Board of Legal SpecializationPractice Exam

What should be monitored until the advanced cardiac life support team arrives?

1. The patient’s emotional state

2. The patient’s appearance

3. Vital signs and consciousness

4. The patient’s oxygen level

The correct answer is: Vital signs and consciousness

Monitoring vital signs and consciousness is crucial in an emergency medical situation where advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) is required. This is because vital signs, which include heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature, provide immediate and essential information about the patient's physiological status. Changes in these signs can indicate deteriorating conditions or the effectiveness of interventions being performed prior to the arrival of the ACLS team. Consciousness is equally important to assess, as it reflects the neurological status of the patient. A decrease in consciousness can signal severe issues that require rapid intervention, and it helps responders determine if the patient is in a life-threatening situation, such as cardiac arrest or severe respiratory compromise. In contrast, while the other options—such as monitoring the patient’s emotional state, appearance, and oxygen level—can provide insightful information, they are not as critical to the immediate assessment of life-threatening conditions. Emotional state may be influenced by the situation but does not provide concrete indicators of physiological distress. Monitoring appearance can give some clues about the patient's health status, but it is more subjective and less reliable than critical signs like vital signs and consciousness. Although the patient's oxygen level is important, it is usually reflected in the vital signs, such as respiratory rate and effort;