Patient Assessment
Which of the following scenarios does NOT involve the presence of any symptoms?
A. A 44-year-old male with abdominal pain and severe dizziness
B. A 49-year-old female with blurred vision and ringing in the ears
C. A 55-year-old male with a severe headache and 2 days of nausea
D. A 61-year-old female who is unconscious with facial cyanosis
D. A 61-year-old female who is unconscious with facial cyanosis
Page 342
Structures of the lower airway include all of the following, EXCEPT:
A. alveoli.
B. the trachea.
C. the epiglottis.
D. bronchioles.
C. the epiglottis.
Page 420
Which of the following is the MOST rapidly acting medication administration route?
A. Sublingual (SL)
B. Intravenous (IV)
C. Subcutaneous (SC)
D. Intramuscular (IM)
B. Intravenous (IV)
Page 489-499
Which of the following conditions is NOT categorized as a psychiatric condition?
A. Depression
B. Schizophrenia
C. Substance abuse
D. Alzheimer’s disease
C. Substance abuse
Page 605
In what area of the lungs does respiration occur?
A. Alveoli
B. Trachea
C. Bronchi
D. Capillaries
A. Alveoli
Page 629
18. An elderly patient has fallen and hit her head. You assess her level of consciousness as unresponsive using the AVPU scale. Your initial care should focus on:
A. obtaining baseline vital signs.
B. gathering medical history data.
C. providing immediate transport.
D. airway, breathing, and circulation.
D. airway, breathing, and circulation.
Page 352
Which of the following structures is contained within the mediastinum?
A. Lungs
B. Larynx
C. Bronchioles
D. Esophagus
D. Esophagus
Page 422
Which of the following statements regarding the metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is correct?
A. MDIs are contraindicated for patients with asthma or emphysema.
B. MDIs are most commonly used by patients with cardiovascular disease.
C. An MDI delivers the same amount of medication every time it is used.
D. Shaking an MDI prior to use will cause deactivation of the medication.
C. An MDI delivers the same amount of medication every time it is used.
Page 502
In addition to looking for severe bleeding, assessment of circulation in the conscious patient should involve:
A. palpating the carotid pulse to determine the approximate rate and checking capillary refill time.
B. taking a blood pressure and determining if the patient is alert and oriented or confused.
C. applying a pulse oximeter probe to the finger to determine if peripheral perfusion is adequate.
D. checking the radial pulse and noting the color, temperature, and condition of the skin.
D. checking the radial pulse and noting the color, temperature, and condition of the skin.
Page 608
Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) would MOST likely be contraindicated in which of the following situations?
A. Pulmonary edema, history of hypertension, and anxiety
B. Difficulty breathing, two-word dyspnea, and tachycardia
C. Shortness of breath and a blood pressure of 76/56 mm Hg
D. Conscious and alert patient with an oxygen saturation of 85%
C. Shortness of breath and a blood pressure of 76/56 mm Hg
Page 663
A 29-year-old male with a head injury opens his eyes when you speak to him, is confused as to the time and date, and is able to move all of his extremities on command. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is:
A. 10.
B. 12.
C. 13.
D. 14.
C. 13.
Page 394
Which of the following statements regarding breathing adequacy is correct?
A. Patients with a grossly irregular breathing pattern usually do not require assisted ventilation.
B. The single most reliable sign of breathing adequacy in the adult is his or her respiratory rate.
C. Patients breathing shallowly may require assisted ventilation despite a normal respiratory rate.
D. A patient with slow respirations and adequate depth will experience an increase in minute volume.
C. Patients breathing shallowly may require assisted ventilation despite a normal respiratory rate.
Page 432
. To reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose you should administer:
A. EpiPen.
B. Tylenol.
C. Advil.
D. Narcan.
D. Narcan
Page 508
Which of the following assessment findings is MOST indicative of a cardiovascular problem?
A. Unequal breath sounds
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Use of the accessory muscles
D. Palpable pain to the epigastrium
B. Jugular venous distention
Page 610
. A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear wheezing over all lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg, and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is:
A. albuterol.
B. epinephrine.
C. an antihistamine.
D. a beta-antagonist.
B. epinephrine.
Page 644
. A 40-year-old male crashed his motorcycle into a tree. He is semiconscious, has snoring respirations, and has a laceration to the forearm with minimal bleeding. You should:
A. apply a cervical collar and suction his airway.
B. open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver.
C. apply a pressure dressing to the patient’s arm.
D. tilt the patient’s head back and lift up on his chin
B. open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver
Page 356
Which of the following patients would MOST likely require insertion of an oropharyngeal airway?
A. A 33-year-old semiconscious patient with reduced tidal volume
B. A 40-year-old unconscious patient with slow, shallow respirations
C. A 51-year-old confused patient with severely labored respirations
D. A 64-year-old conscious patient with rapid and deep respirations
B. A 40-year-old unconscious patient with slow, shallow respirations
Page 446
You are treating a 45-year-old woman who was stung by a hornet and has a rash. She tells you that she is allergic to hornets and has her own epinephrine auto-injector. She also tells you that she takes medication for hypertension. Her breath sounds do not reveal any wheezing, her breathing is unlabored, and her blood pressure is 154/94 mm Hg. What should you do if you are not able to make contact with medical control?
A. Administer her epinephrine, reassess her condition, and transport her promptly.
B. Begin immediate transport and request an intercept with a paramedic ambulance.
C. Begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route.
D. Give her half the dose of her epinephrine in case her allergic reaction is delayed.
C. Begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route.
Page 513
A sign of respiratory distress seen in the neck is:
A. muscular atrophy.
B. accessory muscle use.
C. muscular twitches.
D. muscular definition.
B. accessory muscle use.
Page 610
You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. You should suspect:
A. acute pulmonary edema.
B. right-sided heart failure.
C. acute pulmonary embolism.
D. spontaneous pneumothorax.
C. acute pulmonary embolism.
Page 645
A palpable pulse is created by:
A. the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the veins.
B. the pressure that is caused when venous blood returns to the heart.
C. pressure waves through the arteries caused by cardiac contraction.
D. electrical conduction in the heart producing contraction of the atria
C. pressure waves through the arteries caused by cardiac contraction.
Page 358
When testing a mechanical suctioning unit, you should turn on the device, clamp the tubing, and ensure that it generates a vacuum pressure of more than:
A. 100 mm Hg.
B. 200 mm Hg.
C. 300 mm Hg.
D. 400 mm Hg.
C. 300 mm Hg
Page 443
Which of the following is an example of a rules-based medication error?
A. The EMT administers a drug that is contraindicated for the patient.
B. The EMT administers the correct drug, but gives it by the wrong route.
C. The EMT administers a drug that is not approved by the medical director.
D. The EMT accidentally gives a higher drug dose than what is indicated.
C. The EMT administers a drug that is not approved by the medical director.
Page 522
Which of the following conditions often requires transport to a hospital with specialized capabilities that may not be available at the closest hospital?
A. Seizures and infection
B. Cardiac arrest and shock
C. Stroke and heart attack
D. Diabetes and migraines
C. Stroke and heart attack
Page 612
A conscious and alert 29-year-old female with a history of asthma complains of difficulty breathing that began after her morning jog. The temperature outside is 40°F (5°C). On exam, you hear bilateral expiratory wheezing. After providing supplemental oxygen, you should:
A. place her in a recumbent position to facilitate breathing.
B. contact medical control and administer an antihistamine.
C. call medical control and ask how to proceed with treatment.
D. determine if she has been prescribed a beta-agonist inhaler.
D. determine if she has been prescribed a beta-agonist inhaler.
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