EMT UCLA BLOCK 2 - Patient Assessment,
Airway Management, Communication and
Documentation UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Assessment findings for an alert and oriented patient complaining of shortness of breath reveal
an open airway, respiratory rate of 24, and strong radial pulse accompanied by skin that is cool
and diaphoretic. The depth of respirations is adequate and breath sounds include wheezing
throughout the lungs. Vital signs are a pulse of 124, respiratory rate of 24, and blood pressure of
146/82 mmHg. He has a history of asthma for which he takes medications. How would you
administer oxygen to this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER - Nonrebreather mask
A 50-year-old male presents with an altered mental status. His wife tells you that he had a "small
stroke" 3 years ago but has otherwise been in good health. The patient is responsive but unable to
follow commands. After administering oxygen, you should: - CORRECT ANSWER - prepare
for immediate transport
A 43-year-old male has called 911 with the complaint of difficulty breathing. On scene, you note
him to be breathing at a rate of 18 breaths per minute. Additionally, he exhibits intercostal
retractions and nasal flaring. The EMT would document this breathing as: - CORRECT
ANSWER - Dyspneic
You have arrived by the side of a cyanotic patient who is responsive to painful stimuli and
exhibiting stridorous respirations. Which of the following would be most appropriate? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Provide positive pressure ventilation with supplemental oxygen
How does CPAP improve oxygenation and ventilation in patients with certain respiratory
problems? - CORRECT ANSWER - It forces the alveoli open and pushes more oxygen across
the alveolar membrane
You are dispatched to the county jail for an inmate who is "sick." When you arrive, you find the
patient, a 33-year-old male, unresponsive. His airway is patent and his respirations are rapid and
shallow. Your initial action should be to: - CORRECT ANSWER - provide assisted ventilation
,When assessing a conscious trauma patient's circulation during the primary assessment, the
EMT's assessment would include: - CORRECT ANSWER - Radial pulse, skin temperature,
presence of external bleeding
Family states that their 16-year-old daughter has a history of asthma and has been complaining of
shortness of breath for the past two days. She has been taking her metered dose inhaler with
some relief, but today, when she didn't get out of bed, they found her lethargic and struggling to
breath. Your assessment reveals her to be responsive to verbal stimuli with a patent airway and
respirations of 36 a minute and diminished tidal volume. Your immediate action in caring for this
patient would be - CORRECT ANSWER - Positive pressure ventilation
A hazard that makes most scenes potentially dangerous to the EMT is - CORRECT
ANSWER - blood and body fluids.
When ventilating an adult with a BVM device connected to oxygen, the volume delivered with
each breath should be approximately - CORRECT ANSWER - 6 - 7 ml/kg
The main advantage of the Venturi mask is: - CORRECT ANSWER - the use of its fine
adjustment capabilities in the long-term management of physiologically stable patients
You are assessing a patient with congestive heart failure, and you determine that her failing heart
is causing fluid to collect and fill her alveoli. Based on this pathophysiology, which of the
following ventialtion / perfusion (V/Q) problems should the EMT assume and treat the patient
for? - CORRECT ANSWER - Decreased gas exchange
When using a therapy regulator on the oxygen tank, which of the following can be readily
observed? - CORRECT ANSWER - Flow rate of oxygen leaving the oxygen cylinder
For which of the following would CPAP be appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER - A patient
with emphysema and breathing is adequate but distressed.
, A ventilation/perfusion (V/Q ratio) mismatch occurs when: - CORRECT ANSWER - a
disruption in blood flow inhibits the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs, even
though the alveoli are filled with fresh oxygen.
A 23-year-old male experienced severe head trauma after his motorcycle collided with an
oncoming truck. He is unconscious, has rapid and shallow breathing, and has copious bloody
secretions in his mouth. How should you manage his airway? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning w/ 2 minutes of assisted ventilation
You are ventilating an apneic woman with a bag-mask device. She has dentures, which are tight-
fitting. Adequate chest rise is present with each ventilation, and the patient's oxygen saturation
reads 96%. When you reassess the patency of her airway, you note that her dentures are now
loose, although your ventilations are still producing adequate chest rise. You should: -
CORRECT ANSWER - remove her dentures, resume ventilations, and assess for adequate
chest rise.
Which of the following statements regarding positive-pressure ventilation is correct? -
CORRECT ANSWER - With positive-pressure ventilation, more volume is required to have
the same effects as normal breathing
Gas exchange in the lungs is facilitated by: - CORRECT ANSWER - adequate amounts of
surfactant.
You and your partner are caring for a critically injured patient. Your partner is controlling severe
bleeding from the patient's lower extremities as you attempt ventilations with a bag-mask device.
After repositioning the mask several times, you are unable to effectively ventilate the patient.
You should: - CORRECT ANSWER - begin ventilations using the mouth-to-mask technique
Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator of adequately performed bag-mask
ventilations in an apneic adult with a pulse? - CORRECT ANSWER - adequate rise of the
chest when squeezing the bag
Airway Management, Communication and
Documentation UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Assessment findings for an alert and oriented patient complaining of shortness of breath reveal
an open airway, respiratory rate of 24, and strong radial pulse accompanied by skin that is cool
and diaphoretic. The depth of respirations is adequate and breath sounds include wheezing
throughout the lungs. Vital signs are a pulse of 124, respiratory rate of 24, and blood pressure of
146/82 mmHg. He has a history of asthma for which he takes medications. How would you
administer oxygen to this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER - Nonrebreather mask
A 50-year-old male presents with an altered mental status. His wife tells you that he had a "small
stroke" 3 years ago but has otherwise been in good health. The patient is responsive but unable to
follow commands. After administering oxygen, you should: - CORRECT ANSWER - prepare
for immediate transport
A 43-year-old male has called 911 with the complaint of difficulty breathing. On scene, you note
him to be breathing at a rate of 18 breaths per minute. Additionally, he exhibits intercostal
retractions and nasal flaring. The EMT would document this breathing as: - CORRECT
ANSWER - Dyspneic
You have arrived by the side of a cyanotic patient who is responsive to painful stimuli and
exhibiting stridorous respirations. Which of the following would be most appropriate? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Provide positive pressure ventilation with supplemental oxygen
How does CPAP improve oxygenation and ventilation in patients with certain respiratory
problems? - CORRECT ANSWER - It forces the alveoli open and pushes more oxygen across
the alveolar membrane
You are dispatched to the county jail for an inmate who is "sick." When you arrive, you find the
patient, a 33-year-old male, unresponsive. His airway is patent and his respirations are rapid and
shallow. Your initial action should be to: - CORRECT ANSWER - provide assisted ventilation
,When assessing a conscious trauma patient's circulation during the primary assessment, the
EMT's assessment would include: - CORRECT ANSWER - Radial pulse, skin temperature,
presence of external bleeding
Family states that their 16-year-old daughter has a history of asthma and has been complaining of
shortness of breath for the past two days. She has been taking her metered dose inhaler with
some relief, but today, when she didn't get out of bed, they found her lethargic and struggling to
breath. Your assessment reveals her to be responsive to verbal stimuli with a patent airway and
respirations of 36 a minute and diminished tidal volume. Your immediate action in caring for this
patient would be - CORRECT ANSWER - Positive pressure ventilation
A hazard that makes most scenes potentially dangerous to the EMT is - CORRECT
ANSWER - blood and body fluids.
When ventilating an adult with a BVM device connected to oxygen, the volume delivered with
each breath should be approximately - CORRECT ANSWER - 6 - 7 ml/kg
The main advantage of the Venturi mask is: - CORRECT ANSWER - the use of its fine
adjustment capabilities in the long-term management of physiologically stable patients
You are assessing a patient with congestive heart failure, and you determine that her failing heart
is causing fluid to collect and fill her alveoli. Based on this pathophysiology, which of the
following ventialtion / perfusion (V/Q) problems should the EMT assume and treat the patient
for? - CORRECT ANSWER - Decreased gas exchange
When using a therapy regulator on the oxygen tank, which of the following can be readily
observed? - CORRECT ANSWER - Flow rate of oxygen leaving the oxygen cylinder
For which of the following would CPAP be appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER - A patient
with emphysema and breathing is adequate but distressed.
, A ventilation/perfusion (V/Q ratio) mismatch occurs when: - CORRECT ANSWER - a
disruption in blood flow inhibits the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs, even
though the alveoli are filled with fresh oxygen.
A 23-year-old male experienced severe head trauma after his motorcycle collided with an
oncoming truck. He is unconscious, has rapid and shallow breathing, and has copious bloody
secretions in his mouth. How should you manage his airway? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning w/ 2 minutes of assisted ventilation
You are ventilating an apneic woman with a bag-mask device. She has dentures, which are tight-
fitting. Adequate chest rise is present with each ventilation, and the patient's oxygen saturation
reads 96%. When you reassess the patency of her airway, you note that her dentures are now
loose, although your ventilations are still producing adequate chest rise. You should: -
CORRECT ANSWER - remove her dentures, resume ventilations, and assess for adequate
chest rise.
Which of the following statements regarding positive-pressure ventilation is correct? -
CORRECT ANSWER - With positive-pressure ventilation, more volume is required to have
the same effects as normal breathing
Gas exchange in the lungs is facilitated by: - CORRECT ANSWER - adequate amounts of
surfactant.
You and your partner are caring for a critically injured patient. Your partner is controlling severe
bleeding from the patient's lower extremities as you attempt ventilations with a bag-mask device.
After repositioning the mask several times, you are unable to effectively ventilate the patient.
You should: - CORRECT ANSWER - begin ventilations using the mouth-to-mask technique
Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator of adequately performed bag-mask
ventilations in an apneic adult with a pulse? - CORRECT ANSWER - adequate rise of the
chest when squeezing the bag
