BEST example of a critical life threat that needs immediate care?
A) An early onset of renal insufficiency
B) A patient with multiple disease etiologies
C) Acute presentation of a chronic condition
D) Open head injury with exposed brain tissue
A
Ans: C
Page: 698
Type: General Knowledge
12
Q
- In EMS, the process of concept formation involves:
A) determining the validity of obtained data.
B) gathering information about your patient.
C) knowing which treatment algorithm to use.
D) interpreting a patient’s signs and symptoms.
A
Ans: B
Page: 698
Type: General Knowledge
13
Q
13. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology is MOST important during the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ stage of critical thinking. A) data interpretation B) concept formation C) reflection in action D) application of principle
A
Ans: A
Page: 699
Type: General Knowledge
14
Q
- Comments such as “I can’t believe you called EMS for this!”:
A) show a lack of compassion and interest in providing the best possible care.
B) demonstrate an illegal act for which the paramedic will be held accountable.
C) are commonly made by paramedics with less than 5 years of field experience.
D) are typically ignored by the patient because he or she is frightened at the time.
A
Ans: A
Page: 699
Type: General Knowledge
15
Q
- A negative attitude about any patient or patient care situation:
A) constitutes negligence and carries legal ramifications with it.
B) is usually not sensed by the patient because he or she is frightened.
C) is often observed in paramedics with many years of experience.
D) almost guarantees that the care you provide will be suboptimal.
A
Ans: D
Page: 699
Type: General Knowledge