Safety and Professional Responsibilities Flashcards
7 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Safety and Professional Responsibilities flashcards as text
A PT is treating a patient who discloses they are being physically abused at home. What is the PT's primary legal obligation?
Answer: Report the suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities as required by mandatory reporting laws
PTs are mandatory reporters in most states and must report suspected abuse to appropriate authorities regardless of patient confidentiality.
During a treatment session, a patient's blood pressure rises to 190/110 mmHg. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
Answer: Stop exercise, have the patient rest, and reassess blood pressure within 5 minutes
Stage 2 hypertension during exercise requires stopping activity and reassessing; if BP remains elevated or symptoms develop, medical referral is warranted.
Which action by a PTA requires immediate correction by the supervising PT?
Answer: Modifying treatment goals without PT consultation or documentation
Modifying goals is outside the PTA scope of practice and requires PT involvement and documentation.
A PT suspects a colleague is practicing while impaired by alcohol. What is the most appropriate first action?
Answer: Follow the facility's protocol for reporting impaired practitioners
The first step is to follow the facility's established impaired-practitioner reporting protocol, which then guides subsequent actions.
A patient refuses to sign the informed consent form but still wants to proceed with treatment. What should the PT do?
Answer: Decline to treat until written consent is obtained and document the situation
Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement; treatment should not proceed without proper consent, and the situation must be documented.
Which Universal Precaution guideline applies when a PT is treating a patient with an open wound?
Answer: Gloves must be worn when contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated
Standard/Universal Precautions require gloves whenever contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated, regardless of infection status.
A PT documents treatment in a patient's medical record and later realizes an error was made. What is the correct way to amend the record?
Answer: Draw a single line through the error, write 'error,' initial and date it, then add the correct entry
The correct procedure is to draw a single line through the error, note 'error,' initial and date it, preserving the original entry's legibility.