PHTLS Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
when approaching a trauma patient, what is the first assessment that must be made? - ANSWER>>scene
safety
EMS arrives on a scene and finds that emergency medical responders have attempted to immobilize a
pediatric patient onto a long backboard. They note that the patient's head is in a flexed position. Which
of the following actions is the most appropriate? - ANSWER>>place padding under the patient's torso
the pre-hospital assessment of the trauma patient begins with which of the following? -
ANSWER>>infromation provided by the dispatcher
which of the following is a Golden Principle of trauma care? - ANSWER>>ensure adequate airway and
ventilation
When energy produced by cells occurs during the state of inadequate oxygenation, it is referred to as
which of the following conditions? - ANSWER>>aerobic metabolism
in a blast related multiple patient situation, which of the following patients should be treated first? -
ANSWER>>a 33 year old female with altered level of consciousness and decreased capillary refill
a 30 year old male is thrown from his horse, landing on the top rail of a pipe fence and now has a loss of
sensation from the nipples down. what level of the spine do you suspect he injured? - ANSWER>>T4
a 30 year old male is injured in a terror bombing. he experiences traumatic amputation of his left leg at
knee level. an improvised tourniquet was put in place by bystanders. the victim is conscious and in
severe pain. your first action should be to do which of the following? - ANSWER>>confirm the
tourniquet was properly applied
________ is the earliest sign of deterioration in a patient with a flail chest - ANSWER>>respiratory rate
increase
of the following, which is a preventable cause of secondary brain injury addressable during the transport
phase - ANSWER>>systemic hypoxia
in a patient with a suspected traumatic brain injury, what is the most concerning physical finding? -
ANSWER>>altered level of consciousness
, a 23 year old male construction worker fell approximately 30 feet from a roof. the patient is
unresponsive to all stimuli; his R pupil is 7mm and non-reactive and his L pupil is 3mm. he has irregular
respirations at 8 breaths per minute. You do not have waveform capnography, so what is the most
appropriate rate of ventilations - ANSWER>>20 BPM
while caring for a patient who was involved in an altercation, the patient vomits, causing his airway to
become totally obsturcted with vomitus and blood. what is the most important action? -
ANSWER>>suctioning the airway
when caring for a trauma patient, a principle is what is necessary for patient improvement or survival. a
preference is how the principle is achieved and depends upon four factors. the factors used to establish
the preference in treating the patient include all except - ANSWER>>research information
which of the following is the best indicator of shock in a trauma patient? - ANSWER>>depressed level of
cognition
approximately 20% of all child abuse is the result of intentional burning. the majority of the children
intentionally burned are of what age? - ANSWER>>1 to 2 years of age
when managing a pediatric patient, pre hospital providers should do all of the following EXCEPT -
ANSWER>>use half the adult dose or medication administration
You respond to a reported assault at a local bar. On arrival, you find a 46-year-old male on the bathroom
floor with snoring respirations at 4 times per minute and obvious facial injuries. Pupils reveal the R pupil
is 4mm and the L pupil is 7mm and non-reactive. What is the most appropriate first step?
a. Jaw-thrust maneuver
b. Pharmacologically assisted intubation
c. Perform nasotracheal intubation
d. Perform a surgical Cricothyrotomy - ANSWER>>jaw thrust maneuver
Prehospital providers have treated a sucking chest wound with an occlusive dressing. During transport
to the hospital, the patient developed increasing respiratory distress with increased respirations and
absent lung sounds are noted on repeat auscultation. What is the most appropriate next intervention? -
ANSWER>>release and reapply the occlusive dressing
which of the following best guides the decision to provide spinal immobilization? - ANSWER>>history
and complaint
you have a patient who is 35 weeks pregnant who was assaulted by her boyfriend. patient is having
severe abdominal pain described as "tearing" and on exam you note her abdomen is asymmetrical and
believe you can feel the fetus through the abdominal wall. what condition do you suspect? -
ANSWER>>ruptured uterus
ANSWERS
when approaching a trauma patient, what is the first assessment that must be made? - ANSWER>>scene
safety
EMS arrives on a scene and finds that emergency medical responders have attempted to immobilize a
pediatric patient onto a long backboard. They note that the patient's head is in a flexed position. Which
of the following actions is the most appropriate? - ANSWER>>place padding under the patient's torso
the pre-hospital assessment of the trauma patient begins with which of the following? -
ANSWER>>infromation provided by the dispatcher
which of the following is a Golden Principle of trauma care? - ANSWER>>ensure adequate airway and
ventilation
When energy produced by cells occurs during the state of inadequate oxygenation, it is referred to as
which of the following conditions? - ANSWER>>aerobic metabolism
in a blast related multiple patient situation, which of the following patients should be treated first? -
ANSWER>>a 33 year old female with altered level of consciousness and decreased capillary refill
a 30 year old male is thrown from his horse, landing on the top rail of a pipe fence and now has a loss of
sensation from the nipples down. what level of the spine do you suspect he injured? - ANSWER>>T4
a 30 year old male is injured in a terror bombing. he experiences traumatic amputation of his left leg at
knee level. an improvised tourniquet was put in place by bystanders. the victim is conscious and in
severe pain. your first action should be to do which of the following? - ANSWER>>confirm the
tourniquet was properly applied
________ is the earliest sign of deterioration in a patient with a flail chest - ANSWER>>respiratory rate
increase
of the following, which is a preventable cause of secondary brain injury addressable during the transport
phase - ANSWER>>systemic hypoxia
in a patient with a suspected traumatic brain injury, what is the most concerning physical finding? -
ANSWER>>altered level of consciousness
, a 23 year old male construction worker fell approximately 30 feet from a roof. the patient is
unresponsive to all stimuli; his R pupil is 7mm and non-reactive and his L pupil is 3mm. he has irregular
respirations at 8 breaths per minute. You do not have waveform capnography, so what is the most
appropriate rate of ventilations - ANSWER>>20 BPM
while caring for a patient who was involved in an altercation, the patient vomits, causing his airway to
become totally obsturcted with vomitus and blood. what is the most important action? -
ANSWER>>suctioning the airway
when caring for a trauma patient, a principle is what is necessary for patient improvement or survival. a
preference is how the principle is achieved and depends upon four factors. the factors used to establish
the preference in treating the patient include all except - ANSWER>>research information
which of the following is the best indicator of shock in a trauma patient? - ANSWER>>depressed level of
cognition
approximately 20% of all child abuse is the result of intentional burning. the majority of the children
intentionally burned are of what age? - ANSWER>>1 to 2 years of age
when managing a pediatric patient, pre hospital providers should do all of the following EXCEPT -
ANSWER>>use half the adult dose or medication administration
You respond to a reported assault at a local bar. On arrival, you find a 46-year-old male on the bathroom
floor with snoring respirations at 4 times per minute and obvious facial injuries. Pupils reveal the R pupil
is 4mm and the L pupil is 7mm and non-reactive. What is the most appropriate first step?
a. Jaw-thrust maneuver
b. Pharmacologically assisted intubation
c. Perform nasotracheal intubation
d. Perform a surgical Cricothyrotomy - ANSWER>>jaw thrust maneuver
Prehospital providers have treated a sucking chest wound with an occlusive dressing. During transport
to the hospital, the patient developed increasing respiratory distress with increased respirations and
absent lung sounds are noted on repeat auscultation. What is the most appropriate next intervention? -
ANSWER>>release and reapply the occlusive dressing
which of the following best guides the decision to provide spinal immobilization? - ANSWER>>history
and complaint
you have a patient who is 35 weeks pregnant who was assaulted by her boyfriend. patient is having
severe abdominal pain described as "tearing" and on exam you note her abdomen is asymmetrical and
believe you can feel the fetus through the abdominal wall. what condition do you suspect? -
ANSWER>>ruptured uterus
