CASPER SITUATIONAL JUDGMENT TEST
PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+ FULL REVIEW GUIDE
●● Describe a situation when you had to say no to a friend's request for
help.
Answer: (personal)
As an EMT, my friends have come to me for medical help and
information. I usually try to help them to the best of my abilities, when
appropriate and within my scope of practice.
However, there have been some cases when I refuse to give them advice,
such as mixing medications, because I believe it is out of my purview
and unethical for me to advise them. In these cases, I tell them to ask
their doctor or pharmacist.
●● What is your approach to working with someone whose values are
vastly different from your own.
Answer: (personal)
My approach to working with someone whose beliefs are vastly
different from my own is to listen, try to empathize, which opens up the
dialogue and makes it easier to find a common ground.
,My roommate was skeptical about masks and social-distancing during
COVID-19, and by listening to his reasons, I was able to find house
rules that we would both agree upon that would keep us both safe and
allow his right to autonomy while sharing common space.
●● informed consent
Answer: requires the patient or client to understand the proposed
procedure, details, possible alternatives, risk and complications, and
consequences of doing nothing.
●● Working with difficult people.
Answer: I believe the difficulty is in the relationship, not simply the
person. There were a couple of patients who would frequently show up
in the ED that would frustrate many of the clinicians. Whenever I would
work with these patients, I would check my frustration and bias before
going into the room. Once I'm in there with the patient, I have a clear
agenda and set boundaries with them. I always take the time to listen to
their concerns and empathize with their situation. These strategies have
helped me many times and my conversations with them have usually
been positive and fruitful.
I usually get along with most of my coworkers and bosses. When I was
working as a student on the campus library, I had a difficult time while
working with another student worker. His unfriendly behavior was
lowering my overall job satisfaction and performance. I pulled him aside
one day after work and told him how his behavior was making me feel.
,Surprisingly, he apologizes, saying that he was overwhelmed with
schoolwork, which was affecting his behavior at work. After that, he was
friendlier and I was more understanding.
●● What do you think is the significance of the statistic presented in the
first sentence, that though 86% of people know that excess salt
consumption is bad for their health, only 53% of them actually consider
salt content when making food choices?
Answer: (Personal, critical thinking)
The statistic alludes to the fact that individuals do not always act upon
their knowledge. There are confounding factors to behavior, such as
environmental, cultural, and psychological. However, I would hesitate to
support this statistic before doing more research into how they got these
numbers.
●● In countries where the provision of health care services is subsidized
by the government, do you think that governments should be able to
prevent access to substances known to cause chronic disease? Why or
why not?
Answer: (policy)
By preventing access to substances known to cause chronic diseases,
governments may help their citizens live long, healthy lives by reducing
chronic diseases, increasing quality of life, and decreasing overall
healthcare spending. However, this also limits personal choice and may
, marginalize those choosing to practice this behavior for personal
reasons. Instead of outright prohibition, governments can gradually limit
access, such as the UK did with sugar and the US did with cigarettes by
enforcing taxes.
●● Processed meat has been found to be a carcinogen in humans, putting
it in the same class as smoking cigarettes. As a public health official,
what steps would you take when considering a ban on processed meats
in your community?
Answer: (Ethical dilemma, policy)
As a public health official, I would do more research into the effects on
the health of the public. My main concern is the health of the general
public, the limitations of my office, and individuals' right to autonomy.
If the risk to the public is great and warrants intervention, I would see if
the manufactures could look into making it healthier. If not, then I would
consider a partial ban, by enforcing taxes or an educational initiative. I
would not consider a complete ban unless the research is irrefutable and
it causes a direct and imminent health threat (think asbestos), as that will
infringe on personal choice.
●● You are the manager of an office, where lunches have been missing
from the common kitchen. What would you do?
Answer: (ethical dilemma)
As the manager, my priority is the well-being of my team members,
including the one who may be stealing lunches. I would interview my
team privately, in a non-confrontational manner. If someone confesses, I
PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+ FULL REVIEW GUIDE
●● Describe a situation when you had to say no to a friend's request for
help.
Answer: (personal)
As an EMT, my friends have come to me for medical help and
information. I usually try to help them to the best of my abilities, when
appropriate and within my scope of practice.
However, there have been some cases when I refuse to give them advice,
such as mixing medications, because I believe it is out of my purview
and unethical for me to advise them. In these cases, I tell them to ask
their doctor or pharmacist.
●● What is your approach to working with someone whose values are
vastly different from your own.
Answer: (personal)
My approach to working with someone whose beliefs are vastly
different from my own is to listen, try to empathize, which opens up the
dialogue and makes it easier to find a common ground.
,My roommate was skeptical about masks and social-distancing during
COVID-19, and by listening to his reasons, I was able to find house
rules that we would both agree upon that would keep us both safe and
allow his right to autonomy while sharing common space.
●● informed consent
Answer: requires the patient or client to understand the proposed
procedure, details, possible alternatives, risk and complications, and
consequences of doing nothing.
●● Working with difficult people.
Answer: I believe the difficulty is in the relationship, not simply the
person. There were a couple of patients who would frequently show up
in the ED that would frustrate many of the clinicians. Whenever I would
work with these patients, I would check my frustration and bias before
going into the room. Once I'm in there with the patient, I have a clear
agenda and set boundaries with them. I always take the time to listen to
their concerns and empathize with their situation. These strategies have
helped me many times and my conversations with them have usually
been positive and fruitful.
I usually get along with most of my coworkers and bosses. When I was
working as a student on the campus library, I had a difficult time while
working with another student worker. His unfriendly behavior was
lowering my overall job satisfaction and performance. I pulled him aside
one day after work and told him how his behavior was making me feel.
,Surprisingly, he apologizes, saying that he was overwhelmed with
schoolwork, which was affecting his behavior at work. After that, he was
friendlier and I was more understanding.
●● What do you think is the significance of the statistic presented in the
first sentence, that though 86% of people know that excess salt
consumption is bad for their health, only 53% of them actually consider
salt content when making food choices?
Answer: (Personal, critical thinking)
The statistic alludes to the fact that individuals do not always act upon
their knowledge. There are confounding factors to behavior, such as
environmental, cultural, and psychological. However, I would hesitate to
support this statistic before doing more research into how they got these
numbers.
●● In countries where the provision of health care services is subsidized
by the government, do you think that governments should be able to
prevent access to substances known to cause chronic disease? Why or
why not?
Answer: (policy)
By preventing access to substances known to cause chronic diseases,
governments may help their citizens live long, healthy lives by reducing
chronic diseases, increasing quality of life, and decreasing overall
healthcare spending. However, this also limits personal choice and may
, marginalize those choosing to practice this behavior for personal
reasons. Instead of outright prohibition, governments can gradually limit
access, such as the UK did with sugar and the US did with cigarettes by
enforcing taxes.
●● Processed meat has been found to be a carcinogen in humans, putting
it in the same class as smoking cigarettes. As a public health official,
what steps would you take when considering a ban on processed meats
in your community?
Answer: (Ethical dilemma, policy)
As a public health official, I would do more research into the effects on
the health of the public. My main concern is the health of the general
public, the limitations of my office, and individuals' right to autonomy.
If the risk to the public is great and warrants intervention, I would see if
the manufactures could look into making it healthier. If not, then I would
consider a partial ban, by enforcing taxes or an educational initiative. I
would not consider a complete ban unless the research is irrefutable and
it causes a direct and imminent health threat (think asbestos), as that will
infringe on personal choice.
●● You are the manager of an office, where lunches have been missing
from the common kitchen. What would you do?
Answer: (ethical dilemma)
As the manager, my priority is the well-being of my team members,
including the one who may be stealing lunches. I would interview my
team privately, in a non-confrontational manner. If someone confesses, I
