PCT Patient Rights 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A competent adult patient demands to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA). What should the PCT do?
- Lock the patient's room door
- Notify the nurse immediately and allow the patient to leave (Correct answer)
- Physically prevent the patient from leaving
- Call the physician without telling the patient
Correct answer: Notify the nurse immediately and allow the patient to leave
Competent adults have the right to leave AMA; the PCT must notify the nurse and allow the patient to leave without physical restraint.
Question 2: Which document allows a patient to designate someone to make healthcare decisions if they become incapacitated?
- Living will
- Durable power of attorney for healthcare (Correct answer)
- DNR order
- Physician's order
Correct answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare designates a healthcare proxy to make decisions when the patient cannot do so.
Question 3: A patient tells the PCT they are being abused by a family member. What is the PCT's primary responsibility?
- Confront the family member directly
- Report the disclosure to the nurse or supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Advise the patient to call the police themselves
- Keep the information confidential per HIPAA
Correct answer: Report the disclosure to the nurse or supervisor immediately
The PCT must report suspected or disclosed abuse to the nurse or supervisor, as mandatory reporting laws may apply.
Question 4: What is the purpose of an advance directive?
- To allow the hospital to make all medical decisions for the patient
- To document a patient's wishes for healthcare in case they cannot speak for themselves (Correct answer)
- To give a family member power over all financial decisions
- To authorize experimental treatment
Correct answer: To document a patient's wishes for healthcare in case they cannot speak for themselves
An advance directive documents a patient's healthcare preferences in advance, guiding care if they become unable to communicate.
Question 5: A non-English-speaking patient needs to give informed consent. What must be provided?
- A family member to translate
- A qualified interpreter or language services (Correct answer)
- Written materials in English only
- A consent form signed by the physician
Correct answer: A qualified interpreter or language services
Healthcare facilities must provide qualified interpreters to ensure non-English-speaking patients can give true informed consent.
Question 6: A patient requests that a specific staff member not enter their room. What should the PCT do?
- Ignore the request since all staff have access
- Honor the request and notify the charge nurse (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient to explain their reason
- Document the request but continue normal assignments
Correct answer: Honor the request and notify the charge nurse
Patients have the right to refuse care from specific providers; the charge nurse must be notified to arrange alternate staff.
Question 7: What does 'informed consent' require before a procedure is performed?
- Only verbal agreement from the patient
- The patient must understand the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives (Correct answer)
- A witness signature from a family member
- Approval from the hospital ethics committee
Correct answer: The patient must understand the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives
Informed consent requires that the patient is fully informed of the procedure, its risks, benefits, and alternatives before agreeing.
PCT Patient Rights 3
A competent adult patient demands to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA).
What should the PCT do?