ECC Communication & Stakeholder Relations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A new team member administers the wrong dose of epinephrine during a code. The team leader becomes aware of the error. What is the MOST appropriate immediate communication response?
- Loudly reprimand the team member to prevent future errors
- Calmly acknowledge the error, communicate the correct dose, and redirect the team (Correct answer)
- Ignore the error to avoid disrupting team morale
- Stop the resuscitation and document the error before continuing
Correct answer: Calmly acknowledge the error, communicate the correct dose, and redirect the team
Calmly correcting the error and redirecting the team maintains resuscitation quality without creating a hostile environment or further disrupting care.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes the role of mutual performance monitoring in ECC team communication?
- Team members report errors directly to hospital administration during the code
- Team members watch each other's performance and offer real-time supportive feedback (Correct answer)
- Only the team leader monitors performance; team members focus on their own tasks
- Mutual monitoring is reserved for post-event debriefs only
Correct answer: Team members watch each other's performance and offer real-time supportive feedback
Mutual performance monitoring means team members actively watch each other and provide real-time feedback to maintain safe and effective care during a resuscitation.
Question 3: During an ACLS scenario, the team leader asks the respiratory therapist to prepare for intubation but receives no verbal acknowledgment. What should the team leader do?
- Assume the therapist heard and proceed to the next task
- Repeat the directive and specifically address the therapist by name (Correct answer)
- Assign another team member to intubate without further communication
- Document the lack of response and continue the resuscitation
Correct answer: Repeat the directive and specifically address the therapist by name
Repeating a directive and addressing the individual by name ensures acknowledgment and confirms role assignment, which is essential for closed-loop communication.
Question 4: When speaking to a patient's surrogate decision-maker after an unsuccessful resuscitation, the ECC provider should:
- Use euphemisms such as 'passed away peacefully' to soften the news
- Clearly and compassionately state that the patient died and allow time for the family to respond (Correct answer)
- Immediately transition to discussing organ donation options
- Limit the conversation to 2 minutes to manage time efficiently
Correct answer: Clearly and compassionately state that the patient died and allow time for the family to respond
Clear, compassionate language that explicitly states the patient has died, followed by a pause for the family to process, is the most effective and ethical communication approach.
Question 5: Which behavior MOST undermines psychological safety in an ECC resuscitation team?
- Encouraging team members to speak up about concerns
- A team leader who dismisses or ridicules input from other team members (Correct answer)
- Conducting post-event debriefs after each code
- Using structured communication tools during handoffs
Correct answer: A team leader who dismisses or ridicules input from other team members
When team leaders dismiss or ridicule input, team members become reluctant to raise safety concerns, undermining the team's ability to catch and correct errors.
Question 6: A bystander who initiated CPR on a cardiac arrest victim is present when EMS arrives. What communication priority should the EMS team leader address first?
- Directing the bystander to call 911 again for backup
- Obtaining a brief history including collapse time, bystander CPR start time, and any witnessed events (Correct answer)
- Asking the bystander to continue CPR while the team sets up equipment without verbal exchange
- Documenting the bystander's personal contact information for legal purposes
Correct answer: Obtaining a brief history including collapse time, bystander CPR start time, and any witnessed events
The collapse time, bystander CPR start time, and witnessed events are critical time-sensitive data points that directly affect resuscitation management and prognosis.
Question 7: Assertive communication in ECC is BEST defined as:
- Aggressively challenging team leaders to demonstrate expertise
- Calmly and respectfully voicing concerns or critical information, even to authority figures (Correct answer)
- Communicating only when directly asked by the team leader
- Limiting communication to reduce cognitive load on the team
Correct answer: Calmly and respectfully voicing concerns or critical information, even to authority figures
Assertive communication involves respectfully speaking up with important concerns or information regardless of hierarchy, which is essential for patient safety in high-stakes environments.
ECC Communication & Stakeholder Relations 3
A new team member administers the wrong dose of epinephrine during a code.
The team leader becomes aware of the error.
What is the MOST appropriate immediate communication response?