Professional Ethics & Communication Flashcards
7 cards from real EMS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics & Communication flashcards as text
A patient experiencing a mental health crisis is agitated and non-cooperative. The most effective initial communication technique is:
Answer: Speaking calmly in a low, steady voice while maintaining a non-threatening posture
De-escalation techniques, including calm tone and non-threatening body language, are the first line approach for managing agitated patients.
When is it acceptable to share patient information with a patient's employer without consent?
Answer: It is generally not acceptable without specific legal authorization or patient consent
HIPAA strictly limits disclosure of PHI to employers; specific legal requirements or patient authorization must exist before any release.
An EMT is caring for a patient whose lifestyle choices (e.g., substance use) conflict with the EMT's personal values. The EMT should:
Answer: Provide the same professional, non-judgmental care as any other patient
EMS professionals are obligated to provide non-discriminatory, non-judgmental care to all patients regardless of personal beliefs.
Which of the following is the best example of therapeutic communication?
Answer: 'I can see you're in a lot of pain. Can you tell me when it started?'
Therapeutic communication combines empathetic acknowledgment with open-ended questioning to gather information while validating the patient's experience.
A patient with a developmental disability is unable to communicate verbally. What is the EMT's best approach to obtain a history?
Answer: Communicate with caregivers while still directing questions toward the patient when possible
Including the patient in communication as much as possible respects their dignity and may yield useful information, while caregivers supplement the history.
An on-duty EMT is asked by a police officer to share a patient's medical information. The EMT should:
Answer: Share only information required by law or necessary for the officer's safety, following agency protocol
HIPAA permits limited disclosure to law enforcement under specific conditions; EMTs should follow agency protocol and share only what is legally required or permitted.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'scope of practice' in EMS ethics?
Answer: The range of duties and skills an EMT is trained, certified, and legally permitted to perform
Scope of practice defines the legally and professionally authorized boundaries of an EMT's clinical activities based on training and certification level.