Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care 9th Edition Test Bank
Chapter 01: Preparing for the Patient Encounter
Heuer: Wilkins’ Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is an example of how the respiratory
therapist (RT) helps promote high-quality care that is patient-and-
family-centered?
a. Deliver care given is consistent with each individual’s values, needs, and
preferences.
b. Help the physician select pulmonary function tests.
c. Provide communication to the family only when the physician is present.
d. Ensure patients can rest and are not required to participate in their own care.
ANS: A
The core goal of patient-and family-centered care (PFCC) is to advance the quality of
interactions between patients and care providers while promoting compassion, respect and
dignity for all parties. Individualized care requires empathetic, two-way communication,
respect for each patient’s values and privacy along with sensitivity to cultural values. PFCC is
designed to ensure that the care given is consistent with each individual’s values, needs, and
preferences, and patients become active participants in their own care.
OBJ: 1
2. What should be done 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.
OBJ: 3
3. 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.
, Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care 9th Edition Test Bank
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.
OBJ: 3
4. You walk into a room to assess a patient prior to medication delivery. You removed some
belongings from the bedside table and placed them on the chair and the patient immediately
crosses his arms and refuses to talk to you. What is the most likely issue?
a. The patient is hungry.
b. You entered the patient’s territory.
c. The patient is upset about his diagnosis.
d. You did not establish a rapport with the patient.
ANS: B
Related to the concept of proximity is that of territoriality. Removing items from the patient’s
“territory” should occur only after permission has been obtained. For example, when
borrowing a chair from the bedside of a patient for use at the bedside of the patient you should
for permission, being sure to replace any items temporarily removed from the patient’s
territory.
OBJ: 5
5. 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.
OBJ: 3
6. 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.
OBJ: 5
7. What is the appropriate distance for the personal space?
a. 0 to 18 inches
b. 18 inches to 4 feet
c. 4 to 12 feet
, Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care 9th Edition Test Bank
d. 6 to 15 feet
ANS: B
The personal space is about 2 to 4 feet from the patient.
OBJ: 5
8. 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.
OBJ: 5
9. If you are in a patient’s intimate space, which activity should you avoid?
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.
OBJ: 5
10. 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.
OBJ: 6
11. Which of the following techniques are associated with the demonstration of active listening?
1. Good eye contact
2. Taking notes while a patient is talking
3. Asking for clarification
4. Use of touch
, Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care 9th Edition Test Bank
a. 1 and 4
b. 1, 3, and 4
c. 2 and 3
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D
Use of touch helps with demonstrating empathy but has little to do with active listening.
OBJ: 2
12. 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
Protected 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.
OBJ: 6
13. A 20-year-old respiratory care student enters the room of a 65-year-old female patient, saying,
“Hi, Linda! I am Joe from Respiratory Care.” He immediately approaches her, looks her in
the eye, and places his stethoscope on her chest.
a. Joe’s approach to this patient is appropriate.
b. Joe has inappropriately entered the patient’s social space.
c. Joe has inappropriately entered the patient’s personal space.
d. Joe has inappropriately entered the patient’s intimate space.
ANS: D
Joe has established no rapport with this patient, has touched her without asking permission,
and looks her in the eye while examining her.
OBJ: 3
14. A respiratory care student returns from a clinical experience, excited that she has had the
opportunity to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for the first time. She
immediately goes to her Facebook page and describes her day. Which of the following entries
would be a violation of HIPAA standards?
a. “At clinical today got to do CPR on a patient on the 6th floor of Mercy Hospital.
Patient survived! What a rush!!”
b. “Got to do CPR for the first time today. Patient survived!! What a rush!”
c. “Got to do CPR for the first time in clinical today! What a rush!!”
d. All of the above
ANS: D
Chapter 01: Preparing for the Patient Encounter
Heuer: Wilkins’ Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is an example of how the respiratory
therapist (RT) helps promote high-quality care that is patient-and-
family-centered?
a. Deliver care given is consistent with each individual’s values, needs, and
preferences.
b. Help the physician select pulmonary function tests.
c. Provide communication to the family only when the physician is present.
d. Ensure patients can rest and are not required to participate in their own care.
ANS: A
The core goal of patient-and family-centered care (PFCC) is to advance the quality of
interactions between patients and care providers while promoting compassion, respect and
dignity for all parties. Individualized care requires empathetic, two-way communication,
respect for each patient’s values and privacy along with sensitivity to cultural values. PFCC is
designed to ensure that the care given is consistent with each individual’s values, needs, and
preferences, and patients become active participants in their own care.
OBJ: 1
2. What should be done 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.
OBJ: 3
3. 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.
, Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care 9th Edition Test Bank
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.
OBJ: 3
4. You walk into a room to assess a patient prior to medication delivery. You removed some
belongings from the bedside table and placed them on the chair and the patient immediately
crosses his arms and refuses to talk to you. What is the most likely issue?
a. The patient is hungry.
b. You entered the patient’s territory.
c. The patient is upset about his diagnosis.
d. You did not establish a rapport with the patient.
ANS: B
Related to the concept of proximity is that of territoriality. Removing items from the patient’s
“territory” should occur only after permission has been obtained. For example, when
borrowing a chair from the bedside of a patient for use at the bedside of the patient you should
for permission, being sure to replace any items temporarily removed from the patient’s
territory.
OBJ: 5
5. 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.
OBJ: 3
6. 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.
OBJ: 5
7. What is the appropriate distance for the personal space?
a. 0 to 18 inches
b. 18 inches to 4 feet
c. 4 to 12 feet
, Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care 9th Edition Test Bank
d. 6 to 15 feet
ANS: B
The personal space is about 2 to 4 feet from the patient.
OBJ: 5
8. 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.
OBJ: 5
9. If you are in a patient’s intimate space, which activity should you avoid?
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.
OBJ: 5
10. 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.
OBJ: 6
11. Which of the following techniques are associated with the demonstration of active listening?
1. Good eye contact
2. Taking notes while a patient is talking
3. Asking for clarification
4. Use of touch
, Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care 9th Edition Test Bank
a. 1 and 4
b. 1, 3, and 4
c. 2 and 3
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D
Use of touch helps with demonstrating empathy but has little to do with active listening.
OBJ: 2
12. 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
Protected 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.
OBJ: 6
13. A 20-year-old respiratory care student enters the room of a 65-year-old female patient, saying,
“Hi, Linda! I am Joe from Respiratory Care.” He immediately approaches her, looks her in
the eye, and places his stethoscope on her chest.
a. Joe’s approach to this patient is appropriate.
b. Joe has inappropriately entered the patient’s social space.
c. Joe has inappropriately entered the patient’s personal space.
d. Joe has inappropriately entered the patient’s intimate space.
ANS: D
Joe has established no rapport with this patient, has touched her without asking permission,
and looks her in the eye while examining her.
OBJ: 3
14. A respiratory care student returns from a clinical experience, excited that she has had the
opportunity to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for the first time. She
immediately goes to her Facebook page and describes her day. Which of the following entries
would be a violation of HIPAA standards?
a. “At clinical today got to do CPR on a patient on the 6th floor of Mercy Hospital.
Patient survived! What a rush!!”
b. “Got to do CPR for the first time today. Patient survived!! What a rush!”
c. “Got to do CPR for the first time in clinical today! What a rush!!”
d. All of the above
ANS: D
