Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) Practice Test

If a caregiver is assisting a resident who begins to experience extreme chest pain, what is the first action they should take?

1. Call the family.

2. Call a physician.

3. Call 911.

4. Assess the resident's condition.

The correct answer is: Call 911.

In a situation where a resident is experiencing extreme chest pain, the priority is to ensure the resident's safety and address a potentially life-threatening medical emergency. Calling 911 is the appropriate first action because it mobilizes emergency medical services that can provide immediate assistance. Time is crucial in medical emergencies, particularly with symptoms like chest pain, which could indicate a heart attack or other serious conditions. By contacting emergency services, the caregiver ensures that trained professionals can reach the resident quickly and provide the necessary medical intervention. While assessing the resident's condition and calling a physician are important steps, they should occur after emergency services have been contacted. Family notification is also significant but one step that should follow addressing the immediate health risk. Therefore, the most urgent action in this scenario is to call 911 to ensure timely emergency response and care.