Advanced Medical Life Support AMLS Review QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
As you obtain historical information regarding your patient, you note that the patient's
presentation and responses are very similar to several patient complaints you have treated in the
past. Integrating this information from past experience to this current experience is known as:
Correct Answer: Pattern recognition
In which situation has the threat to your personal safety been reduced most significantly? Correct
Answer: A barking dog has been secured in a kennel in the yard.
You evaluate the patient's environment to assess for: Correct Answer: all of the above; Safety
concerns, Room Temp, Assistive devices
An unresponsive patient has a needle in his arm when you arrive. His pupils are pinpoint, and he
is breathing four times per minute. You are preparing to administer naloxone. At this point,
opioid overdose is your initial: Correct Answer: Differential diagnosis
An 18-year-old male had a tonic-clonic seizure. Coworkers report no known seizure history. You
can arouse him to voice. P 118, R 20, BP 102/68. The diagnostic test most likely to narrow your
differential diagnosis would be: Correct Answer: Blood glucose analysis
A 23-year-old female has an acute onset of left flank pain. You should investigate which of the
following regarding her pain? Correct Answer: Dysuria
When you use an interpreter to question a 42-year-old female about her abdominal pain, what is
the best way to ensure information has been conveyed accurately and completely? Correct
Answer: Let the patient write her answers, and have the interpreter restate them so you will have
a recored of her statements for your report. (yeah right)
After you ensure scene safety, your highest priority is to: Correct Answer: Rule out immediate
life threats
Which of the following physical findings points most specifically to increased intracranial
pressure? Correct Answer: Respiratory rate is 8 and irregular.
You are transferring a 65-year-old female with renal failure from the nursing home. She has a
history of "abnormal lab values" and is drowsy and weak. You note the following lab values:
serum calcium 10.0 mg/dL (0.55 mmol/L), pH 7.28, potassium 6.1 mEq/L. The patient goes into
cardiac arrest after you load her into the ambulance. After epinephrine, you should first consider
giving her: Correct Answer: Magnesium sulfate
Which of the following describes a behavior that represents normal mental status? A person who:
Correct Answer: Is drowsy and slow to respond to questions after awakening from a nap.
, Which assessment evaluates at least one aspect of cranial nerve function? Correct Answer:
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale
A 72-year-old male had a syncopal episode in church. His wife said he has been complaining of
a headache for about a week. He has early Alzheimer's disease. Home medicines include Lipitor
and Exelon (rivastigmine). Which of the following questions may help narrow your differential
diagnosis? Correct Answer: Did he fall or hit his head recently?
A 56-year-old female experiences a sudden onset of headache and blurred vision during yoga
class. Her right eyelid is drooping, and the pupil on that side is small compared to the left pupil.
You should take her to a hospital with: Correct Answer: Specialized neurologic and vascular
capability
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? Correct Answer: Abnormal gaze
Which is the most reliable indicator that ventilation should be assisted in a patient with altered
mental status? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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: Correct Answer:
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:
Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: Pulse pressure 32 mm
Hg
Which gland is responsible for some of the vasoconstriction in shock? Correct Answer: Pituitary
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
As you obtain historical information regarding your patient, you note that the patient's
presentation and responses are very similar to several patient complaints you have treated in the
past. Integrating this information from past experience to this current experience is known as:
Correct Answer: Pattern recognition
In which situation has the threat to your personal safety been reduced most significantly? Correct
Answer: A barking dog has been secured in a kennel in the yard.
You evaluate the patient's environment to assess for: Correct Answer: all of the above; Safety
concerns, Room Temp, Assistive devices
An unresponsive patient has a needle in his arm when you arrive. His pupils are pinpoint, and he
is breathing four times per minute. You are preparing to administer naloxone. At this point,
opioid overdose is your initial: Correct Answer: Differential diagnosis
An 18-year-old male had a tonic-clonic seizure. Coworkers report no known seizure history. You
can arouse him to voice. P 118, R 20, BP 102/68. The diagnostic test most likely to narrow your
differential diagnosis would be: Correct Answer: Blood glucose analysis
A 23-year-old female has an acute onset of left flank pain. You should investigate which of the
following regarding her pain? Correct Answer: Dysuria
When you use an interpreter to question a 42-year-old female about her abdominal pain, what is
the best way to ensure information has been conveyed accurately and completely? Correct
Answer: Let the patient write her answers, and have the interpreter restate them so you will have
a recored of her statements for your report. (yeah right)
After you ensure scene safety, your highest priority is to: Correct Answer: Rule out immediate
life threats
Which of the following physical findings points most specifically to increased intracranial
pressure? Correct Answer: Respiratory rate is 8 and irregular.
You are transferring a 65-year-old female with renal failure from the nursing home. She has a
history of "abnormal lab values" and is drowsy and weak. You note the following lab values:
serum calcium 10.0 mg/dL (0.55 mmol/L), pH 7.28, potassium 6.1 mEq/L. The patient goes into
cardiac arrest after you load her into the ambulance. After epinephrine, you should first consider
giving her: Correct Answer: Magnesium sulfate
Which of the following describes a behavior that represents normal mental status? A person who:
Correct Answer: Is drowsy and slow to respond to questions after awakening from a nap.
, Which assessment evaluates at least one aspect of cranial nerve function? Correct Answer:
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale
A 72-year-old male had a syncopal episode in church. His wife said he has been complaining of
a headache for about a week. He has early Alzheimer's disease. Home medicines include Lipitor
and Exelon (rivastigmine). Which of the following questions may help narrow your differential
diagnosis? Correct Answer: Did he fall or hit his head recently?
A 56-year-old female experiences a sudden onset of headache and blurred vision during yoga
class. Her right eyelid is drooping, and the pupil on that side is small compared to the left pupil.
You should take her to a hospital with: Correct Answer: Specialized neurologic and vascular
capability
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? Correct Answer: Abnormal gaze
Which is the most reliable indicator that ventilation should be assisted in a patient with altered
mental status? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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: Correct Answer:
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:
Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: Pulse pressure 32 mm
Hg
Which gland is responsible for some of the vasoconstriction in shock? Correct Answer: Pituitary
