West Coast EMT Block Exam #3
D. He is currently not prescribed any medications - answers✔✔A 30-year-old male experienced a
generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure, which stopped before you arrived at the scene. The patient is
conscious, is answering your questions appropriately, and refuses EMS transport. Which of the following
would be the MOST compelling reason to disagree with his refusal of transport?
Select one:
A. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is 15
B. His wife states that this was his "usual" seizure
C. He has experienced seizures since he was 20
D. He is currently not prescribed any medications
B. has bleeding within the brain. - answers✔✔A patient who is possibly experiencing a stroke is NOT
eligible for thrombolytic (fibrinolytic) therapy if he or she:
Select one:
A. has had a prior heart attack.
B. has bleeding within the brain.
C. has a GCS score that is less than 8.
D. is older than 60 years of age.
C. dysarthria. - answers✔✔A patient whose speech is slurred and difficult to understand is experiencing:
Select one:
A. paraplegia.
B. dysphagia.
C. dysarthria.
D. aphasia.
B. not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused. - answers✔✔A patient with an altered mental
status is:
,Select one:
A. typically alert but is confused as to preceding events.
B. not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused.
C. usually able to be aroused with a painful stimulus.
D. completely unresponsive to all forms of stimuli.
D. ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed. - answers✔✔During the primary
assessment of a semiconscious 70-year-old female, you should:
Select one:
A. insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assist ventilations.
B. ask family members if the patient has a history of stroke.
C. immediately determine the patient's blood glucose level.
D. ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed.
B. cerebral vasodilation. - answers✔✔Interruption of cerebral blood flow may result from all of the
following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. an embolism.
B. cerebral vasodilation.
C. a thrombus.
D. an acute arterial rupture.
D. the right side of the body. - answers✔✔The left cerebral hemisphere controls:
Select one:
A. heart rate and pupil reaction.
B. the right side of the face.
C. breathing and blood pressure.
D. the right side of the body.
,B. hypertension. - answers✔✔The MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is:
Select one:
A. diabetes mellitus.
B. hypertension.
C. heavy exertion.
D. severe stress.
D. cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. - answers✔✔The three major parts of the brain are the:
Select one:
A. midbrain, cerebellum, and spinal cord.
B. brain stem, midbrain, and spinal cord.
C. cerebellum, medulla, and occiput.
D. cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.
A. ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment. - answers✔✔When assessing for arm
drift of a patient with a suspected stroke, you should:
Select one:
A. ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment.
B. expect to see one arm slowly drift down to the patient's side.
C. observe movement of the arms for approximately 2 minutes.
D. ask the patient to hold his or her arms up with the palms down.
A. a seizure. - answers✔✔When caring for a patient with documented hypoglycemia, you should be
MOST alert for:
Select one:
A. a seizure.
B. respiratory distress.
C. an acute stroke.
D. a febrile convulsion.
, C. when the patient last appeared normal. - answers✔✔When you are obtaining medical history from
the family of a suspected stroke patient, it is MOST important to determine:
Select one:
A. if the patient has been hospitalized before.
B. if there is a family history of a stroke.
C. when the patient last appeared normal.
D. the patient's overall medication compliance.
D. Hypovolemia - answers✔✔Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the
signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Select one:
A. Intracranial bleeding
B. A postictal state
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Hypovolemia
A. Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest - answers✔✔Which of the following conditions would
MOST likely affect the entire brain?
Select one:
A. Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest
B. Ruptured cerebral artery in the occipital lobe
C. Blocked cerebral artery in the frontal lobe
D. Reduced blood supply to the left hemisphere
C. A seizure that begins in one extremity - answers✔✔Which of the following MOST accurately describes
a simple partial seizure?
Select one:
A. A generalized seizure without incontinence
B. A seizure that causes the patient to stare blankly
D. He is currently not prescribed any medications - answers✔✔A 30-year-old male experienced a
generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure, which stopped before you arrived at the scene. The patient is
conscious, is answering your questions appropriately, and refuses EMS transport. Which of the following
would be the MOST compelling reason to disagree with his refusal of transport?
Select one:
A. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is 15
B. His wife states that this was his "usual" seizure
C. He has experienced seizures since he was 20
D. He is currently not prescribed any medications
B. has bleeding within the brain. - answers✔✔A patient who is possibly experiencing a stroke is NOT
eligible for thrombolytic (fibrinolytic) therapy if he or she:
Select one:
A. has had a prior heart attack.
B. has bleeding within the brain.
C. has a GCS score that is less than 8.
D. is older than 60 years of age.
C. dysarthria. - answers✔✔A patient whose speech is slurred and difficult to understand is experiencing:
Select one:
A. paraplegia.
B. dysphagia.
C. dysarthria.
D. aphasia.
B. not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused. - answers✔✔A patient with an altered mental
status is:
,Select one:
A. typically alert but is confused as to preceding events.
B. not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused.
C. usually able to be aroused with a painful stimulus.
D. completely unresponsive to all forms of stimuli.
D. ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed. - answers✔✔During the primary
assessment of a semiconscious 70-year-old female, you should:
Select one:
A. insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assist ventilations.
B. ask family members if the patient has a history of stroke.
C. immediately determine the patient's blood glucose level.
D. ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed.
B. cerebral vasodilation. - answers✔✔Interruption of cerebral blood flow may result from all of the
following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. an embolism.
B. cerebral vasodilation.
C. a thrombus.
D. an acute arterial rupture.
D. the right side of the body. - answers✔✔The left cerebral hemisphere controls:
Select one:
A. heart rate and pupil reaction.
B. the right side of the face.
C. breathing and blood pressure.
D. the right side of the body.
,B. hypertension. - answers✔✔The MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is:
Select one:
A. diabetes mellitus.
B. hypertension.
C. heavy exertion.
D. severe stress.
D. cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. - answers✔✔The three major parts of the brain are the:
Select one:
A. midbrain, cerebellum, and spinal cord.
B. brain stem, midbrain, and spinal cord.
C. cerebellum, medulla, and occiput.
D. cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.
A. ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment. - answers✔✔When assessing for arm
drift of a patient with a suspected stroke, you should:
Select one:
A. ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment.
B. expect to see one arm slowly drift down to the patient's side.
C. observe movement of the arms for approximately 2 minutes.
D. ask the patient to hold his or her arms up with the palms down.
A. a seizure. - answers✔✔When caring for a patient with documented hypoglycemia, you should be
MOST alert for:
Select one:
A. a seizure.
B. respiratory distress.
C. an acute stroke.
D. a febrile convulsion.
, C. when the patient last appeared normal. - answers✔✔When you are obtaining medical history from
the family of a suspected stroke patient, it is MOST important to determine:
Select one:
A. if the patient has been hospitalized before.
B. if there is a family history of a stroke.
C. when the patient last appeared normal.
D. the patient's overall medication compliance.
D. Hypovolemia - answers✔✔Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the
signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Select one:
A. Intracranial bleeding
B. A postictal state
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Hypovolemia
A. Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest - answers✔✔Which of the following conditions would
MOST likely affect the entire brain?
Select one:
A. Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest
B. Ruptured cerebral artery in the occipital lobe
C. Blocked cerebral artery in the frontal lobe
D. Reduced blood supply to the left hemisphere
C. A seizure that begins in one extremity - answers✔✔Which of the following MOST accurately describes
a simple partial seizure?
Select one:
A. A generalized seizure without incontinence
B. A seizure that causes the patient to stare blankly
