Florida Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Practice Exam

A physical therapist assistant is able to __________ unlicensed personnel once the task has been delegated by the physical therapist.

1. monitor

2. directly supervise

3. train

4. evaluate

The correct answer is: directly supervise

The correct choice in this scenario is that a physical therapist assistant is able to directly supervise unlicensed personnel once the task has been delegated by the physical therapist. Direct supervision implies that the physical therapist assistant is responsible for overseeing the activities of the unlicensed personnel closely and ensuring that they are executing the tasks correctly and safely while maintaining compliance with the relevant regulations and standards of practice. Direct supervision is essential in the context of patient care, as it helps maintain the quality of care and ensures that unlicensed personnel are performing their duties within the parameters set by the licensed physical therapist. The physical therapist assistant acts as a bridge between the licensed therapist and the unlicensed personnel, guiding the latter based on the treatment plan created by the physical therapist. In contrast, while monitoring and evaluating are important roles, these actions do not necessarily equate to the level of oversight required in direct supervision. Training is also a significant function, but it pertains to equipping unlicensed personnel with the skills and knowledge they need before they can carry out their tasks, rather than supervising them in the act of performing those tasks. Therefore, direct supervision is a critical and appropriate role for the physical therapist assistant in this context.