EMT Readiness Section 4 Exam Questions With Correct Answers

When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, it is best to: A. Let the hospital staff retrieve the patient's medical records, which should show a list of his or her current medications B. Send the patient's medications to the hospital with a family member or other person who will safeguard them. C. Document the medications on your patient care report, but leave them at home so they do not get misplaced. D. Take all of the patient's medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient care report. - Answer D. Take all of the patient's medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient care report. Which of the following statements regarding hepatitis A is correct? A. Hepatitis A can only be transmitted by a patient who has an acute infection. B. Hepatitis A is primarily transmitted via contact with blood or other body fluids. C. Although there is no vaccine against hepatitis A, treatment is usually successful. D. Infection with hepatitis A causes chronic illness with a high mortality rate. - Answer A. Hepatitis A can only be transmitted by a patient who has an acute infection. The primary prehospital treatment for most medical emergencies: A. Focuses on definitive care because a diagnosis can usually be made. B. Addresses the patient's symptoms more than the actual disease process. C. Typically does not require the EMT to contact medical control. D. Involves transport only until treatment can be performed at the hospital. - Answer B. Addresses the patient's symptoms more than the actual disease process. Patients with tuberculosis pose the greatest risk for transmitting the disease when they: A. Cough. B. Have a fever. C. Vomit. D. Are bleeding. - Answer A. Cough. Hepatitis B is more virulent than hepatitis C, which means that it: A. Leads to chronic infection after exposure. B. Is a more contagious type of disease. C. Has a greater ability to produce disease. D. Is less resistant to treatment. - Answer C. Has a greater ability to produce disease. Typical chief complaints in patients with an infectious disease include: A. Headache, low back pain, and arm numbness. B. Crushing chest pain, vomiting, and weakness. C. Joint pain, muscle aches, and blurred vision. D. Fever, rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing. - Answer D. Fever, rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Which of the following statements regarding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is correct? A. Most patients who are infected with HIV experience chronic symptoms that vary in duration and severity. B. The risk of HIV infection is high, even if an infected person's blood comes in contact with your intact skin. C. HIV is far more contagious than hepatitis B and is easily transmitted in the health care setting. D. The risk of HIV infection is greatest when deposited on a mucous membrane or directly into the bloodstream. - Answer D. The risk of HIV infection is greatest when deposited on a mucous membrane or directly into the bloodstream. An index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as: A. Ruling out specific medical conditions based on the absence of certain signs and symptoms. B. Determining the underlying cause of a patient's medical condition based on signs and symptoms. C. The EMT's prediction of the type of illness a patient has based on how the call is dispatched. D. Your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying and unseen injuries or illness. - Answer D. Your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying and unseen injuries or illness. Which of the following will MOST reliably allow you to determine the nature of a patient's illness? A. Refraining from asking open-ended questions. B. Trending of the patient's vital signs over time. C. Asking questions related to the chief complaint. D. Focusing solely on how the call is dispatched. - Answer C. Asking questions related to the chief complaint. After sizing up the scene of a patient with a possible infectious disease, your next priority should be to: A. Contact medical control. B. Notify law enforcement. C. Take standard precautions. D. Quickly access the patient. - Answer C. Take standard precautions. End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitoring is clearly indicated for patients who present with: A. A headache. B. Respiratory distress. C. High blood pressure. D. Abdominal pain. - Answer B. Respiratory distress. Which of the following conditions is NOT categorized as a psychiatric condition? A. Depression. B. Substance abuse. C. Alzheimer's disease. D. Schizophrenia. - Answer B. Substance abuse. Which of the following assessment findings is MOST indicative of a cardiovascular problem? A. Jugular venous distention B. Use of the accessory muscles C. Unequal breath sounds D. Palpable pain to the epigastrium - Answer A. Jugular venous distention In addition to obtaining a SAMPLE history and asking questions related to the chief complaint, what else should you inquire about when assessing a patient with a potentially infectious disease? A. HIV status. B. Drug allergies. C. Sexual practices. D. Recent travel. - Answer D. Recent travel. When assessing a patient with a medical complaint, which of the following would MOST likely reveal the cause of his or her problem? A. History taking. B. Rapid body scan. C. Baseline vital signs. D. Primary assessment. - Answer A. History taking. In contrast to the assessment of a trauma patient, assessment of a medical patient: A. Is not as complex for the EMT because most patients typically present with classic symptoms. B. Requires a thorough head-to-toe exam that involves a detailed assessment of all body systems. C. Almost exclusively focuses on physical signs that indicate the patient is experiencing a problem. D. Is focused on the nature of illness, the patient's chief complaint, and his or her symptoms. - Answer D. Is focused on the nature of illness, the patient's chief complaint, and his or her symptoms. Which of the following conditions often requires transport to a hospital with specialized capabilities that may not be available at the closest hospital? A. Cardiac arrest and shock B. Diabetes and migraines C. Stroke and heart attack D. Seizures and infection - Answer C. Stroke and heart attack. An infectious disease is MOST accurately defined as: A. The invasion of the human body by a bacterium that cannot be destroyed by antibiotics or other drugs. B. A disease that can be spread from one person or species to another through a number of mechanisms. C. A medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small harmful organisms within the body. D. Any disease that enters the body via the bloodstream and renders the immune system nonfunctional. - Answer C. A medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small harmful organisms within the body. The greatest danger in displaying a personal bias or "labeling: a patient who frequently calls EMS is: A. Overlooking a potentially serious medical condition. B. Making the entire EMS system look unprofessional. C. Demeaning or humiliating the patient and his family. D. Discouraging the patient from calling EMS in the future. - Answer A. Overlooking a potentially serious medical condition. When performing a secondary assessment on a conscious patient with non traumatic abdominal pain and stable vital signs, you should: A. Prepare the patient for transport first. B. Examine him or her from head to toe. C. Only palpate tender areas of the abdomen. D. Focus on his or her chief complaint. - Answer D. Focus on his or her chief complaint. Which of the following medications would the EMT LEAST likely administer to a patient with a medical complaint? A. Naloxone (Narcan). B. Albuterol. C. Oral glucose. D. Aspirin. - Answer A. Naloxone (Narcan). When caring for a patient with an altered mental status and signs of circulatory compromise, you should: A. Perform a detailed secondary assessment prior to transporting the patient. B. Have a paramedic unit respond to the scene if it is less than 15 minutes away. C. Limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible. D. Transport immediately and begin all emergency treatment en route to the hospital. - Answer C. Limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible. Which of the following conditions often requires transport to a hospital with specialized capabilities that may not be available at the closest hospital? A. Stroke and heart attack B. Cardiac arrest and shock C. Seizures and infection D. Diabetes and migraines - Answer A. Stroke and heart attack Ten days after treating a 34-year-old patient with tuberculosis, you are given a tuberculin skin test, which yields a positive result. This MOST likely indicates that: A. The disease is dormant in your body, but will probably never cause symptoms. B. You are actively infected with tuberculosis and should be treated immediately. C. You contracted the disease by casual contact instead of exposure to secretions. D. You were exposed to another infected person prior to treating the 34-year-old patient. - Answer D. You were exposed to another infected person prior to treating the 34-year-old patient. Which of the following statements regarding the H1N1 virus is correct? A. H1N1 has caused more deaths worldwide than all of the other strains of influenza combined. B. Unlike other strains of the influenza virus, H1N1 is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route. C. H1N1, also known as the "swine flu," is a newly discovered strain of influenza for which no vaccine exists. D. It is only one type of influenza among the many other strains of influenza that exist and infect humans. - Answer D. It is only one type of influenza among the many other strains of influenza that exist and infect humans. Seizures and stroke are examples of what type of medical emergency? A. Respiratory B. Cardiovascular C. Neurologic D. Endocrine - Answer C. Neurologic Your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying and unseen injuries or illness is called the: A. Mechanism of injury. B. Nature of illness. C. Index of suspicion. D. Chief complaint. - Answer C. Index of suspicion. What mnemonic is used to evaluate a patient's pain? A . SAMPLE. B. OPQRST. C. TACOS. D. All of the above. - Answer B. OPQRST. You should form your general impression of the patient during the: A. Scene size-up. B. Primary assessment. C. History taking. D. Physical examination. - Answer B. Primary assessment. Salmonella is an example of what type of organism? A. Bacteria. B. Virus. C. Fungi. D. Protozoa. - Answer A. Bacteria Jaundice is a symptom of what disease? A. HIV. B. Syphilis. C. Hepatitis. D. Meningitis. - Answer C. Hepatitis. Which of the following is not usually considered a medical emergency? A. Respiratory emergencies. B. Cardiovascular emergencies. C. Psychiatric emergencies. D. Falls. - Answer D. Falls. What underlying factor may complicate a patient's chief complaint? A. Tobacco B. Alcohol C. Caffeine D. All of the above - Answer D. All of the above It may be appropriate to place a mask on the patient if you suspect her or she is suffering from: A. Pertussis. B. Staphylococcus aureus. C. Hepatitis. D. Syphilis. - Answer A. Pertussis. The "M" in SAMPLE history stands for: A. Medical history. B. Medications. C. Mechanism of injury. D. Mental status. - Answer B. Medications. A 33-year-old female presents with lower abdominal quadrant pain. She is conscious and alert, but in moderate pain. While your partner is asking her questions about her medical history, you take her vital signs. When you assess her radial pulse, you are unable to locate it. You should: A. Immediately take her blood pressure to see if the is hypotensive. B. Conclude that she is perfusing adequately since she is conscious. C. Advise your partner that the patient's blood pressure is low. D. Assess the rate, regularity, and quality of her carotid pulse. - Answer D. Assess the rate, regularity, and quality of her carotid pulse. A 58-year-old man complains of chest discomfort and nausea. He is conscious and alert; his blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, his pulse is 104 beats/min, and his respirations are 16 breaths/min. Your partner has applied supplemental oxygen. Prior to assisting the patient with one of his prescribed nitroglycerin tablets, you ask him if he takes medication to treat erectile dysfunction and he tells you that he does. You should: A. Ask him what he takes, how much, and when he last took it. B. Avoid giving him nitroglycerin and transport him at once. C. Administer his nitroglycerin and then reassess his blood pressure. D. Recall that erectile dysfunction drugs can cause hypertension if given with nitroglycerin. - Answer A. Ask him what he takes, how much, and when he last took it. You and your EMT partner arrive at the residence of a 50-year-old man who complains of weakness. Your primary assessment reveals that he is critically ill and will require aggressive treatment. The closest hospital is 25 miles away. You should: A. Administer oxygen via nonrebreathing mask and obtain as much of his medical history as possible B. Load him into the ambulance, begin transport, and perform all treatment en route to the hospital. C. Perform a detailed secondary assessment, assess his vital signs, and then transport rapidly. D. Manage all threats to airway, breathing, and circulation and consider requesting an ALS unit. - Answer D. Manage all threats to airway, breathing, and circulation and consider requesting an ALS unit. The determination of whether a medical patient is a high-priority or low-priority transport is typically made: A. Once the patient's baseline vital signs are known. B. After the primary assessment has been completed. C. Upon completion of a detailed secondary assessment. D. As soon as the patient voices his or her chief complaint. - Answer B. After the primary assessment has been completed. Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing? 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. In a healthy individual, the brain stem stimulates breathing on the basis of: A. Increased oxygen levels. B. Decreased oxygen levels. C. Increased carbon dioxide levels. D. Decreased carbon dioxide levels. - Answer C. Increased carbon dioxide levels. You are dispatched to an apartment complex where a 21-year-old female has apparently overdosed on several narcotic medications. She is semiconscious and has slow, shallow respirations. You should: A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway and perform oral suctioning. B. Apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask and transport at once. C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation. D. Place her in the recovery position and monitor for vomiting. - Answer C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation. When caring for a patient with an altered mental status and signs of circulatory compromise, you should: A. Limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible B. Perform a detailed secondary assessment prior to transporting the patient C. Transport immediately and begin all emergency treatment en route to the hospital D. Have a paramedic unit respond to the scene if it is less than 15 minutes away - Answer A. Limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible. When assessing for fluid collection in the lungs during auscultation of lung sounds, you should: A. Note the presence of a high-pitched whistling sound, which is an indicator of fluid in the lungs. B. Pay special attention to the exhalation phase since this is when you will likely hear rales or rhonchi. C. Auscultate the posterior chest first and compare the apex of one lung to the base of the opposite lung. D. Start at the lower lung fields and determine at which level you start hearing clear breath sounds. - Answer D. Start at the lower lung fields and determine at which level you start hearing clear breath sounds. Hyperventilation could be associated with all of the following, EXCEPT: A. A narcotic overdose. B. A respiratory infection. C. An overdose of aspirin. D. High blood glucose levels. - Answer A. A narcotic overdose. You have just completed your primary assessment of a 48-year-old man with crushing chest pain. The patient has been given 324 mg of aspirin and is receiving high-flow oxygen via nonrebreathing mask. As you begin your secondary assessment, you note that his mental status has deteriorated and he is now bradycardic. You should: A. Continue with your secondary assessment. B. Prepare the patient for immediate transport. C. Insert a nasal airway and assist his breathing. D. Request an ALS unit to respond to the scene. - Answer B. Prepare the patient for immediate transport. You receive a call for a 70-year-old female with respiratory distress. Her husband tells you that she has congestive heart failure; however, he does not think that she has been taking her medications as prescribed. The patient is laboring to breathe, appears tired, and has cyanosis around her lips. You should: A. Assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device. B. Apply a pulse oximeter and obtain vital signs. C. Administer oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. D. Obtain a complete list of all her medications. - Answer A. Assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device.