Paramedic Final Exam Practice
Questions with Correct Answers
Of the following, which item is acceptable and productive to ask a 14 y/o female in the
presence of her parents?
A) possibility of child abuse
B) date of LMP
C) history of childhood illnesses
D) drug and alcohol use - ANSWERSC) history of childhood illnesses
You are treating an 82 y/o female who is having difficulty breathing at a nursing home.
Her only history is a fever since yesterday and frequent urinary tract infections. While
listening to her chest, you hear rhonchi and slight crackles in all fields. Vital signs are
BP 110/80, HR 100 bpm and regular, RR 30/min, temperature 102F. Her jugular veins
are flat and there is no pedal edema. She denies chest pain or pressure. What condition
is most likely causing her symptoms?
A) septic shock
B) emphysema
C) pneumonia
D) CHF - ANSWERSC) pneumonia
For the previous patient, what will be your treatment?
A) high flow O2, IV at TKO, EKG, transport, nebulized albuterol
B) high flow oxygen, NTG, IV Lasix, EKG, transport
C) oxygen via NC at 6 lpm, IV, and transport
D) high flow oxygen, IV fluid bolus, and transport - ANSWERSC) oxygen via NC at 6
lpm, IV, and transport
The previous patient becomes unconscious after your initial treatment. She is using
accessory muscles to breathe. How would you treat her next?
A) discontinue previous treatments
B) ventilate 8-12/min with PPV
C) ventilate 12-20/min with PPV
D) attempt insertion of an oral airway - ANSWERSB) ventilate 8-12/min with PPV
Which of the following is least likely to cause crackles?
A) toxic inhalation
B) asthma
C) alcoholic cardiomyopathy
D) pneumonia - ANSWERSB) asthma
Which of the following medications is least likely to be a part of standard therapy for a
patient suffering from exacerbated emphysema?
, A) beta agonists
B) oxygen
C) inhaled anticholinergics
D) nitrates - ANSWERSD) nitrates
Which of the following is true about respiratory physiology?
A) changes in PO2, PCO2, or pH stimulate chemoreceptors
B) the primary muscles of respiration are the diaphragm and sternocleidomastoid
C) the vagus nerve is responsible for diaphragmatic movement
D) the hypothalamus regulates breathing - ANSWERSA) changes in PO2, PCO2, or pH
stimulate chemoreceptors
What is the purpose of Good Samaritan Laws? - ANSWERSto offer legal protection to
people who stop at an emergency scene
You are treating a thin elderly male complaining of SOB. He looks older than his stated
age of 65, leaning forward in a chair. You notice that he has an oxygen generator in the
room and is on 2 lpm of oxygen per NC. His RR is 20/min and shallow, BP 105/60, P
125 bpm and irregular. You are unable to hear any breath sounds in the bases, with
slight air movement and wheezing noted in the apices. The patient has pink cheeks,
takes short puffy breaths, and can only speak in short sentences. His medications
include Proventil inhalers and Theo-dur. He is unable to give you a complete history.
What condition would you suspect?
A) CHF
B) PE
C) exacerbated emphysema
D) chronic bronchitis - ANSWERSC) exacerbated emphysema
The previous patient is unable to give you a complete history. What should you do?
A) administer terbutaline SQ
B) switch him over to high-flow oxygen
C) load the patient for immediate transport
D) administer NTG SL - ANSWERSB) switch him over to high-flow oxygen
You are called to a junior high soccer game to evaluate a student who became acutely
short of breath during the game. On exam, you note inspiratory and expiratory wheezes
throughout the lungs. BP 130/80, HR 120 and regular, RR 30/min. Which of these
medications will you consider using?
A) oxygen, NTG, Lasix
B) oxygen, albuterol, ASA
C) oxygen, albuterol, epinephrine
D) rebreathing CO2 and calm the patient down - ANSWERSC) oxygen, albuterol,
epinephrine
The anatomical structure between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis into which
the tip of a curved laryngoscope blade is placed during orotracheal intubation is the:
Questions with Correct Answers
Of the following, which item is acceptable and productive to ask a 14 y/o female in the
presence of her parents?
A) possibility of child abuse
B) date of LMP
C) history of childhood illnesses
D) drug and alcohol use - ANSWERSC) history of childhood illnesses
You are treating an 82 y/o female who is having difficulty breathing at a nursing home.
Her only history is a fever since yesterday and frequent urinary tract infections. While
listening to her chest, you hear rhonchi and slight crackles in all fields. Vital signs are
BP 110/80, HR 100 bpm and regular, RR 30/min, temperature 102F. Her jugular veins
are flat and there is no pedal edema. She denies chest pain or pressure. What condition
is most likely causing her symptoms?
A) septic shock
B) emphysema
C) pneumonia
D) CHF - ANSWERSC) pneumonia
For the previous patient, what will be your treatment?
A) high flow O2, IV at TKO, EKG, transport, nebulized albuterol
B) high flow oxygen, NTG, IV Lasix, EKG, transport
C) oxygen via NC at 6 lpm, IV, and transport
D) high flow oxygen, IV fluid bolus, and transport - ANSWERSC) oxygen via NC at 6
lpm, IV, and transport
The previous patient becomes unconscious after your initial treatment. She is using
accessory muscles to breathe. How would you treat her next?
A) discontinue previous treatments
B) ventilate 8-12/min with PPV
C) ventilate 12-20/min with PPV
D) attempt insertion of an oral airway - ANSWERSB) ventilate 8-12/min with PPV
Which of the following is least likely to cause crackles?
A) toxic inhalation
B) asthma
C) alcoholic cardiomyopathy
D) pneumonia - ANSWERSB) asthma
Which of the following medications is least likely to be a part of standard therapy for a
patient suffering from exacerbated emphysema?
, A) beta agonists
B) oxygen
C) inhaled anticholinergics
D) nitrates - ANSWERSD) nitrates
Which of the following is true about respiratory physiology?
A) changes in PO2, PCO2, or pH stimulate chemoreceptors
B) the primary muscles of respiration are the diaphragm and sternocleidomastoid
C) the vagus nerve is responsible for diaphragmatic movement
D) the hypothalamus regulates breathing - ANSWERSA) changes in PO2, PCO2, or pH
stimulate chemoreceptors
What is the purpose of Good Samaritan Laws? - ANSWERSto offer legal protection to
people who stop at an emergency scene
You are treating a thin elderly male complaining of SOB. He looks older than his stated
age of 65, leaning forward in a chair. You notice that he has an oxygen generator in the
room and is on 2 lpm of oxygen per NC. His RR is 20/min and shallow, BP 105/60, P
125 bpm and irregular. You are unable to hear any breath sounds in the bases, with
slight air movement and wheezing noted in the apices. The patient has pink cheeks,
takes short puffy breaths, and can only speak in short sentences. His medications
include Proventil inhalers and Theo-dur. He is unable to give you a complete history.
What condition would you suspect?
A) CHF
B) PE
C) exacerbated emphysema
D) chronic bronchitis - ANSWERSC) exacerbated emphysema
The previous patient is unable to give you a complete history. What should you do?
A) administer terbutaline SQ
B) switch him over to high-flow oxygen
C) load the patient for immediate transport
D) administer NTG SL - ANSWERSB) switch him over to high-flow oxygen
You are called to a junior high soccer game to evaluate a student who became acutely
short of breath during the game. On exam, you note inspiratory and expiratory wheezes
throughout the lungs. BP 130/80, HR 120 and regular, RR 30/min. Which of these
medications will you consider using?
A) oxygen, NTG, Lasix
B) oxygen, albuterol, ASA
C) oxygen, albuterol, epinephrine
D) rebreathing CO2 and calm the patient down - ANSWERSC) oxygen, albuterol,
epinephrine
The anatomical structure between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis into which
the tip of a curved laryngoscope blade is placed during orotracheal intubation is the:
