Paramedic Final Exam Review
Questions with Correct Answers
You are dispatched to a residence at 3:00 AM for a 39-year-old man with signs of a
common cold. What should you do when caring for this patient? - ANSWERSA) After
ruling out any significant findings, educate the patient and tactfully discuss why a cold is
not an emergency.
B) Realize that this clearly is not a call to which you should have been dispatched.
C) Advise the patient that this is not an emergency and obtain a signed refusal.
D) Tell the patient to schedule an appointment with his physician the next day.
You arrive at a convenience store to find a middle-aged male in cardiac arrest. Your
protocols provide for standing orders in this type of scenario. This means that you
should: - ANSWERSA) contact medical control before providing advanced-level care.
B) perform certain interventions prior to contacting medical control.
C) begin CPR and then contact medical control for further direction.
D) pronounce the patient dead if there is no response after 10 minutes.
EMS protocol development, training methodologies, and equipment use decisions
should be based on: - ANSWERSA) evidence.
B)experience.
C)personal opinion.
D)public preference.
A critical incident is defined as: - ANSWERSA)a delayed stress reaction to an incident
that is similar to what has been experienced in the past.
B)a situation that completely incapacitates a person's ability to cope with the acute
stress reaction at the scene.
C) any incident that completely overwhelms a paramedic's ability to manage the short-
term stress caused by the incident.
D) an incident that overwhelms the ability of an EMS worker or system to cope with the
experience, either at the scene or later.
When caring for a confused elderly patient, it is essential for the paramedic to: -
ANSWERSA) request that the family member leave the patient.
B) explain what he or she is doing at all times.
C) recognize that this is normal in elderly people.
D) avoid talking to the patient to minimize anxiety
As a part of your personal health assessment, you should: - ANSWERSA)see your
personal physician at least every 6 months.
B)have your cholesterol checked every 3 or 4 months.
C) consider hereditary factors that can impact your health.
,D) have a routine colonoscopy beginning at age 25 years.
If a patient with a possible heart attack asks you if he or she is going to die, you should:
- ANSWERSA) avoid answering the question and redirect the patient's thought process.
B) advise him or her that only a licensed physician can answer this question.
C)acknowledge the seriousness of the situation without taking away all hope.
D) be honest and forthcoming by stating that the situation does not look good.
While caring for a critically injured patient at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, an
emergency physician bystander stops at the scene to assist. Which of the following
procedures performed by the physician would require the physician to accompany the
patient to the hospital in the ambulance? - ANSWERSA) ECG interpretation
B) Pericardiocentesis
C) Orotracheal intubation
D) Intraosseous cannulation
Which of the following represents what a reasonable paramedic in a similar situation
would do? - ANSWERSA)Scope of practice
B) Standard of care
C) Wishes of the family
D) Medical
Which of the following patients is an emancipated minor? - ANSWERSA) 17-year-old
man who works more than 20 hours a week
B) 16-year-old woman who lives with her boyfriend
C) 17-year-old woman who goes to college and lives with her parents
D) 17-year-old woman who has a child, lives on her own, and is financially independent
The wrongful act that gives rise to a civil suit is called: - ANSWERSA) tort.
B) damage.
C) liability.
D) negligence.
When an ambulance collides with a citizen's vehicle at an intersection: - ANSWERSA) it
is because the citizen failed to yield the right of way.
B) the driver of the ambulance may be charged criminally.
C) most state laws provide immunity to the EMS vehicle.
D) EMS providers are rarely found at fault in civil lawsuits.
If a patient makes a decision regarding his or her own health care and the paramedic
does not agree with that decision, the paramedic should: - ANSWERSA) ensure that the
EMS medical director agrees with the patient's decision.
B) accept the patient's decision, but advise him or her that you do not agree.
C) try to convince the patient that the decision is not in his or her best interest.
D) respect the patient's wishes, assuming he or she has decision-making capacity.
, Informed consent involves: - ANSWERSA) carefully explaining the potential
ramifications of refusing emergency medical treatment.
B) ensuring that a patient understands the potential risks involved in performing a
particular procedure.
C) a patient verbally expressing his or her wishes for you to proceed with emergency
medical treatment.
D) explaining the rationale for an invasive procedure to a patient after you have already
performed it.
If a conscious patient with decision-making capacity refuses care for a potentially life-
threatening condition: - ANSWERSA) you must begin lifesaving treatment at once.
B) he or she cannot be treated without a court order.
C) implied consent will allow you to treat the patient.
D) medical direction can overrule the patients decision
Which of the following is a required element needed to prove negligence? -
ANSWERSA) The paramedic committed a breach of duty.
B) The patient's condition was life threatening.
C) The paramedic was not on duty.
D) An act of omission did not cause of the patient's injury.
Which of the following statements regarding a psychiatric patient who is refusing
transport is correct? - ANSWERSA) Medical control has the authority to order
paramedics to forcibly restrain and transport any psychiatric patient.
B) If the patient's life is not in danger, only a police officer can authorize paramedics to
restrain and transport the patient.
C) It is generally agreed that any psychiatric patient should be transported against his or
her will for evaluation by a psychiatrist.
D) Family members can authorize involuntary commitment, including forcibly
transporting the patient against his or her will.
The first rule of medical practice is to: - ANSWERSA) do no harm.
B) provide medical care.
C) maintain a sympathetic attitude.
D) recognize critically ill patients.
Which of the following words can be easily missed in transmission? - ANSWERSA) Yes
B) negative
C) affirmative
D) received
A backup communication system is especially critical when dealing with: - ANSWERSA)
mass-casualty incidents.
B) motor vehicle collisions.
C) simultaneous EMS calls.
D) any critically injured patient.
Questions with Correct Answers
You are dispatched to a residence at 3:00 AM for a 39-year-old man with signs of a
common cold. What should you do when caring for this patient? - ANSWERSA) After
ruling out any significant findings, educate the patient and tactfully discuss why a cold is
not an emergency.
B) Realize that this clearly is not a call to which you should have been dispatched.
C) Advise the patient that this is not an emergency and obtain a signed refusal.
D) Tell the patient to schedule an appointment with his physician the next day.
You arrive at a convenience store to find a middle-aged male in cardiac arrest. Your
protocols provide for standing orders in this type of scenario. This means that you
should: - ANSWERSA) contact medical control before providing advanced-level care.
B) perform certain interventions prior to contacting medical control.
C) begin CPR and then contact medical control for further direction.
D) pronounce the patient dead if there is no response after 10 minutes.
EMS protocol development, training methodologies, and equipment use decisions
should be based on: - ANSWERSA) evidence.
B)experience.
C)personal opinion.
D)public preference.
A critical incident is defined as: - ANSWERSA)a delayed stress reaction to an incident
that is similar to what has been experienced in the past.
B)a situation that completely incapacitates a person's ability to cope with the acute
stress reaction at the scene.
C) any incident that completely overwhelms a paramedic's ability to manage the short-
term stress caused by the incident.
D) an incident that overwhelms the ability of an EMS worker or system to cope with the
experience, either at the scene or later.
When caring for a confused elderly patient, it is essential for the paramedic to: -
ANSWERSA) request that the family member leave the patient.
B) explain what he or she is doing at all times.
C) recognize that this is normal in elderly people.
D) avoid talking to the patient to minimize anxiety
As a part of your personal health assessment, you should: - ANSWERSA)see your
personal physician at least every 6 months.
B)have your cholesterol checked every 3 or 4 months.
C) consider hereditary factors that can impact your health.
,D) have a routine colonoscopy beginning at age 25 years.
If a patient with a possible heart attack asks you if he or she is going to die, you should:
- ANSWERSA) avoid answering the question and redirect the patient's thought process.
B) advise him or her that only a licensed physician can answer this question.
C)acknowledge the seriousness of the situation without taking away all hope.
D) be honest and forthcoming by stating that the situation does not look good.
While caring for a critically injured patient at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, an
emergency physician bystander stops at the scene to assist. Which of the following
procedures performed by the physician would require the physician to accompany the
patient to the hospital in the ambulance? - ANSWERSA) ECG interpretation
B) Pericardiocentesis
C) Orotracheal intubation
D) Intraosseous cannulation
Which of the following represents what a reasonable paramedic in a similar situation
would do? - ANSWERSA)Scope of practice
B) Standard of care
C) Wishes of the family
D) Medical
Which of the following patients is an emancipated minor? - ANSWERSA) 17-year-old
man who works more than 20 hours a week
B) 16-year-old woman who lives with her boyfriend
C) 17-year-old woman who goes to college and lives with her parents
D) 17-year-old woman who has a child, lives on her own, and is financially independent
The wrongful act that gives rise to a civil suit is called: - ANSWERSA) tort.
B) damage.
C) liability.
D) negligence.
When an ambulance collides with a citizen's vehicle at an intersection: - ANSWERSA) it
is because the citizen failed to yield the right of way.
B) the driver of the ambulance may be charged criminally.
C) most state laws provide immunity to the EMS vehicle.
D) EMS providers are rarely found at fault in civil lawsuits.
If a patient makes a decision regarding his or her own health care and the paramedic
does not agree with that decision, the paramedic should: - ANSWERSA) ensure that the
EMS medical director agrees with the patient's decision.
B) accept the patient's decision, but advise him or her that you do not agree.
C) try to convince the patient that the decision is not in his or her best interest.
D) respect the patient's wishes, assuming he or she has decision-making capacity.
, Informed consent involves: - ANSWERSA) carefully explaining the potential
ramifications of refusing emergency medical treatment.
B) ensuring that a patient understands the potential risks involved in performing a
particular procedure.
C) a patient verbally expressing his or her wishes for you to proceed with emergency
medical treatment.
D) explaining the rationale for an invasive procedure to a patient after you have already
performed it.
If a conscious patient with decision-making capacity refuses care for a potentially life-
threatening condition: - ANSWERSA) you must begin lifesaving treatment at once.
B) he or she cannot be treated without a court order.
C) implied consent will allow you to treat the patient.
D) medical direction can overrule the patients decision
Which of the following is a required element needed to prove negligence? -
ANSWERSA) The paramedic committed a breach of duty.
B) The patient's condition was life threatening.
C) The paramedic was not on duty.
D) An act of omission did not cause of the patient's injury.
Which of the following statements regarding a psychiatric patient who is refusing
transport is correct? - ANSWERSA) Medical control has the authority to order
paramedics to forcibly restrain and transport any psychiatric patient.
B) If the patient's life is not in danger, only a police officer can authorize paramedics to
restrain and transport the patient.
C) It is generally agreed that any psychiatric patient should be transported against his or
her will for evaluation by a psychiatrist.
D) Family members can authorize involuntary commitment, including forcibly
transporting the patient against his or her will.
The first rule of medical practice is to: - ANSWERSA) do no harm.
B) provide medical care.
C) maintain a sympathetic attitude.
D) recognize critically ill patients.
Which of the following words can be easily missed in transmission? - ANSWERSA) Yes
B) negative
C) affirmative
D) received
A backup communication system is especially critical when dealing with: - ANSWERSA)
mass-casualty incidents.
B) motor vehicle collisions.
C) simultaneous EMS calls.
D) any critically injured patient.
