PEARS Teamwork & Support 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a code, the team leader is simultaneously drawing medications, performing compressions, and giving orders. Which teamwork principle is being violated?
- Closed-loop communication
- Role clarity and task delegation (Correct answer)
- Situational awareness
- Debriefing
Correct answer: Role clarity and task delegation
The team leader should delegate tasks and maintain oversight rather than performing hands-on duties, preserving their cognitive capacity.
Question 2: Which statement BEST describes the role of the 'timekeeper' in a PEARS resuscitation team?
- Tracks elapsed time and prompts the team on CPR cycles and medication intervals (Correct answer)
- Documents all clinical decisions for the medical record
- Manages the crash cart and draws medications
- Coordinates family communication during the event
Correct answer: Tracks elapsed time and prompts the team on CPR cycles and medication intervals
The timekeeper announces CPR switch intervals, medication timing, and elapsed resuscitation time to keep the team synchronized.
Question 3: After a difficult pediatric resuscitation, the team leader says, 'Let's take five minutes to debrief.' What is the PRIMARY goal of this debriefing?
- Assign blame to the team member who made an error
- Identify what went well and what can be improved for future events (Correct answer)
- Satisfy documentation requirements for quality assurance
- Allow team members to express grief without discussing clinical performance
Correct answer: Identify what went well and what can be improved for future events
Debriefing is a structured review of team performance to reinforce effective behaviors and identify areas for improvement.
Question 4: A nurse calls out, 'Epinephrine 0.1 mg/kg given IV at 14:02,' and the team leader responds, 'Confirmed.' This exchange demonstrates:
- Directed communication
- Closed-loop communication (Correct answer)
- Mutual support
- Workload distribution
Correct answer: Closed-loop communication
Closed-loop communication occurs when the sender delivers a message, the receiver confirms receipt and action, and the sender acknowledges the confirmation.
Question 5: Which situation would MOST likely cause a resuscitation team to lose its shared mental model?
- Rotating compressors every two minutes
- A new team member arriving mid-resuscitation without being briefed (Correct answer)
- Using a code cart checklist
- The team leader summarizing the situation at intervals
Correct answer: A new team member arriving mid-resuscitation without being briefed
An unbriefed late arrival lacks the current situational picture, fragmenting the team's shared understanding and increasing error risk.
Question 6: Which action by a team member BEST demonstrates the concept of 'task assistance' during a pediatric emergency?
- Completing your own task faster to impress the team leader
- Noticing a colleague struggling with IV access and offering to help (Correct answer)
- Documenting your own actions before helping others
- Asking the team leader for permission before every action
Correct answer: Noticing a colleague struggling with IV access and offering to help
Task assistance (a form of mutual support) means stepping in to help a teammate when you recognize they need backup.
Question 7: During resuscitation, the team leader says, 'I'm going to pause compressions for a rhythm check in 30 seconds — everyone ready?' This behavior supports which TeamSTEPPS concept?
- Cross-monitoring
- Briefs / Huddles (Correct answer)
- Situation monitoring — STEP tool
- Communication loop closure
Correct answer: Briefs / Huddles
Announcing a planned action in advance (a 'brief') gives all team members time to prepare and reduces task collision.
PEARS Teamwork & Support 3
During a code, the team leader is simultaneously drawing medications, performing compressions, and giving orders.
Which teamwork principle is being violated?