Chapter 12: Behavioral Emergencies

Which of the following is not an appropriate response when acknowledging a patient's or family member's anger?

"Get control of yourself."

You are assisting paramedics who are attempting to resuscitate an elderly man in cardiac arrest. The patient's wife, who is emotionally distraught, is standing alone in the corner of the room observing. One of the paramedics asks you to provide emotional support to the wife. What should you say to her?

. "We are doing everything that we possibly can."

Which of the following most accurately defines a behavioral emergency?

. A person exhibits abnormal, unacceptable behavior that cannot be tolerated by family, friends, or the community.

The best person to communicate with a patient who has the potential to become violent is:

. a rescuer of the same sex and closest to the patient's age.

Which of the following statements regarding a situational crisis is correct?

Most situational crises are sudden and unexpected and cannot be handled by a person's usual coping mechanisms.

Which of the following actions would not reassure an emotionally disturbed patient that you are interested in helping him or her?

Telling the patient that everything will be all right

. During a crisis situation, it is often easier for the patient or a family member to vent his or her feelings of anger on:

an unknown person.

The most difficult emotional reaction for the emergency medical responder (EMR) to deal with objectively is:

anger

You are attempting to communicate with a severely depressed man who lives in a small apartment. In addition to you, there are three law enforcement officers and two fire fighters in the apartment. The patient appears anxious and will not answer your questions. You should:

ask all nonessential personnel to leave the apartment.

When dealing with a patient who is exhibiting abnormal behavior, your initial action should be to:

conduct a careful size-up of the scene.

The most important assessment skill to use when caring for a patient with a behavioral emergency is:

effective communication.

The first phase of a situational crisis, which is characterized by cool and clammy skin, nausea and vomiting, and general inactivity, is called:

emotional shock

Imagining yourself in another person's situation, sharing his or her feelings and ideas, is called:

empathy

If you must treat an unarmed patient who is or may become violent, you should first:

immediately attempt to establish verbal and eye contact with the patient.

If you are confronted by a person who is armed with a gun, knife, or other weapon, you should:

immediately attempt to withdraw from the situation.

You arrive at an apartment complex where a young woman is experiencing an acute emotional crisis. Law enforcement is present, and the scene is safe. As you enter the patient's apartment, you find her sitting on her couch. She is crying and in obvious emotional distress. You should:

introduce yourself to the patient and ask her what her name is.

When responding to a situation involving domestic violence, you should:

maintain safety for yourself and the patient and be able to perform effective assessment and treatment.

Behavior that is characterized by defective or lost contact with reality is called:

psychotic behavior.

While assisting paramedics in the attempted resuscitation of a 60-year-old woman in cardiac arrest, the senior paramedic determines that the patient is dead after exhausting all efforts. When you attempt to comfort the patient's husband, he becomes verbally abusive and tells you that you should have been able to save his wife's life. You should:

realize that the man's behavior is not a personal attack on you.

The first and most important step in crisis management is to:

talk to the patient.