Emergency Medicine Exam Prep | Actual Questions and
Answers Latest Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
• Question
How long should a person wait for being triaged?
Correct Answer: 5 min
• Question
Goal of triage in a: 1.) non disaster 2.) disaster setting
Correct Answer: I. Non disaster: best care for each individual
II. patient
III. Disaster: most effective care for the greatest number of patients
• Question
What qualifies someone as a trauma patient? (7 things)
Correct Answer: I. 1. Airway compromise
II. 2. Penetrating wound to: a.) head b.) neck or c.) torso
III. 3. Unresponsive (GCS score < 8) w/ potential for multiple injuries
IV. 4. Shock (tachycardia, hypotensive)
V. 5. On coumadin (blood thinners)
VI. 6. Fall > 10 feet (especially in children)
VII. 7. Extreme Young (<5yo) or Old (>70 yo)
• Question
Questions to ask yourself when discharging a patient in the ER setting:
Correct Answer: I. "What is the worst case
II. scenario?"
III. "Why is that not the case here?"
IV. "What should I tell the patient to return with?"
V. "What happens if the patient doesn't follow up?" ie stitches
VI. "Can the patient actually follow up?"
(all of these questions should be summarized into one succinct sentence)
• Question
Specific things to include in your discharge instructions
Correct Answer: Specific: - Time
- Instructions
- Follow-up (make follow up for patient w/ PCP/specialist)
,• Question
What should you confirm with discharge instructions?
Correct Answer: That the patient UNDERSTANDS what they should do.
• Question
Normal breathing rates: infant, child, adult
Correct Answer: I. Infant: 30-60/min
II. Child: 15-30/min
III. Adult: 12-20/min
• Question
Signs of breathing problems
Correct Answer: 1. Inability to speak 2. Use of accessory muscles (neck, chest etc.)
Increased breathing rate 3. Skin color changes (cyanosis around lips or in fingers) 4.
Retraction (area btw neck and ribs or below ribs depresses upon inhalation) 5. Tripod
Position
• Question
Signs of breathing problems in children
Correct Answer: Nasal flaring Retractions (surpasternal or subcostal) See-saw breathing
Diaphragm is pulling so hard that the chest begins to cave in when struggling for breath
Diaphragmatic Breathing
• Question
What type of lung d/o is acutely reversible?
Correct Answer: asthma
• Question
What causes distress in asthma attacks?
Correct Answer: Muscle constriction Mucus production in lungs
• Question
What is a treatment summary of treating asthma exacerbations in ER?
Correct Answer: Duoneb x 3 + steroids
Just albuterol Magnesium
• Question
What does duoneb do to help breathing?
Correct Answer: Reduce muscle constriction
, • Question
What do steroids do to help breathing?
Correct Answer: Reduce inflammation (~1hr onset)
• Question
What does magnesium do to help breathing?
Correct Answer: Stabilize ion flow in the alveolar membrane
• Question
How do you make sure someone is using their duoneb correctly?
Correct Answer: Peak Flow Meter (80% = use inhaler; 50% = go to ER)
• Question
What is the most common cause of bronchitis?
Correct Answer: Viral pathogens
• Question
Therefore, do you give abx for bronchitis?
Correct Answer: NO - viral
• Question
How do you differentiate Bronchitis from Pneumonia in the ER?
Correct Answer: In bronchitis: CXR = negative (no fluffy infiltrates)
• Question
What will a patient with bronchitis usually say?
Correct Answer: "I have a fever, cough with sputum, and i'm wheezing a lot"
• Question
How do you treat bronchitis?
Correct Answer: Bronchodilators Steroids - reserve these for patients that are really
struggling to breathe Cough Suppressants
• Question
What do you have to check if you are giving someone steroids?
Correct Answer: Blood sugar → can cause bl glucose fluctuations
Answers Latest Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
• Question
How long should a person wait for being triaged?
Correct Answer: 5 min
• Question
Goal of triage in a: 1.) non disaster 2.) disaster setting
Correct Answer: I. Non disaster: best care for each individual
II. patient
III. Disaster: most effective care for the greatest number of patients
• Question
What qualifies someone as a trauma patient? (7 things)
Correct Answer: I. 1. Airway compromise
II. 2. Penetrating wound to: a.) head b.) neck or c.) torso
III. 3. Unresponsive (GCS score < 8) w/ potential for multiple injuries
IV. 4. Shock (tachycardia, hypotensive)
V. 5. On coumadin (blood thinners)
VI. 6. Fall > 10 feet (especially in children)
VII. 7. Extreme Young (<5yo) or Old (>70 yo)
• Question
Questions to ask yourself when discharging a patient in the ER setting:
Correct Answer: I. "What is the worst case
II. scenario?"
III. "Why is that not the case here?"
IV. "What should I tell the patient to return with?"
V. "What happens if the patient doesn't follow up?" ie stitches
VI. "Can the patient actually follow up?"
(all of these questions should be summarized into one succinct sentence)
• Question
Specific things to include in your discharge instructions
Correct Answer: Specific: - Time
- Instructions
- Follow-up (make follow up for patient w/ PCP/specialist)
,• Question
What should you confirm with discharge instructions?
Correct Answer: That the patient UNDERSTANDS what they should do.
• Question
Normal breathing rates: infant, child, adult
Correct Answer: I. Infant: 30-60/min
II. Child: 15-30/min
III. Adult: 12-20/min
• Question
Signs of breathing problems
Correct Answer: 1. Inability to speak 2. Use of accessory muscles (neck, chest etc.)
Increased breathing rate 3. Skin color changes (cyanosis around lips or in fingers) 4.
Retraction (area btw neck and ribs or below ribs depresses upon inhalation) 5. Tripod
Position
• Question
Signs of breathing problems in children
Correct Answer: Nasal flaring Retractions (surpasternal or subcostal) See-saw breathing
Diaphragm is pulling so hard that the chest begins to cave in when struggling for breath
Diaphragmatic Breathing
• Question
What type of lung d/o is acutely reversible?
Correct Answer: asthma
• Question
What causes distress in asthma attacks?
Correct Answer: Muscle constriction Mucus production in lungs
• Question
What is a treatment summary of treating asthma exacerbations in ER?
Correct Answer: Duoneb x 3 + steroids
Just albuterol Magnesium
• Question
What does duoneb do to help breathing?
Correct Answer: Reduce muscle constriction
, • Question
What do steroids do to help breathing?
Correct Answer: Reduce inflammation (~1hr onset)
• Question
What does magnesium do to help breathing?
Correct Answer: Stabilize ion flow in the alveolar membrane
• Question
How do you make sure someone is using their duoneb correctly?
Correct Answer: Peak Flow Meter (80% = use inhaler; 50% = go to ER)
• Question
What is the most common cause of bronchitis?
Correct Answer: Viral pathogens
• Question
Therefore, do you give abx for bronchitis?
Correct Answer: NO - viral
• Question
How do you differentiate Bronchitis from Pneumonia in the ER?
Correct Answer: In bronchitis: CXR = negative (no fluffy infiltrates)
• Question
What will a patient with bronchitis usually say?
Correct Answer: "I have a fever, cough with sputum, and i'm wheezing a lot"
• Question
How do you treat bronchitis?
Correct Answer: Bronchodilators Steroids - reserve these for patients that are really
struggling to breathe Cough Suppressants
• Question
What do you have to check if you are giving someone steroids?
Correct Answer: Blood sugar → can cause bl glucose fluctuations
