AMLS POST TEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
/ADVANCED MEDICAL LIFE SUPPORT
A patient complains of nausea and is passing black, tarry stools rectally. This
patient is most likely suffering from -ANSWER- Dark or black blood in the stool
may indicate either old bleeding or the digestion of blood from an upper GI-bleed.
AMLS Page 149
A 38 year old presents with mild chest tightness and urticaria after mowing the
lawn. He felt a "sting" in his left lower leg and states the symptoms came on
suddenly. BP 130/82, pulse 100, respiratory rate is 20 with a normal work of
breathing. The healthcare provider should -ANSWER- Initiate an IV with 0.9%
Normal Saline and monitor the patient carefully (If there is no work of breathing,
delay administering epi. Try to manage PT w/ least amount of interventions as
possible)
Healthcare providers are treating a patient that has taken an unknown amount of a
prescribed pain medicine, along with an over-the-counter analgesic numerous
times over the past 36 hours for chronic lumbar pain. The patient is experiencing
abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The providers note pallor and diaphoresis
blood sugar is 42 mg/dl (2.3 mmol/L). What toxin overdose is suspected? -
ANSWER- Stage I/II APAP (Acetaminophen) toxicity signs and symptoms are
characterized by abdominal pain and worsening nausea and vomiting. AMLS
Page 363
Healthcare providers are treating a patient complaining of substernal chest pain
accompanied with nausea and 1 episode of vomiting. The patient has had 2 cardiac
stents placed within the last year. He has a familial history of heart disease and
takes a baby aspirin daily. What information is most concerning? -ANSWER- If
the patient has having chest pain and had a stent recently placed, for example, that
information is pertinent. AMLS Page 20
A firefighter has been working a fire for 4 hours on a humid, hot day. He suddenly
becomes nauseated and restless. The provider observes pupil dilation and an
almond odor to his breath. The vital signs are P 56, RR 22, BP 140/86. The ECG
reveals sinus bradycardia with occasional PAC's. Which toxin exposure has
occurred? -ANSWER- One of the most common asphyxiants is hydrogen cyanide.
,Notable for its bitter almond-like odor found in a solid form. Page 422. Clinical
presentation includes bitter almond odor to breath.
AMLS Page 366
The patient complains of sharp chest pain that worsens when supine. He is bed
ridden due to complications from a recent hip surgery. The patient is tachypneic
and the ECG reveals sinus tachycardia. What is the patient's working diagnosis? -
ANSWER- Patients at risk of pulmonary embolism include those who have
recently had surgery.
The classic triad of chest pain, hemoptysis, and dyspnea is seen in fewer than 200/o
of patients. Early symptoms of pulmonary embolism may be minimal, but massive
pulmonary embolism evolves quickly and may rapidly become symptomatic,
leading to cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity as the presenting rhythm.
AMLS Page 92
Healthcare providers are assessing an obese 49 year old who is lethargic and not
feeling well for several days. His family reports a history of extreme thirst. Vital
signs are P 143, R 14, and BP 88/58. He takes medication for type 2 diabetes daily.
What is the most probable working diagnosis? -ANSWER- Signs and symptoms
of HHNC include fever, dehydration, vomiting, and abdominal pain, hypotension,
tachycardia, rapid breathing, thirst, polyuria, or oliguria, polydipsia, focal seizures,
altered LOC, focal neurological deficits. AMLS Page 270
A patient is a resident in an assisted living facility to obtain physical therapy after a
knee replacement surgery. She
complains of a skin rash that is red and has small bumps. She has been feeling ill
for several days. What is most likely the working diagnosis? -ANSWER- A
patient with MRSA may have fever, redness, localized pain, small red bumps, or
deep abscesses that can affect bones, joints, heart valves, and the blood stream.
AMLS Page 318
While assessing your patient, you note he involuntarily flexes the legs in response
to flexing the neck. The patient is
presenting with -ANSWER- Involuntarily flexing of the legs in response to
flexing of the neck is a positive Brudzinski's sign. AMLS Page 196
A foreign exchange university student is found by his roommate and EMS is
dispatched. The patient presents with an unusual flat red rash on his chest and
, arms. He has been ill with fever, nausea, and vomiting. Physical exam reveals
nuchal rigidity. The healthcare provider will anticipate which diagnosis? -
ANSWER- Patients with acute bacterial meningitis may decompensate quickly
and require emergency care and antibiotics. The classic symptoms of meningitis
include headache, nuchal rigidity (resistance to flexing/extending the neck), fever
and chills and photophobia. The infection can also cause seizures, altered mental
status, confusion, coma, and death. The condition is usually precipitated by an
upper respiratory infection. AMLS Page 195
Healthcare providers are managing a 49 year old male complaining of diffuse
abdominal cramping. He has been ill with vomiting for 3 days. What working
diagnosis is most probable? -ANSWER- Patients will present gastrointestinal
complaints including abdomen pain, vomiting, projectile vomiting, diarrhea, and
fever. Symptoms last 1-2 days and then patients make a full recovery. AMLS Page
307 (Norovirus)
VERSION B
which of the following items would help differentiate the patient in diabetic
ketoacidosis from hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma -ANSWER-
DKA presence with kussmaul respirations while HH NC does not
you are assessing a 74 year old confused female patient in respiratory distress your
primary survey indicates a patent Airway labored respirations and strong radio
pulses the skin is warm and diaphoretic with a capillary refill time less than 2
seconds her vital signs are post 108 blood pressure 110 over 62 and respirations
3203 leyshon of the lungs reveals rales and rhonchi in the left lower lobe which of
the following is the most likely cause of respiratory distress -ANSWER-
pneumonia
Health Care Providers are responding to a possible drowning at a local Lake the
patient is experiencing controllable shivering and complains of nausea and
weakness the patient has been treading water for 25 minutes and now presents with
tachycardia and Rapid respirations core body temperature is 93.2 which diagnosis
is most likely -ANSWER- mild hypothermia
a 22 year old female presents with a headache and has been that has been present
/ADVANCED MEDICAL LIFE SUPPORT
A patient complains of nausea and is passing black, tarry stools rectally. This
patient is most likely suffering from -ANSWER- Dark or black blood in the stool
may indicate either old bleeding or the digestion of blood from an upper GI-bleed.
AMLS Page 149
A 38 year old presents with mild chest tightness and urticaria after mowing the
lawn. He felt a "sting" in his left lower leg and states the symptoms came on
suddenly. BP 130/82, pulse 100, respiratory rate is 20 with a normal work of
breathing. The healthcare provider should -ANSWER- Initiate an IV with 0.9%
Normal Saline and monitor the patient carefully (If there is no work of breathing,
delay administering epi. Try to manage PT w/ least amount of interventions as
possible)
Healthcare providers are treating a patient that has taken an unknown amount of a
prescribed pain medicine, along with an over-the-counter analgesic numerous
times over the past 36 hours for chronic lumbar pain. The patient is experiencing
abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The providers note pallor and diaphoresis
blood sugar is 42 mg/dl (2.3 mmol/L). What toxin overdose is suspected? -
ANSWER- Stage I/II APAP (Acetaminophen) toxicity signs and symptoms are
characterized by abdominal pain and worsening nausea and vomiting. AMLS
Page 363
Healthcare providers are treating a patient complaining of substernal chest pain
accompanied with nausea and 1 episode of vomiting. The patient has had 2 cardiac
stents placed within the last year. He has a familial history of heart disease and
takes a baby aspirin daily. What information is most concerning? -ANSWER- If
the patient has having chest pain and had a stent recently placed, for example, that
information is pertinent. AMLS Page 20
A firefighter has been working a fire for 4 hours on a humid, hot day. He suddenly
becomes nauseated and restless. The provider observes pupil dilation and an
almond odor to his breath. The vital signs are P 56, RR 22, BP 140/86. The ECG
reveals sinus bradycardia with occasional PAC's. Which toxin exposure has
occurred? -ANSWER- One of the most common asphyxiants is hydrogen cyanide.
,Notable for its bitter almond-like odor found in a solid form. Page 422. Clinical
presentation includes bitter almond odor to breath.
AMLS Page 366
The patient complains of sharp chest pain that worsens when supine. He is bed
ridden due to complications from a recent hip surgery. The patient is tachypneic
and the ECG reveals sinus tachycardia. What is the patient's working diagnosis? -
ANSWER- Patients at risk of pulmonary embolism include those who have
recently had surgery.
The classic triad of chest pain, hemoptysis, and dyspnea is seen in fewer than 200/o
of patients. Early symptoms of pulmonary embolism may be minimal, but massive
pulmonary embolism evolves quickly and may rapidly become symptomatic,
leading to cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity as the presenting rhythm.
AMLS Page 92
Healthcare providers are assessing an obese 49 year old who is lethargic and not
feeling well for several days. His family reports a history of extreme thirst. Vital
signs are P 143, R 14, and BP 88/58. He takes medication for type 2 diabetes daily.
What is the most probable working diagnosis? -ANSWER- Signs and symptoms
of HHNC include fever, dehydration, vomiting, and abdominal pain, hypotension,
tachycardia, rapid breathing, thirst, polyuria, or oliguria, polydipsia, focal seizures,
altered LOC, focal neurological deficits. AMLS Page 270
A patient is a resident in an assisted living facility to obtain physical therapy after a
knee replacement surgery. She
complains of a skin rash that is red and has small bumps. She has been feeling ill
for several days. What is most likely the working diagnosis? -ANSWER- A
patient with MRSA may have fever, redness, localized pain, small red bumps, or
deep abscesses that can affect bones, joints, heart valves, and the blood stream.
AMLS Page 318
While assessing your patient, you note he involuntarily flexes the legs in response
to flexing the neck. The patient is
presenting with -ANSWER- Involuntarily flexing of the legs in response to
flexing of the neck is a positive Brudzinski's sign. AMLS Page 196
A foreign exchange university student is found by his roommate and EMS is
dispatched. The patient presents with an unusual flat red rash on his chest and
, arms. He has been ill with fever, nausea, and vomiting. Physical exam reveals
nuchal rigidity. The healthcare provider will anticipate which diagnosis? -
ANSWER- Patients with acute bacterial meningitis may decompensate quickly
and require emergency care and antibiotics. The classic symptoms of meningitis
include headache, nuchal rigidity (resistance to flexing/extending the neck), fever
and chills and photophobia. The infection can also cause seizures, altered mental
status, confusion, coma, and death. The condition is usually precipitated by an
upper respiratory infection. AMLS Page 195
Healthcare providers are managing a 49 year old male complaining of diffuse
abdominal cramping. He has been ill with vomiting for 3 days. What working
diagnosis is most probable? -ANSWER- Patients will present gastrointestinal
complaints including abdomen pain, vomiting, projectile vomiting, diarrhea, and
fever. Symptoms last 1-2 days and then patients make a full recovery. AMLS Page
307 (Norovirus)
VERSION B
which of the following items would help differentiate the patient in diabetic
ketoacidosis from hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma -ANSWER-
DKA presence with kussmaul respirations while HH NC does not
you are assessing a 74 year old confused female patient in respiratory distress your
primary survey indicates a patent Airway labored respirations and strong radio
pulses the skin is warm and diaphoretic with a capillary refill time less than 2
seconds her vital signs are post 108 blood pressure 110 over 62 and respirations
3203 leyshon of the lungs reveals rales and rhonchi in the left lower lobe which of
the following is the most likely cause of respiratory distress -ANSWER-
pneumonia
Health Care Providers are responding to a possible drowning at a local Lake the
patient is experiencing controllable shivering and complains of nausea and
weakness the patient has been treading water for 25 minutes and now presents with
tachycardia and Rapid respirations core body temperature is 93.2 which diagnosis
is most likely -ANSWER- mild hypothermia
a 22 year old female presents with a headache and has been that has been present
