NPTE-PT Test Test Safety and Professional Responsibilities 1

Question 1

A physical therapist is treating a patient who suddenly discloses that they are experiencing thoughts of self-harm. What is the MOST appropriate first action?

Accepted Answer

Immediately notify the supervising physician or appropriate mental health professional

Answer

Continue the treatment session and document the disclosure at the end

Answer

Reassure the patient that these feelings are normal and proceed with therapy

Answer

Discharge the patient from physical therapy services

Question 2

A physical therapist is asked by a patient's employer to provide a detailed report of the patient's diagnosis and treatment progress without the patient's authorization. The therapist should:

Accepted Answer

Refuse to release any information without a signed patient authorization

Answer

Provide the report since the employer is paying for treatment

Answer

Provide only general information about functional limitations relevant to work

Answer

Contact the patient's attorney before responding

Question 3

During a gait training session, a patient begins to lose their balance and fall. Which action BEST reflects safe patient handling principles?

Accepted Answer

Guide the patient to the floor in a controlled manner using your body as support

Answer

Step away to avoid injuring yourself

Answer

Grab the patient's arm forcefully to stop the fall

Answer

Quickly pull the patient upright using the gait belt

Question 4

A physical therapist suspects that a pediatric patient is being physically abused at home based on observed bruising patterns and the child's behavior. The therapist's MOST appropriate action is to:

Accepted Answer

Document the observations and report the suspicion to child protective services

Answer

Discuss the concern privately with the parents during the next session

Answer

Wait for additional evidence before taking any action

Answer

Refer the patient to a psychologist without reporting

Question 5

A physical therapist is working with a patient who has limited English proficiency. To ensure valid informed consent before initiating treatment, the therapist should:

Accepted Answer

Use a qualified medical interpreter or a translated consent form

Answer

Have a family member present to translate the consent form

Answer

Proceed with treatment and document that verbal consent was obtained

Answer

Provide a standard English consent form and ask the patient to sign

Question 6

A physical therapist realizes mid-session that they made a documentation error in a patient's chart from the previous day that could affect treatment decisions. The MOST appropriate action is to:

Accepted Answer

Add a late entry or addendum clearly marked with the current date and time, correcting the error

Answer

Delete the incorrect entry and rewrite it with the correct information

Answer

Leave the record unchanged to avoid drawing attention to the mistake

Answer

Ask a colleague to make the correction on their behalf