Clinical Skills and Competency Verification Flashcards

A student is tracking clinical experience in FISDAP and realizes they logged a urinary catheterization skill they observed in the ER but forgot to log it immediately. The shift ended 48 hours ago. What is the best course of action?

Answer: Contact the preceptor for verification and enter it as a late entry with accurate shift date

Late entries should use the actual date of the skill and ideally require preceptor verification to maintain data integrity within FISDAP.

During oral glucose administration competency verification, which patient condition is an absolute contraindication that the student must identify before proceeding?

Answer: Patient who is conscious but unable to swallow or protect airway

Oral glucose is contraindicated in patients who cannot swallow or maintain airway protection due to the risk of aspiration.

A student completes spinal motion restriction (SMR) using a long backboard on a trauma patient. The preceptor notes the student skipped reassessing distal pulse, motor function, and sensation (PMS) after securing the patient. Why is this critical to the skill verification?

Answer: Skipping post-restriction PMS assessment represents an incomplete skill performance affecting patient safety

Reassessing PMS after SMR is a mandatory safety step because improper strapping can create or worsen neurovascular compromise, making it integral to skill completion.

When a paramedic student performs rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in a clinical setting, which component of the process does FISDAP credit as a separate trackable skill from the intubation itself?

Answer: Medication administration (sedative and paralytic agents)

FISDAP tracks medication administration as a distinct skill category; RSI drug delivery (sedatives and paralytics) generates separate skill entries from the intubation procedure.

A student is assessing a patient in respiratory distress and must determine whether to use CPAP. Which set of findings best supports CPAP as the appropriate intervention?

Answer: SpO2 88%, RR 28, alert patient with bilateral crackles who can follow instructions

CPAP is indicated for alert, cooperative patients with hypoxia and increased work of breathing from conditions like pulmonary edema; altered mental status, vomiting, or apnea are contraindications.

During a FISDAP-logged shift, a student must demonstrate correct use of a glucometer. Which step, if omitted, would most likely cause a falsely elevated reading?

Answer: Using the first drop of blood after the lancet puncture without wiping it away

The first drop of blood contains interstitial fluid and tissue fluid from the puncture that can dilute or contaminate the sample; wiping it away and using the second drop improves accuracy.

A student documents that they 'assisted' with a cardiac arrest resuscitation during a FISDAP-tracked shift. Which role most accurately constitutes an 'assist' versus a 'performed' entry for CPR?

Answer: The student handed equipment to the paramedic performing compressions but did not compress

In FISDAP, 'assisted' typically means the student provided support functions (equipment, preparation) rather than directly performing the core clinical action, which would earn 'performed' credit.