Chapter 2 - Workforce Safety and Wellness

Which of the following is the MOST effective strategy for managing stress? Select one: A. Focus on delivering high-quality patient care. B. Request overtime to increase your income. C. Frequently reflect on troublesome calls. D. Avoid friends and interests outside of EMS.

A. Focus on delivering high-quality patient care.

Which of the following statements regarding the different stages of the grieving process is correct? Select one: A. The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously. B. The grieving process typically begins with severe depression. C. Bargaining is the most unpleasant stage of the grieving process. D. It is rare that people will jump back and forth between stages.

A. The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously.

The general adaptation syndrome is characterized by which of the following phases? Select one: A. alarm response, reaction and resistance, and recovery B. reaction and resistance, euphoria, and physical exhaustion C. immediate reaction, psychological exhaustion, and recovery D. delayed reaction, alarm response, and physical recovery

A. alarm response, reaction and resistance, and recovery

Common factors that influence how a patient reacts to the stress of an illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one: A. assessment by the EMT. B. history of chronic disease. C. mental disorders. D. fear of medical personnel.

A. assessment by the EMT.

At the scene of an automobile crash, a utility pole has been broken and power lines are lying across the car. The patients inside the car are conscious. You should: Select one: A. mark off a danger zone around the downed lines. B. remove the lines with a nonconductive object. C. advise the patients to carefully get out of the car. D. proceed with normal extrication procedures.

A. mark off a danger zone around the downed lines.

You arrive at the scene of a domestic violence situation. As you approach the doorway of the apartment, you hear screaming and the statement "He has a gun!" Your MOST appropriate action should be to: Select one: A. seek a safe place and request law enforcement assistance. B. continue into the apartment using extreme caution. C. return to your ambulance and leave the scene immediately. D. proceed into the apartment and apprehend the gunman.

A. seek a safe place and request law enforcement assistance.

The MOST effective way to preserve your own body heat when functioning in cold, wet weather is to: Select one: A. wear at least three layers of clothing. B. avoid outer clothing with zippers. C. wear socks made of heavy-duty cotton. D. wear a heavy, thick jacket or coat.

A. wear at least three layers of clothing.

Critical incident stress management (CISM) can occur at an ongoing scene in all of the following circumstances, EXCEPT: Select one: A. when patients are being assessed or treated. B. when personnel are assessed for signs and symptoms of distress during periods of rest. C. before personnel are preparing to reenter the scene. D. before leaving the scene after the incident is resolved.

A. when patients are being assessed or treated.

A 15-year-old boy was killed when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle. He has numerous disfiguring injuries and has been placed in the back of the ambulance to shield him from curious bystanders. When the child's parents arrive at the scene, they demand to see him. You should: Select one: A. express your sincere condolences over their loss and have them escorted away from the scene by a law enforcement officer. B. discreetly escort them to the back of the ambulance and allow them to see their child by themselves while you wait outside. C. advise them that their son had severely disfiguring injuries and ask them if there is anyone they would like you to contact first. D. let them know that because of the circumstances of their child's death, they will not be permitted to see him at this time.

C. advise them that their son had severely disfiguring injuries and ask them if there is anyone they would like you to contact first.

When decontaminating the back of your ambulance after a call, you should: Select one: A. spray the contaminated areas and then immediately wipe them dry with a towel. B. clean all surfaces and patient contact areas with a mixture of alcohol and water. C. allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions. D. use a bleach and water solution at a 1:2 dilution ratio to thoroughly wipe all surfaces.

C. allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions.

What type of stress reaction occurs when an EMT is exposed to many insignificant stressors over a period of several months or years? Select one: A. posttraumatic stress reaction B. acute stress reaction C. cumulative stress reaction D. critical incident stress reaction

C. cumulative stress reaction

The MOST important consideration at the scene of a hazardous material incident is: Select one: A. calling the hazardous materials team. B. evacuating the bystanders. C. ensuring your personal safety. D. identifying the hazardous material.

C. ensuring your personal safety.

As an EMT, it is important to remember that the signs and symptoms of cumulative stress: Select one: A. cannot be identified and can cause health problems. B. are most effectively treated with medications. C. may not be obvious or present all the time. D. usually manifest suddenly and without warning.

C. may not be obvious or present all the time.

Vector-borne transmission of an infectious organism occurs via: Select one: A. direct contact. B. inanimate objects. C. smoke or dust. D. animals or insects.

D. animals or insects.

You are transporting a 40-year-old man with respiratory distress. The patient tells you that he recently had a positive tuberculosis (TB) skin test and is currently being evaluated for TB. You should: Select one: A. apply a nasal cannula on the patient and a sterile surgical mask on yourself. B. remain at least 3 feet away from the patient and apply a surgical mask on him. C. apply a sterile surgical mask on yourself and a HEPA respirator on the patient. D. apply a nonrebreathing mask on the patient and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirator on yourself.

D. apply a nonrebreathing mask on the patient and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirator on yourself.

When a patient is dying, he or she may experience regression. This is MOST accurately defined as: Select one: A. anger projected toward the EMT or other providers. B. a decreased ability to exercise age-appropriate judgment. C. fear of being completely dependent upon other people. D. behavior consistent with an earlier developmental stage, such as childhood.

D. behavior consistent with an earlier developmental stage, such as childhood.

Hazards that are associated with a structural fire include all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one: A. the risk of building collapse. B. high ambient temperatures. C. smoke and toxic gases. D. carbon dioxide deficiency.

D. carbon dioxide deficiency.

Determination of exposure is an important component of an infection control plan because it: Select one: A. determines the time of day that most exposures are likely to occur. B. determines which type of communicable disease might be present in the workplace. C. defines who is most likely to transmit communicable diseases in the workplace. D. defines who is at risk for contact with blood and body fluids and which tasks pose a risk of exposure.

D. defines who is at risk for contact with blood and body fluids and which tasks pose a risk of exposure.

You and your partner are EMTs and have been dispatched to standby at the scene of a residential fire. While standing next to the ambulance observing the fire fighters, you see a woman frantically moving around in her burning house. You should: Select one: A. don a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and rescue the woman. B. request permission from the fire chief to enter the structure. C. stay where you are until fire fighters remove her from the house. D. immediately notify the incident commander or safety officer.

D. immediately notify the incident commander or safety officer.

A 75-year-old man with a terminal illness has died at home. As you and your partner enter the residence, a family member becomes verbally abusive, pushes you, and states that you took too long to get there. You should: Select one: A. subdue the family member until the police arrive. B. ignore the family member and assess the patient. C. tell the family member that it is not your fault. D. retreat and notify law enforcement personnel.

D. retreat and notify law enforcement personnel.

While on duty, your partner asks you out on a date and touches you in an inappropriate location without your consent. You should: Select one: A. notify law enforcement personnel and have your partner arrested. B. tell your partner to stop and report the incident to your supervisor. C. warn your partner that you will report him or her if it happens again. D. tell your partner to quit kidding around and focus on his or her job.

B. tell your partner to stop and report the incident to your supervisor.

Which of the following statements is MOST consistent with the bargaining phase of the grieving process? Select one: A. "I understand that my death is inevitable and I am ready to die when the time comes." B. "It is because of our lousy health care system that I developed this brain tumor." C. "The doctors must be wrong in their diagnosis because I have always been healthy." D. "I will be compliant with all my medications if I can just see my grandson graduate."

D. "I will be compliant with all my medications if I can just see my grandson graduate."

If a mask cannot be placed on a coughing patient, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you maintain a distance of at least ________ feet if possible. Select one: A. 4 B. 2 C. 5 D. 3

D. 3

Your partner, a veteran EMT who you have worked with regularly for the past 4 years, seems unusually agitated during a call involving an elderly patient. Upon arrival back at your station, you note the obvious smell of alcohol on his breath. What should you do? Select one: A. Remain quiet and simply request another partner. B. Tell your partner that he must seek professional help. C. Report the incident to your EMS medical director. D. Discreetly report your suspicions to your supervisor.

D. Discreetly report your suspicions to your supervisor.

Which of the following statements regarding HIV is correct? Select one: A. It is far more contagious than hepatitis B. B. It is easily transmittable in the EMS field. C. HIV is transmitted exclusively via blood. D. There is no vaccine against HIV infection.

D. There is no vaccine against HIV infection.