Question 1

Which of the following parameters should be monitored during ambulation?

Accepted Answer

All the listed parameters should be monitored during ambulation to ensure the patient's safety and well-being. Skin color can indicate poor circulation, breathing rate and effort can indicate respiratory distress, and level of consciousness can indicate neurological or cardiovascular issues.

Question 2

Which of the following terms describes the power potential behind electrical energy?

Accepted Answer

Voltage is the measure of electric potential energy per unit charge. It describes the power potential behind electrical energy.

Question 3

Where do most hospital fires initially start?

Accepted Answer

Most hospital fires initially start in the kitchen. This is due to the high potential for ignition from cooking appliances and the presence of flammable materials.

Question 4

Lifting heavy objects is best done with which of the following techniques?

Accepted Answer

Lifting heavy objects should be done with a straight spine and bent legs. This technique helps distribute the weight evenly throughout the body and reduces strain on the back muscles.

Question 5

Which of the following conditions must be met for a fire to occur?
I.temperature high enough for combustion
II.presence of oxygen
III.presence of flammable material

Accepted Answer

All three conditions must be met for a fire to occur. A temperature high enough for combustion is needed to ignite the flammable material, and the presence of oxygen is necessary to sustain the combustion reaction. Without a source of fuel, such as flammable material, there would be nothing for the fire to burn. Thus, all three conditions (I, II, and III) must be present for a fire to occur.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is false about patient ambulation?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Patients with intravenous (IV) lines can still be ambulated with proper precautions such as securing the line and careful monitoring.

Question 7

If 120 Volts are applied to a system with 1,000 Ohms of resistance, what is the current?

Accepted Answer

The current can be calculated using Ohm's Law: I = V/R, where I is the current, V is the voltage and R is the resistance. Therefore, I = 120/1000 = 0.12 A or 120 milliamps. Therefore, the correct choice is C. Choices A, B and D are incorrect as they do not correspond to the correct units or value of current for this scenario.

Question 8

Which of the following is/are a potential area of risk to patients receiving respiratory care?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed - movement or ambulation, electrical shock, and fire hazards - are potential areas of risk to patients receiving respiratory care. It is important for respiratory therapists and healthcare providers to be aware of these potential risks and take measures to minimize them.

Question 9

When a small, usually imperceptible current (usually less than 1 mA) is allowed to bypass the skin and follow a direct, low resistance pathway into the body, which of the following conditions exists?

Accepted Answer

This condition describes a microshock hazard, which can be caused by small currents bypassing the skin and entering the body through a direct pathway, such as an inserted catheter or implanted device. These small currents can be enough to cause harm or even death if they pass through vital organs, such as the heart. The other choices do not accurately describe this condition.

Question 10

What is the primary purpose of grounding all electrical equipment used in the hospital setting?

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of grounding electrical equipment is to prevent the dangerous build-up of voltage in the equipment, which can pose a serious safety risk to patients and healthcare workers. Grounding helps to dissipate any excess electricity and ensures that the equipment is safe to use.

Answer: B and C 
 Grounding does not directly make the equipment more secure or less likely to break down, nor does it help to avoid excessive energy costs. However, properly grounding equipment can indirectly contribute to these goals by reducing the risk of electrical faults and damage to the equipment, which can require costly repairs or replacements.

Question 11

In electrically susceptible patients, ventricular fibrillation can occur with electrical currents as low as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Ventricular fibrillation can occur with electrical currents as low as 100 microamperes ($\mu$A) in electrically susceptible patients.

Question 12

What is the primary factor determining the effect of an electrical shock?

Accepted Answer

Current is the primary factor that determines the effect of an electrical shock. Current is the flow of electric charge and it is what causes harm to the body. The higher the current, the more severe the shock will be. Voltage, resistance, and temperature are also important factors, but their effects are ultimately determined by the amount of current flowing through the body.

Question 13

Which of the following organs is the most sensitive to the effects of electrical shock?

Accepted Answer

The heart is the most sensitive to electrical shock because it generates electrical signals through its own pacemaker cells. External electrical shocks can cause arrhythmias or disruptions in the normal electrical activity of the heart, which can lead to cardiac arrest and death. Other organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and lungs, are less sensitive to electrical shock and can often recover from minor electrical injuries.

Question 14

High amperage (6 amps or more) applied externally to the skin can cause which of the following?
I.sustained myocardial contraction
II.respiratory paralysis
III.skin burns

Accepted Answer

High amperage electrical currents can cause sustained myocardial contraction, respiratory paralysis due to the effect on the muscles and nerves controlling breathing, and skin burns due to the heat generated by the current passing through the body.

Question 15

When a relatively high current (usually greater than 1 mA, or 1/1000 A) is applied externally to the skin, which of the following conditions exists?

Accepted Answer

Macroshock refers to a shock that occurs when current passes through a large area of the body, typically at currents greater than 1 mA. This can pose a significant hazard, especially in environments where electrical equipment is used.

Question 16

In which of the following clinical situations is the normally high resistance of the skin bypassed?
I.in patients with external pacemaker wires
II.in patients with saline-filled catheters
III.in patients with intact, dry skin

Accepted Answer

In patients with external pacemaker wires and saline-filled catheters, the skin resistance is bypassed due to direct contact between the wires/catheters and tissues/fluids within the body.  Intact, dry skin presents a high resistance to current flow, which is only bypassed in situations where there is direct contact between the tissue/fluid and an electrically conductive material such as metal or saline solution.

Question 17

Which of the following is used to report electrical current?

Accepted Answer

Amps, or amperes, is the unit used to report electrical current. Ohms is the unit used to report resistance, voltage is the unit used to report electrical potential difference, and cycles (or hertz) is the unit used to report frequency.

Question 18

Which of the following factors are most critical in determining when a patient can be ambulated?
I.willingness of patient
II.stability of vital signs
III.absence of severe pain

Accepted Answer

While patient willingness is important, the stability of vital signs and absence of severe pain are critical in determining when a patient can be safely ambulated. If vital signs are unstable or pain is severe, it may not be safe for the patient to stand and walk. Therefore, II and III are the most important factors in this scenario.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT true about fires in oxygen-enriched atmospheres?

Accepted Answer

All of the statements are true about fires in oxygen-enriched atmospheres.

Question 20

Which of the following is/are key factor(s) determining the extent of harm caused by an electrical current?
I.duration for which the current is applied
II.path the current takes through the body
III.amount of current flowing through the body

Accepted Answer

All three factors - duration, path, and amount of current - are key factors in determining the extent of harm caused by an electrical current. The longer the duration for which the current is applied, the greater the harm caused. Similarly, the path the current takes through the body can determine which organs or tissues are affected, while the amount of current flowing through the body can determine the severity of the shock. Therefore, all three factors are important and must be taken into consideration when dealing with electrical injuries.

Quiz 3: Patient Safety, Communication, and Record Keeping