Communication Documentation
Which information should be included in a radio report to the receiving hospital?
A. The EMT’s personal opinion of the patient
B. Patient age, chief complaint, condition, treatment, and estimated arrival
C. The complete written patient-care report
D. The patient’s insurance policy number
B. Patient age, chief complaint, condition, treatment, and estimated arrival
A patient reports chest pressure but initially appears stable. Why should the EMT continue a systematic assessment?
A. Serious conditions may not be immediately obvious.
B. Stable patients never require transportation.
C. Chest discomfort is rarely life-threatening.
D. The physical examination replaces the need for vital signs.
A. Serious conditions may not be immediately obvious.
How often should an unstable patient generally be reassessed?
A. Every 5 minutes
B. Every 15 minutes
C. Every 30 minutes
D. Only after arriving at the hospital
A. Every 5 minutes
A conscious medical patient complains of abdominal pain and has no immediate life threats. What should guide the secondary assessment?
A. The patient’s chief complaint and history
B. The EMT’s preferred examination sequence
C. The patient’s insurance status
D. The distance to the closest fire station
A. The patient’s chief complaint and history
Which statement is the most objective documentation?
A. “The patient was extremely rude.”
B. “The patient acted strangely.”
C. “The patient shouted, pushed the oxygen mask away, and refused treatment.”
D. “The patient was clearly trying to cause problems.”
C. “The patient shouted, pushed the oxygen mask away, and refused treatment.”
A patient is confused and cannot provide a reliable history. What is the best alternative source of information?
A. Only the patient’s clothing
B. Family members, caregivers, or bystanders
C. An unrelated neighbor who did not witness the event
D. The patient’s employer
B. Family members, caregivers, or bystanders
Which action is part of an appropriate reassessment?
A. Repeating vital signs and checking interventions
B. Obtaining only one set of vital signs
C. Removing treatments that appear effective
D. Delaying documentation until the end of the shift
A. Repeating vital signs and checking interventions
When assessing circulation below an extremity injury, the EMT should check:
A. Distal pulse, motor function, and sensation
B. Pupillary size and lung sounds
C. Blood glucose and temperature
D. Speech and facial symmetry only
A. Distal pulse, motor function, and sensation
A patient states, “The pain feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest.” How should this be documented?
A. The patient appears to be exaggerating.
B. The patient complains about an elephant.
C. The patient’s statement should be recorded in quotation marks.
D. The statement should not be included.
C. The patient’s statement should be recorded in quotation marks.
Which question best evaluates the “P” in OPQRST?
A. “When did the discomfort begin?”
B. “What makes the discomfort better or worse?”
C. “Does the discomfort travel anywhere?”
D. “How severe is the discomfort?”
B. “What makes the discomfort better or worse?”
How often should a stable patient generally be reassessed?
A. Every minute
B. Every 5 minutes
C. Every 15 minutes
D. Once during the entire call
C. Every 15 minutes
While examining a patient’s injured leg, you note deformity, swelling, and tenderness. These findings should be:
A. Ignored if the patient has a strong pulse
B. Documented and managed appropriately
C. Corrected by forcefully straightening the leg
D. Assessed only after hospital arrival
B. Documented and managed appropriately
A competent adult refuses transportation after the EMT explains the risks. What should the EMT document?
A. Only that the patient refused
B. Assessment findings, advice provided, risks explained, and required signatures
C. The EMT’s opinion that the patient made a poor decision
D. Nothing, because the patient was not transported.
B. Assessment findings, advice provided, risks explained, and required signatures
Which question addresses the “M” in SAMPLE?
A. “Do you have any allergies?”
B. “What medications do you take?”
C. “When did you last eat or drink?”
D. “What were you doing when this began?”
B. “What medications do you take?”
After applying oxygen to a patient with respiratory distress, what is the most important reason to reassess the patient?
A. To determine whether the intervention is effective
B. To complete the billing information
C. To avoid documenting the initial findings
D. To determine the patient’s insurance provider
A. To determine whether the intervention is effective
During the secondary assessment, a patient reports pain when you palpate the left lower abdomen. This finding is called
A. Crepitus
B. Tenderness
C. Instability
D. Paralysis
B. Tenderness
You make an error while completing a paper patient-care report. What is the appropriate correction method?
A. Erase the incorrect information completely.
B. Cover the error with correction fluid.
C. Draw a single line through the error, initial it, and enter the correction.
D. Tear up the report and start another without explanation.
C. Draw a single line through the error, initial it, and enter the correction.
Why should an EMT ask open-ended questions early in the patient interview?
A. They prevent the patient from describing symptoms.
B. They encourage the patient to provide more complete information.
C. They eliminate the need for follow-up questions.
D. They allow the EMT to suggest the correct answer.
B. They encourage the patient to provide more complete information.
During transport, a previously alert patient becomes confused. What should the EMT do first?
A. Assume the patient is becoming tired.
B. Repeat the primary assessment and address immediate threats.
C. Wait until arrival at the hospital.
D. Complete the secondary assessment paperwork.
B. Repeat the primary assessment and address immediate threats.
Which assessment is most appropriate for a patient with a significant mechanism of injury and altered mental status?
A. Examination limited to the area of pain
B. Rapid head-to-toe examination
C. No physical examination
D. Assessment of vital signs only
B. Rapid head-to-toe examination