Stress Management Flashcards
6 cards from real CritiCall Dispatcher Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Stress Management flashcards as text
A dispatcher consistently avoids seeking help after difficult calls and describes themselves as 'handling it fine'. This attitude is MOST likely an example of:
Answer: Denial — a common maladaptive coping mechanism in emergency services
Persistent denial of stress impact is a recognized maladaptive coping mechanism that increases long-term PTSD and burnout risk in emergency services.
What workplace policy BEST supports dispatcher mental health over the long term?
Answer: Access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), peer support teams, and regular CISM debriefs
A comprehensive mental health support infrastructure — EAP, peer support, and CISM — is the evidence-based standard for dispatcher mental health protection.
During a particularly high-call-volume shift, a dispatcher makes an error due to fatigue. What is the MOST appropriate response?
Answer: Report the error immediately, correct it if possible, document it, and flag the fatigue concern to a supervisor
Immediate error reporting, correction, and documentation is the professional standard. Fatigue as a contributing factor must also be flagged for systemic review.
What is the relationship between dispatcher burnout and public safety outcomes?
Answer: Burnout increases error rates, reduces empathy, and decreases response quality — directly impacting public safety
Dispatcher burnout directly degrades performance quality, increasing error rates and reducing the empathy needed for effective caller management.
What does 'stress inoculation training' for dispatchers involve?
Answer: Controlled, graduated exposure to stressful call scenarios to build resilience and coping skills before real incidents
Stress inoculation training uses graduated real-world simulations to build psychological resilience before dispatchers face actual high-stress calls.
A dispatcher who regularly engages in physical exercise, maintains social connections outside work, and uses structured relaxation techniques is practicing:
Answer: Resilience-building and adaptive self-care strategies
Exercise, social connection, and relaxation are evidence-based resilience-building strategies that protect against burnout and secondary trauma.