Fisdap Medical Exam Questions and Answers| New Update Guaranteed Success
When you arrive at a residence for a man who is "not acting right," you enter the house and
find him sitting on his couch. Which of the
following findings would be MOST indicative of an altered mental status?
A) Odor of alcohol
B) Closed eyes
C) Tired appearance
D) Slurred speech D) Slurred speech
Often, an altered mental status can be difficult to assess, especially if you do not know how the
patient normally acts. However, there are key findings that
should increase your index of suspicion. An abnormal speech pattern, such as slurring or
incoherent words, can be the result of a diabetic problem, alcohol
intoxication, or drug ingestion. All of these can cause an altered mental status. The odor of
alcohol suggests intoxication as a potential cause of his problem,
but cannot be quantified. Just because the patient's eyes are closed or he has a tired
appearance, does not necessarily indicate that he has an altered mental
status.
A young woman reports significant weight loss over the last month, persistent fever, and night
sweats. When you assess her, you note the
presence of dark purple lesions covering her trunk and upper extremities. You should suspect:
A) HIV infection.
,B) tuberculosis.
C) rheumatic fever.
D) end-stage cancer. A) HIV infection.
Weight loss, fever, and night sweats could indicate tuberculosis or HIV infection that has
progressed to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS);
however, the dark purple lesions on the skin, which are called Kaposi's sarcoma, are malignant
skin tumors and are a classic finding in patients in the later
stages of AIDS.
A 19-year-old man is experiencing hallucinations and paranoia after abusing an unknown
substance. His heart rate is 170 beats/min, he
complains of a headache, and he is experiencing muscle twitching. Which of the fo llowing
substances would MOST likely explain his
presentation?
A) Heroin
B) Bath salts
C) Ketamine
D)Valium B) Bath salts
Of the drugs listed, the patient's clinical presentation is the most consistent with use of
synthetic cathinones (bath salts). Bath salts, not to be confused with
,products such as Epsom salt, are a class of drugs similar to MDMA (ecstasy). Cloud Nine and
Ivory Wave are common streets names for bath salts. Bath salts
produce euphoria, increased mental clarity, and sexual arousal. Most users snort the drug.
Adverse effects include teeth grinding, loss of appetite, muscle
twitching, lip -smacking, confusion, paranoia, headache, tachycardia, and hallucinations. Heroin
(an opioid) and Valium (a benzodiazepine) are both central
nervous system depressant drugs; therefore, they would not explain the patient's presentation.
Ketamine (Ketalar) is a sedative-hypnotic drug; it would not
explain the patient's signs and symptoms.
Unresponsiveness, shallow breathing, and constricted pupils are indicative of which type of
drug overdose?
A) Narcotic
B) Marijuana
C) Barbiturate
D) Amphetamine A) Narcotic
Signs of a narcotic (opiate/opioid) overdose from drugs such as heroin, morphine (Astromorph,
Duramorph), meperidine (Demerol), and codeine include
altered mental status; slow, shallow breathing; pupillary constriction (miosis), hypotension; and
bradycardia. Narcotics are central nervous system
depressants that, when taken in excess, suppress the vital functions necessary for life, such as
breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Barbiturates
, produce the same effects; however, the pupils are typically dilated (mydriasis), not constricted.
Marijuana and amphetamine drugs are central nervous system
stimulants and, therefore, would cause the patient to become restless or even combative.
A man is experiencing a severe allergic reaction after being stung by a scorpion. He does not
have his own epinephrine; however, his wife is allergic to bees and has a prescribed
epinephrine auto-injector. You should:
A) provide rapid transport and consider an ALS intercept.
B) assist the patient with the wife's prescribed epinephrine.
C) administer an oral antihistamine and transport without delay.
D) request an ALS unit to respond to the scene to administer epinephrine. A) provide
rapid transport and consider an ALS intercept.
If a patient does not have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector and is experiencing a severe
allergic reaction, you should administer supplemental oxygen,
assist the patient's ventilations if needed, and transport without delay. Closely monitor the
patient's airway and breathing status en route and coordinate an
ALS intercept if possible. If you carry an epinephrine auto-injector on your ambulance and your
protocols allow you to administer it, do so without delay.
Otherwise, the ALS unit will be able to administer epinephrine via the intramuscular or
intravenous route. Never assist a patient with a medication that is not
prescribed to him or her specifically. Antihistamines are given after epinephrine; in most
systems, EMTs are not authorized to dispense oral medications
other than glucose and aspirin.
When you arrive at a residence for a man who is "not acting right," you enter the house and
find him sitting on his couch. Which of the
following findings would be MOST indicative of an altered mental status?
A) Odor of alcohol
B) Closed eyes
C) Tired appearance
D) Slurred speech D) Slurred speech
Often, an altered mental status can be difficult to assess, especially if you do not know how the
patient normally acts. However, there are key findings that
should increase your index of suspicion. An abnormal speech pattern, such as slurring or
incoherent words, can be the result of a diabetic problem, alcohol
intoxication, or drug ingestion. All of these can cause an altered mental status. The odor of
alcohol suggests intoxication as a potential cause of his problem,
but cannot be quantified. Just because the patient's eyes are closed or he has a tired
appearance, does not necessarily indicate that he has an altered mental
status.
A young woman reports significant weight loss over the last month, persistent fever, and night
sweats. When you assess her, you note the
presence of dark purple lesions covering her trunk and upper extremities. You should suspect:
A) HIV infection.
,B) tuberculosis.
C) rheumatic fever.
D) end-stage cancer. A) HIV infection.
Weight loss, fever, and night sweats could indicate tuberculosis or HIV infection that has
progressed to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS);
however, the dark purple lesions on the skin, which are called Kaposi's sarcoma, are malignant
skin tumors and are a classic finding in patients in the later
stages of AIDS.
A 19-year-old man is experiencing hallucinations and paranoia after abusing an unknown
substance. His heart rate is 170 beats/min, he
complains of a headache, and he is experiencing muscle twitching. Which of the fo llowing
substances would MOST likely explain his
presentation?
A) Heroin
B) Bath salts
C) Ketamine
D)Valium B) Bath salts
Of the drugs listed, the patient's clinical presentation is the most consistent with use of
synthetic cathinones (bath salts). Bath salts, not to be confused with
,products such as Epsom salt, are a class of drugs similar to MDMA (ecstasy). Cloud Nine and
Ivory Wave are common streets names for bath salts. Bath salts
produce euphoria, increased mental clarity, and sexual arousal. Most users snort the drug.
Adverse effects include teeth grinding, loss of appetite, muscle
twitching, lip -smacking, confusion, paranoia, headache, tachycardia, and hallucinations. Heroin
(an opioid) and Valium (a benzodiazepine) are both central
nervous system depressant drugs; therefore, they would not explain the patient's presentation.
Ketamine (Ketalar) is a sedative-hypnotic drug; it would not
explain the patient's signs and symptoms.
Unresponsiveness, shallow breathing, and constricted pupils are indicative of which type of
drug overdose?
A) Narcotic
B) Marijuana
C) Barbiturate
D) Amphetamine A) Narcotic
Signs of a narcotic (opiate/opioid) overdose from drugs such as heroin, morphine (Astromorph,
Duramorph), meperidine (Demerol), and codeine include
altered mental status; slow, shallow breathing; pupillary constriction (miosis), hypotension; and
bradycardia. Narcotics are central nervous system
depressants that, when taken in excess, suppress the vital functions necessary for life, such as
breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Barbiturates
, produce the same effects; however, the pupils are typically dilated (mydriasis), not constricted.
Marijuana and amphetamine drugs are central nervous system
stimulants and, therefore, would cause the patient to become restless or even combative.
A man is experiencing a severe allergic reaction after being stung by a scorpion. He does not
have his own epinephrine; however, his wife is allergic to bees and has a prescribed
epinephrine auto-injector. You should:
A) provide rapid transport and consider an ALS intercept.
B) assist the patient with the wife's prescribed epinephrine.
C) administer an oral antihistamine and transport without delay.
D) request an ALS unit to respond to the scene to administer epinephrine. A) provide
rapid transport and consider an ALS intercept.
If a patient does not have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector and is experiencing a severe
allergic reaction, you should administer supplemental oxygen,
assist the patient's ventilations if needed, and transport without delay. Closely monitor the
patient's airway and breathing status en route and coordinate an
ALS intercept if possible. If you carry an epinephrine auto-injector on your ambulance and your
protocols allow you to administer it, do so without delay.
Otherwise, the ALS unit will be able to administer epinephrine via the intramuscular or
intravenous route. Never assist a patient with a medication that is not
prescribed to him or her specifically. Antihistamines are given after epinephrine; in most
systems, EMTs are not authorized to dispense oral medications
other than glucose and aspirin.
