EMR FINAL EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALE
1. A patient is found unresponsive, not breathing, and has no pulse.
After activating EMS, what is your next action?
A) Apply oxygen at 15 LPM via non-rebreather
B) Begin high-quality CPR ✓
C) Check for a carotid pulse for 20 seconds
D) Place the patient in the recovery position
Rationale: CPR must begin immediately after confirming no pulse and
no breathing. High-quality CPR maintains circulation until an AED or
advanced care arrives. Oxygen and recovery position are not priorities
in cardiac arrest.
2. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single
rescuer adult CPR?
A) 15:2
B) 30:2 ✓
C) 30:1
D) 15:1
,Rationale: AHA guidelines for adult single rescuer CPR require 30 chest
compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. 15:2 is for two-rescuer
infant/child; 30:1 or 15:1 are outdated or incorrect.
3. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the primary
assessment?
A) To gather a detailed medical history
B) To identify and treat life-threatening conditions ✓
C) To determine the patient’s transport priority
D) To check for baseline vital signs
Rationale: The primary assessment (ABCs with life threats) focuses on
immediate life threats. Detailed history, transport priority, and baseline
vitals come later (secondary assessment).
4. A 45-year-old complains of chest pressure, nausea, and shortness of
breath. What is the most likely cause?
A) Hyperventilation syndrome
B) Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) ✓
C) Severe anxiety attack
D) Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Chest pressure with nausea and dyspnea is classic for ACS
(heart attack). While anxiety and PE can mimic, ACS is the most
common life threat requiring immediate EMR action.
,5. You are alone and find an unresponsive child (5 years old). After
checking for breathing and a pulse for no more than 10 seconds, you
find a pulse of 50/min but no normal breathing. What should you do?
A) Begin CPR with 30:2
B) Give rescue breaths at 1 every 6 seconds ✓
C) Apply AED immediately
D) Place in recovery position
Rationale: A pulse <60/min with poor perfusion (absent normal
breathing) in a child requires rescue breathing (1 breath every 6
seconds) and reassess pulse every 2 minutes. CPR is for no pulse; AED is
for cardiac arrest.
6. In an adult, agonal respirations are a sign of:
A) Partial airway obstruction
B) Cardiac arrest ✓
C) Diabetic ketoacidosis
D) Seizure activity
Rationale: Agonal breathing (irregular, gasping) is not effective
breathing and is a sign of cardiac arrest. Treat as no breathing and start
CPR.
7. When performing the jaw-thrust maneuver without head tilt, you
are:
A) Opening the airway of a trauma patient with suspected spinal
injury ✓
B) Clearing a foreign body airway obstruction
, C) Hyperextending the neck for better ventilation
D) Performing cricoid pressure
Rationale: The jaw-thrust is indicated for trauma patients with possible
cervical spine injury to open the airway without moving the neck. Head
tilt–chin lift is used in non-trauma.
8. An EMR’s first action at a scene involving a downed power line is to:
A) Use a dry wooden stick to move the wire
B) Ensure scene safety by maintaining distance ✓
C) Begin CPR immediately
D) Cut the wire with insulated cutters
Rationale: Scene safety is paramount. EMRs must not touch the patient
until power is confirmed off. Moving wires or approaching risks
electrocution. Wait for utility or advanced providers.
9. Which of the following is a sign of compensated shock?
A) Weak, thready pulse
B) Systolic BP <90 mmHg
C) Anxiety and rapid heart rate ✓
D) Absent peripheral pulses
Rationale: In compensated shock, the body maintains BP but shows
tachycardia and anxiety. Weak pulse, hypotension, and absent
peripheral pulses occur in decompensated shock.
QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALE
1. A patient is found unresponsive, not breathing, and has no pulse.
After activating EMS, what is your next action?
A) Apply oxygen at 15 LPM via non-rebreather
B) Begin high-quality CPR ✓
C) Check for a carotid pulse for 20 seconds
D) Place the patient in the recovery position
Rationale: CPR must begin immediately after confirming no pulse and
no breathing. High-quality CPR maintains circulation until an AED or
advanced care arrives. Oxygen and recovery position are not priorities
in cardiac arrest.
2. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single
rescuer adult CPR?
A) 15:2
B) 30:2 ✓
C) 30:1
D) 15:1
,Rationale: AHA guidelines for adult single rescuer CPR require 30 chest
compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. 15:2 is for two-rescuer
infant/child; 30:1 or 15:1 are outdated or incorrect.
3. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the primary
assessment?
A) To gather a detailed medical history
B) To identify and treat life-threatening conditions ✓
C) To determine the patient’s transport priority
D) To check for baseline vital signs
Rationale: The primary assessment (ABCs with life threats) focuses on
immediate life threats. Detailed history, transport priority, and baseline
vitals come later (secondary assessment).
4. A 45-year-old complains of chest pressure, nausea, and shortness of
breath. What is the most likely cause?
A) Hyperventilation syndrome
B) Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) ✓
C) Severe anxiety attack
D) Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Chest pressure with nausea and dyspnea is classic for ACS
(heart attack). While anxiety and PE can mimic, ACS is the most
common life threat requiring immediate EMR action.
,5. You are alone and find an unresponsive child (5 years old). After
checking for breathing and a pulse for no more than 10 seconds, you
find a pulse of 50/min but no normal breathing. What should you do?
A) Begin CPR with 30:2
B) Give rescue breaths at 1 every 6 seconds ✓
C) Apply AED immediately
D) Place in recovery position
Rationale: A pulse <60/min with poor perfusion (absent normal
breathing) in a child requires rescue breathing (1 breath every 6
seconds) and reassess pulse every 2 minutes. CPR is for no pulse; AED is
for cardiac arrest.
6. In an adult, agonal respirations are a sign of:
A) Partial airway obstruction
B) Cardiac arrest ✓
C) Diabetic ketoacidosis
D) Seizure activity
Rationale: Agonal breathing (irregular, gasping) is not effective
breathing and is a sign of cardiac arrest. Treat as no breathing and start
CPR.
7. When performing the jaw-thrust maneuver without head tilt, you
are:
A) Opening the airway of a trauma patient with suspected spinal
injury ✓
B) Clearing a foreign body airway obstruction
, C) Hyperextending the neck for better ventilation
D) Performing cricoid pressure
Rationale: The jaw-thrust is indicated for trauma patients with possible
cervical spine injury to open the airway without moving the neck. Head
tilt–chin lift is used in non-trauma.
8. An EMR’s first action at a scene involving a downed power line is to:
A) Use a dry wooden stick to move the wire
B) Ensure scene safety by maintaining distance ✓
C) Begin CPR immediately
D) Cut the wire with insulated cutters
Rationale: Scene safety is paramount. EMRs must not touch the patient
until power is confirmed off. Moving wires or approaching risks
electrocution. Wait for utility or advanced providers.
9. Which of the following is a sign of compensated shock?
A) Weak, thready pulse
B) Systolic BP <90 mmHg
C) Anxiety and rapid heart rate ✓
D) Absent peripheral pulses
Rationale: In compensated shock, the body maintains BP but shows
tachycardia and anxiety. Weak pulse, hypotension, and absent
peripheral pulses occur in decompensated shock.
