Critical Care Paramedic Exam Review Questions and Answers
Already Graded
Medication administration
Ans: Pinching the tubing above the medication port stops backflow and ensures the medication
moves toward the patient.
Endotracheal intubation position
Ans: The sniffing position aligns the airway axes for optimal visualization during intubation.
Wrist position relative to elbow
Ans: The wrist is distal to the elbow.
Sensory receptors for pH changes
Ans: Chemoreceptors detect blood chemistry changes, especially pH and CO₂.
Quiet breathing
Ans: Inspiration involves muscular contractions and expiration is passive during normal, relaxed
breathing.
Normal breathing movement
Ans: Eupnea is the term for normal breathing with active inhalation and passive exhalation.
Normal pH range
Ans: Blood pH is tightly controlled between 7.35 and 7.45 for metabolic function.
Anaphylactic shock characteristics
Ans: Anaphylactic shock causes systemic vasodilation and airway swelling.
Pulmonary edema classification
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,Ans: Cardiogenic shock leads to left-sided heart failure and fluid backup into the lungs.
Physiologic changes in tissue anoxia
Ans: Oxygen deprivation suppresses the Kreb's cycle and triggers anaerobic metabolism.
Shock or hypoperfusion definition
Ans: The fundamental problem in all types of shock is inadequate perfusion and oxygen delivery.
Body's response to shock
Ans: Volume loss reduces venous return and arterial pressure, impairing cardiac output.
Detection of arterial pressure decrease
Ans: Baroreceptors in the carotid sinuses and aortic arch detect pressure changes and trigger
compensatory responses.
Factors affecting cardiac output
Ans: Cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate.
Pericardial Tamponade
Ans: A condition that impedes forward blood flow, leading to obstructive shock.
Tension Pneumothorax
Ans: A condition that impedes forward blood flow, leading to obstructive shock.
Pulmonary Embolism
Ans: A condition that impedes forward blood flow, leading to obstructive shock.
Obstructive Shock
Ans: A type of shock characterized by impeded forward blood flow.
Late Progressive Stage of Shock
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,Ans: Indicated by a falling systolic blood pressure to <90 mm Hg.
Septic Shock
Ans: A type of shock classified as distributive due to peripheral vasodilation and capillary
permeability.
Alpha Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation
Ans: Causes vasoconstriction to raise blood pressure.
Beta Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation
Ans: Enhances inotropy, increases dromotropy, and causes bronchodilation, but does not cause
vasoconstriction.
Intravenous Therapy for Hypoperfusion
Ans: Helps treat hypoperfusion by increasing preload.
Neurogenic Shock
Ans: Least likely cause of hypotension, tachycardia, and absent radial pulses, often presents with
bradycardia and warm skin.
Classic Signs of Neurogenic Shock
Ans: Hypoperfusion, bradycardia, and warm, dry skin below the injury site following a traumatic
event.
Patient Privacy in Radio Reports
Ans: Patient's name should not be relayed to preserve privacy.
Systolic Blood Pressure
Ans: The pressure against the walls of blood vessels during ventricular contraction.
Nasopharyngeal Airway Advantage
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, Ans: It may be tolerated by many patients with a gag reflex.
Emergency Medical Dispatcher Role
Ans: Does not provide patient care instructions to EMS personnel on the scene.
Scope of practice
Ans: The scope of practice defines what an EMT can and cannot legally do.
Conflicting guardianship
Ans: Notify law enforcement in cases of conflicting guardianship during emergencies.
Patient's right to refuse care
Ans: Patients have the right to refuse, but must be fully informed of the risks and consequences.
Informed decision-making
Ans: Clearly state the risks of refusing care to ensure informed decision-making.
Immediate airway and ventilation support
Ans: Immediate airway and ventilation support are priorities in altered mental status with poor
breathing.
Nonrebreather mask oxygen delivery
Ans: A nonrebreather mask at 12-15 L/min delivers approximately 80-100% oxygen concentration.
Fight-or-flight response effects
Ans: High stress hormones may impair focus and concentration in emergencies.
Epidural hematoma deterioration
Ans: Epidural bleeds are typically arterial, causing rapid intracranial pressure increases.
Signs of traumatic brain injury
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
Already Graded
Medication administration
Ans: Pinching the tubing above the medication port stops backflow and ensures the medication
moves toward the patient.
Endotracheal intubation position
Ans: The sniffing position aligns the airway axes for optimal visualization during intubation.
Wrist position relative to elbow
Ans: The wrist is distal to the elbow.
Sensory receptors for pH changes
Ans: Chemoreceptors detect blood chemistry changes, especially pH and CO₂.
Quiet breathing
Ans: Inspiration involves muscular contractions and expiration is passive during normal, relaxed
breathing.
Normal breathing movement
Ans: Eupnea is the term for normal breathing with active inhalation and passive exhalation.
Normal pH range
Ans: Blood pH is tightly controlled between 7.35 and 7.45 for metabolic function.
Anaphylactic shock characteristics
Ans: Anaphylactic shock causes systemic vasodilation and airway swelling.
Pulmonary edema classification
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
,Ans: Cardiogenic shock leads to left-sided heart failure and fluid backup into the lungs.
Physiologic changes in tissue anoxia
Ans: Oxygen deprivation suppresses the Kreb's cycle and triggers anaerobic metabolism.
Shock or hypoperfusion definition
Ans: The fundamental problem in all types of shock is inadequate perfusion and oxygen delivery.
Body's response to shock
Ans: Volume loss reduces venous return and arterial pressure, impairing cardiac output.
Detection of arterial pressure decrease
Ans: Baroreceptors in the carotid sinuses and aortic arch detect pressure changes and trigger
compensatory responses.
Factors affecting cardiac output
Ans: Cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate.
Pericardial Tamponade
Ans: A condition that impedes forward blood flow, leading to obstructive shock.
Tension Pneumothorax
Ans: A condition that impedes forward blood flow, leading to obstructive shock.
Pulmonary Embolism
Ans: A condition that impedes forward blood flow, leading to obstructive shock.
Obstructive Shock
Ans: A type of shock characterized by impeded forward blood flow.
Late Progressive Stage of Shock
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
,Ans: Indicated by a falling systolic blood pressure to <90 mm Hg.
Septic Shock
Ans: A type of shock classified as distributive due to peripheral vasodilation and capillary
permeability.
Alpha Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation
Ans: Causes vasoconstriction to raise blood pressure.
Beta Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation
Ans: Enhances inotropy, increases dromotropy, and causes bronchodilation, but does not cause
vasoconstriction.
Intravenous Therapy for Hypoperfusion
Ans: Helps treat hypoperfusion by increasing preload.
Neurogenic Shock
Ans: Least likely cause of hypotension, tachycardia, and absent radial pulses, often presents with
bradycardia and warm skin.
Classic Signs of Neurogenic Shock
Ans: Hypoperfusion, bradycardia, and warm, dry skin below the injury site following a traumatic
event.
Patient Privacy in Radio Reports
Ans: Patient's name should not be relayed to preserve privacy.
Systolic Blood Pressure
Ans: The pressure against the walls of blood vessels during ventricular contraction.
Nasopharyngeal Airway Advantage
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
, Ans: It may be tolerated by many patients with a gag reflex.
Emergency Medical Dispatcher Role
Ans: Does not provide patient care instructions to EMS personnel on the scene.
Scope of practice
Ans: The scope of practice defines what an EMT can and cannot legally do.
Conflicting guardianship
Ans: Notify law enforcement in cases of conflicting guardianship during emergencies.
Patient's right to refuse care
Ans: Patients have the right to refuse, but must be fully informed of the risks and consequences.
Informed decision-making
Ans: Clearly state the risks of refusing care to ensure informed decision-making.
Immediate airway and ventilation support
Ans: Immediate airway and ventilation support are priorities in altered mental status with poor
breathing.
Nonrebreather mask oxygen delivery
Ans: A nonrebreather mask at 12-15 L/min delivers approximately 80-100% oxygen concentration.
Fight-or-flight response effects
Ans: High stress hormones may impair focus and concentration in emergencies.
Epidural hematoma deterioration
Ans: Epidural bleeds are typically arterial, causing rapid intracranial pressure increases.
Signs of traumatic brain injury
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
