Chapter 12: Critical Thinking Flashcards
After gathering information from the patient, scene, and any bystanders, you must next:
A) formulate a care plan based on the information.
B) determine which information is valid and which may be invalid.
C) synthesize the information to form a thought process.
D) determine the most likely cause of the patient’s problem.
B) determine which information is valid and which may be invalid.
Synthesizing information about a patient with multiple medical conditions involves:
A) determining the validity of each of the patient’s medical problems.
B) ruling out each condition as the cause of the patient’s chief complaint.
C) determining the patient’s perception of his or her multiple conditions.
D) assessing each condition’s potential for having a life-threatening impact.
D) assessing each condition’s potential for having a life-threatening impact.
The care plan that you implement based on your working field diagnosis of a patient is almost always defined by:
A) your EMS system’s patient care protocols or standing orders.
B) your previous experience with patients who had a similar condition.
C) direct orders from the physician at the receiving medical facility.
D) a combination of your and your partner’s knowledge and experience.
A) your EMS system’s patient care protocols or standing orders.
Protocols, or standing orders, specify the paramedic’s performance parameters, which:
A) allow the paramedic to function autonomously on every EMS call.
B) outline the care that is provided after contacting online medical control.
C) limit the skills that the paramedic can perform in his or her EMS system.
D) define what the paramedic can or cannot do without direct medical control.
D) define what the paramedic can or cannot do without direct medical control.
The main disadvantage of patient care algorithms is that they:
A) are revised or updated too frequently.
B) are often overridden by medical control.
C) only address classic patient presentations.
D) discourage contact with direct medical control.
C) only address classic patient presentations.
If a patient’s clinical presentation is not addressed in a specific algorithm, the paramedic must:
A) focus exclusively on the patient’s ABCs.
B) determine what is in the patient’s best interest.
C) perform a comprehensive head-to-toe exam.
D) provide supportive care and transport promptly.
B) determine what is in the patient’s best interest.
Documenting difficulties such as darkness, limited access, and unruly crowds that you encounter while caring for a patient is MOST important because it:
A) paints a mental picture for the receiving physician.
B) is used to help substantiate delayed on-scene times.
C) will help justify the patient care decisions you make.
D) provides legal immunity if the patient decides to sue.
C) will help justify the patient care decisions you make.
Which of the following scenarios is the BEST example of independent decision-making?
A) Controlling severe bleeding from an open wound, establishing an IV to maintain perfusion, and contacting medical control en route to the hospital
B) Selecting the appropriate patient care algorithm from your protocol book when treating a middle-aged male patient with symptomatic bradycardia
C) Definitively diagnosing a patient with cholecystitis who has right upper quadrant abdominal pain and nausea that began shortly after eating a meal
D) Contacting medical control and requesting permission to administer adenosine to a patient with a heart rate of 190 beats/min and a stable blood pressure
A) Controlling severe bleeding from an open wound, establishing an IV to maintain perfusion, and contacting medical control en route to the hospital
In order to be a competent and effective paramedic, it is MOST important for you to:
A) be familiar with patient care algorithms and guidelines.
B) possess the knowledge to diagnose a patient definitively.
C) have a high success rate of IV insertions and intubations.
D) think and perform quickly and effectively under pressure.
D) think and perform quickly and effectively under pressure.
Once you determine that your patient is sick, you must next:
A) provide aggressive care.
B) quantify how sick he or she is.
C) contact online medical control.
D) transport him or her immediately.
B) quantify how sick he or she is.
Which of the following conditions or situations is the BEST example of a critical life threat that needs immediate care?
A) An early onset of renal insufficiency
B) A patient with multiple disease etiologies
C) Acute presentation of a chronic condition
D) Open head injury with exposed brain tissue
C) Acute presentation of a chronic condition
In EMS, the process of concept formation involves:
A) determining the validity of obtained data.
B) gathering information about your patient.
C) knowing which treatment algorithm to use.
D) interpreting a patient’s signs and symptoms.
B) gathering information about your patient.
Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology is MOST important during the ________________ stage of critical thinking.
A) data interpretation
B) concept formation
C) reflection in action
D) application of principle
A) data interpretation
Comments such as “I can’t believe you called EMS for this!”:
A) show a lack of compassion and interest in providing the best possible care.
B) demonstrate an illegal act for which the paramedic will be held accountable.
C) are commonly made by paramedics with less than 5 years of field experience.
D) are typically ignored by the patient because he or she is frightened at the time.
A) show a lack of compassion and interest in providing the best possible care.
A negative attitude about any patient or patient care situation:
A) constitutes negligence and carries legal ramifications with it.
B) is usually not sensed by the patient because he or she is frightened.
C) is often observed in paramedics with many years of experience.
D) almost guarantees that the care you provide will be suboptimal.
D) almost guarantees that the care you provide will be suboptimal.
A working diagnosis is MOST accurately defined as:
A) a reliable yet unofficial diagnosis of the patient.
B) your interpretation of the patient’s vital sign values.
C) what you feel is the cause of your patient’s problem.
D) a firm explanation for the patient’s symptomatology.
C) what you feel is the cause of your patient’s problem.
Which of the following scenarios MOST accurately depicts reflection in action?
A) Noting a patient’s heart rate before you administer any medication
B) Obtaining a room air pulse oximetry reading before applying oxygen
C) Reassessing a patient’s blood pressure after administering nitroglycerin
D) Administering aspirin and then immediately applying a cardiac monitor
C) Reassessing a patient’s blood pressure after administering nitroglycerin
The MOST effective way for the paramedic to avoid tunnel vision is to:
A) perform a secondary assessment on every patient he or she encounters.
B) keep an open mind to all of the possible causes of the patient’s problem.
C) reassess all patients at least every 15 minutes until patient care is transferred.
D) possess a detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology.
B) keep an open mind to all of the possible causes of the patient’s problem.
_______________ occurs after a call is over and commonly is associated with the run review or critique.
A) Reflection in action
B) Reflection on action
C) Data interpretation
D) Application of principle
B) Reflection on action
Uncertainty regarding the specific cause of a patient’s problem is called:
A) medical ambiguity.
B) a working diagnosis.
C) the general impression.
D) the differential diagnosis.
A) medical ambiguity.
Which of the following situations is MOST challenging with regard to your critical thinking and decision-making skills?
A) A rigid abdomen and signs of shock
B) An elderly patient with prolonged asystole
C) A driver who passed out and then struck a tree
D) Isolated tibia/fibula fracture from minor trauma
C) A driver who passed out and then struck a tree
The hormonal effects associated with the fight-or-flight response can affect your performance as a paramedic by:
A) decreasing your visual acuity.
B) enhancing your critical thinking skills.
C) affecting your reflexes negatively.
D) diminishing your ability to concentrate.
D) diminishing your ability to concentrate.
Which of the following actions has the LEAST impact on the paramedic’s ability to think under pressure?
A) Taking a moment to stop and think
B) Taking a moment to scan the situation
C) Staying calm and maintaining mental control
D) Memorizing all patient care algorithms
D) Memorizing all patient care algorithms
When reading the scene, the paramedic must remember that:
A) noting the mechanism of injury is the first element to evaluate.
B) scene information becomes unavailable once transport is initiated.
C) safety issues must be addressed while you are caring for the patient.
D) bystanders are a reliable source of information regarding an incident.
B) scene information becomes unavailable once transport is initiated.
