Board of Legal SpecializationPractice Exam

What action should you take if an adult patient in the waiting room has collapsed and is unresponsive?

1. Check for responsiveness

2. Immediately start CPR

3. Call 911

4. Get the patient's medical history

The correct answer is: Check for responsiveness

Checking for responsiveness is the appropriate initial action when an adult patient has collapsed and is unresponsive. This step is crucial as it allows you to quickly assess the patient's condition and determine if immediate assistance is needed. When you check for responsiveness, you typically shout the person's name or gently shake their shoulders to see if they respond. This action helps you establish whether the patient is in a state of consciousness or has perhaps fainted and may regain awareness. If there’s no response, it signals a more critical situation that may require further intervention, such as CPR or calling for emergency services. The other actions, while important, follow after assessing responsiveness. For example, if the person is unresponsive, the next steps would be to call 911 for professional medical assistance and then proceed with CPR if breathing has ceased. Gathering the patient's medical history is important, but it is not immediate; ensuring the patient’s safety and getting emergency help takes precedence in a situation where the individual is unresponsive.