PMED CH 27 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A patient who ingested a significant quantity of acetaminophen less than 24 hours ago
would MOST likely present with:
A) malaise, nausea, and a loss of appetite.
B) signs of renal failure and severe vomiting.
C) pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant.
D) flushed skin, high fever, and abdominal pain. - Answer-A
Death from acetaminophen overdose is MOST often caused by:
A) metabolic alkalosis.
B) acute splenic rupture.
C) progressive liver failure.
D) gastrointestinal bleeding. - Answer-C
Once in the body, approximately 90% of inorganic lead accumulates in:
A) bone.
B) the liver.
C) the spleen.
D) white blood cells. - Answer-A
Hematologic manifestations of lead poisoning include:
A) anemia.
B) leukopenia.
C) coagulopathy.
D) polycythemia. - Answer-A
Which of the following is NOT a common sign of lead poisoning?
A) Irritability
B) Hypotension
C) Hypertension
D) Constipation - Answer-B
You should be MOST suspicious that a patient has systemic iron toxicity if he or she
presents with:
A) bradypnea.
B) hypertension.
C) severe nausea.
D) hematemesis. - Answer-D
,A metallic taste in the mouth, explosive diarrhea, and a skin rash are MOST indicative
of:
A) lead poisoning.
B) cyanide poisoning.
C) arsenic poisoning.
D) mercury poisoning. - Answer-C
The dieffenbachia plant is also referred to as "dumb cane" because:
A) ingestion typically results in death in less than 5 minutes.
B) its leaves are highly toxic to the ears and cause deafness.
C) ingestion can result in the patient being unable to speak.
D) its toxic effects cause stupor, ataxia, and bizarre behavior. - Answer-C
The toxic chemical in castor beans is:
A) ricin.
B) cyanide.
C) lantadene A.
D) caladium oxalate. - Answer-A
The foxglove plant contains ______________ and can result in ______________ when
it is ingested.
A) lantadene A, renal failure
B) cardiac glycosides, dysrhythmias
C) solanine, severe gastroenteritis
D) caladium oxalate crystals, bradycardia - Answer-B
The poisonous part of the apricot plant is/are the _______, which contain(s) _______.
A) leaves, iron
B) root, tyramine
C) bulb, oxalic acid
D) seed, cyanide - Answer-D
Poisoning with ________________ is MOST often the result of improper food storage
or canning.
A) Listeria
B) Salmonella
C) Toxoplasma
D) Clostridium botulinum - Answer-D
A young man is found unresponsive by his girlfriend. Your assessment reveals marked
respiratory depression; a slow, weak pulse; and pinpoint pupils. There are numerous
medication bottles found in his home. Of these, he has MOST likely ingested:
A) Valium.
B) Sudafed.
C) Benadryl.
, D) Percodan. - Answer-D
A 45-year-old man is found unresponsive in an alley. During your assessment, you note
that he is tachycardic and breathing rapidly. He has an obvious odor of alcohol on his
breath. Your MOST immediate concern should be to:
A) obtain a blood glucose reading.
B) take actions to prevent aspiration.
C) determine the etiology of his tachycardia.
D) start an IV line and administer naloxone. - Answer-B
You are caring for an alcoholic patient who has been abstinent for about 2 days. The
patient is confused, restless, and tells you that he sees snakes crawling on the walls.
His blood pressure is 76/52 mm Hg, pulse rate is 140 beats/min and weak, and
respirations are 24 breaths/min with adequate depth. In addition to administering
oxygen, you should:
A) treat his hypotension with crystalloid fluid boluses.
B) administer 6 mg of adenosine to slow his heart rate.
C) sedate him with 5 mg of Valium and transport at once.
D) provide emotional support only and transport immediately. - Answer-A
You are dispatched to an apartment complex for a suicide attempt. While you are en
route, an on-scene law enforcement officer advises you that the patient, who is
unresponsive, ingested an unknown quantity of an unknown drug. Upon arriving at the
scene, you should:
A) identify what the patient took before providing treatment.
B) gain rapid access to the patient and begin your assessment.
C) safely gain access to the patient while looking for an egress route.
D) ask the police officer to bring the patient to the ambulance. - Answer-C
You arrive at the scene of an unknown drug-related emergency. Law enforcement is
present and has ensured scene security. The patient, a young male, is found sitting at
the kitchen table. He is laughing uncontrollably and tells you, "Life sure is good!" Your
partner finds a basin of water and an empty box of baking soda on the counter. You
should be MOST suspicious that this patient:
A) is speedballing.
B) has injected heroin.
C) was snorting cocaine.
D) has smoked crack cocaine. - Answer-D
You are transporting a patient who is under the influence of methamphetamine. The
patient, who is clearly anxious, has a blood pressure of 160/90 mm Hg, a pulse rate of
140 beats/min, and a respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min. The patient suddenly becomes
violent and begins thrashing around, trying to get off the stretcher. After asking your
partner to stop the ambulance to assist you with the patient, you should:
A) assess his blood glucose level.
B) administer IM haloperidol.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A patient who ingested a significant quantity of acetaminophen less than 24 hours ago
would MOST likely present with:
A) malaise, nausea, and a loss of appetite.
B) signs of renal failure and severe vomiting.
C) pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant.
D) flushed skin, high fever, and abdominal pain. - Answer-A
Death from acetaminophen overdose is MOST often caused by:
A) metabolic alkalosis.
B) acute splenic rupture.
C) progressive liver failure.
D) gastrointestinal bleeding. - Answer-C
Once in the body, approximately 90% of inorganic lead accumulates in:
A) bone.
B) the liver.
C) the spleen.
D) white blood cells. - Answer-A
Hematologic manifestations of lead poisoning include:
A) anemia.
B) leukopenia.
C) coagulopathy.
D) polycythemia. - Answer-A
Which of the following is NOT a common sign of lead poisoning?
A) Irritability
B) Hypotension
C) Hypertension
D) Constipation - Answer-B
You should be MOST suspicious that a patient has systemic iron toxicity if he or she
presents with:
A) bradypnea.
B) hypertension.
C) severe nausea.
D) hematemesis. - Answer-D
,A metallic taste in the mouth, explosive diarrhea, and a skin rash are MOST indicative
of:
A) lead poisoning.
B) cyanide poisoning.
C) arsenic poisoning.
D) mercury poisoning. - Answer-C
The dieffenbachia plant is also referred to as "dumb cane" because:
A) ingestion typically results in death in less than 5 minutes.
B) its leaves are highly toxic to the ears and cause deafness.
C) ingestion can result in the patient being unable to speak.
D) its toxic effects cause stupor, ataxia, and bizarre behavior. - Answer-C
The toxic chemical in castor beans is:
A) ricin.
B) cyanide.
C) lantadene A.
D) caladium oxalate. - Answer-A
The foxglove plant contains ______________ and can result in ______________ when
it is ingested.
A) lantadene A, renal failure
B) cardiac glycosides, dysrhythmias
C) solanine, severe gastroenteritis
D) caladium oxalate crystals, bradycardia - Answer-B
The poisonous part of the apricot plant is/are the _______, which contain(s) _______.
A) leaves, iron
B) root, tyramine
C) bulb, oxalic acid
D) seed, cyanide - Answer-D
Poisoning with ________________ is MOST often the result of improper food storage
or canning.
A) Listeria
B) Salmonella
C) Toxoplasma
D) Clostridium botulinum - Answer-D
A young man is found unresponsive by his girlfriend. Your assessment reveals marked
respiratory depression; a slow, weak pulse; and pinpoint pupils. There are numerous
medication bottles found in his home. Of these, he has MOST likely ingested:
A) Valium.
B) Sudafed.
C) Benadryl.
, D) Percodan. - Answer-D
A 45-year-old man is found unresponsive in an alley. During your assessment, you note
that he is tachycardic and breathing rapidly. He has an obvious odor of alcohol on his
breath. Your MOST immediate concern should be to:
A) obtain a blood glucose reading.
B) take actions to prevent aspiration.
C) determine the etiology of his tachycardia.
D) start an IV line and administer naloxone. - Answer-B
You are caring for an alcoholic patient who has been abstinent for about 2 days. The
patient is confused, restless, and tells you that he sees snakes crawling on the walls.
His blood pressure is 76/52 mm Hg, pulse rate is 140 beats/min and weak, and
respirations are 24 breaths/min with adequate depth. In addition to administering
oxygen, you should:
A) treat his hypotension with crystalloid fluid boluses.
B) administer 6 mg of adenosine to slow his heart rate.
C) sedate him with 5 mg of Valium and transport at once.
D) provide emotional support only and transport immediately. - Answer-A
You are dispatched to an apartment complex for a suicide attempt. While you are en
route, an on-scene law enforcement officer advises you that the patient, who is
unresponsive, ingested an unknown quantity of an unknown drug. Upon arriving at the
scene, you should:
A) identify what the patient took before providing treatment.
B) gain rapid access to the patient and begin your assessment.
C) safely gain access to the patient while looking for an egress route.
D) ask the police officer to bring the patient to the ambulance. - Answer-C
You arrive at the scene of an unknown drug-related emergency. Law enforcement is
present and has ensured scene security. The patient, a young male, is found sitting at
the kitchen table. He is laughing uncontrollably and tells you, "Life sure is good!" Your
partner finds a basin of water and an empty box of baking soda on the counter. You
should be MOST suspicious that this patient:
A) is speedballing.
B) has injected heroin.
C) was snorting cocaine.
D) has smoked crack cocaine. - Answer-D
You are transporting a patient who is under the influence of methamphetamine. The
patient, who is clearly anxious, has a blood pressure of 160/90 mm Hg, a pulse rate of
140 beats/min, and a respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min. The patient suddenly becomes
violent and begins thrashing around, trying to get off the stretcher. After asking your
partner to stop the ambulance to assist you with the patient, you should:
A) assess his blood glucose level.
B) administer IM haloperidol.
