NREMT PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ELABORATED ANSWERS
Hypoglycemia and acute ischemic stroke can present similarly because: -
ANSWER>>>>both oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function.
Reason: Although stroke and hypoglycemia are two distinctly different conditions,
their signs and symptoms are often similar. This is because the brain requires
both oxygen and glucose to function normally. An acute ischemic stroke is caused
by a lack of oxygen to a part of the brain due to a blocked cerebral artery,
whereas hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level) deprives the entire brain of
glucose. In either case, the patient presents with signs of impaired brain function
(ie, slurred speech, weakness, altered mental status). Both conditions may lead to
permanent brain damage or death if not treated promptly.
When dealing with an emotionally disturbed patient, you should be MOST
concerned with: - ANSWER>>>>whether the patient could harm you
Reason: When managing any patient with an emotional or psychiatric crisis, your
primary concern is your own safety. Safely transporting the patient to the hospital
is your ultimate goal. If possible, you should attempt to obtain a medical history
and should take any of the patient's prescribed medications to the hospital.
,However, this should not supersede your own safety or interfere with safely
transporting the patient.
You are at the scene where a man panicked while swimming in a small lake. Your
initial attempt
to rescue him should include: - ANSWER>>>>reaching for the victim with a long
stick
Reason: General rules to follow when attempting to rescue a patient from the
water include "reach, throw, row, and then go." In this case, you should attempt
to reach the victim by having him grab hold of a large stick or similar object. If this
is unsuccessful, throw the victim a rope or flotation device (if available). If these
are not available, row to the patient in a small raft (if available). Going into the
water to retrieve the victim is a last resort. The rescuer must be a strong swimmer
because patients who are in danger of drowning are in a state of blind panic and
will make every attempt to keep themselves afloat, even if it means forcing the
rescuer underwater.
How should you classify a patient's nature of illness if he or she has a low blood
glucose level, bizarre behavior, and shallow breathing? - ANSWER>>>>Altered
mental status
Reason: The nature of illness (NOI) is the medical equivalent to mechanism of
injury (MOI). Altered mental status should be the suspected NOI in any patient
, with any fluctuation in level of consciousness, which can range from bizarre
behavior to complete unresponsiveness. Causes of an altered mental status
include hypo- or hyperglycemia, head trauma, stroke, behavioral crises, drug
overdose, and shock, among others.
A young female is unresponsive after overdosing on an unknown type of drug. Her
respirations are slow and shallow and her pulse is slow and weak. Which of the
following drugs is the LEAST likely cause of her condition? - ANSWER>>>>Cocaine
Reason: Of the drugs listed, cocaine would be the least likely cause of the
patient's condition. Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant; you
would expect her to be hypertensive, tachycardic, tachypneic, and perhaps even
violent. Heroin, Valium, and Seconal are all CNS depressants and could explain her
condition. Heroin is an illegal narcotic (opiate), Valium is a benzodiazepine
sedative-hypnotic drug, and Seconal is a barbiturate. Narcotics, benzodiazepines,
and barbiturates are all CNS depressants. When taken in excess, they cause a
decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and
hypotension.
Activated charcoal is contraindicated for a patient who is: - ANSWER>>>>awake
and alert and has swallowed a commercial drain cleaner
Reason:Activated charcoal adsorbs (sticks to) many ingested substances,
preventing them from being absorbed into the body by the stomach or intestines.
CORRECT ELABORATED ANSWERS
Hypoglycemia and acute ischemic stroke can present similarly because: -
ANSWER>>>>both oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function.
Reason: Although stroke and hypoglycemia are two distinctly different conditions,
their signs and symptoms are often similar. This is because the brain requires
both oxygen and glucose to function normally. An acute ischemic stroke is caused
by a lack of oxygen to a part of the brain due to a blocked cerebral artery,
whereas hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level) deprives the entire brain of
glucose. In either case, the patient presents with signs of impaired brain function
(ie, slurred speech, weakness, altered mental status). Both conditions may lead to
permanent brain damage or death if not treated promptly.
When dealing with an emotionally disturbed patient, you should be MOST
concerned with: - ANSWER>>>>whether the patient could harm you
Reason: When managing any patient with an emotional or psychiatric crisis, your
primary concern is your own safety. Safely transporting the patient to the hospital
is your ultimate goal. If possible, you should attempt to obtain a medical history
and should take any of the patient's prescribed medications to the hospital.
,However, this should not supersede your own safety or interfere with safely
transporting the patient.
You are at the scene where a man panicked while swimming in a small lake. Your
initial attempt
to rescue him should include: - ANSWER>>>>reaching for the victim with a long
stick
Reason: General rules to follow when attempting to rescue a patient from the
water include "reach, throw, row, and then go." In this case, you should attempt
to reach the victim by having him grab hold of a large stick or similar object. If this
is unsuccessful, throw the victim a rope or flotation device (if available). If these
are not available, row to the patient in a small raft (if available). Going into the
water to retrieve the victim is a last resort. The rescuer must be a strong swimmer
because patients who are in danger of drowning are in a state of blind panic and
will make every attempt to keep themselves afloat, even if it means forcing the
rescuer underwater.
How should you classify a patient's nature of illness if he or she has a low blood
glucose level, bizarre behavior, and shallow breathing? - ANSWER>>>>Altered
mental status
Reason: The nature of illness (NOI) is the medical equivalent to mechanism of
injury (MOI). Altered mental status should be the suspected NOI in any patient
, with any fluctuation in level of consciousness, which can range from bizarre
behavior to complete unresponsiveness. Causes of an altered mental status
include hypo- or hyperglycemia, head trauma, stroke, behavioral crises, drug
overdose, and shock, among others.
A young female is unresponsive after overdosing on an unknown type of drug. Her
respirations are slow and shallow and her pulse is slow and weak. Which of the
following drugs is the LEAST likely cause of her condition? - ANSWER>>>>Cocaine
Reason: Of the drugs listed, cocaine would be the least likely cause of the
patient's condition. Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant; you
would expect her to be hypertensive, tachycardic, tachypneic, and perhaps even
violent. Heroin, Valium, and Seconal are all CNS depressants and could explain her
condition. Heroin is an illegal narcotic (opiate), Valium is a benzodiazepine
sedative-hypnotic drug, and Seconal is a barbiturate. Narcotics, benzodiazepines,
and barbiturates are all CNS depressants. When taken in excess, they cause a
decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and
hypotension.
Activated charcoal is contraindicated for a patient who is: - ANSWER>>>>awake
and alert and has swallowed a commercial drain cleaner
Reason:Activated charcoal adsorbs (sticks to) many ingested substances,
preventing them from being absorbed into the body by the stomach or intestines.
