RBT Crisis Prevention and Safety 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client's behavior support plan includes a crisis protocol. Who is responsible for authorizing changes to that protocol during an active crisis?
- The RBT on duty
- Any staff member present
- The supervising BCBA (Correct answer)
- The client's parent or guardian
Correct answer: The supervising BCBA
Only the supervising BCBA has the authority to modify or authorize changes to an existing behavior support plan or crisis protocol.
Question 2: Which scenario BEST represents a proactive (antecedent-based) crisis prevention strategy?
- Providing a break after a tantrum occurs
- Offering a preferred activity before a known difficult transition (Correct answer)
- Applying a restraint when aggression begins
- Ignoring mild problem behavior to avoid reinforcement
Correct answer: Offering a preferred activity before a known difficult transition
Offering a preferred activity before a known difficult transition is an antecedent strategy that addresses the trigger before the crisis can occur.
Question 3: A client displays self-injurious behavior during a crisis. The RBT does NOT know the approved crisis protocol. What should the RBT do?
- Improvise a physical hold to stop the behavior
- Contact the supervising BCBA immediately for guidance (Correct answer)
- Leave the room to avoid escalating the situation
- Apply any restraint technique learned in a previous position
Correct answer: Contact the supervising BCBA immediately for guidance
When unsure of the approved protocol, the RBT must contact the BCBA immediately rather than improvising interventions that are not authorized.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a reactive strategy in a crisis plan?
- Providing a visual schedule to reduce transitions
- Offering choices to increase client control
- Using a specific verbal prompt sequence when aggression begins (Correct answer)
- Reducing task difficulty before a known stressor
Correct answer: Using a specific verbal prompt sequence when aggression begins
Reactive strategies are implemented in response to the occurrence of a behavior, such as a verbal prompt sequence triggered by the onset of aggression.
Question 5: When completing a crisis incident report, an RBT should describe the client's behavior in terms that are:
- Interpretive and emotionally descriptive
- Observable and measurable (Correct answer)
- Based on diagnostic labels and clinical jargon
- Focused on the client's presumed motivation
Correct answer: Observable and measurable
Behavior must be described in observable and measurable terms so that the report is objective and useful for clinical decision-making.
Question 6: A parent observes a session and objects to a safety intervention the RBT is implementing. How should the RBT respond?
- Stop the intervention immediately to respect the parent's wishes
- Explain that the BCBA approved the procedure and offer to connect the parent with the BCBA (Correct answer)
- Argue that the intervention is necessary and continue without addressing concerns
- Modify the intervention on the spot based on parent feedback
Correct answer: Explain that the BCBA approved the procedure and offer to connect the parent with the BCBA
The RBT should acknowledge the parent's concern, clarify that the procedure is BCBA-approved, and facilitate a conversation between the parent and BCBA.
Question 7: Which behavior would MOST indicate that a crisis is de-escalating?
- The client begins making verbal threats
- The client's body language relaxes and vocalization decreases in intensity (Correct answer)
- The client moves toward a restricted area
- The client requests a preferred item loudly and repeatedly
Correct answer: The client's body language relaxes and vocalization decreases in intensity
Relaxed body language and decreased vocal intensity are observable signs that a client is calming down from a heightened emotional state.
RBT Crisis Prevention and Safety 4
A client's behavior support plan includes a crisis protocol.
Who is responsible for authorizing changes to that protocol during an active crisis?