AMLS Post-Test 2024/2025 – 100%
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1. A 45-year-old male is found supine with pinpoint pupils, shallow respirations, and
vomitus around the mouth. What is the priority intervention?
A) Initiate IV and administer naloxone
B) Provide supplemental oxygen and suction
C) Obtain a blood glucose level
D) Begin bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilations
B) Provide supplemental oxygen and suction
Rationale: Pinpoint pupils and shallow respirations suggest opioid overdose. Suctioning
and oxygen administration ensure airway patency and oxygenation, which are immediate
priorities per AMLS protocols.
2. A 65-year-old female reports aching chest pain for several days and a temperature
of 38.3°C (100.9°F). Which finding confirms pericarditis?
A) Pain relieved when supine
B) Pulsus alternans on assessment
C) S3 gallop on auscultation
D) Global ST-segment elevation on ECG
D) Global ST-segment elevation on ECG
Rationale: Global ST-segment elevation is a hallmark of pericarditis due to epicardial
inflammation, per AMLS protocols. Other findings are not specific to pericarditis.
3. A client with COPD presents with acute shortness of breath. What condition is most
likely?
A) Pulmonary embolism
B) Angina pectoris
C) Angioedema
D) Hypertensive crisis
A) Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Acute onset of shortness of breath in COPD clients often indicates pulmonary
embolism due to hypercoagulability, per AMLS protocols.
4. During compensatory shock, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system causes:
A) Increased preload, afterload, and sodium reabsorption
B) Decreased preload, afterload, and sodium reabsorption
C) Hypotension and bradycardia
D) Vasodilation and sodium retention
, 2
A) Increased preload, afterload, and sodium reabsorption
Rationale: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system increases vasoconstriction and
sodium retention to maintain blood pressure in compensatory shock, per AMLS
protocols.
5. Which condition is most likely to cause respiratory acidosis?
A) Anxiety/panic attack
B) Narcotic overdose
C) Methanol ingestion
D) Diabetic ketoacidosis
B) Narcotic overdose
Rationale: Narcotic overdose causes respiratory depression, leading to CO2 retention
and respiratory acidosis, per AMLS protocols.
6. A 50-year-old female reports shortness of breath and chest discomfort with pale,
moist, cool skin. Vital signs: BP 102/68, R 24, P 130. What type of shock is likely?
A) Hypovolemic
B) Cardiogenic
C) Neurogenic
D) Anaphylactic
B) Cardiogenic
Rationale: Crackles and tachycardia suggest cardiogenic shock due to heart failure, per
AMLS protocols. Other shocks present differently.
7. A 44-year-old female reports sudden sharp pain in her right flank radiating to the
groin. Vital signs: BP 152/94, P 104, R 16. What is the likely diagnosis?
A) Appendicitis
B) Kidney stones
C) Pancreatitis
D) Aortic dissection
B) Kidney stones
Rationale: Flank pain radiating to the groin with nausea is characteristic of kidney
stones, per AMLS protocols.
8. A 19-year-old female is flushed, itchy, and wheezing after eating crab legs. Vital
signs: BP 90/64, P 128, R 24. What is the first intervention?
A) Administer IV fluids
B) Provide supplemental oxygen
C) Administer epinephrine IM
D) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C) Administer epinephrine IM
Rationale: Symptoms suggest anaphylaxis; epinephrine IM is the first-line treatment, per
AMLS protocols.
9. A 26-year-old male has abdominal pain with rebound tenderness and guarding.
What type of pain is suspected?
A) Visceral
B) Somatic
C) Referred
D) Neuropathic
B) Somatic
, 3
Rationale: Rebound tenderness and guarding indicate somatic pain from peritoneal
irritation, per AMLS protocols.
10. A 27-year-old male is agitated with dilated pupils and reports being awake for 36
hours. Vital signs: BP 188/98, P 140, R 30. What overdose is suspected?
A) Opioid
B) Benzodiazepine
C) Bath salts
D) Alcohol
C) Bath salts
Rationale: Agitation, dilated pupils, and tachycardia suggest bath salts (synthetic
cathinones) overdose, per AMLS protocols.
11. A 30-year-old female reports chest tightness, shortness of breath, and non-
productive cough. What is the likely diagnosis?
A) Pneumonia
B) Asthma
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Myocardial infarction
B) Asthma
Rationale: Chest tightness and non-productive cough are common in asthma
exacerbations, per AMLS protocols.
12. A 2-year-old male is found chewing lily of the valley berries. Predicted vital signs
include:
A) BP 90/60, P 100
B) BP 70/50, P 70
C) BP 110/70, P 120
D) BP 80/50, P 90
B) BP 70/50, P 70
Rationale: Lily of the valley contains cardiac glycosides, causing bradycardia and
hypotension, per AMLS protocols.
13. A 22-year-old female is unresponsive with gray skin and respirations at 8/min. What
confirms opioid toxidrome?
A) Dilated pupils
B) Pinpoint pupils
C) Fever
D) Tachycardia
B) Pinpoint pupils
Rationale: Pinpoint pupils are a hallmark of opioid toxidrome, per AMLS protocols.
14. A 65-year-old female with renal failure is drowsy. Labs: pH 7.28, potassium 6.1
mEq/L. She goes into cardiac arrest. After epinephrine, what should be considered?
A) Sodium bicarbonate
B) Calcium chloride
C) Amiodarone
D) Magnesium sulfate
B) Calcium chloride
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium 6.1 mEq/L) can cause cardiac arrest; calcium
chloride stabilizes cardiac membranes, per AMLS protocols.