West Coast EMT Exam Sample Questions With Answers - Latest 2023/2024 (Graded A+)

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 the 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: Select one: A. epinephrine. B. a beta-antagonist. C. albuterol. D. an antihistamine. - Answer A. epinephrine. A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this patient's condition? Select one: A. Spontaneous pneumothorax B. Exacerbation of his COPD C. Acute pulmonary embolism D. Rupture of the diaphragm - Answer A. Spontaneous pneumothorax A pleural effusion is MOST accurately defined as: Select one: A. fluid accumulation outside the lung. B. diffuse collapsing of the alveoli. C. a unilaterally collapsed lung. D. a bacterial infection of the lung tissue. - Answer A. fluid accumulation outside the lung. Asthma is caused by a response of the: Select one: A. immune system. B. cardiovascular system. C. endocrine system. D. respiratory system. - Answer A. immune system. Crackles (rales) are caused by _________. Select one: A. severe bronchoconstriction B. mucus in the larger airways C. narrowing of the upper airways D. air passing through fluid - Answer D. air passing through fluid His parents tell you that their son has had a chest infection for the past two days and when they took him to their family doctor, they were told it was likely due to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). They have kept him well hydrated, but the infection seems to have gotten worse. On auscultation, you hear decreased air entry bilaterally with fine expiratory wheezes and the occasional coarse wet crackle. Based on this information, your patient is most likely suffering from: Select one: A. pertussis. B. epiglottitis. C. croup. D. bronchiolitis. - Answer D. bronchiolitis. In order for efficient pulmonary gas exchange to occur: Select one: A. the percentage of inhaled carbon dioxide must exceed the percentage of inhaled oxygen. B. there must be low quantities of pulmonary surfactant to allow for full alveolar expansion. C. oxygen and carbon dioxide must be able to freely diffuse across the alveolarcapillary membrane. D. the pulmonary capillaries must be completely constricted and the alveoli must be collapsed. - Answer C. oxygen and carbon dioxide must be able to freely diffuse across the alveolar-capillary membrane. In what area of the lungs does respiration occur? Select one: A. Alveoli B. Bronchi C. Trachea D. Capillaries - Answer A. Alveoli Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) would MOST likely be contraindicated in which of the following situations? Select one: A. Pulmonary edema, history of hypertension, and anxiety B. Difficulty breathing, two-word dyspnea, and tachycardia C. Conscious and alert patient with an oxygen saturation of 85% D. Shortness of breath and a blood pressure of 76/56 mm Hg - Answer D. Shortness of breath and a blood pressure of 76/56 mm Hg When auscultating the lungs of a patient with respiratory distress, you hear adventitious sounds. This means that the patient has: Select one: A. abnormal breath sounds. B. diminished breath sounds. C. normal breath sounds. D. an absence of breath sounds. - Answer A. abnormal breath sounds. Which of the following conditions would be LEAST likely to result in hypoxia? Select one: A. Pleural effusion B. Severe anxiety C. Pulmonary edema D. Narcotic overdose - Answer B. Severe anxiety Which of the following is a genetic disorder that predisposes the patient to repeated lung infections? Select one: A. Multiple sclerosis B. Severe acute respiratory syndrome C. Cystic fibrosis D. Celiac sprue - Answer C. Cystic fibrosis Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing? Select one: A. 22 breaths/min with an irregular pattern of breathing and cyanosis B. 20 breaths/min with shallow movement of the chest wall and pallor C. 24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin D. 30 breaths/min with supraclavicular retractions and clammy skin - Answer C. 24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin Which of the following must be assessed in every respiratory patient? Select one: A. Orthostatic vital signs B. Lung sounds C. Blood glucose levels D. Distal pulse, motor, sensation - Answer B. Lung sounds While auscultating an elderly woman's breath sounds, you hear low-pitched "rattling" sounds at the bases of both of her lungs. This finding is MOST consistent with which of the following conditions? Select one: A. Aspiration pneumonia B. Widespread atelectasis C. Early pulmonary edema D. Acute asthma attack - Answer A. Aspiration pneumonia You are assisting an asthma patient with his prescribed metered-dose inhaler. After the patient takes a deep breath and depresses the inhaler, you should: Select one: A. advise him to exhale forcefully to ensure medication absorption. B. allow him to breathe room air and assess his oxygen saturation. C. instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can. D. immediately reapply the oxygen mask and reassess his condition. - Answer C. instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can. You are attending to a 3-year-old male patient who is presenting with severe shortness of breath. His parents report that he has had a cough and cold with a low grade fever for the past two days. They became worried today, as his level of distress has increased dramatically. On assessment, the patient is sitting upright and making high-pitched noises with each breath. Based on this information, the patient is most likely suffering from: Select one: A. bacterial infection of the epiglottis. B. viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. C. inflammation of the bronchioles. D. inflammation of the lower respiratory tract and bronchospasm. - Answer B. viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. You are attending to a 54-year-old female patient in a homeless shelter. The patient tells you that she had the flu a couple of weeks ago, and she has not gotten over it. She has been tired and keeps waking up at night, sweating. She has been coughing up green sputum occasionally and has been experiencing episodes of chest pain that get worse when she breathes. Based on this information, your patient is most likely suffering from: Select one: A. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). B. tuberculosis. C. pneumonia. D. influenza Type A. - Answer B. tuberculosis. Your patient has a chronic respiratory condition. His stimulus to breathe is triggered by low oxygen levels in the blood. This is known as the ___________. Select one: A. alternate drive B. CO2 drive C. hypoxic drive D. COPD drive - Answer C. hypoxic drive A 49-year-old male presents with an acute onset of crushing chest pain and diaphoresis. You should: Select one: A. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin. B. administer up to 324 mg of baby aspirin. C. obtain vital signs and a SAMPLE history. D. assess the adequacy of his respirations. - Answer D. assess the adequacy of his respirations. A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest pressure of 2 hours' duration. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and irregular, her respirations are 22 breaths/min, and her oxygen saturation is 92%. The patient does not have prescribed nitroglycerin, but her husband does. You should: Select one: A. give her one nitroglycerin and reassess her systolic blood pressure. B. administer oxygen, give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further. C. obtain a SAMPLE history and contact medical control for advice. D. give her high-flow oxygen, attach the AED, and transport at once. - Answer B. administer oxygen, give her 324 mg of aspirin, and assess her further. A dissecting aortic aneurysm occurs when: Select one: A. a weakened area develops in the aortic wall. B. the aorta ruptures, resulting in profound bleeding. C. the inner layers of the aorta become separated. D. all layers of the aorta suddenly contract. - Answer C. the inner layers of the aorta become separated. A patient in cardiac arrest is wearing an external defibrillator vest, which is interfering with effective chest compressions. The EMT should: Select one: A. perform ventilations only and allow the vest device to defibrillate. B. remove the battery from the monitor and then remove the vest. C. leave the battery attached to the monitor and remove the vest. D. remove the battery from the monitor and leave the vest in place. - Answer B. remove the battery from the monitor and then remove the vest. A patient tells you that he has a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Which of the following conditions should you suspect that he has experienced? Select one: A. Thoracic aortic aneurysm B. Acute myocardial infarction C. Uncontrolled hypertension D. Obstructive lung disease - Answer B. Acute myocardial infarction A patient with atherosclerotic heart disease experiences chest pain during exertion because: Select one: A. the ragged edge of a tear in the coronary artery lumen causes local blood clotting and arterial narrowing. B. tissues of the myocardium undergo necrosis secondary to a prolonged absence of oxygen. C. the lumen of the coronary artery is narrowed and cannot accommodate increased blood flow. D. the coronary arteries suddenly spasm and cause a marked reduction in myocardial blood flow. - Answer C. the lumen of the coronary artery is narrowed and cannot accommodate increased blood flow. After the AED has delivered a shock, the EMT should: Select one: A. transport the patient at once. B. assess for a carotid pulse. C. immediately resume CPR. D. re-analyze the cardiac rhythm. - Answer C. immediately resume CPR. Angina pectoris occurs when: Select one: A. myocardial oxygen demand exceeds supply. B. a coronary artery is totally occluded by plaque. C. myocardial oxygen supply exceeds the demand. D. one or more coronary arteries suddenly spasm. - Answer A. myocardial oxygen demand exceeds supply. Deoxygenated blood from the body returns to the: Select one: A. left ventricle. B. right atrium. C. right ventricle. D. left atrium. - Answer B. right atrium. Most AEDs are set up to adjust the voltage based on the impedance, which is the: Select one: A. distance between the two AED pads on the chest. B. direction that the electrical flow takes in the body. C. actual amount of energy that the AED will deliver. D. resistance of the body to the flow of electricity. - Answer D. resistance of the body to the flow of electricity. Nitroglycerin is contraindicated in patients: Select one: A. who have taken up to two doses. B. who have experienced a head injury. C. with a systolic blood pressure less than 120 mm Hg. D. with a history of an ischemic stroke. - Answer B. who have experienced a head injury. Prior to attaching the AED to a cardiac arrest patient, the EMT should: Select one: A. assess for a pulse for 20 seconds. B. contact medical control. C. dry the chest if it is wet. D. perform CPR for 30 seconds. - Answer C. dry the chest if it is wet. Risk factors for AMI that cannot be controlled include: Select one: A. family history. B. lack of exercise. C. hyperglycemia. D. excess stress. - Answer A. family history. Signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency would MOST likely be delayed in patients who: Select one: A. are older than 40 years of age. B. regularly take illegal drugs. C. have chronic hypertension. D. have had a stroke in the past. - Answer C. have chronic hypertension. The electrical impulse generated by the heart originates in the: Select one: A. atrioventricular node. B. bundle of His. C. sinoatrial node. D. coronary sinus. - Answer C. sinoatrial node. The EMT should use an AED on a child between 1 month and 8 years of age if: Select one: A. special pads are used and the child has profound tachycardia. B. his or her condition is rapidly progressing to cardiac arrest. C. pediatric pads and an energy-reducing device are available. D. he or she is not breathing and has a weakly palpable pulse. - Answer C. pediatric pads and an energy-reducing device are available. When preparing to obtain a 12-lead ECG, the "LL" and "RL" electrodes should be placed: Select one: A. anywhere on the arms. B. on either side of the chest. C. on the thighs or ankles. D. on the lower abdomen. - Answer C. on the thighs or ankles. Which of the following is NOT a common sign or symptom associated with malfunction of an implanted cardiac pacemaker?