Florida Home Health Aide Competency Practice Test

While giving a bath, if a patient suddenly becomes unresponsive, what is the appropriate action?

1. Call for family assistance and continue with the bath

2. Leave the patient and call 911

3. Lower the patient to the floor, call for the family to call 911, and determine if CPR is needed

4. Stay with the patient while you call 911

The correct answer is: Lower the patient to the floor, call for the family to call 911, and determine if CPR is needed

The appropriate action when a patient suddenly becomes unresponsive during a bath is to lower the patient to the floor, call for family to contact emergency services, and assess if CPR is necessary. This approach ensures the immediate safety and care of the patient. Lowering the patient to the floor helps to prevent injury that could occur from a fall as the patient becomes unresponsive. By calling for family or bystanders to call 911, assistance is secured while you can focus on the patient. Determining if CPR is needed is critical, as an unresponsive state may indicate a medical emergency that requires immediate resuscitation efforts. In a situation where a patient becomes unresponsive, it’s essential to act quickly and efficiently to provide the best chance for recovery. This course of action ensures the patient is in a safe position, that medical help is being summoned, and that immediate responses such as CPR can be initiated if the patient's breathing or heartbeat is compromised.