Free NPTE-PT Test Safety and Professional Responsibilities Questions and Answers

Question 1

While performing gait training in a hospital corridor, a patient suddenly stops walking, develops a blank stare, and begins to have a generalized tonic-clonic seizure.
Which of the following represents the MOST appropriate IMMEDIATE sequence of actions for the physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

Carefully guide the patient to the floor, position them in a side-lying recovery position, and clear the immediate area of hazards.

Answer

Restrain the patient's limbs to prevent injury and immediately call for assistance.

Answer

Insert a padded object into the patient's mouth to prevent them from biting their tongue and then call a code.

Answer

Immediately begin chest compressions and call for a defibrillator.

Question 2

A physical therapist makes an error while writing a daily note in a patient's paper chart, documenting that the patient ambulated 150 feet when it was only 100 feet. What is the legally-accepted procedure for correcting this error?

Accepted Answer

Draw a single line through the incorrect entry, write "error," and then add the correct information followed by the therapist's initials and the date.

Answer

Use correction fluid to completely cover the error and write the correct information over it.

Answer

Black out the entire incorrect entry with a marker so it is illegible and write the correct information in the margin.

Answer

Erase the incorrect entry carefully and rewrite the correct information in the same spot.

Question 3

A physical therapist assistant (PTA) is treating a patient with low back pain. During the session, the patient reports a significant increase in pain and new-onset foot drop. The PTA contacts the supervising PT, who is off-site. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate instruction for the PT to give the PTA?

Accepted Answer

Direct the PTA to discontinue the treatment session, document the patient's report, and ensure the patient is scheduled for an immediate re-evaluation with the physical therapist.

Answer

Instruct the PTA to modify the treatment to include only gentle stretching and modalities.

Answer

Tell the PTA to perform a straight leg raise test and a basic neurological screen to gather more data.

Answer

Advise the PTA to continue with the planned treatment but to avoid any activities that cause pain.

Question 4

A patient, who is a well-known artist, is very grateful for their successful rehabilitation and offers the physical therapist an original painting valued at approximately $1,000 as a thank you gift. According to the APTA's Code of Ethics, what is the MOST appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Politely decline the gift, explaining that professional guidelines discourage accepting high-value items to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

Answer

Accept the painting, as refusing it could offend the patient and damage the therapeutic relationship.

Answer

Accept the painting on behalf of the clinic and display it in the waiting room for all to enjoy.

Answer

Suggest the patient donate the painting to the hospital's fundraising auction instead.

Question 5

A physical therapist is documenting a patient's treatment in a shared office space. The therapist is called away to an emergency and minimizes the electronic medical record (EMR) screen, which contains protected health information (PHI), but does not log out of the computer terminal. This action is a violation of which of the following principles?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Veracity

Answer

Fidelity

Question 6

A physical therapist is working with an 80-year-old patient who has early-stage dementia. The patient's adult child, who holds a durable power of attorney for healthcare, insists the therapist perform a painful stretching procedure that the patient is verbally refusing. What is the therapist's MOST appropriate initial action?

Accepted Answer

Pause the intervention, document the conflict, and consult with the referring physician or the facility's ethics committee for guidance.

Answer

Follow the directive of the adult child, as they hold legal authority for healthcare decisions.

Answer

Perform the stretching procedure but document the patient's verbal refusal for legal protection.

Answer

Refuse to treat the patient and initiate discharge from physical therapy due to non-adherence.