Paramedic School Entry Exam UPDATED
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Abandonment - CORRECT ANSWER Leaving a pt w/o having turned pt care over to medical
professional at or above your level of care
Negligence - CORRECT ANSWER Harm that befell the pt due to a mistake you made.
Assault - CORRECT ANSWER "I'm gonna beat your ass". Verbal
Battery - CORRECT ANSWER "I beat you with a bat" physical
Medial - CORRECT ANSWER Towards inner core
Lateral - CORRECT ANSWER Away from sides
Anterior - CORRECT ANSWER Front
Posterior - CORRECT ANSWER Back
Proximal - CORRECT ANSWER Towards core, or specific site
Distal - CORRECT ANSWER Away from core, or specific site
Basic tenets of HIPAA and pt privacy - CORRECT ANSWER There is nothing you can't tell
forward lines of caregivers. i.e. the RN you are turning pt care over to.
,Mechanics for breathing and muscles used - CORRECT ANSWER Lung expansion - pleura:
two thin, smooth layers of tissue with thin film of fluid in between allow frictionless movement across
one another.
Inhalation: Chest expands, creates negative pressure in thoracic cavity, parietal pleura pulls the
visceral, which pull the lungs.
Exhalation: Diagphragm/intercostals relax, thoracic cage contracts, pressure in cavity rises, air is
expelled. Normally passive. No energy required. Exhaled air contains 16% o2.
Diaphragm: primary muscle for respiration. Usually involuntary but can be controlled voluntarily.
Esophagus and great vessels pass through the diaphragm. Dome shaped until contraction during
inhalation; moves down and expands the size of the thoracic cavity.
Intercostal muscles.
Alveoli - CORRECT ANSWER All airway structures serve to get air to this point. Only place
where o2 and co2 are exchanged. Contact w/ pulmonary capillaries. Pulmonary capillaries diffuse
cabon dioxide from the body to the alveoli. Alveloi diffuse o2 from respiratory system to the body.
Surfactant is: a substance that helps keep the alveoli from collapsing.
What each number in BP represent - CORRECT ANSWER Systolic: the pressure exerted
during contracted of the left ventricle.
Diastolic: the pressure between contractions. The resting phase. This is constant.
Characteristics and differences of types of muscle tissue - CORRECT ANSWER Smooth:
involuntary located within the blood vessels and digestive tract.
Skeletal: voluntary that attaches to the skeleton.
Cardiac: heart
Diaphragm and intercostals are involuntary but are can also be voluntary.
Locations/function of liver - CORRECT ANSWER Think filter. Remember antifreeze OD and
whiskey. RUQ. Helps break down fats, filters toxins, prodcues cholesterol.
Location/function of spleen - CORRECT ANSWER LUQ. Filters the blood and helps repair
damaged blood platelets.
Location/function of pancreas - CORRECT ANSWER Aids in digestion, produces insulin,
helps regulate CBG levels. Epigastric region.
, Location/function of esophagus - CORRECT ANSWER Collapsible structure running from
mouth to stomach. Posterior to the trachea.
Location/function of stomach - CORRECT ANSWER Hollow LUQ. Receives food, begins
breaking it down, sends it to small intestine.
Location/function of small intestine - CORRECT ANSWER Hollow, both lower quadrants.
Food from stomach is mixed w/ digestive enzymes to digest fat. Most contents are absorbed out of the
small intestine and used/stored by the body.
Location/function of large intestine - CORRECT ANSWER Occupies outer boarder of abd.
Pulls most of the remaining liquid to form solid stool.
Location/function of appendix - CORRECT ANSWER Hollow, RLQ, can easily become
obstructed, causing inflammation, rupture, possible infection
Location/function of Kidneys - CORRECT ANSWER Part of urinary system. Control fluid
balance, filter waste, control pH balance.
Location/function of gall bladder - CORRECT ANSWER Beneath liver. Collects and stores bile
from the liver. Releases bile into the intestine and aid in digestion.
Endocrine system - CORRECT ANSWER System of glands that secrete hormones into the
blood to help regulate body functions. Responsible for insulin production and regulation of blood
glucose levels.
Difference between respiratory failure and respiratory distress - CORRECT ANSWER Pt is still
moving air (distress). Pt is apneic. Pt is unable to maintain airway and ventilation.
How to tell when pt needs supplemental or artificial ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER SpO2
<94% requires supplemental oxygen (goal is at least 94%.
Cardiac arrest w/ rosc.
Ventilatory support: body's supply becomes insufficient or totally fails.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Abandonment - CORRECT ANSWER Leaving a pt w/o having turned pt care over to medical
professional at or above your level of care
Negligence - CORRECT ANSWER Harm that befell the pt due to a mistake you made.
Assault - CORRECT ANSWER "I'm gonna beat your ass". Verbal
Battery - CORRECT ANSWER "I beat you with a bat" physical
Medial - CORRECT ANSWER Towards inner core
Lateral - CORRECT ANSWER Away from sides
Anterior - CORRECT ANSWER Front
Posterior - CORRECT ANSWER Back
Proximal - CORRECT ANSWER Towards core, or specific site
Distal - CORRECT ANSWER Away from core, or specific site
Basic tenets of HIPAA and pt privacy - CORRECT ANSWER There is nothing you can't tell
forward lines of caregivers. i.e. the RN you are turning pt care over to.
,Mechanics for breathing and muscles used - CORRECT ANSWER Lung expansion - pleura:
two thin, smooth layers of tissue with thin film of fluid in between allow frictionless movement across
one another.
Inhalation: Chest expands, creates negative pressure in thoracic cavity, parietal pleura pulls the
visceral, which pull the lungs.
Exhalation: Diagphragm/intercostals relax, thoracic cage contracts, pressure in cavity rises, air is
expelled. Normally passive. No energy required. Exhaled air contains 16% o2.
Diaphragm: primary muscle for respiration. Usually involuntary but can be controlled voluntarily.
Esophagus and great vessels pass through the diaphragm. Dome shaped until contraction during
inhalation; moves down and expands the size of the thoracic cavity.
Intercostal muscles.
Alveoli - CORRECT ANSWER All airway structures serve to get air to this point. Only place
where o2 and co2 are exchanged. Contact w/ pulmonary capillaries. Pulmonary capillaries diffuse
cabon dioxide from the body to the alveoli. Alveloi diffuse o2 from respiratory system to the body.
Surfactant is: a substance that helps keep the alveoli from collapsing.
What each number in BP represent - CORRECT ANSWER Systolic: the pressure exerted
during contracted of the left ventricle.
Diastolic: the pressure between contractions. The resting phase. This is constant.
Characteristics and differences of types of muscle tissue - CORRECT ANSWER Smooth:
involuntary located within the blood vessels and digestive tract.
Skeletal: voluntary that attaches to the skeleton.
Cardiac: heart
Diaphragm and intercostals are involuntary but are can also be voluntary.
Locations/function of liver - CORRECT ANSWER Think filter. Remember antifreeze OD and
whiskey. RUQ. Helps break down fats, filters toxins, prodcues cholesterol.
Location/function of spleen - CORRECT ANSWER LUQ. Filters the blood and helps repair
damaged blood platelets.
Location/function of pancreas - CORRECT ANSWER Aids in digestion, produces insulin,
helps regulate CBG levels. Epigastric region.
, Location/function of esophagus - CORRECT ANSWER Collapsible structure running from
mouth to stomach. Posterior to the trachea.
Location/function of stomach - CORRECT ANSWER Hollow LUQ. Receives food, begins
breaking it down, sends it to small intestine.
Location/function of small intestine - CORRECT ANSWER Hollow, both lower quadrants.
Food from stomach is mixed w/ digestive enzymes to digest fat. Most contents are absorbed out of the
small intestine and used/stored by the body.
Location/function of large intestine - CORRECT ANSWER Occupies outer boarder of abd.
Pulls most of the remaining liquid to form solid stool.
Location/function of appendix - CORRECT ANSWER Hollow, RLQ, can easily become
obstructed, causing inflammation, rupture, possible infection
Location/function of Kidneys - CORRECT ANSWER Part of urinary system. Control fluid
balance, filter waste, control pH balance.
Location/function of gall bladder - CORRECT ANSWER Beneath liver. Collects and stores bile
from the liver. Releases bile into the intestine and aid in digestion.
Endocrine system - CORRECT ANSWER System of glands that secrete hormones into the
blood to help regulate body functions. Responsible for insulin production and regulation of blood
glucose levels.
Difference between respiratory failure and respiratory distress - CORRECT ANSWER Pt is still
moving air (distress). Pt is apneic. Pt is unable to maintain airway and ventilation.
How to tell when pt needs supplemental or artificial ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER SpO2
<94% requires supplemental oxygen (goal is at least 94%.
Cardiac arrest w/ rosc.
Ventilatory support: body's supply becomes insufficient or totally fails.
