EMT- Chapter 12- Pharmacology Exam with complete solutions

A medication with antagonistic properties is one that: Select one: A. enhances the effects of another medication when given in a higher dose. B. produces a cumulative effect when mixed with the same type of medication. C. blocks receptor sites and prevents other chemicals from attaching to them. D. stimulates receptor sites and allows other chemicals to attach to them. - ANSWER-C. blocks receptor sites and prevents other chemicals from attaching to them. When gathering a patient's medications, you find the following: Isordil, Lasix, Nexium, and digoxin. Which of these medications can be obtained over-the-counter (OTC)? Select one: A. Lasix B. Nexium C. Isordil D. Digoxin - ANSWER-B. Nexium A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed MDI, you should: Select one: A. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication. B. check the drug's expiration date to ensure that it is still current. C. administer another treatment in 30 seconds if she is still in distress. D. contact medical control and apprise him or her of what you did. - ANSWER-A. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication. How is nitroglycerin usually given by the EMT? Select one: A. Injected B. Inhaled C. Sublingually D. Orally - ANSWER-C. Sublingually You are dispatched to a movie theater for a 39-year-old female with signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. As you are assessing her, she pulls an epinephrine auto-injector out of her purse and hands it to you. After confirming the drug's name and expiration date, you should: Select one: A. ask her if she takes other medications. B. contact medical control. C. request an ALS ambulance to administer the drug. D. administer the drug. - ANSWER-B. contact medical control. Which of the following is an example of a rules-based medication error? Select one: A. The EMT accidentally gives a higher drug dose than what is indicated. B. The EMT administers a drug that is contraindicated for the patient. C. The EMT administers a drug that is not approved by the medical director. D. The EMT administers the correct drug, but gives it by the wrong route. - ANSWER-C. The EMT administers a drug that is not approved by the medical director. EMTs arrive at the scene of a patient who was "found down." A family member states that she gave naloxone (Narcan) to the patient before the ambulance arrived. The EMTs should suspect that the patient: Select one: A. has a history of allergic reactions. B. experienced a prolonged seizure. C. has a low blood glucose level. D. overdosed on an opioid drug. - ANSWER-D. overdosed on an opioid drug. Advil, Nuprin, and Motrin are trade (brand) names for the generic medication: Select one: A. acetaminophen. B. ibuprofen. C. aspirin. D. nitrostat. - ANSWER-B. ibuprofen. While assisting a paramedic in the attempted resuscitation of a 55-year-old male in cardiac arrest, you should expect the paramedic to: Select one: A. administer drugs via the IV route to achieve the fastest effect. B. withhold drug therapy until an intraosseous catheter is in place. C. give the patient activated charcoal to rule out a drug overdose. D. give the patient nitroglycerin to increase his blood pressure. - ANSWER-A. administer drugs via the IV route to achieve the fastest effect. You are treating a middle-aged man with chest discomfort. He has a history of three previous heart attacks and takes nitroglycerin as needed for chest pain. You have standing orders to administer aspirin to patients with suspected cardiac-related chest pain or discomfort. While your partner is preparing to give oxygen to the patient, you should: Select one: A. assist the patient in taking one of his prescribed nitroglycerins, assess his vital signs, and give him aspirin if he is still experiencing chest discomfort. B. confirm that the patient is not allergic to aspirin, give him the appropriate dose of aspirin, and document the time and dose given. C. contact medical control, apprise him or her of the patient's chief complaint and vital signs, and request permission to give him aspirin. D. ensure that the patient's systolic blood pressure is at least 100 mm Hg because aspirin dilates the blood vessels and can cause a drop in blood pressure. - ANSWER-B. confirm that the patient is not allergic to aspirin, give him the appropriate dose of aspirin, and document the time and dose given. A 62-year-old male is seen with crushing chest pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain that he had with a previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin but states that he has not taken any. After administering supplemental oxygen, if needed, and contacting medical control, you should: Select one: A. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg. B. begin immediate transport and request a rendezvous with a paramedic unit. C. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin before assessing his blood pressure. D. administer the nitroglycerin unless he has taken Viagra within the past 72 hours. - ANSWER-A. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg. An EMT may administer aspirin to a patient if: Select one: A. the patient is believed to be experiencing an acute stroke. B. authorization from medical control has been obtained. C. the patient is currently experiencing hypotension. D. transport time to the hospital is greater than 30 minutes. - ANSWER-B. authorization from medical control has been obtained. Aspirin is beneficial to patients suspected of having a heart attack because it: Select one: A. prevents the aggregation of platelets. B. reduces the associated chest pain. C. causes direct coronary vasodilation. D. dissolves the coronary artery clot. - ANSWER-A. prevents the aggregation of platelets. In ___________ administration, you are administering medication to yourself or your partner. Select one: A. peer-assisted B. paramedic-administered C. patient-assisted D. EMT-administered - ANSWER-A. peer-assisted Nitroglycerin, when given to patients with cardiac-related chest pain: Select one: A. constricts the veins throughout the body. B. relaxes the walls of the coronary arteries. C. increases myocardial contraction force. D. increases blood return to the right atrium. - ANSWER-B. relaxes the walls of the coronary arteries. Separation is especially an issue with medicine used as a(n): Select one: A. suspension. B. elixir. C. solution. D. gel. - ANSWER-A. suspension. The __________ of a medication usually dictates the route by which it will be administered. Select one: A. class B. form C. name D. type - ANSWER-B. form The medical term for a low blood glucose level is: Select one: A. hypoglycemia. B. hypertension. C. hypotension. D. hyperglycemia. - ANSWER-A. hypoglycemia. The process by which medications travel through body tissues until they reach the bloodstream is called: Select one: A. absorption. B. adsorption. C. digestion. D. suspension. - ANSWER-A. absorption. The term "pharmacology" is MOST accurately defined as: Select one: A. the study of drug excretion from the human body. B. the study of drugs that are produced illegally. C. the study of drugs and their actions on the body. D. the study of how medications affect the brain. - ANSWER-C. the study of drugs and their actions on the body. What medication form does oral glucose come in? Select one: A. Liquid B. Gel C. Fine powder D. Suspension - ANSWER-B. Gel When assessing an elderly male who complains of nausea and generalized weakness, you find that he takes atorvastatin (Lipitor) and amlodipine (Norvasc). These medications suggest a history of: Select one: A. reactive airway disease. B. bacterial infection. C. cardiovascular disease. D. non-insulin-dependent diabetes. - ANSWER-C. cardiovascular disease. Which of the following is an example of a generic of a drug? Select one: A. Advil B. Aspirin C. Excedrin D. Bayer - ANSWER-B. Aspirin Which of the following medication routes delivers a drug through the skin over an extended period of time, such as a nitroglycerin or fentanyl patch? Select one: A. Subcutaneous B. Transcutaneous C. Intraosseous D. Sublingual - ANSWER-B. Transcutaneous Which of the following statements regarding glucose is correct? Select one: A. Glucose is usually administered by the EMT via the intravenous route. B. Glucose is a simple sugar that is readily absorbed by the cells. C. Glucose is a complex sugar that rapidly absorbs into the bloodstream. D. Glucose is given to patients who are suspected of being hyperglycemic. - ANSWER-B. Glucose is a simple sugar that is readily absorbed by the cells. Which of the following statements regarding parenteral medications is correct? Select one: A. Compared to enteral medications, parenteral medications have fewer side effects. B. Parenteral medications are absorbed more quickly than enteral medications. C. Parenteral medications are absorbed by the body through the digestive system. D. Tylenol is an example of a parenteral medication because it is taken orally. - ANSWER-B. Parenteral medications are absorbed more quickly than enteral medications. Which of the following statements regarding the epinephrine auto-injector is correct? Select one: A. The auto-injector delivers epinephrine via the subcutaneous route. B. The epinephrine auto-injector delivers a preset amount of the drug. C. The adult auto-injector delivers 0.5 to 1 mg of epinephrine. D. EMTs do not need physician authorization to use the auto-injector. - ANSWER-B. The epinephrine auto-injector delivers a preset amount of the drug. Which of the following statements regarding the metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is correct? Select one: A. MDIs are contraindicated for patients with asthma or emphysema. B. An MDI delivers the same amount of medication every time it is used. C. Shaking an MDI prior to use will cause deactivation of the medication. D. MDIs are most commonly used by patients with cardiovascular disease. - ANSWER-B. An MDI delivers the same amount of medication every time it is used. With the flowmeter set at 6 L/min, the nasal cannula will deliver up to _______ oxygen. Select one: A. 44% B. 34% C. 14% D. 24% - ANSWER-A. 44% 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? Select one: A. Administer her epinephrine, reassess her condition, and transport her promptly. B. Begin immediate transport and request an intercept with a paramedic ambulance. C. Give her half the dose of her epinephrine in case her allergic reaction is delayed. D. Begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route. - ANSWER-D. Begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route.