EMT Medical Practice Exam Question and Answers

EMT Medical Practice Exam Question and Answers

 

You are transporting a 33-year-old male who was involved in a motor vehicle crash. You have addressed all immediate and potentially life-threatening conditions and have stabilized his condition with the appropriate treatment. With an estimated time of arrival at the hospital of 20 minutes, you should:

1. A) reassess his condition in 5 minutes
   B) repeat your secondary assessment
   C) take his vital signs in 15 minutes
   D) arrange for an ALS rendezvous

 

1. A) reassess his condition in 5 minutes

   Ch 12 Patient Assessment for Shock pg 499

 

 

 



Common side effects of nitroglycerin include all of the following except:

1. hypotension
   B. bradycardia
   C. hypertension
   D. severe headache

 

 

1. hypertension

   ch 16 Emergency Medical Care for Chest Pain or Discomfort pg 648

 

 

 

You are assessing a 49-year-old man who complains of chest pressure that began the night before. He is conscious, but anxious, and tells you he has a history of angina and hypertension. After applying high-flow oxygen, you expose his chest to auscultate his lungs and note that he has a nitroglycerin patch on his right upper chest. His skin is cool and pale, his blood pressure is 78/50 mm Hg, and his pulse is 110 beats/min and irregular. You should:

Choose one answer.

1. remove the nitroglycerin patch, place him in a supine position and elevate his lower extremities, and prepare for immediate transport.
   B. immediately remove the nitroglycerin patch, apply the AED in case he develops cardiac arrest, and transport to the closest hospital.
   C. move the nitroglycerin patch to the other side of his chest in case you need to apply the AED, keep him warm, and transport without delay.
   D. ask him if the nitroglycerin patch he is wearing has improved his chest pressure, complete your secondary assessment, and transport promptly.

 

 

1. remove the nitroglycerin patch, place him in a supine position and elevate his lower extremities, and prepare for immediate transport.

   ch 16 pathophysiology – pg 641

   – remove nitro because it can worsen the hypotension; elevate LE so blood doesn’t pool

 

 

 

You are assessing a 49-year-old man who, according to his wife, experienced a sudden, severe headache and then passed out. He is unresponsive and has slow, irregular breathing. His blood pressure is 190/94 mm Hg and his pulse rate is 50 beats/min. His wife tells you that he has hypertension and diabetes. He has MOST likely experienced:

 

1. A) a ruptured cerebral artery *****
   B) an occluded cerebral artery
   C) acute hypoglycemia
   D) a complex partial seizure

 

 

1. A) a ruptured cerebral artery

   chapter 17 stoke pg 679

 

 

 

To select the proper size oropharyngeal airway, you should measure from the:

1. A) corner of the mouth to the superior ear
   B) corner of the mouth to the earlobe
   C) center of the mouth to the posterior ear
   D) angle of the jaw to the center of the mouth

 

1. B) corner of the mouth to the earlobe

   Ch 10 Basic Airway Adjuncts pg 412-413

 

 

 

A 71-year-old male is semiconscious following a sudden, severe headache. There is vomitus around his mouth and his respirations are slow and shallow. The EMT must immediately:

1. A) apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask.
   B) insert a nasopharyngeal airway
   C) perform oropharyngeal suctioning
   D) begin assisting the patient’s ventilations

 

1. C) perform oropharyngeal suctioning

   Ch 10 Suctioning pg 408

 

 

 

A 60-year-old man complains of chest pain. He is conscious and alert and denies shortness of breath. Which of the following questions would be the MOST appropriate to ask him?

1. A) “Does the pain in your chest feel like a stabbing sensation?”
   B) “Does the pain in your chest move to either of your arms?”
   C) “Were you exerting yourself when the chest pain began?”‘
   D) “Do you have any heart problems or take any medications?”

 

 

 

An absence seizure is also referred to as a:

1. A) total body seizure
   B) generalized motor seizure
   C) petit mal seizure
   D) grand mal seizure

 

 

Common signs and symptoms of AMI include all of the following, EXCEPT:

1. A) pain exacerbated by breathing
   B) SOB or dyspnea
   C) sudden unexplained sweating
   D) irregular heartbeat

 

 

 

Which of the following statements regarding smooth muscle is correct?

1. A) The biceps and quadriceps are examples of smooth muscle.
   B) Smooth muscle is under control of the voluntary
   C) Smooth muscle is found exclusively within blood vessels
   D) A person has no voluntary control over smooth muscle

 

 

 

When assessing an 80-year-old patient in shock, it is important to remember that:

 

1. A) it is common to see a more significant increase in heart rate than what would be expected in younger adults
   B) age-related changes in the cardiovascular system may make the patient less able to compensate for decreased perfusion.
   C) the patient’s cardiac output is able to increase by nearly 200% in response to the decrease in perfusion
   D) in older adults, it is especially common to observe a significant decrease in hear rate in shock

 

 

 

You are dispatched to an apartment complex where a 21-year-old female has apparently overdosed on several narcotic medications. She is semiconscious and has slow, shallow respirations. You should:

1. A) place her in the recovery position and monitor for vomiting
   B) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation
   C) insert an oropharyngeal airway and perform oral suctioning
   D) apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask and transport at once

 

 

 

While providing CPAP to a patient in severe respiratory distress, you note that his heart rate has increased by 20 beats/min. He is conscious, but is no longer following verbal commands. You should:

1. increase the amount of pressure that the CPAP device is delivering.

   B. remove the CPAP device and ventilate him with a bag-valve mask.

   C. remove the CPAP device and apply oxygen by nonrebreathing mask.

   D. decrease the amount of pressure that the CPAP device is delivering.

 

 

 

A 50-year-old man with diabetes has an altered mental status and is unable to tell you when he last ate or took his insulin. Your glucometer keeps malfunctioning and you are unable to determine his blood glucose level. Which of the following clinical signs would MOST likely lead you to the correct diagnosis?

 

Select one:

1. Restlessness and irritability
   B. Hypotension and tachycardia
   C. Deep and rapid breathing
   D. Rapid and weak pulse

 

 

 

Which of the following statements regarding ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) is correct?

 

1. A) Most patient’s in V-fib have a weak carotid pulse
   B) V-fib results in an absence of forward blood flow
   C) V-fib is a state of rapid ventricular contraction
   D) Defibrillation is only indicated for witnessed V-fib

 

 

1. B) V-fib results in an absence of forward blood flow

   In V-Fib, the heart is not pumping any blood and the patient is pulseless.
   **** V-fib = NO PULSE
   **** V-tach = FAST/IRREGULAR PULSE

 

 

 

Which of the following medication routes has the slowest rate of absorption?

 

1. A) Rectal
   B) Oral
   C) Sublingual
   D) Inhalation

 

 

 

What is the minute volume of a patient with a tidal volume of 500 mL, a dead space
volume of 150 mL, and a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min?

 

1. 5,600 mL
   B. 6,000 mL
   C. 7,400 mL
   D. 8,000 mL

 

 

(Tidal volume – Dead space) x Respiratory Rate = Minute Volume (aka Alveolar ventilation)

 

 

 

The left ventricle has the thickest walls because it:

 

1. pumps blood to the lungs to be reoxygenated.
   B. uses less oxygen than other chambers of the heart.
   C. pumps blood into the aorta and systemic circulation.
   D. receives blood directly from the systemic circulation.

 

 

 

When assessing an unresponsive diabetic patient, the primary visible difference between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia is the:

 

A.patient’s mental status.
B.rate of the patient’s pulse.
C.presence of a medical identification tag.
D.rate and depth of breathing.

 

 

 

Whenever possible, a female sexual assault victim should be:

 

1. thoroughly assessed, even if no signs of injury exist.
   B. encouraged to take a shower and change her clothes.
   C. given the option of being treated by a female EMT.
   D. asked to provide a brief description of the perpetrator.

 

 

 

You are ventilating a 40-year-old uninjured man who is apneic but has a pulse. When your partner reassesses his blood pressure, he notes that it has decreased significantly from previous readings. You elevate the patient’s legs, but this action has no effect. You should:

 

1. A) perform a head-to-toe assessment to look for signs of bleeding
   B) reduce the rate or volume of the ventilations you are delivering
   C) increase the volume of your ventilations and reassess his blood pressure
   D) increase the rate at which you are ventilating and reassess his blood pressure

 

 

– with positive pressure breathing, the rate of venous return (BP) is decreased due to the increase in intrathoracic pressure in the chest wall

 

 

 

 

The MOST appropriate treatment for a patient with a mild upper airway obstruction includes:

Select one:

1. administering oxygen and transporting immediately.
   b. advising the patient not to make any attempts to cough.
   c. visualizing the airway and removing the obstruction.
   d. performing five back blows and live abdominal thrusts.

 

 

Kussmaul respirations are an indication that the body is:

1. A) compensating for decreased blood glucose levels
   B) trying to generate energy by breathing deeply
   C) attempting to eliminate acids from the blood
   D) severely hypoxic and is eliminating excess CO2

 

 

A 22 year old female patient is complaining of dyspnea and numbness and tingling in her hands and feed after an argument with her fiance. Her respirations are 40 breaths/min. You should:

1. provide reassurance and give oxygen as needed
   B. have her breath into a paper or plastic bag
   C. position her on her left side and transport at once
   D. request a paramedic to give her a sedative

 

hyperventilation caused this; breathing into a bag could cause hypoxia

 

 

 

Which of the following clinical signs is unique to anaphylactic shock?:

1. A) pallor
   B) hypotension
   C) wheezing
   D) dizziness

 

 

 

If a woman with vaginal bleeding reports syncope, the EMT should assume that she:

1. A) is in shock
   B) has an ectopic pregnancy
   C) has an infection
   D) is pregnant

 

 

 

A 62 year old man with a history of CHF presents with severe respiratory distress and with an oxygen saturation of 82%. When you auscultate his lungs, you hear widespread rales. He is conscious and alert, is able to follow simple commands, and can only speak in two-to-three word sentences at a time. You should:

1. 
   
   
   apply a CPAP device, monitor his BP, and observe him for sings of improvement or deterioration
   B. force fluid from his alveoli by hyperventilating him with a bag-valve mask at a rate of at least 20 breaths/min
   C. place him in a position of comfort, deliver oxygen via nasal cannula, and closely monitor his breathing
   D. place him in a supine position and assist his ventilations with bag-valve mask and high-flow oxygen

 

 

 

Which of the following statements regarding gastrointestinal bleeding is correct?

1. bleeding within the GI tract is a sx of another disease, not a disease itself.
   B. Lower GI bleeding results from conditions such as Mallory-Weiss syndrome
   C. In the majority of cases, bleeding within the GI tract occus acutely and is severe
   D. Chronic bleeding within the GI tract is usually more severe than bleeding that occurs acutely

 

 

When gathering a patient’s medications, you find the following: Isordil, Lasix, Nexium, and Digoxin. Which of these medications can be obtained over-the-counter (OTC)?

1. epinephrine
   B. aspirin
   C. nitroglycerine
   D. albuterol

 

 

 

Dyspnea is MOST accurately defined as:

 

1. shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
   B. a complete cessation of respiratory effort.
   C. a marked increase in the exhalation phase.
   D. labored breathing with reduced tidal volume.

 

 

A 70 year old female was recently discharged from the hospital following a total hip replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a BP of 100/64 mmHg. Her skin is hot and moist. You should be MOST suspicious that she is experiencing:

 

1. pump failure
   B. septic shock
   C. a local infection
   D. decompensated shock

 

 

 

If gastric distention begins to make positive-pressure ventilation difficult, you should:

1. insert an oropharyngeal airway
   B. reposition the patient’s airway
   C. suction the patient’s oropharynx
   D. increase the rate of ventilation

 

 

 

Cardiogenic shock following AMI is caused by:

1. decreased pumping force of the heart muscle
   B. hypovolemia secondary to severe vomiting
   C. a profound increase in the patient’s heart rate
   D. widespread dilation of the systemic vasculature

 

 

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a term used to describe:

1. the warning signs that occur shortly before a heart attack
   B. a severe decrease in perfusion caused by changes in heart rate
   C. a group of symptoms that are caused by myocardial ischemia
   D. the exact moment that a coronary artery is completely occluded

 

 

 

The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood of the capillaries is called:

1. cellular metabolism
   B. external respiration
   C. pulmonary ventilation
   D. alveolar ventilation

 

 

 

You are dispatched to a residence for a 56 year old male with an altered mental status. Upon arrival at the scene, the patient’s wife tells you that he complained of chest pain the day before, but would not allow her to call EMS. The patient is semiconscious; has rapid, shallow respirations; and has a thready pulse. You should:

 

 

1. apply a nonrebreathing mask
   B. attach the AED immediately
   C. obtain baseline vital signs
   D. begin ventilatory assistance

 

 

 

Neurogenic shock occurs when

1. failure of the nervous system causes widespread vasodilation
   B. there is too much blood to fill a smaller vascular container
   C. the spinal cord is severed and causes massive hemorrhaging
   D. massive vasoconstriction occurs distal to a spinal cord injury

 

 

 

A young male is unresponsive after overdosing on an opioid. He is not breathing and his pulse is weak. The EMT should immediately:

 

1. request an ALS ambulance
   B. administer naloxone
   C. ventilate with a BVM
   D. begin chest compressions

 

 

 

When a woman presents with abdominal pain or other vague symptoms, the EMT is often unable to determine the nature of the problem until he or she:

 

1. has gathered patient history information
   B. has obtained a complete set of vital signs
   C. ascertains if the patient was ever pregnant
   D. has formed a general impression of the patient

 

 

 

You are dispatched to a residence for a 67 year old female who was awakened by shortness breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. You should suspect:

 

1. spontaneous pneumonthorax
   B. acute pulmonary embolism
   C. actue pulmonary edema
   D. right-sided hear failure

 

 

 

A 40 year old man is in cardiac arrest. Your partner is performing CPR. You are attaching the AED when the patient’s wife tells you that he has an automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator (AICD). The AED advises that a shock is indicated. What should you do?

 

1. avoid defibrillation as this will damage the patient’s AICD
   B. Contact medical control and request permission to defibrillate
   C. continue CPR and transport the patient to the closest appropriate hospital
   D. deliver the shock followed by immediate resumption of CPR

 

 

 

You are dispatched to a convenience store for a patient who passed out. Upon arriving at the scene, you find two bystanders performing CPR on the patient, a 58 year old male. Your initial action should be to:

 

1. request a paramedic unit
   B. have the bystanders stop CPR and assess for a pulse
   C. quickly apply the AED and follow the prompts
   D. give two breaths and then check for a pulse

 

 

 

 

A 58 year old man complains of chest discomfort and nausea. He is conscious and alert; his blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg his pulse is 104 BPM and his respirations are 16 breaths/min. your partner has applied supplemental oxygen. Prior to assisting the patient with one of his prescribed nitroglycerin tablets, you ask him if he takes medication to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and he tells you that he does. You should:

 

 

1. avoid giving him nitroglycerin and transport him at once.
   B. administer his nitroglycerin and then reassess his blood pressure
   C. recall that erectile ED drugs can cause significant HTN
   D. ask him what he takes, how much, and when he last took it

 

 

 

Abdominal thrusts in a conscious child or adult with a severe upper airway obstruction are performed:

 

1. in sets of 5 followed by reassessment
   B. about 1 inch below the xiphoid process
   C. until he/she experiences cardiac arrest
   D. until he/she loses consciousness

 

 

 

You are dispatched to a residence where a middle aged man was found unconscious in his front yard. There are no witnessess who can tell you what happened. You find him in a prone position; his eyes are closed and he is not moving. Your FIRST action should be to:

 

1. log roll him as a unti into a supine position
   B. assess the rate and quality of his breathing
   C. open his airway with a jaw-thrust maneuver
   D. palpate for the presence of a carotid pulse

 

 

 

To which of the following diabetic patients should you administer oral glucose?

 

1. a confused 55 year old male with tachycardia and pallor
   B. a semiconscious 40 year old femal without a gag reflex
   C. a conscious 37 year old female with nausea and vomiting
   D. An unconscious 33 year old male with cool clammy skin

 

 

 

You are ventilating an apenic woman with a BVM. She has dentures, which are tight fitting, Adequate chest rise is originally present with each ventilation and the patient’s O2sat reads 96%. When you reassess the patency of her airway, however, you note that her dentures are now loose, and you are finidng it more difficult to ventilate. You should:

 

1. leave her dentures in place, but carefully monitor her for an airway obstruction.
   B. remove her dentures, resume ventilations, and assess for adequate chest rise
   C. attempt to replace her dentures so that the fit tightly and resume ventilations.
   D. remove her dentures at once and increase the rate and volume of your ventilations

 

 

 

Which of the following statements regarding hepatitis B transmission is incorrect?

1. A) Hepatitis B can be transmitted sexually
   B) Hepatitis B is far more contagious than HIV
   C) Everyone who is vaccinated develops immediate immunity.
   Hepatitis B can be transmitted through needle sticks

 

 

 

when assessing for fluid collection in the lungs during auscultation of lung sounds, you should

1. auscultate the posterior chest first and compare the apex of one lung to the base fo the opposite lung
   B. pay special attention to the exhalation phase because this is when you will likely hear reales or rhonchi
   C. start at the lower lung fields and determine at which level you start hearing clear breath sounds
   D. note the presence fo a high-pitched whistling sound, which is an indicator of fluid in the lungs

 

 

 

A 73 year old man presents with a generalized rash, which he thinks may have been caused by an antibiotic that he recently began taking. He has a history of CAD, HTN, and emphysema. He is conscious and alert, his BP is 144 /94 mmHg and his pulse is 64 beats/min and regular. You auscultate his breath sounds and hear scattered wheezing, although he is not experiencing respiratory distress. You should:

 

1. begin transport and request to administer epi if his systolic BP falls below 100 mm Hg
   B. ask him if he has epi and request approval from med control administer it to the patient
   C. avoid the use of the epi because of his cardiac history, even if his symptoms become severe
   D. administer oxygen if needed, transport the patient and monitor him for signs of deterioration

 

What is the normal adult respiratory rate?

 

Answer: The normal adult respiratory rate is typically between 12 to 20 breaths per minute.

 

How do you check a patient’s pulse?

 

• Answer: To check a patient’s pulse, place two fingers (index and middle) over a pulse point (commonly the radial artery at the wrist, or carotid artery in the neck) and count the beats for 30 seconds, then double it to get the beats per minute.

 

What does the acronym “SAMPLE” stand for in patient assessment?

 

• Answer: SAMPLE stands for:
  • Signs and symptoms
  • Allergies
  • Medications
  • Past medical history
  • Last oral intake
  • Events leading up to the incident

 

What is hypoxia?

 

• Answer: Hypoxia is a condition where there is a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues and organs.

 

What should you do if a patient is in shock?

 

• Answer: To treat shock, you should:
  • Lay the patient down, if possible, to improve blood flow.
  • Keep them warm with a blanket.
  • Provide high-flow oxygen if available.
  • Reassure the patient and monitor vital signs.
  • Transport them to the hospital as soon as possible.

 

What is the purpose of a jaw-thrust maneuver?

 

• Answer: The jaw-thrust maneuver is used to open the airway in patients with suspected spinal injuries without moving the neck.

 

How much oxygen is provided by a bag-valve mask (BVM) with 100% oxygen?

 

• Answer: A bag-valve mask (BVM) with a reservoir and 100% oxygen can deliver up to 90-100% oxygen to the patient.

 

What is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure?

 

• Answer: Systolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts, while diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.

 

How is anaphylaxis treated in an emergency?

 

• Answer: Anaphylaxis is treated by administering epinephrine (often with an auto-injector like an EpiPen), providing high-flow oxygen, and rapid transport to an emergency medical facility.