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Chapter 1: Preparing for the Patient Encounter
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following activities is not part of the role of respiratory therapists (RTs) in
patient assessment?
a. Assist the physician with diagnostic reasoning skills.
b. Help the physician select appropriate pulmonary function tests.
c. Interpret arterial blood gas values and suggest mechanical ventilation changes.
d. Document the patient diagnosis in the patient’s chart.
ANS: D
RTs are not qualified to make an official diagnosis. This is the role of the attending physician.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 9
2. In which of the following stages of patient–clinician interaction is the review of physician
orders carried out?
a. Treatment stage
b. Introductory stage
c. Preinteraction stage
d. Initial assessment stage
ANS: C
Physician orders should be reviewed in the patient’s chart before the physician sees the
patient.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 9
3. In which stage of patient–clinician interaction is the patient identification bracelet checked?
a. Introductory stage
b. Preinteraction stage
c. Initial assessment stage
d. Treatment stage
ANS: A
The patient ID bracelet must be checked before moving forward with assessment and
treatment.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 9
4. What should be done just before the patient’s ID bracelet is checked?
a. Check the patient’s SpO2.
b. Ask the patient for permission.
c. Check the chart for vital signs.
d. Listen to breath sounds.
ANS: B
It is considered polite to ask the patient for permission before touching and reading his or her
ID bracelet.
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REF: pg. 3 OBJ: 3 | 5
5. What is the goal of the introductory phase?
a. Assess the patient’s apparent age.
b. Identify the patient’s family history.
c. Determine the patient’s diagnosis.
d. Establish a rapport with the patient.
ANS: D
The introductory phase is all about getting to know the patient and establishing a rapport with
him or her.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 3
6. Which of the following behaviors is not consistent with resistive behavior of a patient?
a. Crossed arms
b. Minimal eye contact
c. Brief answers to questions
d. Asking the purpose of the treatment
ANS: D
If a patient asks about the purpose of the treatment you are about to give, this generally
indicates that he or she is not upset.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 3
7. What is the main purpose of the initial assessment stage?
a. To identify any allergies to medications
b. To document the patient’s smoking history
c. To personally get to know the patient better
d. To verify that the prescribed treatment is still needed and appropriate
ANS: D
When you first see the patient, you are encouraged to perform a brief assessment to make sure
the treatment order by the physician is still appropriate. The patient’s status may have changed
abruptly recently.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 3
8. What is the appropriate distance for the social space from the patient?
a. 3 to 5 feet
b. 4 to 12 feet
c. 6 to 18 feet
d. 8 to 20 feet
ANS: B
The social space is 4 to 12 feet.
REF: pg. 5 OBJ: 5
9. What is the appropriate distance for the personal space?
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a. 0 to 18 inches
b. 18 inches to 4 feet
c. 4 to 12 feet
d. 6 to 15 feet
ANS: B
The personal space is about 2 to 4 feet from the patient.
REF: pg. 5 OBJ: 5
10. Which of the following activities is best performed in the personal space?
a. The interview
b. The introduction
c. The physical examination
d. Listening for breath sounds
ANS: A
The interview is best performed with you sitting about 2 to 4 feet from the patient. If you sit
farther away, the patient will have to answer your questions in a louder voice, and because
some of the information may be private, this would diminish communication.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 5
11. What type of behavior is least appropriate in the patient’s intimate space?
a. Eye contact
b. Pulse check
c. Auscultation
d. Simple commands
ANS: A
Eye contact is inappropriate in the intimate space and will make the patient very
uncomfortable.
REF: pg. 3 OBJ: 5
12. You are riding in an elevator at the hospital where you are employed as an RT. The elevator is
full, but standing next to you is Joe, the RT who is scheduled to relieve you. He turns to you
and asks, “How is Mr. Copper doing?” Earlier in the day, Mr. Copper had a cardiac arrest, and
he is now being mechanically ventilated. How should you respond to Joe?
a. “He took a turn for the worse.”
b. “He is fine.”
c. “Let’s talk later in the report room.”
d. “He is on a ventilator and will keep you very busy.”
ANS: C
The patient’s right to privacy prevents care providers from discussing a patient’s clinical
status in public places. All answers other than “c” are unethical; giving such answers could
cause an RT to be in legal trouble and get fired.
REF: Table 1-2, pgs. 4-5 OBJ: 6
13. In 1996, Congress passed the HIPAA. What does the letter “P” stand for?
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a. Patient
b. Payment
c. Portability
d. Personal
ANS: C
HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
REF: pg. 4 OBJ: 6
14. Which of the following techniques for expressing genuine concern is the most difficult to use
appropriately?
a. Touch
b. Posture
c. Eye contact
d. Proper introductions
ANS: A
Touch is most difficult to use properly because gender and cultural differences often become
an issue.
REF: Table 1-1, pgs. 3-4 OBJ: 5 | 7
15. Which of the following techniques is not associated with the demonstration of active
listening?
a. Good eye contact
b. Taking notes while a patient is talking
c. Asking for clarification
d. Use of touch
ANS: D
Use of touch helps with demonstrating empathy but has little to do with active listening.
REF: pg. 2 OBJ: 2
16. Two respiratory care students are taking their lunch break and want to compare notes about
patients they have seen during the morning. Which of the following locations would be
considered a violation of HIPAA standards?
a. The unit nursing station in front of the unit clerk’s desk
b. A table in the cafeteria with no one within hearing distance
c. The respiratory department report room
d. The intensive care unit (ICU) staff break room
ANS: A
Patient Health Information (PHI) should be discussed only in nonpublic areas of the hospital.
The space in front of the unit clerk’s desk is likely to be occupied with members of the public
asking for information.
REF: Table 1-2, pgs. 4-5 OBJ: 6
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Chapter 1: Preparing for the Patient Encounter
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following activities is not part of the role of respiratory therapists (RTs) in
patient assessment?
a. Assist the physician with diagnostic reasoning skills.
b. Help the physician select appropriate pulmonary function tests.
c. Interpret arterial blood gas values and suggest mechanical ventilation changes.
d. Document the patient diagnosis in the patient’s chart.
ANS: D
RTs are not qualified to make an official diagnosis. This is the role of the attending physician.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 9
2. In which of the following stages of patient–clinician interaction is the review of physician
orders carried out?
a. Treatment stage
b. Introductory stage
c. Preinteraction stage
d. Initial assessment stage
ANS: C
Physician orders should be reviewed in the patient’s chart before the physician sees the
patient.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 9
3. In which stage of patient–clinician interaction is the patient identification bracelet checked?
a. Introductory stage
b. Preinteraction stage
c. Initial assessment stage
d. Treatment stage
ANS: A
The patient ID bracelet must be checked before moving forward with assessment and
treatment.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 9
4. What should be done just before the patient’s ID bracelet is checked?
a. Check the patient’s SpO2.
b. Ask the patient for permission.
c. Check the chart for vital signs.
d. Listen to breath sounds.
ANS: B
It is considered polite to ask the patient for permission before touching and reading his or her
ID bracelet.
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REF: pg. 3 OBJ: 3 | 5
5. What is the goal of the introductory phase?
a. Assess the patient’s apparent age.
b. Identify the patient’s family history.
c. Determine the patient’s diagnosis.
d. Establish a rapport with the patient.
ANS: D
The introductory phase is all about getting to know the patient and establishing a rapport with
him or her.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 3
6. Which of the following behaviors is not consistent with resistive behavior of a patient?
a. Crossed arms
b. Minimal eye contact
c. Brief answers to questions
d. Asking the purpose of the treatment
ANS: D
If a patient asks about the purpose of the treatment you are about to give, this generally
indicates that he or she is not upset.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 3
7. What is the main purpose of the initial assessment stage?
a. To identify any allergies to medications
b. To document the patient’s smoking history
c. To personally get to know the patient better
d. To verify that the prescribed treatment is still needed and appropriate
ANS: D
When you first see the patient, you are encouraged to perform a brief assessment to make sure
the treatment order by the physician is still appropriate. The patient’s status may have changed
abruptly recently.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 3
8. What is the appropriate distance for the social space from the patient?
a. 3 to 5 feet
b. 4 to 12 feet
c. 6 to 18 feet
d. 8 to 20 feet
ANS: B
The social space is 4 to 12 feet.
REF: pg. 5 OBJ: 5
9. What is the appropriate distance for the personal space?
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a. 0 to 18 inches
b. 18 inches to 4 feet
c. 4 to 12 feet
d. 6 to 15 feet
ANS: B
The personal space is about 2 to 4 feet from the patient.
REF: pg. 5 OBJ: 5
10. Which of the following activities is best performed in the personal space?
a. The interview
b. The introduction
c. The physical examination
d. Listening for breath sounds
ANS: A
The interview is best performed with you sitting about 2 to 4 feet from the patient. If you sit
farther away, the patient will have to answer your questions in a louder voice, and because
some of the information may be private, this would diminish communication.
REF: Table 1-1, pg. 4 OBJ: 5
11. What type of behavior is least appropriate in the patient’s intimate space?
a. Eye contact
b. Pulse check
c. Auscultation
d. Simple commands
ANS: A
Eye contact is inappropriate in the intimate space and will make the patient very
uncomfortable.
REF: pg. 3 OBJ: 5
12. You are riding in an elevator at the hospital where you are employed as an RT. The elevator is
full, but standing next to you is Joe, the RT who is scheduled to relieve you. He turns to you
and asks, “How is Mr. Copper doing?” Earlier in the day, Mr. Copper had a cardiac arrest, and
he is now being mechanically ventilated. How should you respond to Joe?
a. “He took a turn for the worse.”
b. “He is fine.”
c. “Let’s talk later in the report room.”
d. “He is on a ventilator and will keep you very busy.”
ANS: C
The patient’s right to privacy prevents care providers from discussing a patient’s clinical
status in public places. All answers other than “c” are unethical; giving such answers could
cause an RT to be in legal trouble and get fired.
REF: Table 1-2, pgs. 4-5 OBJ: 6
13. In 1996, Congress passed the HIPAA. What does the letter “P” stand for?
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a. Patient
b. Payment
c. Portability
d. Personal
ANS: C
HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
REF: pg. 4 OBJ: 6
14. Which of the following techniques for expressing genuine concern is the most difficult to use
appropriately?
a. Touch
b. Posture
c. Eye contact
d. Proper introductions
ANS: A
Touch is most difficult to use properly because gender and cultural differences often become
an issue.
REF: Table 1-1, pgs. 3-4 OBJ: 5 | 7
15. Which of the following techniques is not associated with the demonstration of active
listening?
a. Good eye contact
b. Taking notes while a patient is talking
c. Asking for clarification
d. Use of touch
ANS: D
Use of touch helps with demonstrating empathy but has little to do with active listening.
REF: pg. 2 OBJ: 2
16. Two respiratory care students are taking their lunch break and want to compare notes about
patients they have seen during the morning. Which of the following locations would be
considered a violation of HIPAA standards?
a. The unit nursing station in front of the unit clerk’s desk
b. A table in the cafeteria with no one within hearing distance
c. The respiratory department report room
d. The intensive care unit (ICU) staff break room
ANS: A
Patient Health Information (PHI) should be discussed only in nonpublic areas of the hospital.
The space in front of the unit clerk’s desk is likely to be occupied with members of the public
asking for information.
REF: Table 1-2, pgs. 4-5 OBJ: 6
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