CPR Resuscitation Team Dynamics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the PRIMARY advantage of rotating chest compressors every 2 minutes during a prolonged resuscitation?
- It reduces medication errors
- It prevents compressor fatigue which degrades compression quality (Correct answer)
- It allows more team members to practice
- It shortens the overall resuscitation time
Correct answer: It prevents compressor fatigue which degrades compression quality
Compressor fatigue sets in rapidly, and rotating every 2 minutes (aligned with rhythm checks) maintains optimal compression depth and rate.
Question 2: Which role in a resuscitation team is responsible for managing vascular access and medication administration?
- Team leader
- Airway manager
- IV/medication nurse or paramedic (Correct answer)
- Compressor
Correct answer: IV/medication nurse or paramedic
The IV/medication team member establishes vascular access and administers drugs as ordered, keeping the team leader free to direct overall care.
Question 3: A bystander at the scene begins giving CPR instructions to your team, disrupting the resuscitation. As team leader, you should:
- Allow the bystander to assist and give guidance
- Politely but firmly redirect bystanders and designate a scene control person (Correct answer)
- Stop the resuscitation until the scene is quiet
- Defer leadership to the bystander
Correct answer: Politely but firmly redirect bystanders and designate a scene control person
Scene control is part of team leadership; a designated team member should manage bystanders to prevent disruption without the leader losing focus.
Question 4: In high-performance CPR teams, how is the rhythm check typically coordinated to minimize hands-off time?
- The AED operator stops compressions unilaterally when ready
- The team leader announces a rhythm check countdown so all hands clear simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Compressions stop immediately when the rhythm check is called
- Rhythm checks are avoided to maximize continuous compressions
Correct answer: The team leader announces a rhythm check countdown so all hands clear simultaneously
A coordinated countdown allows the compressor to finish a cycle and all team members to clear simultaneously, minimizing the no-flow interval.
Question 5: What term describes the failure of a resuscitation team to speak up about errors due to perceived authority of the team leader?
- Confirmation bias
- Authority gradient (hierarchy effect) (Correct answer)
- Groupthink
- Sycophantic bias
Correct answer: Authority gradient (hierarchy effect)
A steep authority gradient discourages lower-ranking members from voicing concerns, which can lead to undetected errors during resuscitation.
Question 6: Which of the following situations would MOST warrant transferring team leadership during an active resuscitation?
- A more experienced paramedic arrives on scene (Correct answer)
- The current leader needs to perform a specific procedure
- The patient's rhythm converts to sinus rhythm
- The team has been working for 10 minutes
Correct answer: A more experienced paramedic arrives on scene
Transferring leadership to a more experienced clinician is appropriate and should include a concise handoff of patient status and interventions already performed.
Question 7: A team member administers a second dose of epinephrine 2 minutes after the first. As team leader, what is your FIRST action?
- Dismiss it as inconsequential
- Document the event and continue resuscitation while monitoring for complications (Correct answer)
- Immediately terminate resuscitation efforts
- Administer an antidote
Correct answer: Document the event and continue resuscitation while monitoring for complications
Medication errors during resuscitation should be documented, and the team should continue efforts while monitoring for adverse effects from early re-dosing.
CPR Resuscitation Team Dynamics 3
What is the PRIMARY advantage of rotating chest compressors every 2 minutes during a prolonged resuscitation?