Safety and Professional Responsibilities Flashcards
7 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Safety and Professional Responsibilities flashcards as text
A PT receives a referral to treat a patient for a condition outside the PT's area of competence. What is the most ethical course of action?
Answer: Decline the referral and direct the patient to a qualified provider
Practicing outside one's competence violates the APTA Code of Ethics; the PT should refer the patient to a practitioner with appropriate expertise.
A patient with a pacemaker is referred for interferential current therapy. What is the most appropriate action?
Answer: Contact the referring physician and withhold treatment pending clearance
Electrical stimulation is contraindicated over or near a pacemaker; physician clearance must be obtained before proceeding.
During a home health visit, a PT notices the patient's home environment poses significant fall hazards. What is the priority action?
Answer: Address the safety hazards with the patient and caregiver immediately and document recommendations
Addressing and documenting environmental fall hazards immediately is a core PT responsibility in home health to prevent injury.
A PT working in a school setting identifies a child who may have developmental delays beyond the current referral. What is the best action?
Answer: Notify the parents and recommend appropriate specialist referral
PTs are obligated to communicate relevant clinical findings to caregivers and recommend referral to appropriate specialists.
Which is the correct sequence for hand hygiene in a clinical setting when hands are not visibly soiled?
Answer: Alcohol-based hand rub applied until hands are dry
When hands are not visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is the preferred hand hygiene method per CDC guidelines.
A patient shares protected health information with the PT that they do not want shared with family members. Under HIPAA, what must the PT do?
Answer: Honor the patient's request and restrict disclosure to family members
HIPAA grants patients the right to restrict disclosure of their PHI, including to family members, and providers must honor that request.
A PT observes that the medical record contains a physician's order with unclear dosage instructions relevant to the patient's rehabilitation. What should the PT do?
Answer: Clarify the order directly with the prescribing physician before proceeding
Ambiguous orders must be clarified directly with the prescribing physician to ensure patient safety before proceeding.