In field care, care decisions are guided primarily by which principle?

• A. Scope of practice
• B. Personal preference
• C. Hospital policy only
• D. Patient's desires above all

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that field care decisions are guided by what you are legally and professionally allowed to do—the scope of practice for your role. This defines the treatments you may perform, assessments you can make, and actions you can take on scene, grounded in your training, certifications, and the protocols or standing orders you follow. That framework protects patient safety and keeps care consistent and legal.

Hospital policy matters, but it usually supports the established field protocols rather than dictating actions beyond your training. Personal preference isn’t the basis for care decisions, and while you should consider a patient’s values and obtain consent, you can’t perform actions outside your scope or outside approved protocols. Patient desires are important for communication and consent, but they don’t override the scope of practice.

So, the primary guide for field care decisions is the scope of practice.