EMT Midterm Exam Complete Solution Guide 2024

Which of the following has the weakest transmission signal and, as a result, is LEAST likely to be heard by the party being called? A. Mobile repeater station B. Multiplex base station C. Land-base repeater station D. Hand-held portable radio - D. Hand-held portable radio You are assisting an asthma patient with his prescribed metered-dose inhaler. After the patient takes a deep breath and depresses the inhaler, you should: A. allow him to breathe room air and assess his oxygen saturation. B. advise him to exhale forcefully to ensure medication absorption. C. instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can. D. immediately reapply the oxygen mask and reassess his condition. - C. instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can. Kussmaul respirations are an indication that the body is: A. trying to generate energy by breathing deeply. B. severely hypoxic and is eliminating excess CO2. C. attempting to eliminate acids from the blood. D. compensating for decreased blood glucose levels. - C. attempting to eliminate acids from the blood. When the level of arterial carbon dioxide rises above normal: A. respirations increase in rate and depth. B. exhalation lasts longer than inhalation. C. respirations decrease in rate and depth. D. the brain stem inhibits respirations. - A. respirations increase in rate and depth. The risk of bleeding in the skull, which increases with age, is MOST directly related to: A. shrinkage of the brain. B. a decrease in neurons. C. blood vessel dilation. D. meningeal deterioration. - A. shrinkage of the brain. An elderly patient has fallen and hit her head. Your initial care should focus on: A. obtaining baseline vital signs. B. providing immediate transport. C. airway, breathing, and circulation. D. gathering medical history data. - C. airway, breathing, and circulation. According to the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, an EMT should be able to: A. interpret a basic (ECG) rhythm and treat accordingly. B. administer epinephrine via the subcutaneous route. C. assist a patient with certain prescribed medications. D. insert a peripheral IV line and infuse fluids. - C. assist a patient with certain prescribed medications. The proper technique for using the power grip is to: A. rotate your palms down. B. hold the handle with your fingers. C. position your hands about 6² apart. D. lift with your palms up. - D. lift with your palms up. Worn-out blood cells, foreign substances, and bacteria are filtered from the blood by the: A. kidney. B. pancreas. C. spleen. D. liver. - C. spleen. You are dispatched to a residence for a 56-year-old male with an altered mental status. Upon arrival at the scene, the patient's wife tells you that he complained of chest pain the day before, but would not allow her to call EMS. The patient is semiconscious; has rapid, shallow respirations; and has a thready pulse. He has a respiratory rate of 26 and heart rate of 122. You should: A. begin ventilatory assistance. B. obtain baseline vital signs. C. attach the AED immediately. D. apply a nonrebreathing mask. - A. begin ventilatory assistance. Which of the following clinical signs would necessitate the administration of naloxone (Narcan)? A. Tachycardia B. Extreme agitation C. Hypertension D. Slow respirations - D. Slow respirations You are assessing a 72-year-old man with abdominal pain. The patient is sitting in a chair; he is conscious, alert, and calm. As you are talking to the patient, your partner discreetly directs your attention to a handgun, which is located on a nearby table. You should: A. immediately cease all patient care, carefully back out of the residence, and request law enforcement assistance. B. direct your partner to move the gun to a safe area and then advise the patient that his weapon has been secured. C. document the presence of the weapon, including its specific location, and continue your assessment of the patient. D. position yourself in between the patient and the gun and ask your partner to request law enforcement assistance. - D. position yourself in between the patient and the gun and ask your partner to request law enforcement assistance. The inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart from all of the following areas, EXCEPT the: A. kidneys. B. abdomen. C. legs. D. brain. - D. brain. While auscultating an elderly woman's breath sounds, you hear low-pitched "rattling" sounds at the bases of both of her lungs. This finding is MOST consistent with which of the following conditions? A. Widespread atelectasis B. Acute asthma attack C. Early pulmonary edema D. Aspiration pneumonia - D. Aspiration pneumonia Capillary sphincter closure during internal or external bleeding is detrimental because: A. carbon dioxide and other waste can enter the cells, but oxygen cannot. B. waste products are not removed and nutrients are not delivered to the cells. C. available blood is shunted off to another venule while still carrying oxygen. D. high levels of oxygen remain in the cells and can cause significant damage. - B. waste products are not removed and nutrients are not delivered to the cells. As the bronchus divides into smaller bronchioles, the terminal ends of these smaller passages form the: A. capillaries. B. pleura. C. alveoli. D. bronchi. - C. alveoli. You are caring for a driver who struck a light pole. She admits to drinking alcohol but orders you not to tell anyone. You should report the information to . A. law enforcement personnel B. the state motor vehicle department C. the receiving nurse or doctor D. your medical director - C. the receiving nurse or doctor After assisting your patient with prescribed nitroglycerin, you should: A. perform a secondary assessment before administering further doses. B. reassess his or her blood pressure within 5 minutes to detect hypotension. C. place the patient in a recumbent position in case of fainting. D. avoid further dosing if the patient complains of a severe headache. - B. reassess his or her blood pressure within 5 minutes to detect hypotension. Medications encased in a gelatin shell that are taken by mouth are called: A. tablets. B. pills. C. caplets. D. capsules. - D. capsules. When an electrical impulse reaches the AV node, it is slowed for a brief period of time so that: A. the impulse can spread through the Purkinje fibers. B. the SA node can reset and generate another impulse. C. blood returning from the body can fill the atria. D. blood can pass from the atria to the ventricles. - D. blood can pass from the atria to the ventricles. During a 30-minute transport of a stable patient, you should reassess him or her at least times. A. 3 B. 4 C. 6 D. 2 - D. 2 What is the route of administration for the EpiPen auto-injector? A. Intramuscular B. Sublingual C. Intravenous D. Intraosseous - A. Intramuscular A patient with spontaneous respirations is breathing: A. at a normal rate. B. without difficulty. C. with shallow depth. D. without assistance - D. without assistance Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing? A. 22 breaths/min with an irregular pattern of breathing and cyanosis B. 20 breaths/min with shallow movement of the chest wall and pallor C. 24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin D. 30 breaths/min with supraclavicular retractions and clammy skin - C. 24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin A positive TB skin test indicates that: A. you are actively infected with TB. B. the TB disease is currently dormant but may later become active. C. you have never been exposed to TB. D. you have been exposed to TB. - D. you have been exposed to TB. The body's backup system of respiratory control, which is based on low concentrations of oxygen in the blood, is called the: A. hypocarbic drive. B. hypoxic drive. C. oxyhemoglobin drive. D. pneumotaxic drive. - B. hypoxic drive. When caring for a 65-year-old male with respiratory distress, you place him in a comfortable position but do not apply oxygen. The patient's condition continues to deteriorate and he develops cardiac arrest and dies at the hospital. This scenario is an example of: A. battery. B. abandonment. C. negligence. D. assault. - C. negligence. When providing a patient report via radio, you should protect the patient's privacy by: A. using coded medical language. B. refraining from objective statements. C. withholding medical history data. D. not disclosing his or her name. - D. not disclosing his or her name. A 70-year-old female was recently discharged from the hospital following a total hip replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a blood pressure of 100/64 mm Hg. Her skin is hot and moist. You should be MOST suspicious that she is experiencing: A. septic shock. B. decompensated shock. C. a local infection. D. pump failure. - A. septic shock. You respond to a residence for a patient with a severe leg injury following an accident with a chainsaw. When you arrive, you find the patient, a 44-year-old male, lying supine in the backyard. He has a partial amputation of his right lower leg that is actively bleeding. The patient is conscious and breathing adequately; however, he is restless and his skin is diaphoretic. You should: A. assess the rate and quality of his pulse. B. immediately evaluate his airway. C. immediately splint his leg D. administer 100% supplemental oxygen. - C. immediately splint his leg You are assessing a middle-aged man with chest pain that you suspect is caused by a cardiac problem. The patient tells you that he does not want to go to the hospital and insists that you leave him alone. You should: A. tell him that he is having a heart attack and that he needs to go to the hospital. B. explain the seriousness of the situation to him. C. proceed to treat him because the stress of the situation has impaired his thinking. D. reassure him that he will not receive a bill for the EMS call if he cannot pay. - B. explain the seriousness of the situation to him. Your primary assessment of an elderly woman reveals that she is conscious and alert, but is experiencing difficulty breathing. She has a history of emphysema, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. As you assess the patient's circulatory status, you should direct your partner to: A. assess her oxygen saturation and blood pressure. B. administer oxygen with the appropriate device. C. perform a head-to-toe secondary assessment. D. retrieve the stretcher and prepare for transport. - B. administer oxygen with the appropriate device. During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you: A. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove identifying information from the PCR beforehand. B. violated the patient's privacy because you should have discussed the information only with the EMTs involved. C. adequately safeguarded the patient's PHI because the cases were discussed internally. D. acted appropriately but must have each EMT sign a waiver stating that he or she will not discuss the cases with others. - A. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove identifying information from the PCR beforehand. A 71-year-old male is semiconscious following a sudden, severe headache. There is vomitus on his face and his respirations are slow and shallow. The EMT must immediately: A. insert a nasopharyngeal airway. B. perform oropharyngeal suctioning. C. begin assisting the patient's ventilations. D. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. - B. perform oropharyngeal suctioning. Activated charcoal is an example of a(n): A. suspension. B. solution. C. gel. D. elixir. - A. suspension. Acute pulmonary edema would MOST likely develop as the result of: A. severe hyperventilation. B. toxic chemical inhalation. C. right-sided heart failure. D. an upper airway infection. - B. toxic chemical inhalation. In which of the following patients would the head tilt-chin lift maneuver be the MOST appropriate method of opening the airway? A. A 24-year-old male who is found unconscious at the base of a tree B. A 45-year-old male who is semiconscious after falling 20 feet C. A 50-year-old male who is unconscious following head trauma D. A 37-year-old female who is found unconscious in her bed - D. A 37-year-old female who is found unconscious in her bed Which of the following medical history questions would be of LEAST pertinence in an acute situation? A. "Are there medications that you cannot take?" B. "Has this ever happened to you before?" C. "Does the pain stay in your chest?" D. "Does your mother have diabetes?" - D. "Does your mother have diabetes?" Neurogenic shock occurs when: A. the spinal cord is severed and causes massive hemorrhaging. B. massive vasoconstriction occurs distal to a spinal cord injury. C. there is too much blood to fill a smaller vascular container. D. failure of the nervous system causes widespread vasodilation. - D. failure of the nervous system causes widespread vasodilation. You are ventilating an apneic woman with a bag-valve mask. She has dentures, which are tight fitting. Adequate chest rise is present with each ventilation, and the patient's oxygen saturation reads 96%. When you reassess the patency of her airway, you note that her dentures are now loose, although your ventilations are still producing adequate chest rise. You should: A. attempt to replace her dentures so that they fit tightly and resume ventilations. B. remove her dentures at once and increase the rate and volume of your ventilations. C. leave her dentures in place, but carefully monitor her for an airway obstruction. D. remove her dentures, resume ventilations, and assess for adequate chest rise. - B. remove her dentures at once and increase the rate and volume of your ventilations. A 19-year-old male was stung multiple times by fire ants. He is experiencing obvious signs and symptoms of anaphylactic shock. You administer high-flow oxygen and give him epinephrine via intramuscular injection. Upon reassessment, you determine that his condition has not improved. You should: A. consider that he may actually be experiencing an acute asthma attack. B. request a paramedic unit that is stationed approximately 15 miles away. C. repeat the epinephrine injection with the appropriate medical control. D. provide only supportive care en route to the hospital. - C. repeat the epinephrine injection with the appropriate medical control. Symptomatic hypoglycemia will MOST likely develop if a patient: A. eats a regular meal followed by mild exertion. B. misses one or two prescribed insulin injections. C. takes too much of his or her prescribed insulin. D. markedly overeats and misses an insulin dose. - C. takes too much of his or her prescribed insulin. Which of the following organs or structures lies within the retroperitoneal space? A. Kidneys B. Ascending aorta C. Gallbladder D. Spleen - A. Kidneys A 67-year-old female with severe chest pain becomes unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic during transport. You should: A. perform CPR for 1 to 2 minutes and then analyze her rhythm with an AED. B. alert the receiving hospital and perform CPR for the duration of the transport. C. defibrillate with the AED while continuing transport to the hospital. D. stop the ambulance, begin CPR, and attach the AED as soon as possible. - D. stop the ambulance, begin CPR, and attach the AED as soon as possible. Most treatments provided in the prehospital setting are intended to . A. reduce the need for transport to the hospital B. address the patient's symptoms C. correct the patient's underlying problem D. confirm the patient's diagnosis - B. address the patient's symptoms General guidelines for effective radio communications include all of the following, EXCEPT: A. using 10 codes to ensure radio traffic confidentiality. B. speaking in a clear, calm, monotone voice. C. holding the microphone about 2 to 3 inches from your mouth. D. acknowledging a transmission as soon as possible. - A. using 10 codes to ensure radio traffic confidentiality. An intoxicated 40-year-old male is found lying face down. How would you document his body's position? A. Prone B. Recumbent C. Dorsal D. Supine - A. Prone Distributive shock occurs when: A. severe bleeding causes tachycardia in order to distribute blood to the organs faster. B. an injury causes restriction of the heart muscle and impairs its pumping function. C. temporary but severe vasodilation causes a decrease in blood supply to the brain. D. widespread dilation of the blood vessels causes blood to pool in the vascular beds. - D. widespread dilation of the blood vessels causes blood to pool in the vascular beds. If an EMT candidate has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, he or she should: A. wait at least 24 months before taking another state-approved EMT class. B. send an official request to the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) to seek approval to take the EMT exam. C. contact the state EMS office and provide its staff with the required documentation. D. recognize that any such conviction will disqualify him or her from EMT licensure. - C. contact the state EMS office and provide its staff with the required documentation. A 50-year-old male presents with altered mental status. His wife tells you that he had a "small stroke" three years ago but has otherwise been in good health. The patient is responsive but unable to follow commands. After administering oxygen if needed, you should: A. repeat the primary assessment. B. inquire about his family history. C. prepare for immediate transport. D. perform a detailed head-to-toe assessment. - C. prepare for immediate transport. When moving a conscious, weak patient down a flight of stairs, you should: A. assist the patient in walking down the stairs and place him or her on the wheeled stretcher at the bottom of the stairs. B. secure the patient to a scoop stretcher and carry him or her headfirst down the stairs to the awaiting stretcher. C. collapse the undercarriage of the wheeled stretcher and carefully carry the patient down the stairs on the stretcher. D. place the wheeled stretcher at the bottom of the stairs and carry the patient down the stairs with a stair chair. - D. place the wheeled stretcher at the bottom of the stairs and carry the patient down the stairs with a stair chair. When assessing a 75-year-old female with crushing chest pain, you note that her weak and irregular. The patient suddenly losses consciousness and becomes unresponsive. What is your first priority? A. Assess and secure the patient's airway B. Check to see if the patient is apneic and pulseless. C. Check to see if any of her current medications would be capable of causing syncope. D. document your findings and perform a rapid physical assessment. - A. Assess and secure the patient's airway Which of the following is the MOST effective method of assessing the quality of air movement in the lungs? A. Looking for the presence of accessory muscle use B. Auscultating breath sounds with a stethoscope C. Applying a pulse oximeter and monitoring the SpO2 D. Evaluating the patient's chest for cyanosis - B. Auscultating breath sounds with a stethoscope You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. You should suspect: A. acute pulmonary edema. B. right-sided heart failure. C. spontaneous pneumothorax. D. acute pulmonary embolism. - A. acute pulmonary edema. When using the pulse oximeter as part of your assessment of a patient, it is important to remember that: A. as long as the patient's oxygen saturation is greater than 95%, oxygen is usually not necessary, even if the patient is experiencing respiratory distress. B. any situation that causes vasoconstriction or loss of red blood cells, such as anemia or bleeding, may result in an inaccurate or misleading value. C. pulse oximetry is especially useful in patients who have cold extremities because vasoconstriction forces blood to the capillary beds. D. carbon monoxide has no effect on pulse oximetry readings because the pulse oximeter presumes that oxygen is saturating the hemoglobin. - B. any situation that causes vasoconstriction or loss of red blood cells, such as anemia or bleeding, may result in an inaccurate or misleading value. The electrical impulse generated by the heart originates in the: A. sinoatrial node. B. atrioventricular node. C. bundle of His. D. coronary sinus. - A. sinoatrial node. Which layer of the skin is composed of fatty tissue and serves as an insulator for the body? A. Epidermis B. Sebaceous C. Dermal D. Subcutaneous - D. Subcutaneous You are treating a middle-aged man with chest discomfort. He has a history of three previous heart attacks and takes nitroglycerin as needed for chest pain. You have standing orders to administer aspirin to patients with suspected cardiac- related chest pain or discomfort. While your partner is preparing to give oxygen to the patient, you should: A. assist the patient in taking only his nitroglycerin. Aspirin should not be given in conjunction with nitroglycerin. B. contact medical control, apprise him or her of the patient's chief complaint and vital signs, and request permission to give him aspirin. C. confirm that the patient is not allergic to aspirin, give him the appropriate dose of aspirin, and document the time and dose given. D. ensure that the patient's systolic blood pressure is at least 100 mm Hg as aspirin dilates the blood vessels and can cause a drop in blood pressure. - C. confirm that the patient is not allergic to aspirin, give him the appropriate dose of aspirin, and document the time and dose given. When assessing a 62-year-old female with crushing chest pain, you note that her pulse is rapid and irregular. You should administer supplemental oxygen if needed and then: A. apply the AED and analyze her cardiac rhythm. B. document your findings and perform a detailed assessment. C. conclude that the irregular pulse is normal based on her age. D. transport at once and consider requesting a paramedic unit. - D. transport at once and consider requesting a paramedic unit. A patient is sitting in a chair, leaning forward on his outstretched arms. His head and chin are thrust forward. This position indicates that he: A. is experiencing difficulty breathing. B. has a decreased level of consciousness. C. is experiencing severe back pain. D. has abdominal muscle spasms. - A. is experiencing difficulty breathing. Which of the following structures is NOT found in the upper airway? A. Larynx B. Pharynx C. Oropharynx D. Bronchus - D. Bronchus Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital? A. Expressed B. Implied C. Formal D. Informed - A. Expressed You are treating a man who was assaulted and has a closed head injury. The patient, who has slurred speech, becomes verbally abusive and tells you to leave him alone. You should: A. ask a police officer to transport the patient to the hospital. B. allow the patient to refuse treatment because the injury was not his fault. C. have the police arrest the patient so that you can legally begin treatment. D. proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement for assistance if necessary. - D. proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement for assistance if necessary. Relative to an adult's airway anatomy, the child's: A. tongue takes up less space in the pharynx. B. mouth and nose are proportionately larger. C. pharynx is smaller and less deeply curved. D. trachea is smaller, softer, and less flexible. - C. pharynx is smaller and less deeply curved. You are dispatched to an office building for a 49-year-old male with chest pain. When you arrive at the scene, you find the patient to be conscious and alert, but in obvious pain. He tells you that he did not call 9-1-1; a coworker did. He further states that he does not want to be treated or transported to the hospital. You should: A. err in the best interest of the patient and transport him at once. B. ensure that he is aware of the risks of refusing medical care. C. have him sign a refusal of care form and then return to service. D. tell him that he is having a heart attack and needs medical care. - B. ensure that he is aware of the risks of refusing medical care. You respond to a call for an unknown emergency. When you arrive at the scene, the patient's husband meets you at the door and states that his wife has been depressed and has locked herself in an upstairs bedroom. He further tells you that he keeps his handgun in the bedroom. You should: A. remain in a safe place and request law enforcement. B. ask the husband to attempt to reason with his wife. C. get in your ambulance and leave the scene immediately. D. go upstairs with caution and attempt to talk to the patient. - A. remain in a safe place and request law enforcement. A 23-year-old male experienced severe head trauma after his motorcycle collided with an oncoming truck. He is unconscious, has rapid and shallow breathing, and has copious bloody secretions in his mouth. How should you manage his airway? A. Provide continuous ventilations with a bag-valve mask to minimize hypoxia. B. Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning with 2 minutes of assisted ventilation. C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and provide suction and assisted ventilations. D. Suction his oropharynx with a rigid catheter until all secretions are removed. - B. Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning with 2 minutes of assisted ventilation. A crackling sound produced by air bubbles under the skin is called: A. Korotkoff sounds. B. subcutaneous emphysema. C. crepitus D. rhonchi. - B. subcutaneous emphysema. The diaphragm is unique because it: A. is the exclusive muscle of breathing. B. does not receive impulses from the brain. C. does not have striations like skeletal muscle. D. is both a voluntary and an involuntary muscle. - D. is both a voluntary and an involuntary muscle. A diabetic patient has polydipsia. This means that she: A. is excessively thirsty. B. has low blood sugar. C. urinates frequently. D. is unable to swallow. - A. is excessively thirsty. The is a muscular dome that forms the inferior boundary of the thorax, separating the thorax from the abdomen. A. diaphragm B. mediastinum C. costovertebral angle D. costal arch - A. diaphragm The most basic functions of the body, such as breathing, blood pressure, and swallowing, are controlled by the: A. cerebral cortex. B. cerebrum. C. cerebellum. D. brain stem. - D. brain stem. How does respiration differ from ventilation? A. Respiration is the process of gas exchange, whereas ventilation is the movement of air between the lungs and the environment. B. Ventilation occurs when air is forced into the lungs, whereas respiration occurs when air is drawn or sucked into the lungs. C. Respiration occurs when oxygen is delivered to the cells of the body, whereas ventilation occurs when carbon dioxide is removed. D. Respiration occurs when the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, whereas ventilation occurs when those same muscles relax. - A. Respiration is the process of gas exchange, whereas ventilation is the movement of air between the lungs and the environment.