Chapter 4 Test Questions

Question 1

When documenting a mass-casualty incident (MCI), you should:

A. Avoid the use of temporary documentation tools.

B. Complete a patient care form for every patient.

C. Follow your local MCI plan for documentation.

D. Keep a mental note of all patients you encountered.

Answer 1

C. Follow your local MCI plan for documentation.

Question 2

You are giving your oral report to the attending physician in the emergency department. Which of the following information about the patient is usually not given at this point?

A. Initial vital sign values.

B. The patient’s name and age.

C. The patient’s physical address.

D. Any important medical history.

Answer 2

C. The patient’s physical address.

Question 3

A 68-year-old female with a history of Alzheimer’s disease complains of acute abdominal pain. As you prepare to start an IV on her, she becomes verbally abusive. You should:

A. Gently restrain her and continue with the IV.

B. Discontinue the IV attempt and transport her.

C. Remain patient and explain the procedure to her.

D. Attribute her aggression to the Alzheimer’s disease.

Answer 3

C. Remain patient and explain the procedure to her.

Question 4

The ability to communicate from a portable radio to a base station is most effectively enhanced by a:

A. Repeater

B. Dedicated line

C. Trunking system

D. UHF transmitter

Answer 4

A. Repeater

Question 5

When communicating with medial control via radio, you should:

A. Request confirmation for any orders given.

B. Use codes or signals to ensure patient privacy.

C. Carry out all verbal orders without question.

D. Avoid the use of complicated medical terminology.

Answer 5

A. Request confirmation for any orders given.

Question 6

How does an enhanced 9-1-1 system function?

A. It is a universal number that can be accessed from any phone.

B. It provides the caller with initial emergency care for the patient.

C. It displays the caller’s information on the dispatcher’s computer.

D. It prevents the dispatcher and the caller from being disconnected.

Answer 6

C. It displays the caller’s information on the dispatcher’s computer.

Question 7

When documenting your assessment of a patient with a headache, you should include pertinent negatives, which are:

A. Signs that are not consistent with the condition.

B. Symptoms the patient had with previous episodes.

C. Findings associated with other disease processes.

D. Expected signs or symptoms that are not present.

Answer 7

D. Expected signs or symptoms that are not present.

Question 8

The transfer of patient care officially occurs when you:

A. Arrive at the receiving hospital or facility.

B. Give an oral report to a nurse or physician.

C. Advise the hospital of the situation via radio.

D. Complete all documentation regarding the call.

Answer 8

B. Give an oral report to a nurse or physician.

Question 9

Which of the following information is generally not reported to the dispatcher during a call?

A. Your arrival at the hospital.

B. Your departure for the hospital.

C. The patient’s clinical condition.

D. Acknowledgement of the situation.

Answer 9

C. The patient’s clinical condition.

Question 10

A 66-year-old female’s daughter called EMS because her mother was having chest pain. When you arrive, the patient states that she does not need EMS and will not go to the hospital on her own. The patient is conscious, alert, and oriented and will not sign a refusal form. You should:

A. Sign the refusal form yourself and document any care given.

B. Have your partner sign the form verifying the patient’s refusal.

C. Have the daughter sign the form verifying her mother’s refusal.

D. Advise the patient that the law requires her to sign the refusal form.

Answer 10

C. Have the daughter sign the form verifying her mother’s refusal.

Question 11

Which of the following statements regarding age, culture, and personal experience is correct?

A. Regardless of culture, people are taught to openly express their emotions.

B. The thoughts of people are greatly influenced by their personal experiences.

C. Generally speaking, a person’s age has little or no influence on their behavior.

D. An elderly person with chronic pain usually cannot cope with their condition.

Answer 11

B. The thoughts of people are greatly influenced by their personal experiences.

Question 12

Which of the following functions would an emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) perform?

A. Translating for a non-English speaking caller.

B. Instructing a caller how to perform CPR.

C. Providing medical direction to the EMT-I.

D. Encourage a caller to proceed to the hospital.

Answer 12

B. Instructing a caller how to perform CPR.

Question 13

Any radio hardware that contains a transmitter and receiver and is located in a fixed location is called a:

A. Repeater.

B. Base station.

C. Dedicated line.

D. UHF receiver.

Answer 13

B. Base station.

Question 14

While en route to the scene of a patient in cardiac arrest, you encounter a flooded road that is impassible. You should:

A. Contact the caller and provide instructions.

B. Make one attempt to cross the flooded road.

C. Contact medical control and report your status.

D. Advise the dispatcher to send another ambulance.

Answer 14

D. Advise the dispatcher to send another ambulance.

Question 15

When documenting medical terminology on a patient care form, you should:

A. Avoid the use of medical abbreviations.

B. Only use standard medical abbreviations.

C. Spell the word to the best of your ability.

D. Use abbreviations unique to your protocols.

Answer 15

B. Only use standard medical abbreviations.

Question 16

You are requesting an order to perform an invasive intervention on a critically ill patient from medical control when the radio system suddenly fails. You should:

A. Follow standing orders.

B. Continue BLS and transport.

C. React tempt to contact medical control.

D. Perform the invasive intervention.

Answer 16

A. Follow standing orders.

Question 17

When responding to the scene of a mass-casualty incident, you should:

A. Ask the dispatcher to notify all of the hospitals in the area.

B. Notify medical control and request orders prior to arrival.

C. Avoid communication with the dispatcher to free up air time.

D. Contact the hospital after you know the extent of the incident.

Answer 17

A. Ask the dispatcher to notify all of the hospitals in the area.

Question 18

During your assessment of a patient, you ask. “Can you tell me more about your problem? I am listening.” Which communication tool is this an example of?

A. Reflection

B. Confrontation

C. Clarification

D. Facilitation

Answer 18

D. Facilitation

Question 19

Radios that operate at 800 MHz allow for trunking, which is the:

A. Ability of multiple agencies to share frequencies.

B. Ability to use multiple radios when transmitting.

C. Operation of a dedicated line for emergency use.

D. Only method of communication approved by the FCC.

Answer 19

A. Ability of multiple agencies to share frequencies.

Question 20

You are dispatched to a residence for a 5-year-old child with fever. During your assessment, the child becomes irritable and starts crying. You should:

A. Ask the patient of caregiver to leave the room.

B. Encourage a parent or caregiver to hold the child.

C. Carefully restrain the child and continue your assessment.

D. Limit your assessment to a visual inspection of the child.

Answer 20

B. Encourage a parent or caregiver to hold the child.

Question 21

The National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) has identified minimum data to be included in a patient care report. Which of the following is not included in the minimum data?

A. Chief complaint and vital signs.

B. Time and date that you were dispatched.

C. Weather forecast at the time of dispatch.

D. Level of consciousness or mental status.

Answer 21

C. Weather forecast at the time of dispatch.

Question 22

A 79-year-old female is complaining of shortness of breath. When you ask her when this episode began, she does not answer you. You should:

A. Speak clearly and repeat the question.

B. Immediately ask a family member.

C. Move closer and speak loudly in her ear.

D. Ask a different question about her problem.

Answer 22

A. Speak clearly and repeat the question.

Question 23

Which of the following statements regarding patient refusals is correct?

A. A court of law must approve all patient refusals for care.

B. Only a law enforcement officer can witness a signed refusal.

C. You cannot legally mandate that a patient sign a refusal form.

D. At least three witnesses are needed when a patient refuses care.

Answer 23

C. You cannot legally mandate that a patient sign a refusal form.

Question 24

Your assessment of a 40-year-old male with an altered mental status (AMS) reveals the obvious odor of alcohol on his breath. When documenting the events of the call, you should state that:

A. The patient appeared to be acutely intoxicated.

B. The patient’s blood alcohol concentration is high.

C. Alcohol cannot be ruled out as the cause of his AMS.

D. The smell of alcohol was noted on the patient’s breath.

Answer 24

D. The smell of alcohol was noted on the patient’s breath.

Question 25

Pertinent information that is transmitted over the radio to the receiving hospital includes all of the following, except the:

A. Age and sex of the patient.

B. Patient’s primary complaint.

C. Name and address of the patient.

D. Patient’s response to treatment.

Answer 25

C. Name and address of the patient.

Question 26

A concise and well-organized radio report to the hospital is most beneficial because it:

A. Facilitates the dispatcher’s documentation of the event.

B. Allows the hospital to allocate the appropriate resources.

C. Prevents you from being accused of improper patient care.

D. Prevents an unnecessarily lengthy exchange of information.

Answer 26

B. Allows the hospital to allocate the appropriate resources.

Question 27

When assessing an anxious 55-year-old male with chest pain, you should:

A. Avoid eye contact to minimize anxiety.

B. Use medical terms to ensure he understands.

C. Avoid unpleasant answers to his questions.

D. Ask him how he prefers to be addressed.

Answer 27

D. Ask him how he prefers to be addressed.

Question 28

Which of the following represents the most appropriate order to present patient information over the radio when communicating with the hospital?

A. Chief complaint, history of present illness, age and sex, exam findings, care provided, estimated time of arrival.

B. Age and sex, chief complaint, care provided, history of present illness, exam findings, estimated time of arrival.

C. Chief complaint, age and sex, exam findings, history of present illness, care provided, estimated time of arrival.

D. Age and sex, chief complaint, history of present illness, exam findings, care provided, estimated time of arrival.

Answer 28

D. Age and sex, chief complaint, history of present illness, exam findings, care provided, estimated time of arrival.

Question 29

Which of the following situations requires reporting to the authorities?

A. An adult who was bitten by a stray dog.

B. Inadvertent overdose by an elderly patient.

C. Any EMS call involving more than two patients.

D. A minor who was injured during a school even.

Answer 29

A. An adult who was bitten by a stray dog.

Question 30

Ethnocentrism is defined as:

A. Consciously forcing your cultural values onto another person because you believe your values are better.

B. Embracing the cultural values and beliefs on another person, even if they go against what you were taught.

C. Internationally providing substandard medical care to a person whose cultural values are different from yours.

D. Considering your own cultural values as more important when interacting with people of a different culture.

Answer 30

D. Considering your own cultural values as more important when interacting with people of a different culture.