OEC Certification Test | All Exam Questions
with 100% Verified Answers and Detailed
Solutions | New 2025 Update
1. A patient in shock with abdominal pain indicates he noticed lots of blood in
the toilet after having a bowel movement this morning. You would
recognize the possibility of what type of shock?
a. Septic
b. Hypovolemic
c. Hypoxic
d. Obstructive - ANSWER b
2. Which of the following lists of assessment findings indicates that a trauma
patient may be in compensated shock?
a. Anxious, pulse 104, BP 134/88 mmHg, pale and cool skin
b. Slightly confused, pulse 116, BP 90/60 mmHg, warm skin that is
flushed
c. Confused and anxious, pulse 144, BP 82/palp, cool skin that is
mottled
d. Confused, pulse 44, BP 110/68, cool and cyanotic skin - ANSWER a
3. You get a call for a "serious" injury on the expert trail. As you are skiing up
to the patient your first priority is:
a. looking to see how much blood is on the snow.
b. trying to determine how many people may be injured.
c. assessing the scene for rescuer safety.
d. performing a primary survey. - ANSWER c
4. You are reassessing a patient who has sustained blunt trauma to the chest.
Which one of the following reassessment findings best indicates that the
patient is deteriorating and is in the decompensating phase of shock?
a. Pulse of 96 beats per minute
b. Blood pressure of 88/50
c. Blood oozing from an abdominal laceration
1
, d. Skin that is cool and dry - ANSWER b
5. Hemorrhage can result in all of the following except:
a. decreased respirations.
b. decreased ability to oxygenate tissues.
c. decreased nutrients to tissues.
d. increased heart rate. - ANSWER a
6. The degree to which hemoglobin is full of oxygen is called:
a. hemoglobin saturation
b. oxygen saturation.
c. hematocrit.
d. oxygen capacity. - ANSWER b
7. The four major categories of shock are:
a. hemorrhagic, distributive, hypoxic, and obstructive.
b. burn, hypovolemic, distributive, and hypoxic.
c. hypoglycemic, obstructive, distributive, and hypovolemic.
d. hypovolemic, cardiogenic, obstructive, and distributive - ANSWER d
8. Which of the following statements best indicates that the speaker has an
understanding of the role of caring for a patient in shock in a prehospital
setting?
a. "The job of the prehospital provider is to recognize shock and get the
patient to the hospital, where treatment for shock can be started."
b. "Because shock is a life-threatening condition, it is important to
identify its exact cause so that proper care can be given."
c. "If shock is in the compensatory or early stage, it is not yet life
threatening, so you can take your time to carefully assess and treat the
patient."
d. "Because shock is best treated in the hospital, one should provide care
to correct problems affecting ABCDs and then rapidly transport the
patient." - ANSWER d
2
,9. Which of the following statements made by a patient's family member
would lead you to suspect that the patient is suffering from hypovolemic
shock?
a. "He has had a rash for the past three days."
b. "He cannot stop throwing up."
c. "He has been taking an antibiotic for a chest cold."
d. "He got up this morning and was having a hard time breathing." -
ANSWER b
10.The cardiovascular system is composed of the:
a. heart, aorta, and venae cavae.
b. blood vessels, plasma, and the lungs.
c. heart, blood vessels, and blood.
d. heart, lungs, and blood. - ANSWER c
11.Septic shock is caused by:
a. a failing heart.
b. blood loss.
c. an infection.
d. a collapsed lung. - ANSWER c
12.Which of the following conditions is the most probable cause of cardiogenic
shock?
a. Myocardial infarction
b. Severe vomiting and diarrhea
c. Gastrointestinal bleeding
d. Systemic infection - ANSWER a
13.You are treating a 42-year-old female exhibiting signs of shock. You do not
suspect a spinal injury. To try to improve blood flow to the heart, you should
position the patient:
a. supine with her feet elevated 8-12 inches above the level of the heart.
b. flat on her left side.
c. supine with the bed tilted so that her head is lower than her feet.
3
, d. with her head slightly elevated and her arms raised over her head. -
ANSWER a
14.The smaller branches of the arterial tree that contain a muscular layer that
enables changes in vessel diameter are called _______; these vessels
________.
a. resistance vessels; enable the body to control how much blood is
directed toward an area based on that area's metabolic needs
b. distributive vessels; sense oxygen levels and increase heart rate when
the brainstem detects dropping O2 levels or rising CO2 levels
c. arterioles; exchange O2 and CO2 and rid the body of waste products
d. metabolic vessels; trigger the release of glucose into the circulatory
system - ANSWER a
15.While in the aid room treating a patient with a fractured wrist, the patient
tells you that he was skiing on a slope that was too difficult for him, and that
he started going too fast and got out of control. You recognize that this
information must be documented on the accident report because it provides
evidence of:
a. gross negligence.
b. assumption of risk.
c. contributory negligence.
d. willful negligence. - ANSWER c
16.The type of consent that is based on an appreciation and understanding of
the facts, implications, and possible future consequences of an action is
known as:
a. implied consent.
b. educated consent.
c. expressed consent.
d. informed consent. - ANSWER d
17.You have just finished your shift, and while driving home still wearing your
patrol jacket you come upon a car collision in which people appear to be
injured. You recognize that if you approach the collision wearing your patrol
jacket, members of the public may have a reasonable expectation that you
will provide care. This expectation is known as:
4
with 100% Verified Answers and Detailed
Solutions | New 2025 Update
1. A patient in shock with abdominal pain indicates he noticed lots of blood in
the toilet after having a bowel movement this morning. You would
recognize the possibility of what type of shock?
a. Septic
b. Hypovolemic
c. Hypoxic
d. Obstructive - ANSWER b
2. Which of the following lists of assessment findings indicates that a trauma
patient may be in compensated shock?
a. Anxious, pulse 104, BP 134/88 mmHg, pale and cool skin
b. Slightly confused, pulse 116, BP 90/60 mmHg, warm skin that is
flushed
c. Confused and anxious, pulse 144, BP 82/palp, cool skin that is
mottled
d. Confused, pulse 44, BP 110/68, cool and cyanotic skin - ANSWER a
3. You get a call for a "serious" injury on the expert trail. As you are skiing up
to the patient your first priority is:
a. looking to see how much blood is on the snow.
b. trying to determine how many people may be injured.
c. assessing the scene for rescuer safety.
d. performing a primary survey. - ANSWER c
4. You are reassessing a patient who has sustained blunt trauma to the chest.
Which one of the following reassessment findings best indicates that the
patient is deteriorating and is in the decompensating phase of shock?
a. Pulse of 96 beats per minute
b. Blood pressure of 88/50
c. Blood oozing from an abdominal laceration
1
, d. Skin that is cool and dry - ANSWER b
5. Hemorrhage can result in all of the following except:
a. decreased respirations.
b. decreased ability to oxygenate tissues.
c. decreased nutrients to tissues.
d. increased heart rate. - ANSWER a
6. The degree to which hemoglobin is full of oxygen is called:
a. hemoglobin saturation
b. oxygen saturation.
c. hematocrit.
d. oxygen capacity. - ANSWER b
7. The four major categories of shock are:
a. hemorrhagic, distributive, hypoxic, and obstructive.
b. burn, hypovolemic, distributive, and hypoxic.
c. hypoglycemic, obstructive, distributive, and hypovolemic.
d. hypovolemic, cardiogenic, obstructive, and distributive - ANSWER d
8. Which of the following statements best indicates that the speaker has an
understanding of the role of caring for a patient in shock in a prehospital
setting?
a. "The job of the prehospital provider is to recognize shock and get the
patient to the hospital, where treatment for shock can be started."
b. "Because shock is a life-threatening condition, it is important to
identify its exact cause so that proper care can be given."
c. "If shock is in the compensatory or early stage, it is not yet life
threatening, so you can take your time to carefully assess and treat the
patient."
d. "Because shock is best treated in the hospital, one should provide care
to correct problems affecting ABCDs and then rapidly transport the
patient." - ANSWER d
2
,9. Which of the following statements made by a patient's family member
would lead you to suspect that the patient is suffering from hypovolemic
shock?
a. "He has had a rash for the past three days."
b. "He cannot stop throwing up."
c. "He has been taking an antibiotic for a chest cold."
d. "He got up this morning and was having a hard time breathing." -
ANSWER b
10.The cardiovascular system is composed of the:
a. heart, aorta, and venae cavae.
b. blood vessels, plasma, and the lungs.
c. heart, blood vessels, and blood.
d. heart, lungs, and blood. - ANSWER c
11.Septic shock is caused by:
a. a failing heart.
b. blood loss.
c. an infection.
d. a collapsed lung. - ANSWER c
12.Which of the following conditions is the most probable cause of cardiogenic
shock?
a. Myocardial infarction
b. Severe vomiting and diarrhea
c. Gastrointestinal bleeding
d. Systemic infection - ANSWER a
13.You are treating a 42-year-old female exhibiting signs of shock. You do not
suspect a spinal injury. To try to improve blood flow to the heart, you should
position the patient:
a. supine with her feet elevated 8-12 inches above the level of the heart.
b. flat on her left side.
c. supine with the bed tilted so that her head is lower than her feet.
3
, d. with her head slightly elevated and her arms raised over her head. -
ANSWER a
14.The smaller branches of the arterial tree that contain a muscular layer that
enables changes in vessel diameter are called _______; these vessels
________.
a. resistance vessels; enable the body to control how much blood is
directed toward an area based on that area's metabolic needs
b. distributive vessels; sense oxygen levels and increase heart rate when
the brainstem detects dropping O2 levels or rising CO2 levels
c. arterioles; exchange O2 and CO2 and rid the body of waste products
d. metabolic vessels; trigger the release of glucose into the circulatory
system - ANSWER a
15.While in the aid room treating a patient with a fractured wrist, the patient
tells you that he was skiing on a slope that was too difficult for him, and that
he started going too fast and got out of control. You recognize that this
information must be documented on the accident report because it provides
evidence of:
a. gross negligence.
b. assumption of risk.
c. contributory negligence.
d. willful negligence. - ANSWER c
16.The type of consent that is based on an appreciation and understanding of
the facts, implications, and possible future consequences of an action is
known as:
a. implied consent.
b. educated consent.
c. expressed consent.
d. informed consent. - ANSWER d
17.You have just finished your shift, and while driving home still wearing your
patrol jacket you come upon a car collision in which people appear to be
injured. You recognize that if you approach the collision wearing your patrol
jacket, members of the public may have a reasonable expectation that you
will provide care. This expectation is known as:
4
