EMT TOXICOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES, PSYCHIATRIC
EMERGENCIES, GYNECOLOGIC EMERGENCIES: PRACTICE TEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1) The mental health care system in the US functions on several levels. For patients
with clinical depression, care is most often provided by:
A) a professional counselor
B) a psychologist
C) a psychiatrist
D) admission to a psychiatric unit -- Correct Answer ✔✔ B) a psychologist
2) From a mental health standpoint, an abnormal or disturbing pattern of behavior is a
matter of concern if it lasts for at least:
A) 3 weeks
B) 2 weeks
C) 1 month
D) 1 week -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C) 1 month
3) Which of the following terms applies to a state of delusion in which the patient is
out of touch with reality?
A) psychosis
B) agitated delirium
C) suicidal
D) schizophrenia -- Correct Answer ✔✔ A) psychosis
4) Signs of excited delirium include:
, Select one:
A) diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hallucinations
B) slurred speech, bradycardia, and a high fever
C) subdued behavior, crying, and suicidal thoughts
D) pallor, hypotension, and constricted pupils -- Correct Answer ✔✔ A)
diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hallucinations
5) A 40 y/o male intentionally cut his wrist out of anger after losing his job. Law
enforcement has secured the scene prior to your arrival. As you enter the
residence and visualize the patient, you can see that he has a towel around his wrist
and a moderate amount of blood has soaked through it. You should:
A) quickly tend to the bleeding wound
B) approach the patient with caution
C) calmly identify yourself to the patient
D) tell the patient you want to help -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C) calmly
identify yourself to the patient
6) Which of the following is an example of a psychiatric emergency?
A) a person going on a week-long "bender" after losing a job
B) a person who is experiencing a panic attack
C) a person who is depressed and no longer caring for himself
D) a person violently attacking family members -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D) a
person violently attacking family members
7) You are assessing a 45 y/o female who is severely depressed. She states that it
seems as though her entire world is crashing down around her. She further states
that she has had frequent thoughts of suicide, but is not sure if she can actually go
through with it. How should you manage this situation?
A) ask the patient if she has developed a suicidal plan
B) encourage the patient to remain quiet during transport
C) leave the scene and have a neighbor check in on her
, D) have law enforcement place her in protective custody -- Correct
Answer ✔✔ A) ask the patient if she has developed a suicidal plan
8) A general impression of the patient is formed by an EMT:
A) speaking with family members or bystanders first
B) speaking privately with the patient
C) when the patient is in the ambulance
D) at a distance when the patient is first seen -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D) at
a distance when the patient is first seen
9) Everyone exhibits some signs and symptoms of mental illness at some point in life
______.
A) and should be physically restrained for their own safety and the safety of
the EMT
B) because mental illness affects everyone
C) and needs medication administered to control them
D) but that does not mean a person is mentally ill -- Correct Answer ✔✔
D) but that does not mean a person is mentally ill
10) When a psychiatric emergency arises, a patient is most likely to exhibit which of
the following behaviors?
A) any behaviors that are a violent threat to the patient, EMTs, or others
B) any behaviors unacceptable to the patient, family, or community
C) disruptions to ADLs
D) visual or auditory hallucinations -- Correct Answer ✔✔ A) any behaviors
that are a violent threat to the patient, EMTs, or others
11) What is the most common misconception surrounding mental illness?
A) everyone has some form of mental illness
B) feeling "bad" or "depressed" means that you must be sick
C) many mental illnesses stem from drug or alcohol abuse
, D) all persons with mental illness are physically violent and dangerous --
Correct Answer ✔✔ B) feeling "bad" or "depressed" means that you
must be sick
12) A 38 y/o male with a history of schizophrenia is reported by neighbors to be
screaming and throwing things in his house. You are familiar with the patient and
have cared for him in the past for unrelated problems. Law enforcement officers
escort you into the residence when you arrive. The patient tells you that he sees
vampires and is attempting to ward them off by screaming and throwing things at
them. He has several large lacerations to his forearms that are actively bleeding.
The MOST appropriate way to manage this situation is to:
A) approach the patient and calm him by placing your hand on his shoulder
B) try to gain the patient's trust by telling him you see the vampires too
C) restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to treat his injuries
D) request that police arrest him and take him to the hospital -- Correct
Answer ✔✔ C) restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to
treat his injuries
13) Which of the following is a good guideline for physical examination of any patient?
A) always work toe-to-head
B) examine extremities first
C) complete the physical exam first, then check the ABCs
D) avoid touching without permission -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D) avoid
touching without permission
14) You are attending to a 32 y/o male patient. His wife tells you that he returned from
Afghanistan last year. While he initially seemed fine, lately he has become
withdrawn and distanced himself from his family and friends. He does not talk
about it, but she knows that he has been having terrible nightmares that wake him
up. The most appropriate question to ask him regarding his experience in
Afghanistan is:
A) Were you in combat?
EMERGENCIES, GYNECOLOGIC EMERGENCIES: PRACTICE TEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1) The mental health care system in the US functions on several levels. For patients
with clinical depression, care is most often provided by:
A) a professional counselor
B) a psychologist
C) a psychiatrist
D) admission to a psychiatric unit -- Correct Answer ✔✔ B) a psychologist
2) From a mental health standpoint, an abnormal or disturbing pattern of behavior is a
matter of concern if it lasts for at least:
A) 3 weeks
B) 2 weeks
C) 1 month
D) 1 week -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C) 1 month
3) Which of the following terms applies to a state of delusion in which the patient is
out of touch with reality?
A) psychosis
B) agitated delirium
C) suicidal
D) schizophrenia -- Correct Answer ✔✔ A) psychosis
4) Signs of excited delirium include:
, Select one:
A) diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hallucinations
B) slurred speech, bradycardia, and a high fever
C) subdued behavior, crying, and suicidal thoughts
D) pallor, hypotension, and constricted pupils -- Correct Answer ✔✔ A)
diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hallucinations
5) A 40 y/o male intentionally cut his wrist out of anger after losing his job. Law
enforcement has secured the scene prior to your arrival. As you enter the
residence and visualize the patient, you can see that he has a towel around his wrist
and a moderate amount of blood has soaked through it. You should:
A) quickly tend to the bleeding wound
B) approach the patient with caution
C) calmly identify yourself to the patient
D) tell the patient you want to help -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C) calmly
identify yourself to the patient
6) Which of the following is an example of a psychiatric emergency?
A) a person going on a week-long "bender" after losing a job
B) a person who is experiencing a panic attack
C) a person who is depressed and no longer caring for himself
D) a person violently attacking family members -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D) a
person violently attacking family members
7) You are assessing a 45 y/o female who is severely depressed. She states that it
seems as though her entire world is crashing down around her. She further states
that she has had frequent thoughts of suicide, but is not sure if she can actually go
through with it. How should you manage this situation?
A) ask the patient if she has developed a suicidal plan
B) encourage the patient to remain quiet during transport
C) leave the scene and have a neighbor check in on her
, D) have law enforcement place her in protective custody -- Correct
Answer ✔✔ A) ask the patient if she has developed a suicidal plan
8) A general impression of the patient is formed by an EMT:
A) speaking with family members or bystanders first
B) speaking privately with the patient
C) when the patient is in the ambulance
D) at a distance when the patient is first seen -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D) at
a distance when the patient is first seen
9) Everyone exhibits some signs and symptoms of mental illness at some point in life
______.
A) and should be physically restrained for their own safety and the safety of
the EMT
B) because mental illness affects everyone
C) and needs medication administered to control them
D) but that does not mean a person is mentally ill -- Correct Answer ✔✔
D) but that does not mean a person is mentally ill
10) When a psychiatric emergency arises, a patient is most likely to exhibit which of
the following behaviors?
A) any behaviors that are a violent threat to the patient, EMTs, or others
B) any behaviors unacceptable to the patient, family, or community
C) disruptions to ADLs
D) visual or auditory hallucinations -- Correct Answer ✔✔ A) any behaviors
that are a violent threat to the patient, EMTs, or others
11) What is the most common misconception surrounding mental illness?
A) everyone has some form of mental illness
B) feeling "bad" or "depressed" means that you must be sick
C) many mental illnesses stem from drug or alcohol abuse
, D) all persons with mental illness are physically violent and dangerous --
Correct Answer ✔✔ B) feeling "bad" or "depressed" means that you
must be sick
12) A 38 y/o male with a history of schizophrenia is reported by neighbors to be
screaming and throwing things in his house. You are familiar with the patient and
have cared for him in the past for unrelated problems. Law enforcement officers
escort you into the residence when you arrive. The patient tells you that he sees
vampires and is attempting to ward them off by screaming and throwing things at
them. He has several large lacerations to his forearms that are actively bleeding.
The MOST appropriate way to manage this situation is to:
A) approach the patient and calm him by placing your hand on his shoulder
B) try to gain the patient's trust by telling him you see the vampires too
C) restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to treat his injuries
D) request that police arrest him and take him to the hospital -- Correct
Answer ✔✔ C) restrain the patient with appropriate force in order to
treat his injuries
13) Which of the following is a good guideline for physical examination of any patient?
A) always work toe-to-head
B) examine extremities first
C) complete the physical exam first, then check the ABCs
D) avoid touching without permission -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D) avoid
touching without permission
14) You are attending to a 32 y/o male patient. His wife tells you that he returned from
Afghanistan last year. While he initially seemed fine, lately he has become
withdrawn and distanced himself from his family and friends. He does not talk
about it, but she knows that he has been having terrible nightmares that wake him
up. The most appropriate question to ask him regarding his experience in
Afghanistan is:
A) Were you in combat?
