FISDAP Clinical Skills and Competency Verification 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 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?
- Log the skill now with today's date to avoid discrepancy
- Skip logging it since the shift data is already closed
- Contact the preceptor for verification and enter it as a late entry with accurate shift date (Correct answer)
- Ask a classmate to verify the skill since the preceptor may be unavailable
Correct 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.
Question 2: During oral glucose administration competency verification, which patient condition is an absolute contraindication that the student must identify before proceeding?
- Blood glucose of 62 mg/dL with patient complaint of weakness
- Patient who is conscious but unable to swallow or protect airway (Correct answer)
- History of type 2 diabetes with current glucose of 58 mg/dL
- Pediatric patient aged 8 years with hypoglycemic symptoms
Correct 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.
Question 3: 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?
- PMS reassessment is optional if initial findings were normal
- Skipping post-restriction PMS assessment represents an incomplete skill performance affecting patient safety (Correct answer)
- PMS only needs to be checked once before any packaging begins
- The skill is still credited because immobilization itself was performed correctly
Correct 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.
Question 4: 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?
- Pre-oxygenation via non-rebreather mask
- Medication administration (sedative and paralytic agents) (Correct answer)
- Post-intubation chest X-ray interpretation
- IV access used solely for RSI medication delivery
Correct 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.
Question 5: 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?
- SpO2 88%, RR 28, alert patient with bilateral crackles who can follow instructions (Correct answer)
- SpO2 72%, unresponsive patient with suspected aspiration and apneic episodes
- SpO2 94%, RR 16, patient with mild exertional dyspnea and no auscultatory findings
- SpO2 85%, GCS 8, actively vomiting patient with suspected pulmonary edema
Correct 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.
Question 6: 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?
- Warming the patient's finger before lancing
- Using the first drop of blood after the lancet puncture without wiping it away (Correct answer)
- Documenting the reading within five minutes of obtaining it
- Confirming the test strip code matches the glucometer code
Correct 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.
Question 7: 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?
- The student directed the resuscitation team as team leader
- The student performed uninterrupted chest compressions for two full minutes as the primary compressor
- The student handed equipment to the paramedic performing compressions but did not compress (Correct answer)
- The student documented the resuscitation timeline on the ePCR
Correct 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.
FISDAP Clinical Skills and Competency Verification 5
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?