Chapter 5: EMS Communications Flashcards
It is important to remember that if a patient is not personally sensitive to modesty because of an impaired mental state:
A) this will not influence your care.
B) the patient’s family likely will be.
C) then he or she will not care about your treatment.
D) protecting his or her privacy is of lesser concern.
B) the patient’s family likely will be.
If a patient provides a confusing or disorganized response to your question, you should:
A) rephrase the patient’s comments with simpler terms and ask if he or she agrees with your synopsis.
B) revisit the question later in your assessment and conclude that the patient’s mental status is altered.
C) attempt to obtain the most pertinent part of the patient’s response and continue with further questioning.
D) recognize that the patient is likely scared because of the situation and ask him or her to repeat the response.
A) rephrase the patient’s comments with simpler terms and ask if he or she agrees with your synopsis.
When communicating with older patients, it is MOST important to remember that:
A) many older patients lose the ability to understand simple terminology, thus requiring the paramedic to gear his or her questions accordingly.
B) their illnesses may be more complex because they may have more than one disease process and may be taking several medications concurrently.
C) the ability to hear and see is naturally impaired due to the process of aging, and the paramedic must accommodate these disabilities appropriately.
D) older patients are generally poor historians regarding their medical history, and the paramedic should interview a family member or friend instead.
B) their illnesses may be more complex because they may have more than one disease process and may be taking several medications concurrently.
When the paramedic encounters a patient who has difficulty communicating, he or she should:
A) enlist the help of a family member or primary caregiver.
B) try to use sign language when asking a specific question.
C) suspect that the patient may have a psychiatric condition.
D) transport the patient and advise the hospital of the situation.
A) enlist the help of a family member or primary caregiver.
Touching a conscious elderly patient in a nursing home without his or her permission:
A) is nonverbally communicating, “You are not important enough or mentally competent enough to be asked for permission.”
B) is typically acceptable to the patient, because he or she is often frightened and desperately wants someone to help.
C) may be necessary if the patient appears to have an altered mental status during your visual assessment of his or her behavior.
D) is unprofessional and ethically unacceptable unless you have obtained consent from the patient’s family or primary caregiver.
A) is nonverbally communicating, “You are not important enough or mentally competent enough to be asked for permission.”
If a patient is reluctant to communicate because he or she feels threatened, the paramedic should:
A) cautiously approach the patient and use open posturing.
B) maintain a position that is at or slightly above the patient.
C) ask a law enforcement officer to help obtain information.
D) defer further questioning until the patient appears calm.
A) cautiously approach the patient and use open posturing.
Which of the following questions is the MOST effective when inquiring about a patient’s chest pain?
A) “Is the pain sharp or dull?”
B) “Does the pain feel more like pressure?”
C) “Can you describe the pain to me?”
D) “Does the pain radiate to your arm?”
C) “Can you describe the pain to me?”
If a patient provides an inappropriate response to a paramedic’s question, it should be assumed that the patient:
A) is frightened by the situation.
B) does not wish to communicate.
C) has impaired cerebral function.
D) is not willing to cooperate.
C) has impaired cerebral function.
Stereotyping an elderly, very young, or hostile patient during your attempt to communicate with him or her:
A) yields relatively accurate information.
B) is proper under certain circumstances.
C) works against effective communication.
D) is an effective means of communicating.
C) works against effective communication.
Cellular telephones are more advantageous than regular two-way radios in that cellular telephones:
A) enable laypeople to call 9-1-1 for a minimal service charge.
B) incorporate GPS technology to help rescuers find the patient.
C) can transmit long distances with the use of a mobile antenna.
D) do not utilize computer technology and are less likely to fail.
B) incorporate GPS technology to help rescuers find the patient.
Which of the following statements regarding the use of cellular telephones and landline telephones is MOST correct?
A) Cellular and landline telephones overcome problems caused by overcrowded EMS radio frequencies.
B) Cellular phones are more expensive than radios and give a weaker signal.
C) Landline phones are in a fixed location and transmit with a simplex system.
D) Cellular phones do not rely on a repeater to increase the coverage distance.
A) Cellular and landline telephones overcome problems caused by overcrowded EMS radio frequencies.
