Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Question
Q–1
You arrive to find a 48-year-old male complaining that his chest feels heavy. The patient is awake and talking to you. During your assessment you note that his skin is pale, cool, and clammy. Your first step is to
(A) apply your AED.
(B) administer supplemental oxygen.
(C) obtain a medical history.
(D) assist the patient in taking his neighbor's nitroglycerin.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–2
Which of the following is the correct flow of blood through the heart and lungs?
(A) inferior/superior vena cavae, lungs, right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle, aorta
(B) inferior/superior vena cavae, left atrium, left ventricle, lungs, right atrium, left ventricle, aorta
(C) inferior/superior vena cavae, lungs, aorta, left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium, left ventricle
(D) inferior/superior vena cavae, right atrium, right ventricle, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle, aorta
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–1
(B) Your first step is to administer supplemental oxygen. When treating chest pain it is important to get oxygen to the patient as soon as possible to help alleviate damage to the heart muscle.
A–2
(D) The blood returns from the body to the heart through the inferior/superior vena cavae, to the right atrium, to the right ventricle. It then goes through the pulmonary artery to the lungs and is oxygenated. From there it returns to the left atrium through the pulmonary vein. From the left atrium it goes to the left ventricle and back out to the body through the aorta.
Question
Q–3
The mitral or bicuspid valve
(A) prevents the blood from backflowing into the left atrium.
(B) prevents the blood from backflowing into the right atrium.
(C) prevents the blood from backflowing into the lungs.
(D) is located between the left atrium and the right ventricle.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–4
The electrical impulse generated in the right atrium is called the
(A) atrioventricular node.
(B) purkinje fibers.
(C) sinoatrial node.
(D) bundle of His.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–3
(A) The mitral or bicuspid valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It prevents the blood from backflowing into the left atrium.
A–4
(C) The electrical impulse generated at the right atrium is the sinoatrial node (SA node). It travels through both atria, causing both to contract simultaneously, which propels the blood to the ventricles.
Question
Q–5
Which component of blood provides an immune system for the body, defending against infections?
(A) red blood cells
(B) white blood cells
(C) plasma
(D) platelets
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–6
When differentiating between angina pectoris and a myocardial infarction, you know that
(A) there is no difference between the two.
(B) angina pectoris is caused by physical or emotional stress.
(C) rest will relieve symptoms of a myocardial infarction.
(D) the pain from angina pectoris is continual and will not go away.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–5
(B) White blood cells provide part of the body's immune system, or defense against infections. Red blood cells give blood its color and transport the oxygen to the body's cells and carbon dioxide away from the body's cells. Plasma is the serum, or fluid, that carries blood cells and nutrients to the body's cells. Platelets are important in the formation of blood clots.
A–6
(B) Angina pectoris is usually caused by a physical or emotional state of stress. It usually only lasts from 3 to 8 minutes, but no longer than 10 minutes. It is usually relieved by rest, unlike a myocardial infarction.
Question
Q–7
You arrive on the scene to discover an unconscious patient. Upon completing your primary assessment, you find the patient to be pulseless and apneic. Your next step would be to
(A) begin CPR.
(B) give two ventilations.
(C) apply the AED.
(D) check the pulse for another 60 seconds.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–8
The AED is used to treat patients in
(A) asystole.
(B) ventricular tachycardia with a pulse.
(C) ventricular fibrillation.
(D) pulseless electrical activity.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–7
(A) Begin CPR immediately. Then apply the AED. It is important to deliver a counter-shock with the AED if the patient is in v-fib or pulseless v-tach.
A–8
(C) The AED is designed to treat patients in v-fib or pulseless v-tach. The AED should only be connected to patients who are pulseless and apneic. The AED is designed to shock those electrical rhythms that are disorganized or very fast and do not have pulses associated with them.
Question
Q–9
Which of the following is the first line of defense in fighting against infectious disease?
(A) vaccinations
(B) handwashing
(C) using BSI
(D) using 10% bleach
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–10
911
You arrive on the scene to discover a 65-year-old female lying on the floor of her living room. Your first step in the care of this patient is to
(A) begin chest compressions.
(B) apply the AED.
(C) maintain an open airway.
(D) assess level of consciousness.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–9
(B) The most fundamental process and the first line of protection against infectious disease is handwashing. Vaccinations and BSI are important components of preventing infectious diseases, but handwashing is the most fundamental and is the first line of protection.
A–10
911
(D) The first step when arriving at the patient's side is to establish the patient's level of responsiveness.
Question
Q–11
You are on the scene with a patient dying from a terminal illness. The spouse of the patient begins to verbally attack you. Which emotional stage is this individual exhibiting?
(A) denial
(B) anger
(C) bargaining
(D) depression
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–12
You arrive on the scene to find a patient who had a productive cough for the past two weeks. The patient is complaining of a fever and night sweats. Your next step would be to
(A) obtain a better medical history.
(B) obtain vital signs.
(C) immediately transport the patient to the hospital.
(D) put your HEPA mask on.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–11
(B) As the dying patient and/or the patient's family moves through the stages of emotion, you may find yourself in the middle of the situation. In this case the patient's family is really not angry at you, but exhibiting the signs of anger commonly found at this stage in the process.
A–12
(D) A patient with a productive cough for any length of time should be suspect for TB. Nonetheless, a mask is an important universal precaution for any patient with a productive cough to prevent the spread of any airborne infectious disease.
Question
Q–13
You arrive on scene, finding an unconscious patient. There are no other individuals in the vicinity to give you any information or permission to treat the patient. Even though the patient cannot give you consent to treat him, you begin to do so because of
(A) expressed consent.
(B) implied consent.
(C) advance directives.
(D) emergency consent.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–14
You arrive at an emergency room to find that the nurses are busy taking care of other patients. You are getting off shift and want to get back to your base station. You and your partner move the patient into a hospital bed, lay the report on the bed with the patient, and leave. You and your partner have just committed
(A) abandonment.
(B) negligence.
(C) appropriate patient care.
(D) vicarious liability.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–13
(B) Implied consent occurs when you assume that a patient who is unresponsive or unable to make a rational decision would consent to life-saving emergency care.
A–14
(A) Abandonment is any time you stop caring for a patient without ensuring the patient receives equal or better care. Giving a verbal patient report coupled with a caregiver of equal or greater level of care is imperative for appropriate patient transfer of care and the avoidance of abandonment.
Question
Q–15
Which of the following is NOT an appropriate scenario to give patient information?
(A) another health care worker needs the information to continue medical care
(B) information is required for billing purposes
(C) your neighbor asks what was wrong with the patient
(D) you are subpoenaed in court
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–16
Which artery do you typically assess on an infant?
(A) brachial artery
(B) carotid artery
(C) femoral artery
(D) radial artery
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–15
(C) There are few instances when you can give patient information to anyone. Patient information is confidential. You may give patient information to another health care provider to continue medical care, to law enforcement as part of an investigation, in connection with a third-party billing form, or by a legal subpoena.
A–16
(A) The brachial artery is the best place to assess the pulse on any patient under the age of one. It is difficult to assess the carotid because these patients typically do not have a neck and the radial is not reliable. The brachial is the pronounced site to assess for a pulse.
Question
Q–17
The condition in which a patient has a high level of sugar in his blood is called
(A) hypoglycemia.
(B) diabetes.
(C) hyperglycemia.
(D) hyperkalemia.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–18
911
You arrive on the scene of a patient who fell from a ladder. You should open the patient's airway by using
(A) head-tilt/chin-lift.
(B) jaw-thrust maneuver.
(C) neck-lift/head-tilt.
(D) head-tilt/jaw-thrust.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–17
(C) A patient with a high sugar level in the blood may have diabetes. However, this is the definition of hyperglycemia. Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar. Hyperglycemia is a lack of insulin and sugar cannot enter the cells. Therefore, it remains in the bloodstream, causing a high level of sugar in the blood.
A–18
911
(B) Care should be taken when opening an airway in a patient with a possible or suspected head or neck injury. The jaw-thrust maneuver is the choice in opening an airway in these patients. This keeps the head in a neutral position and does not put any undue stress on the cervical spine.
Question
Q–19
911
Arriving on the scene to find an unresponsive patient, the patient begins to vomit. You turn on your suction unit and prepare to suction. You should apply suction
(A) as you insert the catheter.
(B) by alternating every 5 seconds between inserting and withdrawing the catheter.
(C) while withdrawing the catheter, and for no more than 15 seconds.
(D) while inserting and withdrawing the catheter.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–20
911
You are treating a choking victim when he loses consciousness. You assist the patient to the floor. Your next step should be to
(A) attempt to ventilate the patient.
(B) perform five abdominal thrusts.
(C) establish responsiveness.
(D) begin CPR.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–19
911
(C) Suction should only be applied when you withdraw the catheter. Suctioning should only last for 15 seconds. Patients become hypoxic during the suctioning process and need to be ventilated or supplied with oxygen for a 2-minute period between suctioning.
A–20
911
(D) Once the patient becomes unresponsive, you need to activate the emergency response system and begin CPR. Since you are the emergency response system, you would immediately begin CPR.
Question
Q–21
When assessing a 35-year-old patient complaining she is short of breath, you note that her breathing is in excess of 28 times per minute. This is considered
(A) neuropnea.
(B) apnea.
(C) bradypnea.
(D) tachypnea.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–22
911
A 27-year-old patient is involved in a motor vehicle accident. You attempt to ventilate the patient, but realize you cannot open the patient's jaw due to trauma. Your technique of ventilating the patient would be
(A) mouth-to-mouth technique.
(B) mouth-to-mouth and nose technique.
(C) mouth-to-nose technique.
(D) a Combitube.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–21
(D) Respiratory rates greater than 20 breaths per minute are considered tachypnea. Less than 12 breaths per minute are bradypnea and absent breathing is apnea.
A–22
911
(C) Mouth-to-nose technique is the ideal method for this patient. Anytime you have a patient that has severe soft tissue or bone injury around the mouth, or you cannot open the mouth, or cannot get a good seal around the mouth, the mouth-to-nose technique is the preferred choice for ventilation.
Question
Q–23
911
The proper way to ventilate an adult patient is to either administer oxygen through a bag-valve mask or by mouth-to-mouth. You also want to deliver each breath or ventilation over a one-second period. This will
(A) reduce the chance of gastric distention.
(B) prevent hyperoxygenation.
(C) prevent hypoxia.
(D) prevent using too much air or oxygen.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–24
The appropriate rate to ventilate a seven-year-old patient is
(A) one breath every 1 to 4 seconds.
(B) one breath every 2 to 4 seconds.
(C) one breath every 4 to 5 seconds.
(D) one breath every 4 to 6 seconds.
Your Answer ______________________________________
Answer
A–23
911
(A) One concern when ventilating an adult patient with a BVM or by mouth-to-mouth is to deliver the ventilation over a one-second time period. This aids in reducing gastric distention by not forcing air or oxygen into the esophagus and inflating the stomach with air. Remember, what goes into the stomach must come out. Air rises, hence over time the air you put into the stomach will come back out with whatever gastric contents the patient has in her stomach.
A–24
(C) The appropriate rate to ventilate a seven-year-old would be one breath every four to five seconds.
Question
Q–25
911
Which of the following is NOT a consideration when treating a fall victim?
(A) distance the patient fell
(B) height of the ladder
(C) surface upon which the patient landed
(D) body part that impacted first
Your Answer ______________________________________
Q–26
You are treating a patient with shortness of breath. You want to deliver 6 liters per minute of oxygen. You would deliver this flow rate with a
(A) nasal cannula.
(B) simple face mask.
(C) partial rebreather.
(D) non-rebreather.
Your Answer ______________________________________
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "EMT Flashcards"
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