EMT-B Ch. 36 Test (Geriatric
Emergencies) questions and answers
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A productive cough, fever, and chills in an 80-year-old patient with a compromised immune
system should make you most suspicious for:
a. Pneumonia
b. Heart failure
c. Emphysema
d. Bronchitis - correct answer ✔✔ a. Pneumonia
An abdominal aortic aneurysm:
a. Can sometimes be palpated as a mass in the groin area
b. Causes dull pain that often radiates to the shoulders
c. Is often the result of hypertension and atherosclerosis
d. Is usually not repairable, even if discovered early - correct answer ✔✔ c. Is often the result of
hypertension and atherosclerosis
An elderly patient might understate or minimize the symptoms of his or her illness because:
a. He or she fears hospitalization
b. Of conditions such as dementia
c. Of decreased perception of pain
d. The nervous system has deteriorated - correct answer ✔✔ a. He or she fears hospitalization
Common causes of depression in the elderly include all of the following except:
,a. Alcohol abuse and dependence
b. Chronic medical conditions
c. An acute onset of dementia
d. Prescription medication use - correct answer ✔✔ c. An acute onset of dementia
Fractures of the pelvis in older patients often occur as the result of a combination of:
a. Acetabular separation and severe falls
b. Osteoporosis and low-energy trauma
c. Arthritic joints and high-energy trauma
d. Increased bone density and car crashes - correct answer ✔✔ b. Osteoporosis and low-energy
trauma
Good general communication techniques with the elderly include:
a. Frequently asking the patient if he or she understands
b. Using medical terms to ensure patient understanding
c. Explaining procedures while you are performing them
d. Having at least two EMTs talk to the patient at a time - correct answer ✔✔ a. Frequently
asking the patient if he or she understands
Many older victims of physical abuse make false statements or lie about the origin of their
injuries because:
a. Most elderly patients have dementia
b. They are protective of the abuser
c. They do not want to be bothersome
d. They fear retribution from the abuser - correct answer ✔✔ d. They fear retribution from the
abuser
, Osteoporosis is defined as:
a. A decrease in bone mass and density
b. Decreased bone marrow production
c. An abnormality near the growth plate
d. Increased flexibility of bone mass - correct answer ✔✔ a. A decrease in bone mass and
density
Patients who have experienced even minor-appearing head injuries should be suspected of
having a brain injury, especially if they:
a. Are taking blood-thinning medications
b. Do not have deformities to the skull
c. Have a history of Alzheimer disease
d. Have minor abrasions to the head area - correct answer ✔✔ a. Are taking blood-thinning
medications
Poor maintenance of home, poor personal care, and dietary neglect are all possible indicators of
____________ elder abuse.
a. Physical
b. Psychological
c. Financial
d. Emotional - correct answer ✔✔ a. Physical
Syncope in the older patient is:
a. Rarely life threatening but should be evaluated by a physician
b. Generally of no concern unless the patient was injured
c. Caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain
d. Most commonly caused by a silent myocardial infarction - correct answer ✔✔ c. Caused by an
interruption of blood flow to the brain
Emergencies) questions and answers
rated A+
A productive cough, fever, and chills in an 80-year-old patient with a compromised immune
system should make you most suspicious for:
a. Pneumonia
b. Heart failure
c. Emphysema
d. Bronchitis - correct answer ✔✔ a. Pneumonia
An abdominal aortic aneurysm:
a. Can sometimes be palpated as a mass in the groin area
b. Causes dull pain that often radiates to the shoulders
c. Is often the result of hypertension and atherosclerosis
d. Is usually not repairable, even if discovered early - correct answer ✔✔ c. Is often the result of
hypertension and atherosclerosis
An elderly patient might understate or minimize the symptoms of his or her illness because:
a. He or she fears hospitalization
b. Of conditions such as dementia
c. Of decreased perception of pain
d. The nervous system has deteriorated - correct answer ✔✔ a. He or she fears hospitalization
Common causes of depression in the elderly include all of the following except:
,a. Alcohol abuse and dependence
b. Chronic medical conditions
c. An acute onset of dementia
d. Prescription medication use - correct answer ✔✔ c. An acute onset of dementia
Fractures of the pelvis in older patients often occur as the result of a combination of:
a. Acetabular separation and severe falls
b. Osteoporosis and low-energy trauma
c. Arthritic joints and high-energy trauma
d. Increased bone density and car crashes - correct answer ✔✔ b. Osteoporosis and low-energy
trauma
Good general communication techniques with the elderly include:
a. Frequently asking the patient if he or she understands
b. Using medical terms to ensure patient understanding
c. Explaining procedures while you are performing them
d. Having at least two EMTs talk to the patient at a time - correct answer ✔✔ a. Frequently
asking the patient if he or she understands
Many older victims of physical abuse make false statements or lie about the origin of their
injuries because:
a. Most elderly patients have dementia
b. They are protective of the abuser
c. They do not want to be bothersome
d. They fear retribution from the abuser - correct answer ✔✔ d. They fear retribution from the
abuser
, Osteoporosis is defined as:
a. A decrease in bone mass and density
b. Decreased bone marrow production
c. An abnormality near the growth plate
d. Increased flexibility of bone mass - correct answer ✔✔ a. A decrease in bone mass and
density
Patients who have experienced even minor-appearing head injuries should be suspected of
having a brain injury, especially if they:
a. Are taking blood-thinning medications
b. Do not have deformities to the skull
c. Have a history of Alzheimer disease
d. Have minor abrasions to the head area - correct answer ✔✔ a. Are taking blood-thinning
medications
Poor maintenance of home, poor personal care, and dietary neglect are all possible indicators of
____________ elder abuse.
a. Physical
b. Psychological
c. Financial
d. Emotional - correct answer ✔✔ a. Physical
Syncope in the older patient is:
a. Rarely life threatening but should be evaluated by a physician
b. Generally of no concern unless the patient was injured
c. Caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain
d. Most commonly caused by a silent myocardial infarction - correct answer ✔✔ c. Caused by an
interruption of blood flow to the brain
