FREE NPTE-PT Test Professional Responsibilities and Ethics Questions and Answers

Question 1

A physical therapist working in a private practice is offered a significant financial bonus for exceeding a monthly target of billable units.
This incentive structure could MOST directly challenge the therapist's adherence to which principle of the APTA Code of Ethics?

Accepted Answer

Integrity

Answer

Altruism

Answer

Compassion/Caring

Answer

Social Responsibility

Question 2

A physical therapist is documenting a patient's care on a computer in a busy outpatient clinic with an open floor plan. Which of the following actions is the MOST effective way to protect the patient's health information in accordance with HIPAA?

Accepted Answer

Positioning the computer monitor so that it is not visible to patients or visitors in the area.

Answer

Asking the patient for permission to document in the open area.

Answer

Using only the patient's first name and last initial in the electronic health record.

Answer

Logging out of the system only when leaving for a lunch break.

Question 3

During an initial evaluation, a 70-year-old patient reports constant, intense night pain that is not relieved by changing positions, along with recent unexplained weight loss. The physical therapist recognizes these as potential red-flag findings. What is the therapist's MOST critical professional responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Document the findings and promptly communicate the concerns to the patient's primary care physician for further investigation.

Answer

Initiate a gentle palliative care program and monitor the symptoms for two weeks before taking further action.

Answer

Inform the patient that they likely have a serious systemic disease and should go to the emergency room.

Answer

Perform a battery of musculoskeletal special tests to rule out all other possible diagnoses.

Question 4

A patient who has just completed a successful rehabilitation program for a total knee arthroplasty offers the physical therapist a $300 gift certificate to a fine-dining restaurant. According to the APTA's ethical guidelines, what is the MOST appropriate action for the therapist to take?

Accepted Answer

Politely decline the gift, explaining that professional guidelines discourage accepting gifts of significant value.

Answer

Accept the gift, as it does not influence the now-completed plan of care.

Answer

Accept the certificate and share it with the entire clinic staff to avoid a personal conflict of interest.

Answer

Suggest the patient make a donation to a charity of the clinic's choice instead.

Question 5

A physical therapist assistant (PTA) is treating a patient who is 4 weeks post-ACL reconstruction. The patient reports a sudden increase in knee pain and effusion after a misstep at home. The current plan of care does not address this acute change. The supervising PT is in the clinic but is treating another patient. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action for the PTA?

Accepted Answer

Stop the treatment session, instruct the patient on PRICE principles, and inform the supervising physical therapist as soon as they are available.

Answer

Use their clinical judgment to modify the treatment to include modalities for pain and swelling.

Answer

Continue with the established exercise protocol but at a much lower intensity.

Answer

Discharge the patient for the day and have them schedule a follow-up with their surgeon.

Question 6

For the process of informed consent to be considered valid and ethically sound prior to initiating physical therapy treatment, which of the following elements is ESSENTIAL?

Accepted Answer

A detailed explanation of the therapist's educational background and years of experience.

Answer

A signed and witnessed legal document for every intervention performed during the plan of care.

Answer

The approval of the patient's primary care physician for the specific interventions planned.

Answer

The patient's voluntary agreement after being informed of the treatment's nature, potential risks, benefits, and reasonable alternatives.

A physical therapist working in a private practice is offered a significant financial bonus for exceeding a monthly target of billable units.This incentive structure could MOST directly challenge the therapist's adherence to which principle of the APTA Code of Ethics?

A physical therapist working in a private practice is offered a significant financial bonus for exceeding a monthly target of billable units.
This incentive structure could MOST directly challenge the therapist's adherence to which principle of the APTA Code of Ethics?