AMLS Advanced Medical Life Support – Pretest & Post-Test Questions with Correct Answers (2024/2025)

AMLS Advanced Medical Life Support –
Pretest & Post-Test Questions with
Correct Answers (2024/2025)
Section 1: Airway Management and Respiratory
Emergencies
Question 1 (Multiple Choice)

A 45-year-old patient is found supine with pinpoint pupils, shallow respirations, and vomitus
around the mouth. What is the next course of action?

 A) Initiate an IV and administer naloxone
 B) Supplemental oxygen and suction
 C) Obtain a blood glucose level
 D) Begin BVM ventilations
 Answer: B. Supplemental oxygen and suction
 Rationale: Pinpoint pupils and shallow respirations suggest opioid overdose, but airway
management (suction and oxygen) is the priority to ensure patency before administering
naloxone.

Question 2 (Select All That Apply)

Which findings are most commonly associated with a pulmonary embolus? (Select all that
apply.)

 A) Clear breath sounds
 B) Tachypnea
 C) Wheezing
 D) Chest pain
 E) Hypotension
 Answers: A, B, D, E
 Rationale:
o A, B, D, E: Pulmonary embolus typically presents with clear breath sounds,
tachypnea, chest pain, and hypotension due to impaired pulmonary blood flow.
o C: Wheezing is more associated with asthma or COPD.

Question 3 (Multiple Choice)

What condition is most likely to cause respiratory acidosis?

,  A) Hyperventilation
 B) Narcotic overdose
 C) Fever
 D) Anxiety
 Answer: B. Narcotic overdose
 Rationale: Narcotics induce respiratory depression, leading to CO2 retention and
respiratory acidosis (AMLS Page 95).

Question 4 (Multiple Choice)

A 20-year-old female presents with dyspnea, non-productive cough, chest tightness, and audible
wheezing. What is the most likely diagnosis?

 A) Pulmonary embolism
 B) Asthma
 C) Pneumonia
 D) Heart failure
 Answer: B. Asthma
 Rationale: Dyspnea, chest tightness, and wheezing are textbook signs of asthma (AMLS
Page 83).

Question 5 (Multiple Choice)

Patients with a history of COPD presenting with acute shortness of breath are likely to have what
condition?

 A) Pulmonary embolism
 B) Angina pectoris
 C) Angioedema
 D) Hypertensive crisis
 Answer: A. Pulmonary embolism
 Rationale: Acute shortness of breath in COPD patients suggests pulmonary embolism
due to increased risk (AMLS Page 114).




Section 2: Cardiovascular Emergencies
Question 6 (Multiple Choice)

A 65-year-old female reports aching chest pain, progressively worse over days, with a
temperature of 38.3°C (100°F). What finding narrows the diagnosis to pericarditis?

 A) Localized ST elevation
 B) Global ST-segment elevation

,  C) Q waves
 D) T-wave inversion
 Answer: B. Global ST-segment elevation
 Rationale: Pericarditis is characterized by global ST-segment elevation on a 12-lead
ECG (AMLS Page 128).

Question 7 (Select All That Apply)

Which are signs of cardiogenic shock in a 50-year-old female with shortness of breath, pale,
moist, cool skin, BP 102/68, R 24, and crackles? (Select all that apply.)

 A) Pale, moist, cool skin
 B) Crackles on auscultation
 C) Hypotension
 D) Bradycardia
 E) Increased respiratory rate
 Answers: A, B, C, E
 Rationale:
o A, B, C, E: Pale, moist skin, crackles, hypotension, and tachypnea indicate
cardiogenic shock (AMLS Page 164).
o D: Bradycardia is not typical; tachycardia is common.

Question 8 (Multiple Choice)

What is the most likely cause of sharp pain in the right flank radiating to the groin in a 44-year-
old female with nausea, BP 152/94, P 104, R 16?

 A) Appendicitis
 B) Kidney stones
 C) Pancreatitis
 D) Aortic dissection
 Answer: B. Kidney stones
 Rationale: Sharp, radiating flank pain with nausea is characteristic of kidney stones.

Question 9 (Multiple Choice)

During compensatory shock, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is activated to cause:

 A) Increased preload and sodium reabsorption
 B) Decreased preload and afterload
 C) Increased heart rate
 D) Reduced blood volume
 Answer: A. Increased preload and sodium reabsorption
 Rationale: The RAAS increases sodium and water retention to maintain blood pressure
during shock (AMLS Page 146).