Board of Legal SpecializationPractice Exam

Who is responsible for communicating the patient's status to the code team during a cardiac arrest?

1. The person administering CPR

2. The person who is acting as the team leader

3. The nurse on duty

4. The observation nurse

The correct answer is: The person who is acting as the team leader

The responsibility for communicating the patient's status to the code team during a cardiac arrest falls to the individual acting as the team leader. The team leader is tasked with overseeing the entire code response, ensuring that all team members are performing their designated roles, and synthesizing information to make critical decisions about patient care. This role includes providing updates about the patient's condition, including any changes in vital signs or response to interventions. An effective leader is crucial in high-stress scenarios like a cardiac arrest, where clear communication can significantly impact the outcome. The leader’s ability to relay the patient's status helps coordinate the response, makes tactical decisions based on the evolving situation, and maintains the focus and efficacy of the team. While the other options might play vital roles during a code, such as performing CPR, providing nursing care, or observing the patient, their primary responsibility is not to communicate patient status. Instead, their actions support the overall efforts dictated by the team leader's direction. Thus, the team leader is central to effective communication and overall management in a crisis situation.