AMLS UPDATED EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
✔✔A 32-year-old complains of headache and dizziness. He vomited once and is
walking with a staggering gait. His blood pressure is 148/72, pulse 92, respirations 20.
He has a steady stare up toward his right ear. Which sign or symptom makes you
consider intracerebral hemorrhage more strongly than migraine headache as a cause of
his emergency? - ✔✔Abnormal gaze
✔✔Which is the most reliable indicator that ventilation should be assisted in a patient
with altered mental status? - ✔✔End-tidal CO2 is 60 mm Hg
✔✔A 24-year-old male complains of sudden explosive headache . He asks you to lower
the lights. He has vomited once. Which of these findings would increase your index of
suspicion for subarachnoid hemorrhage? - ✔✔Stiff neck
✔✔Which of the following findings indicates the need to increase the rate of ventilation
in a intubated patient you suspect to have an epidural hematoma? - ✔✔Unilateral blown
pupil
✔✔A 25-year-old helmeted female was thrown from a horse. She is complaining of
weakness in her upper extremities. You ask her to close her eyes and identify whether
you are moving her thumb up or down. She is unable to do so. This indicates she does
not have normal: - ✔✔Proprioception
✔✔A 44-year-old male is postictal after a witnessed grand mal seizure. He is arousable
to light pain and is presently snoring. His vital signs are BP 142/86, P 120, R 20, Sa02
98%. You should: - ✔✔Insert a nasopharyngeal airway
✔✔A 25-year-old woman was involved in a motor vehicle collision. Her initial vital signs
were BP 122/80 mm Hg, P 128 bpm, R 20 breath/min. Which of the following findings
on repeat assessment would indicate that she is developing shock? - ✔✔Pulse
pressure 32 mm Hg
✔✔Which gland is responsible for some of the vasoconstriction in shock? - ✔✔Pituitary
✔✔The primary mechanism for septic shock is: - ✔✔Widespread inflammatory
response
✔✔A 24-year-old male injuries in a shallow diving incident. Which assessment finding
would you anticipate if he is developing neurogenic shock? - ✔✔Heart rate 58 bpm
, ✔✔Which intervention for patient in shock prevents an increase in myocardial oxygen
demand? - ✔✔Maintain normal body temperature
✔✔Which diagnostic test most accurately assesses the presence and magnitude of
anaerobic metabolism? - ✔✔Lactic acid
✔✔Which patient is at highest risk for non traumatic obstructive shock? - ✔✔22-year-old
who is 38 weeks pregnant
✔✔A 19-year-old female is flushed, itchy, and wheezing after eating crab legs. Her vital
signs are BP 90/64 mm Hg, P 128 bpm, R 24 breaths/min. Which intervention is
indicated first? - ✔✔Epinephrine intramuscular
✔✔A 62-year-old male is vomiting coffee-ground emissions. Which of his home
medicines may make it more difficult to control his bleeding? - ✔✔Plavix
✔✔Shock related to tension pneumothorax is most directly secondary to: -
✔✔Decreased preload
✔✔The most common sign or symptom found in patients with pulmonary embolism is: -
✔✔increased respiratory rate
✔✔A 52-year-old male with a history of alcoholism complains of pleuritic chest pain. He
states the pain increases when he swallows. He appears very ill and has subcutaneous
emphysema around his neck. You suspect: - ✔✔Boerhaave's syndrome
✔✔A 73-year-old male awakens suddenly at 0200 complaining of dyspnea. You find
him in tripod position. Crackles are audible around his scapulae. He has a history of
hypertension. You suspect his symptoms are related to: - ✔✔Left heart failure
✔✔A 70-year-old male suspected to have a dissecting aortic aneurysm has a blood
pressure of 170/102 mm Hg. This sign may indicate: - ✔✔The renal arteries are
involved
✔✔Which of the following patients is at highest risk for pericardial tamponade? - ✔✔55-
year-old with end-stage lung cancer
✔✔If you administer nitroglycerin to a patient with ST-elevation in leads II, III and aVF,
you should be prepared to: - ✔✔Administer a bolus of normal saline if the blood
pressure drops
✔✔A 45-year-old male with a history of hypertension complains of chest "pressure,"
about a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, for 20 minutes. He just "wants to be checked out." Vitals
GRADED A+
✔✔A 32-year-old complains of headache and dizziness. He vomited once and is
walking with a staggering gait. His blood pressure is 148/72, pulse 92, respirations 20.
He has a steady stare up toward his right ear. Which sign or symptom makes you
consider intracerebral hemorrhage more strongly than migraine headache as a cause of
his emergency? - ✔✔Abnormal gaze
✔✔Which is the most reliable indicator that ventilation should be assisted in a patient
with altered mental status? - ✔✔End-tidal CO2 is 60 mm Hg
✔✔A 24-year-old male complains of sudden explosive headache . He asks you to lower
the lights. He has vomited once. Which of these findings would increase your index of
suspicion for subarachnoid hemorrhage? - ✔✔Stiff neck
✔✔Which of the following findings indicates the need to increase the rate of ventilation
in a intubated patient you suspect to have an epidural hematoma? - ✔✔Unilateral blown
pupil
✔✔A 25-year-old helmeted female was thrown from a horse. She is complaining of
weakness in her upper extremities. You ask her to close her eyes and identify whether
you are moving her thumb up or down. She is unable to do so. This indicates she does
not have normal: - ✔✔Proprioception
✔✔A 44-year-old male is postictal after a witnessed grand mal seizure. He is arousable
to light pain and is presently snoring. His vital signs are BP 142/86, P 120, R 20, Sa02
98%. You should: - ✔✔Insert a nasopharyngeal airway
✔✔A 25-year-old woman was involved in a motor vehicle collision. Her initial vital signs
were BP 122/80 mm Hg, P 128 bpm, R 20 breath/min. Which of the following findings
on repeat assessment would indicate that she is developing shock? - ✔✔Pulse
pressure 32 mm Hg
✔✔Which gland is responsible for some of the vasoconstriction in shock? - ✔✔Pituitary
✔✔The primary mechanism for septic shock is: - ✔✔Widespread inflammatory
response
✔✔A 24-year-old male injuries in a shallow diving incident. Which assessment finding
would you anticipate if he is developing neurogenic shock? - ✔✔Heart rate 58 bpm
, ✔✔Which intervention for patient in shock prevents an increase in myocardial oxygen
demand? - ✔✔Maintain normal body temperature
✔✔Which diagnostic test most accurately assesses the presence and magnitude of
anaerobic metabolism? - ✔✔Lactic acid
✔✔Which patient is at highest risk for non traumatic obstructive shock? - ✔✔22-year-old
who is 38 weeks pregnant
✔✔A 19-year-old female is flushed, itchy, and wheezing after eating crab legs. Her vital
signs are BP 90/64 mm Hg, P 128 bpm, R 24 breaths/min. Which intervention is
indicated first? - ✔✔Epinephrine intramuscular
✔✔A 62-year-old male is vomiting coffee-ground emissions. Which of his home
medicines may make it more difficult to control his bleeding? - ✔✔Plavix
✔✔Shock related to tension pneumothorax is most directly secondary to: -
✔✔Decreased preload
✔✔The most common sign or symptom found in patients with pulmonary embolism is: -
✔✔increased respiratory rate
✔✔A 52-year-old male with a history of alcoholism complains of pleuritic chest pain. He
states the pain increases when he swallows. He appears very ill and has subcutaneous
emphysema around his neck. You suspect: - ✔✔Boerhaave's syndrome
✔✔A 73-year-old male awakens suddenly at 0200 complaining of dyspnea. You find
him in tripod position. Crackles are audible around his scapulae. He has a history of
hypertension. You suspect his symptoms are related to: - ✔✔Left heart failure
✔✔A 70-year-old male suspected to have a dissecting aortic aneurysm has a blood
pressure of 170/102 mm Hg. This sign may indicate: - ✔✔The renal arteries are
involved
✔✔Which of the following patients is at highest risk for pericardial tamponade? - ✔✔55-
year-old with end-stage lung cancer
✔✔If you administer nitroglycerin to a patient with ST-elevation in leads II, III and aVF,
you should be prepared to: - ✔✔Administer a bolus of normal saline if the blood
pressure drops
✔✔A 45-year-old male with a history of hypertension complains of chest "pressure,"
about a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, for 20 minutes. He just "wants to be checked out." Vitals
