Chapter 13 Test Questions Flashcards
Which of the following statements regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is correct?
A. Most cases of MRSA transmission occur following an accidental needlestick.
B. MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections and is resistant to most antibiotics.
C. The communicable period for MRSA is 10 days to 2 weeks after being infected.
D. Studies have shown that less than 1% of health care providers are MRSA carriers.
B. MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections and is resistant to most antibiotics.
After sizing up the scene of a patient with a possible infectious disease, your next priority should be to:
A. contact medical control.
B. take standard precautions.
C. quickly access the patient.
D. notify law enforcement.
B. take standard precautions.
The greatest danger in displaying a personal bias or “labeling” a patient who frequently calls EMS is:
A. overlooking a potentially serious medical condition.
B. making the entire EMS system look unprofessional.
C. demeaning or humiliating the patient and his family.
D. discouraging the patient from calling EMS in the future.
A. overlooking a potentially serious medical condition.
When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, it is best to:
A. document the medications on your patient care report, but leave them at home so they do not get misplaced.
B. take all of the patient’s medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient care report.
C. send the patient’s medications to the hospital with a family member or other person who will safeguard them.
D. let the hospital staff retrieve the patient’s medical records, which should show a list of his or her current medications.
B. take all of the patient’s medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient care report.
You have just completed your primary assessment of a 48-year-old man with crushing chest pain. The patient has been given 324 mg of aspirin and is receiving high-flow oxygen via nonrebreathing mask. As you begin your secondary assessment, you note that his mental status has deteriorated and he is now bradycardic. You should:
A. continue with your secondary assessment.
B. prepare the patient for immediate transport.
C. insert a nasal airway and assist his breathing.
D. request a paramedic unit to respond to the scene.
B. prepare the patient for immediate transport.
Early signs and symptoms of viral hepatitis include all of the following, EXCEPT:
A. loss of appetite and a cough.
B. vomiting, fever, and fatigue.
C. pain in the muscles and joints.
D. jaundice and abdominal pain.
D. jaundice and abdominal pain.
A 58-year-old man complains of chest pain and nausea. He is conscious and alert; his blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, his pulse is 104 beats/min, and his respirations are 16 breaths/min. The patient tells you that he was recently discharged from the hospital and takes numerous medications for his heart and blood pressure. You should:
A. focus on the medications he takes for his heart, since his complaint is chest pain.
B. determine what medications he takes, and ask him if he has been compliant with them.
C. advise him that the hospital will have a current list of all the medications he takes.
D. ask him to write down all of his medications and their doses on a piece of paper.
B. determine what medications he takes, and ask him if he has been compliant with them.
Your primary assessment of an elderly woman reveals that she is conscious and alert but is experiencing difficulty breathing. She has a history of emphysema, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. As you assess the patient’s circulatory status, you should direct your partner to:
A. perform a head-to-toe secondary assessment.
B. assess her oxygen saturation and blood pressure.
C. retrieve the stretcher and prepare for transport.
D. administer oxygen with the appropriate device.
D. administer oxygen with the appropriate device.
The primary prehospital treatment for most medical emergencies:
A. typically does not require the AEMT to contact medical control.
B. focuses on definitive care, because a diagnosis can usually be made.
C. addresses the patient’s symptoms more than the actual disease process.
D. involves transport only until treatment can be performed at the hospital.
C. addresses the patient’s symptoms more than the actual disease process.
A patient who presents with a headache, fever, confusion, and red blotches on his or her skin should be suspected of having:
A. hepatitis.
B. meningitis.
C. hantavirus.
D. tuberculosis.
B. meningitis.
When assessing a patient with a medical complaint, which of the following would MOST likely reveal the cause of his or her problem?
A. History taking
B. Rapid body scan
C. Baseline vital signs
D. Primary assessment
A. History taking
Syphilis is a:
A. high-risk disease to the AEMT, especially through a needlestick.
B. bloodborne disease that can successfully be treated with penicillin.
C. sexually transmitted disease that is only found in vaginal secretions.
D. bacterial infection that is typically resistant to antibiotic medications.
B. bloodborne disease that can successfully be treated with penicillin.
Which of the following conditions often requires transport to a hospital with specialized capabilities that may not be available at the closest hospital?
A. Seizure and infection
B. Cardiac arrest and shock
C. Stroke and heart attack
D. Diabetes and migraine
C. Stroke and heart attack
Which of the following assessment findings is MOST indicative of a cardiovascular problem?
A. Unequal breath sounds
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Use of the accessory muscles
D. Palpable pain to the epigastrium
B. Jugular venous distention
Ten days after treating a 34-year-old patient with tuberculosis, you are given a tuberculin skin test, which yields a positive result. This MOST likely indicates that:
A. you are actively infected with tuberculosis and should be treated immediately.
B. the disease is dormant in your body, but will probably never cause symptoms.
C. you contracted the disease by casual contact instead of exposure to secretions.
D. you were exposed to another infected person before treating the 34-year-old patient.
D. you were exposed to another infected person before treating the 34-year-old patient.
When forming your general impression of a patient with a medical complaint, it is important to remember that:
A. the majority of medical patients you encounter are also injured.
B. it is during the general impression that assessment of the ABCs occurs.
C. most serious medical conditions do not present with obvious symptoms.
D. the conditions of many medical patients may not appear serious at first.
D. the conditions of many medical patients may not appear serious at first.
In addition to obtaining a SAMPLE history and asking questions related to the chief complaint, what else should you inquire about when assessing a patient with a potentially infectious disease?
A. recent travel
B. HIV status
C. sexual practices
D. drug allergies
A. recent travel
Which of the following statements regarding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is correct?
A. HIV is far more contagious than hepatitis B and is easily transmitted in the health care setting.
B. The risk of HIV infection is high, even if an infected person’s blood comes in contact with your intact skin.
C. The risk of HIV infection is greatest when deposited on a mucous membrane or directly into the bloodstream.
D. Most patients who are infected with HIV experience chronic symptoms that vary in duration and severity.
C. The risk of HIV infection is greatest when deposited on a mucous membrane or directly into the bloodstream.
A patient who was bitten by a mosquito and presents with signs and symptoms of illness should be suspected of having:
A. avian flu.
B. hantavirus.
C. West Nile virus.
D. lyme disease.
C. West Nile virus.
Which of the following medications would the AEMT LEAST likely administer to a patient with a medical complaint?
A. Atropine
B. Aspirin
C. Albuterol
D. Naloxone
A. Atropine
The determination of whether a medical patient is a high-priority or low-priority transport is typically made:
A. once the patient’s baseline vital signs are known.
B. after the primary assessment has been completed.
C. upon completion of a detailed secondary assessment.
D. as soon as the patient voices his or her chief complaint.
B. after the primary assessment has been completed.
In contrast to the assessment of a trauma patient, assessment of a medical patient:
A. almost exclusively focuses on physical signs that indicate the patient is experiencing a problem.
B. is focused on the nature of illness, the patient’s chief complaint, and the patient’s symptoms.
C. requires a thorough head-to-toe exam that involves a detailed assessment of all body systems.
D. is not as complex for the AEMT, because most patients typically present with classic symptoms.
B. is focused on the nature of illness, the patient’s chief complaint, and the patient’s symptoms.
Typical chief complaints in patients with an infectious disease include:
A. fever, rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
B. crushing chest pain, vomiting, and weakness.
C. headache, low back pain, and arm numbness.
D. joint pain, muscle aches, and blurred vision.
A. fever, rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
In addition to looking for severe bleeding, assessment of circulation in the responsive patient should involve:
A. palpating the carotid pulse to determine the approximate rate and checking capillary refill time.
B. taking a blood pressure and determining if the patient is alert and oriented or confused.
C. applying a pulse oximeter probe to the finger to determine if peripheral perfusion is adequate.
D. checking the radial pulse and noting the color, temperature, and condition of his or her skin.
D. checking the radial pulse and noting the color, temperature, and condition of his or her skin.
