Chapter 33 Flashcards
Which of the following patients should an OEC Technician consider a potential behavioral emergency?
a. A 44-year-old woman with bipolar disorder who is complaining of a fever of 99.5°F
b. A 56-year-old man with schizophrenia who has continued taking his medications
c. A 29-year-old man with diabetes who is combative and refusing care
d. A 36-year-old man with a known history who tells you he is hearing voices
a. A 44-year-old woman with bipolar disorder who is complaining of a fever of 99.5°F
b. A 56-year-old man with schizophrenia who has continued taking his medications
c. A 29-year-old man with diabetes who is combative and refusing care
d. A 36-year-old man with a known history who tells you he is hearing voices
Answer: c
Objective: 33-4
Reference: 1040
Your first priority in managing a patient with a behavioral emergency is:
a. determining if the patient is a threat to himself or herself.
b. providing the patient high-concentration oxygen.
c. ensuring your own personal safety.
d. assessing and managing the patient’s airway.
determining if the patient is a threat to himself or herself.
b. providing the patient high-concentration oxygen.
c. ensuring your own personal safety.
d. assessing and managing the patient’s airway.
Answer: c
Objective: 33-7
Reference: 1051
Your OEC class asks you to describe the term behavior. Which of the following statements would be the correct response?
a. What is acceptable behavior in one community may not be acceptable in another.
b. Behavior pertains to how you perform a physical activity only.
c. Meditation is the absence of behavior.
d. Yelling is never an acceptable behavior.
a. What is acceptable behavior in one community may not be acceptable in another.
b. Behavior pertains to how you perform a physical activity only.
c. Meditation is the absence of behavior.
d. Yelling is never an acceptable behavior.
Answer: a
Objective: 33-1
Reference: 1040
Two of the most common medical causes of abnormal behavior are:
a. exercise and hypoglycemia.
b. hypotension and hyperthermia.
c. hypoxia and hypoglycemia.
d. carbon monoxide poisoning and acute myocardial infarction.
a. exercise and hypoglycemia.
b. hypotension and hyperthermia.
c. hypoxia and hypoglycemia.
d. carbon monoxide poisoning and acute myocardial infarction.
Answer: c
Objective: 3
Reference: 1042
Which of the following statements about behavioral emergencies is false?
a. The person acts in a way that is not tolerable to those around them.
b. The person requires physical restraint before care can be given.
c. The person is often a danger to themselves or others.
d. An injury to the brain can cause a behavioral emergency.
a. The person acts in a way that is not tolerable to those around them.
b. The person requires physical restraint before care can be given.
c. The person is often a danger to themselves or others.
d. An injury to the brain can cause a behavioral emergency.
Answer: b
Objective: 33-1
Reference: 1058
Which of the following patients is exhibiting signs of psychosis?
a. An 18-year-old who is so anxious about peer pressure that he is unable to go to school
b. A recently divorced 35-year-old who sleeps most of the day and is losing weight
c. A 72-year-old who was recently diagnosed with dementia
d. A 37-year-old who is having hallucinations
a. An 18-year-old who is so anxious about peer pressure that he is unable to go to school
b. A recently divorced 35-year-old who sleeps most of the day and is losing weight
c. A 72-year-old who was recently diagnosed with dementia
d. A 37-year-old who is having hallucinations
Answer: d
Objective: 33-2
Reference: 1044
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross described five distinct phases that occur when a person learns that death is pending. Which of the following statements about these phases is accurate?
a. The five phases are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
b. Individuals who do not move through the phases in a specific time frame are suffering from depression.
c. Once you fully complete a phase you will not return to it again.
d. The grieving process follows similar phases except that you never go through denial.
a. The five phases are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
b. Individuals who do not move through the phases in a specific time frame are suffering from depression.
c. Once you fully complete a phase you will not return to it again.
d. The grieving process follows similar phases except that you never go through denial.
Answer: a
Objective: 33-10
Reference: 1048
You have stopped a male skier and a female skier who were racing down a closed trail. Initially, the man was calm, but suddenly he becomes angered and says that “you can’t tell me what to do.” When you try to talk with him, he pulls out a knife and tells you to “get away or I’ll kill you.” The female skier is frightened and states that her friend sometimes gets very aggressive when he drinks. You put in a call for security and additional staff, but you know it will be a few minutes before they arrive. Which of the following statements describes your best course of action in the interim?
a. Immediately attempt to physically restrain the man or take away his knife.
b. Approach the man slowly and calmly and ask him to hand you the knife.
c. Move quickly to pull the woman a safe distance away from the man.
d. Remain a safe distance from the man and let him know you are there to help.
a. Immediately attempt to physically restrain the man or take away his knife.
b. Approach the man slowly and calmly and ask him to hand you the knife.
c. Move quickly to pull the woman a safe distance away from the man.
d. Remain a safe distance from the man and let him know you are there to help.
Answer: d
Objective: 33-5
Reference: 1051
You are out with a group of friends in a local tavern. One of the patrons gets argumentative and will not calm down. By the time the police arrive, the patron has gotten combative and is breaking glass bottles. The police subdue the patron and have him restrained. As you watch all of this happening, which of the following situations would cause you to be concerned?
a. The police have restrained the patron in a prone position on the floor.
b. The patron is supine on the floor, with officers holding one of his hands over his head and the other at his side.
c. The patron is threatening to sue the officers for physically restraining him.
d. The police say they will not release the patron until he has been seen in an emergency department.
a. The police have restrained the patron in a prone position on the floor.
b. The patron is supine on the floor, with officers holding one of his hands over his head and the other at his side.
c. The patron is threatening to sue the officers for physically restraining him.
d. The police say they will not release the patron until he has been seen in an emergency department.
Answer: a
Objective: 33-9
Reference: 1059
Which of the following statements shows that an OEC Technician has a good understanding of dealing with a patient who is having a behavioral emergency?
a. “Try to assess patients from a safe distance until they start to answer your questions calmly.”
b. “I avoid making eye contact because patients may perceive eye contact as a threatening gesture and respond with violence.”
c. “Touch conveys concern for a patient, so I try to touch the patient’s shoulder or arm as soon as I arrive at the scene.”
d. “ If a patient raises his voice to you, you must raise your voice in return. Research has shown that this helps deter violence.”
a. “Try to assess patients from a safe distance until they start to answer your questions calmly.”
b. “I avoid making eye contact because patients may perceive eye contact as a threatening gesture and respond with violence.”
c. “Touch conveys concern for a patient, so I try to touch the patient’s shoulder or arm as soon as I arrive at the scene.”
d. “ If a patient raises his voice to you, you must raise your voice in return. Research has shown that this helps deter violence.”
Answer: a
Objective: 33-6
Reference: 1051
You are called to the lodge to assist a 25-year-old man who reportedly is having hallucinations. When you arrive, he is sitting quietly and appears calm. Information obtained in your SAMPLE history indicates that the patient started having hallucinations yesterday. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia a few years ago and has been prescribed two different medications. Which of the following questions is most pertinent to the situation and should be asked next?
a. “Do you believe that the hallucinations are real?”
b. “Have you been taking your medications as prescribed?”
c. “Have you been eating and drinking adequately?”
d. “Has your doctor considered increasing the dose of your medication?”
a. “Do you believe that the hallucinations are real?”
b. “Have you been taking your medications as prescribed?”
c. “Have you been eating and drinking adequately?”
d. “Has your doctor considered increasing the dose of your medication?”
Answer: b
Objective: 33-6
Reference: 1054
You are describing techniques for remaining safe when responding to a call for a patient with a behavioral emergency. Which of the following statements is appropriate?
a. “You need to encounter the patient first, and then come up with your safety plan.”
b. “You cannot be empathetic to the patient’s feelings because that would be a sign of weakness.”
c. “You should approach patients quietly and try to surprise them so they don’t have time to develop a plan to attack you.”
d. You should be sure that you have at least one exit route, and do not let the patient get between you and that way out.”
a. “You need to encounter the patient first, and then come up with your safety plan.”
b. “You cannot be empathetic to the patient’s feelings because that would be a sign of weakness.”
c. “You should approach patients quietly and try to surprise them so they don’t have time to develop a plan to attack you.”
d. You should be sure that you have at least one exit route, and do not let the patient get between you and that way out.”
Answer: d
Objective: 33-5
Reference: 1051
Which of the following behaviors is a sign of potential aggression in a patient?
a. Avoiding eye contact
b. The clenching of both fists
c. Refusal to answer some questions
d. Increased sighing
a. Avoiding eye contact
b. The clenching of both fists
c. Refusal to answer some questions
d. Increased sighing
Answer: b
Objective: 33-6
Reference: 1052
Which of the following actions is best to keep a behavioral patient calm and to avoid provoking a violent outburst?
a. Inform the patient of everything that is happening and use a calm voice throughout care.
b. Establish that you are in control of the situation and that the patient must cooperate or you will restrain him.
c. Inform the patient that he is responsible for all of his actions, and that if he hurts you, you will sue him.
d. Involve as many people as possible in the situation as a “show of force.”
a. Inform the patient of everything that is happening and use a calm voice throughout care.
b. Establish that you are in control of the situation and that the patient must cooperate or you will restrain him.
c. Inform the patient that he is responsible for all of his actions, and that if he hurts you, you will sue him.
d. Involve as many people as possible in the situation as a “show of force.”
Answer: a
Objective: 33-7
Reference: 1053
Which of the following pieces of information is not important to OEC Technicians in assessing a patient with abnormal behavior?
a. What the patient’s diagnosis is
b. Whether or not the patient is dangerous
c. Whether the patient is anxious or depressed
d. Whether the patient is functioning in reality
a. What the patient’s diagnosis is
b. Whether or not the patient is dangerous
c. Whether the patient is anxious or depressed
d. Whether the patient is functioning in reality
Answer: a
Objective: 33-6
Reference: 1052
