Legal Duties, Ethics, and Confidentiality
An EMT finds a valid out-of-hospital DNR document for a patient in cardiac arrest. The document is best classified as
A. A refusal form for routine transport
B. An advance directive
C. A Good Samaritan notice
D. A dispatch protocol
B. An advance directive
An infant turns toward a touch on the cheek and begins searching with the mouth. Which reflex is being demonstrated?
A. Moro reflex
B. Rooting reflex
C. Palmar grasp
D. Babinski reflex
B. Rooting reflex
A patient is lying flat on the back with the face upward. Which term documents this position?
A. Prone
B. Fowler
C. Lateral recumbent
D. Supine
D. Supine
A patient has an injury that interferes with the diaphragm’s ability to contract. Which function will be most directly affected?
A. Blood filtration
B. Ventilation
C. Digestion
D. Blood clotting
B. Ventilation
An unresponsive medical patient has no suspected trauma. Which maneuver should the EMT use first to open the airway?
A. Jaw-thrust only
B. Head-tilt, chin-lift
C. Abdominal thrusts
D. Blind finger sweep
B. Head-tilt, chin-lift
Which situation is most likely a permitted reason to disclose patient information?
A. A friend is curious about the call.
B. A neighbor asks what happened.
C. The patient has authorized the disclosure, or the law requires reporting.
D. The EMT wants to post an unusual case online.
C. The patient has authorized the disclosure, or the law requires reporting.
Which issue commonly becomes especially important during adolescence?
A. Closure of the infant fontanelle
B. Development of the rooting reflex
C. Loss of all interest in peers
D. Body image and risk-taking behavior
D. Body image and risk-taking behavior
A wound is described as lateral to the sternum. Where is it located?
A. Directly behind the sternum
B. Farther from the body's midline than the sternum
C. Below both feet
D. Closer to the midline than the sternum
B. Farther from the body's midline than the sternum
Which blood vessels are primarily responsible for exchanging oxygen, nutrients, and wastes with the body’s cells?
A. Arteries
B. Arterioles
C. Capillaries
D. Veins
C. Capillaries
An unconscious patient begins gagging when an oropharyngeal airway is inserted. What should the EMT do?
A. Remove it and consider an appropriately sized nasopharyngeal airway if not contraindicated.
B. Force it farther into the mouth.
C. Leave it in place and wait.
D. Insert a second oral airway
A. Remove it and consider an appropriately sized nasopharyngeal airway if not contraindicated.
An EMT begins care and then leaves before transferring the patient to a provider with equal or greater training. This may constitute:
A. Implied consent
B. Abandonment
C. Informed refusal
D. Public disclosure
B. Abandonment
Why should an EMT use calm, simple explanations when caring for a preschool-age child?
A. Preschoolers have adult-level abstract reasoning.
B. Preschoolers are unaffected by separation from caregivers.
C. The child may interpret events literally and fear unfamiliar procedures.
D. The child cannot respond to reassurance.
C. The child may interpret events literally and fear unfamiliar procedures.
In the term "dermatitis," what does the suffix "-itis" indicate?
A. Removal
B. Inflammation
C. Abnormally slow
D. Located above
B. Inflammation
Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
D. Left ventricle
A trauma patient is unresponsive after a fall. Which airway-opening technique is preferred because a spinal injury is possible?
A. Head tilt, chin lift
B. Recovery position without stabilization
C. Jaw-thrust maneuver
D. Abdominal thrusts
C. Jaw-thrust maneuver
What term describes the range of care and procedures an EMT is legally authorized to perform?
A. Scope of practice
B. Duty to disclose
C. Chain of custody
D. In loco parentis
A. Scope of practice
School-age children are especially concerned about classmates and fitting in. This reflects the growing importance of:
A. Peer groups
B. Infant reflexes
C. Separation anxiety only
D. Retirement planning
A. Peer groups
In the anatomic position, how are the patient's hands oriented?
A. Palms face backward.
B. Hands are placed over the abdomen.
C. Palms face forward.
D. Palms face toward the thighs.
C. Palms face forward.
A patient sustains damage to the structure that connects the brain to the spinal cord and helps regulate breathing. Which structure was most likely injured?
A. Cerebellum
B. Brainstem
C. Frontal lobe
D. Parietal lobe
B. Brainstem
During BVM ventilation, the chest does not rise. What should the EMT do first?
A. Increase the ventilation rate without checking technique.
B. Stop ventilations permanently.
C. Begin suctioning for one full minute.
D. Reposition the airway and reassess the mask seal
D. Reposition the airway and reassess the mask seal
Which combination is necessary to support a negligence claim against an EMT?
A. Consent, a uniform, and transport
B. A complaint, an arrest, and a conviction
C. A protocol, a witness, and insurance
D. Duty, breach of duty, and resulting harm
D. Duty, breach of duty, and resulting harm
When assessing an older adult, the EMT should recognize that:
A. Vital signs are never useful.
B. Multiple body systems may have reduced reserve.
C. All older adults have the same functional ability.
D. Communication should occur only through family.
B. Multiple body systems may have reduced reserve.
The knee is described as proximal to the ankle. What does "proximal" mean?
A. Closer to the torso or point of attachment
B. Farther from the torso
C. Toward the back
D. Toward the outside of the body
A. Closer to the torso or point of attachment
An injury to the kidneys would most directly interfere with the body’s ability to:
A. Filter wastes from the blood.
B. Exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
C. Produce digestive enzymes
D. Control voluntary movement
A. Filter wastes from the blood.
When using a rigid suction catheter in an adult's mouth, which practice is appropriate?
A. Apply suction continuously during insertion.
B. Apply suction while withdrawing and limit the attempt to about 10 seconds.
C. Suction without infection-control precautions
D. Use petroleum jelly on the catheter
B. Apply suction while withdrawing and limit the attempt to about 10 seconds.