Study Flashcards
- Infants and children in shock:
A) typically become hypotensive sooner than adults because of a relative decrease in total blood volume.
B) generally remain alert for longer periods than adults despite a significant decrease in cerebral perfusion.
C) compensate more efficiently than adults by increasing heart rate and peripheral vascular resistance.
D) maintain end-organ perfusion longer than adults, making capillary refill time a less reliable perfusion indicator.
Ans: C
Page: 2036
Type: General Knowledge
- Atrial kick is defined as: A) the blood that flows passively into the ventricles. B) pressure on the AV valves during ventricular contraction. C) an attempt of the atria to contract against closed valves. D) increased preload pressure as a result of atrial contraction.
Ans: D Page: 912-913 Type: General Knowledge
What phase of the capnographic waveform is called the expiratory upslope? A) A-B B) B-C C) C-D D) D-E
B) B-C
- Which of the following conditions, if it remains undetected until puberty, can result in acute pain, severe constipation, and low back pain at the onset of menses?A) Ovarian cyst
B) Endometriosis
C) Ectopic pregnancy
D) Imperforate hymen
Ans: D
Page: 1185-1186
Type: General Knowledge
- A patient with a dysconjugate gaze following an ocular injury:
A) most likely has a concomitant basilar skull fracture.
B) should have ice applied to the eyes to prevent blindness.
C) has discoordination between the movements of both eyes.
D) should be treated by irrigating both eyes for 20 minutes.
Ans: C
Page: 1093
Type: General Knowledge
Signs of clinical improvement during CPAP therapy include: A) a decrease in systolic BP. B) an increase in the heart rate. C) increased ETCO2. D) increased ease of speaking
increased ease of speaking
- A man who was using an arc welder without eye protection presents with bilateral eye pain and diminished vision. He is conscious and alert, has a patent airway, and has stable vital signs. Treatment should include:
A) covering his eyes with sterile, moist dressings; applying cool compresses lightly over his eyes; and placing him in a supine position.
B) immediately irrigating his eyes with sterile saline or water; covering both eyes with dry, sterile dressings; and allowing him to sit up.
C) placing him in a lateral recumbent position, keeping his eyelids closed with tape, and applying chemical warm compresses to his eyes.
D) mixing baking powder with sterile water or saline and irrigating his eyes to prevent further damage caused by the ultraviolet light.
Ans: A
Page: 1094-1095
Type: Critical Thinking
- Which of the following statements regarding ectopic pregnancy is MOST correct?
A) Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants in a fallopian tube.
B) Most ectopic pregnancies present with symptoms during the second trimester.
C) Use of an intrauterine device is the most common cause of an ectopic pregnancy.
D) In ectopic pregnancy, a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus.
Ans: D
Page: 1193
Type: General Knowledge
83. The preferred initial pharmacologic agent for pediatric bradycardia is: A) atropine. B) epinephrine. C) dobutamine. D) amiodarone.
Ans: B
Page: 2041
Type: General Knowledge
41. Irritation or injury to abdominal tissue, causing activation of peripheral nerve tracts, would MOST likely result in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ pain. A) visceral B) somatic C) rebound D) parietal
Ans: B
Page: 1134
Type: General Knowledge
- Which of the following statements regarding the Apgar score is correct?
A) If resuscitation is necessary, the Apgar score is completed to determine the result of the resuscitation.
B) The Apgar score is determined on the basis of the newborn’s condition at 2 and 10 minutes after birth.
C) If resuscitation is needed, it should commence immediately after you obtain the 1-minute Apgar score.
D) A newborn with a heart rate of greater than 80 beats/min would be assigned a score of 2 on the Apgar score.
Ans: A
Page: 1967-1968
Type: General Knowledge
Changes in the rate and depth of breathing are regulated primarily by the: A) pH of venous blood. B) pH of the CSF. C) saturation of oxygen and hemoglobin. D) amount of oxygen in the blood plasma.
pH of the CSF.
46. You are dispatched to a residence for a 34-year-old woman who is “sick.” Upon your arrival, the patient greets you at the door. She tells you that she began experiencing a dull aching pain in the left lower quadrant of her abdomen. She further states that she recently had her menstrual period, which was accompanied by more pain than usual. Her vital signs are stable, she is conscious and alert, and she denies vaginal bleeding or fever. This patient MOST likely has: A) an ectopic pregnancy. B) a ruptured ovarian cyst. C) a tubo-ovarian abscess. D) pelvic inflammatory disease.
Ans: B
Page: 1197
Type: Critical Thinking
- It is MOST important to exercise caution when administering isotonic solutions to patients with:
A) hypotension and severe hypovolemia.
B) hypertension and congestive heart failure.
C) dehydration secondary to excessive diarrhea.
D) a history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
B) hypertension and congestive heart failure.
- A construction worker was hammering when he experienced a sudden severe pain to his right eye. Assessment of his eye reveals that it is irritated and you can see a small sliver of metal imbedded in the globe. He is also wearing contact lenses. You should:
A) remove his contact lenses and irrigate his eye with copious amounts of water.
B) leave his contact lenses in place and cover both eyes with a sterile dressing.
C) attempt to remove the foreign object only if he has any visual disturbances.
D) remove his contact lenses and administer a narcotic analgesic for pain.
Ans: B
Page: 1093-1097
Type: Critical Thinking
49. A patient with Cushing syndrome would MOST likely present with: A) ketoacidosis. B) hypoglycemia. C) decreased urination. D) acute hyperactivity.
Ans: B
Page: 1233
Type: General Knowledge
- You should be MOST suspicious for cardiogenic shock in an infant or child if:
A) he or she appears listless or lethargic.
B) his or her heart rate varies with activity.
C) his or her heart rate is greater than 150 beats/min.
D) perfusion decreases following a fluid bolus.
Ans: D
Page: 2040
Type: General Knowledge
The flow-restricted, oxygen-powered ventilation device: A) has a demand valve that is triggered by the negative pressure generated during inhalation. B) is the preferred initial device for ventilating an apneic or inadequately breathing patient. C) delivers 100% oxygen to apneic patients at a fixed flow rate of 50 to 60 L/min. D) should be used in patients with thoracic trauma because it is less likely to cause barotrauma
has a demand valve that is triggered by the negative pressure generated during inhalation
- Which of the following statements regarding the IM route of medication administration is correct?
A) Medications have a bioavailability of 75% to 100% following IM administration.
B) Any medication given by the IV route can be given by the IM route.
C) IM-administered medications are subject to first-pass metabolism in the liver.
D) Muscle perfusion has minimal effect on the absorption of IM-administered drugs.
A) Medications have a bioavailability of 75% to 100% following IM administration
In which of the following conditions would you be LEAST likely to encounter pulsus paradoxus? A) Moderate asthma attack B) Pericardial tamponade C) Tension pneumothorax D) Decompensating COPD
Moderate asthma attack
82. Bradydysrhythmias in children MOST often occur secondary to: A) severe hypoxia. B) drug ingestion. C) AV heart block. D) cardiac irritability.
Ans: A
Page: 2041
Type: General Knowledge
7. While preparing equipment for newborn resuscitation, which of the following items is/are NOT considered optional? A) Pulse oximeter B) Cardiac monitor C) Endotracheal tubes D) Laryngeal mask airway
Ans: C
Page: 1966
Type: General Knowledge
28. Movement of both of the eyes in unison is called: A) dysconjugate gaze. B) sympathetic eye movement. C) extraocular movement. D) physiologic anisocoria.
Ans: B
Page: 1098, 1120
Type: General Knowledge
- When reviewing a cardiac patient’s medication list, you note that she is taking bisoprolol. You recognize that this drug is also called _____________ and is classified as a(n) _____________. A) Zebeta, beta blocker B) Betapace, antiarrhythmic C) Ticlid, antiplatelet agent D) Norvasc, calcium channel blocker
Ans: A Page: 931 Type: General Knowledge
- Which of the following statements regarding second-degree heart block is correct? A) Most second-degree heart blocks are transient in nature and resolve in the prehospital setting without the need for intervention in the emergency department. B) Second-degree heart block occurs when an impulse reaching the AV node is occasionally prevented from proceeding to the ventricles and causing a QRS complex. C) More than half of all second-degree heart blocks cause hemodynamic compromise and require transcutaneous cardiac pacing in the prehospital or hospital setting. D) Second-degree heart block is characterized by inconsistent PR intervals, a QRS complex greater than 0.12 seconds, and a ventricular rate less than 40 beats/min.
Ans: B Page: 957 Type: General Knowledge
- If a paramedic is on duty and receives a 9-1-1 call in his or her jurisdiction:
A) he or she is not covered by the Good Samaritan law.
B) the Good Samaritan law will provide limited immunity.
C) state law requires that he or she respond within 5 minutes.
D) he or she cannot be held liable if a fee is not charged to the patient
A) he or she is not covered by the Good Samaritan law.
Ans: A
Page: 108
Type: General Knowledge
13. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology is MOST important during the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ stage of critical thinking. A) data interpretation B) concept formation C) reflection in action D) application of principle
Ans: A
Page: 699
Type: General Knowledge
- Lactated Ringer’s (LR) solution may be beneficial to patients who have lost large amounts of blood because:
A) it takes less LR to effectively expand the intravascular compartment than any other isotonic solution.
B) LR has the ability to carry oxygen and can maintain cellular perfusion until the patient receives definitive care.
C) the lactate contained within LR is converted to bicarbonate in the liver and can help combat intracellular acidosis.
D) the likelihood of causing acute circulatory overload is minimal relative to other hypertonic solutions.
C) the lactate contained within LR is converted to bicarbonate in the liver and can help combat intracellular acidosis.
- A medication is used “off-label.” This means that it:
A) is used for a purpose not approved by the FDA, at doses different from the recommended doses, or by a route of administration not approved by the FDA.
B) has been determined to be safe by a physician, and is used to treat a patient’s illness before the medication has been approved by the FDA for any purpose.
C) is administered in clinical trials while the manufacturer conducts further research and before the FDA has approved the medication for use.
D) is administered in an extreme emergency situation, but only if initial clinical trials have determined that the medication will not cause harm to the patient.
A) is used for a purpose not approved by the FDA, at doses different from the recommended doses, or by a route of administration not approved by the FDA.
97. The MOST common type of exogenous hypovolemic shock is: A) severe diarrhea. B) internal hemorrhage. C) excess plasma loss. D) external bleeding.
D) external bleeding.
Ans: D
Page: 368
Type: General Knowledge
- The hypoxic drive is a phenomenon in which:
A) a chronically hypoxic patient’s primary respiratory drive is stimulated by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood.
B) a relatively large percentage of patients with COPD become acutely apneic after receiving high-flow oxygen.
C) high levels of oxygen rapidly depress a COPD patient’s respiratory rate and depth, leading to worsened hypoxia and severe acidosis.
D) bicarbonate ions migrate into the cerebrospinal fluid of a chronically hypoventilating patient, making the brain think that acid and base are in balance.
Ans: D
Page: 892
Type: General Knowledge
- Common signs and symptoms of preeclampsia include:
A) edema, hypertension, and headache.
B) weight loss, blurred vision, and diarrhea.
C) ketones in the urine and rapid weight gain.
D) facial swelling, dysuria, and chest pain.
Ans: A
Page: 1931
Type: General Knowledge
39. Conveying calm, unmistakable, genuine concern for someone you have never met before is the MOST essential challenge as a(n): A) sympathetic listener. B) competent paramedic. C) effective history taker. D) therapeutic communicator.
Ans: D
Page: 133
Type: General Knowledge
- Because stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system and bradycardia can occur during intubation of a child, you should:
A) closely monitor the child’s cardiac rhythm.
B) premedicate with 0.04 mg/kg of atropine.
C) limit your intubation attempt to 10 seconds.
D) use a curved blade instead of a straight blade.
Ans: A
Page: 2032
Type: General Knowledge
100. A loss of normal sympathetic nervous system tone causes: A) neurogenic shock. B) obstructive shock. C) profound vasoconstriction. D) a reduced absolute blood volume.
A) neurogenic shock.
Ans: A
Page: 369
Type: General Knowledge
- Which of the following statements regarding the rule of palms is correct? A) The patient’s palm, excluding the fingers, represents 1% of his or her total body surface area. B) The rule of palms is not an accurate estimator of total body surface area burned in pediatric patients. C) The patient’s palm, including the fingers, represents 1% of his or her total body surface area. D) The rule of palms is most accurate when a patient has experienced burns to less than 20% of his or her total body surface area.
Ans: A Page: 1584
1. Which of the following is a subjective finding? A) Pale, cool, clammy skin B) Obvious respiratory distress C) A complaint of chest pressure D) Blood pressure of 110/60 mm Hg
Ans: C
Page: 149
Type: General Knowledge
- In contrast to gravida 3 mothers, gravida 1 mothers:
A) have delivered at least one baby.
B) are at a lower risk for complications.
C) will typically take more time to deliver.
D) often experience a precipitous delivery.
Ans: C
Page: 1930
Type: General Knowledge
8. Which of the following is one of the 10 system elements developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in an effort to sustain EMS systems? A) Medical direction B) Fully enhanced 9-1-1 C) Paramedic supervisors D) Continued federal funding
A) Medical direction
Ans: A
Page: 7
Type: General Knowledge
- A child in decompensated shock with hypotension should:
A) be intubated to protect his or her airway.
B) receive initial fluid resuscitation at the scene.
C) be given 25% dextrose to prevent hypoglycemia.
D) receive volume expansion with 5% dextrose in water.
Ans: B
Page: 2038
Type: General Knowledge
- In decompensated shock, systolic blood pressure is:
A) less than 90 mm Hg in adult males.
B) less than 80 mm Hg in adult females.
C) less than the fifth percentile for the age.
D) usually undetectable due to vasodilation.
C) less than the fifth percentile for the age.
Ans: C
Page: 369
Type: General Knowledge
18. Which of the following is a potential complication of pelvic inflammatory disease? A) Uterine rupture B) Ectopic pregnancy C) Respiratory failure D) Urinary tract infection
Ans: B
Page: 1195
Type: General Knowledge
- You are one of the paramedics staffing the rehabilitation section at a hazardous materials incident when a hazardous materials technician brings you one of his coworkers, whose mental status is altered. According to the technician, his coworker was appropriately decontaminated in the warm zone. The patient’s skin is hot and moist, and he is confused and nauseated. You should:
A) administer oxygen via nasal cannula, take his blood pressure, and offer him cold water to drink.
B) administer oxygen, start an IV line, administer 2 L of cold normal saline rapidly, and prepare for transport.
C) first contact the incident commander and confirm that the patient has indeed been decontaminated.
D) suspect that he is suffering from heatstroke, administer high-flow oxygen, and begin rapid cooling measures.
Ans: D
Page: 2279-2280
Type: Critical Thinking
9. According to the Apgar score, a newborn with a heart rate of 80 beats/min and slow, irregular breathing should receive a combined score of: A) 2. B) 3. C) 4. D) 5.
Ans: A
Page: 1968
Type: General Knowledge
- A patient with an elevated cholesterol level would MOST likely take: A) Inderal. B) Altacor. C) Isordil. D) Diovan.
Ans: B Page: 933 Type: General Knowledge
52. A primagravida woman: A) has had one abortion. B) has delivered one baby. C) will deliver her second baby. D) is pregnant for the first time.
Ans: D
Page: 1927
Type: General Knowledge
- In contrast to a patient with asthma, a patient with left-sided heart failure: A) presents with a dry, nonproductive cough and diffuse wheezing in all lung fields. B) experiences acute weight gain and takes medications such as digoxin and a diuretic. C) presents with a hyperinflated chest, use of accessory muscles, and expiratory wheezing. D) is typically a younger patient with a history of a recent upper respiratory infection.
Ans: B Page: 1019 Type: General Knowledge
In contrast to negative-pressure ventilation, positive-pressure ventilation occurs when: A) the diaphragm contracts. B) air is drawn into the lungs. C) intrathoracic pressure falls. D) air is forced into the lungs.
air is forced into the lungs
30. Common signs of gestational diabetes include: A) confusion. B) diaphoresis. C) polydipsia. D) tachycardia.
Ans: C
Page: 1932
Type: General Knowledge
- The recommended first-line treatment for third-degree heart block associated with bradycardia and hemodynamic compromise is: A) atropine sulfate. B) a dopamine infusion. C) an epinephrine infusion. D) transcutaneous pacing.
Ans: D Page: 1001 Type: General Knowledge
33. In which of the following situations is the Morgan lens NOT appropriate to use? A) Eye burn from a strong alkali B) An object impaled in the eye C) Eye burn from a strong acid D) Any foreign body in the eye
Ans: B
Page: 1095
Type: General Knowledge
A patient with a suppressed cough mechanism: A) should be intubated at once. B) is at serious risk for aspiration. C) often requires ventilation support. D) will have a positive eyelash reflex
is at serious risk for aspiration.
170. A 6-year-old child has burns to his head, face, neck, and anterior chest. What percentage of his body surface area has been burned? A) 21% B) 27% C) 30% D) 36%
Ans: A
Page: 2068
Type: Critical Thinking
- When the paramedic administers a medication via the IV route:
A) bioavailability of the medication is reduced by 50% as soon as it enters the systemic circulation.
B) he or she has the ability to titrate the medication carefully in a rapidly evolving clinical situation.
C) it is important for him or her to remember that the medication’s onset of action is relatively slow.
D) first-pass metabolism significantly alters the medication’s effects, thereby requiring frequent dosing.
B) he or she has the ability to titrate the medication carefully in a rapidly evolving clinical situation.
- Cardiac arrest following an electrical shock: A) typically presents as pulseless atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. B) is most often caused by an electrical current stronger than 1 ampere. C) may occur secondarily from hypoxia or as a direct result of the shock. D) is typically of short duration and is often reversed with 2 minutes of CPR.
Ans: C Page: 1596
- A first-degree heart block has a PR interval greater than 0.20 seconds because: A) depolarization of the atria occurs at a slightly slower rate than one would expect. B) each impulse that reaches the AV node is delayed slightly longer than expected. C) impulses generated by the SA node traverse the AV node at an accelerated rate. D) the primary pacemaker is not the SA node, but rather an ectopic atrial pacemaker.
Ans: B Page: 957 Type: General Knowledge
- A positive Murphy sign is characterized by:
A) slow, shallow breathing in an attempt to reduce the severe pain associated with cholecystitis.
B) a sudden stop in inspiration due to sharp pain when pressure is applied to the right upper quadrant.
C) ecchymosis to the flank area, indicative of free blood in the retroperitoneal compartment.
D) periumbilical ecchymosis and is a late, but highly suggestive sign of blood in the peritoneum.
Ans: B
Page: 1135
Type: General Knowledge
- Lactated Ringer’s (LR) solution should not be given to patients with liver problems because:
A) LR is a hypertonic solution and cannot be metabolized by the liver.
B) the lactate contained within LR can cause necrosis of the liver tissue.
C) patients with liver disease commonly experience renal insufficiency.
D) the liver cannot metabolize the lactate in the solution.
D) the liver cannot metabolize the lactate in the solution.
- Because minors have no legal status:
A) they can neither consent to nor refuse medical care.
B) you must obtain consent from both parents before treating.
C) they must always be treated under the law of implied consent.
D) you must obtain a court order before you can legally treat them.
A) they can neither consent to nor refuse medical care.
Ans: A
Page: 99
Type: General Knowledge
Hyperventilating an apneic patient: A) is appropriate if the patient is an adult. B) may decrease venous return to the heart. C) is beneficial if the pulse rate is too slow. D) reduces the incidence of gastric distention
may decrease venous return to the heart.
- Patients with a heart rate greater than 150 beats/min usually become unstable because of: A) reduced ventricular filling. B) an increase in the atrial kick. C) increased right atrial preload. D) a significantly reduced afterload.
Ans: A Page: 952 Type: General Knowledge
- A 33-year-old man was burned when the hot water heater he was working on exploded. The patient has superficial and partial-thickness burns to his face, neck, and arms. Your primary assessment reveals that he is restless and tachypneic. His BP is 80/54 mm Hg and his heart rate is 120 beats/min and weak. You should: A) conclude that he is experiencing burn shock, start two large-bore IV lines of normal saline, and administer fluids based on the Parkland formula. B) assist his ventilations with a bag-mask device, cover him with a blanket, and start a large-bore IV of normal saline set at a keep vein open rate. C) apply oxygen via nonrebreathing mask, cover his burns with cold moist dressings, start an IV with normal saline, and give up to 4 mg of morphine for pain. D) administer high-flow oxygen, keep him warm, start at least one large-bore IV of normal saline, and administer fluid boluses to maintain adequate perfusion.
Ans: D Page: 1584
42. The number one killer of fire fighters at the scene of a fire is/are: A) heatstroke. B) thermal burns. C) inhalation injury. D) cardiac events.
Ans: D
Page: 2326, 2335
Type: General Knowledge
- If a newborn does not respond to the initial steps of resuscitation, the need for further intervention is based upon:
A) pulse rate, activity, and appearance.
B) respiratory effort, pulse rate, and color.
C) appearance, skin color, and muscle tone.
D) respirations, appearance, and muscle tone.
Ans: B
Page: 1968-1969
Type: General Knowledge
- The rectal route is preferred over the oral route for certain emergency medications because:
A) rectal medications are altered significantly by first-pass metabolism.
B) bioavailability of rectal medications does not exceed 50 percent.
C) the vasculature of the rectal mucosa allows for slow drug absorption.
D) rectal medications are usually not subject to first-pass metabolism.
D) rectal medications are usually not subject to first-pass metabolism.
- The QT interval would MOST likely be prolonged in patients: A) who take digitalis. B) who are hypocalcemic. C) with a rapid heart rate. D) who are hypercalcemic.
Ans: B Page: 987 Type: General Knowledge
- Pericardial tamponade can be differentiated from a tension pneumothorax by the presence of: A) jugular venous distention. B) a narrowing pulse pressure. C) clear and equal breath sounds. D) alterations in the QRS amplitude.
Ans: C Page: 1021 Type: General Knowledge
10. The ability of multiple agencies or systems to share the same radio frequency is called: A) a duplex. B) trunking. C) patching. D) telemetry.
Ans: B
Page: 123
Type: General Knowledge
58. A patient who rolls up his or her sleeve so that you can take his or her blood pressure has given you \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ consent. A) implied B) informed C) rational D) expressed
D) expressed
Ans: D
Page: 96
Type: General Knowledge
40. In contrast to somatic pain, visceral pain: A) is well localized. B) indicates peritonitis. C) is difficult to localize. D) increases with movement.
Ans: C
Page: 1134
Type: General Knowledge
- Which of the following prescribed medications would a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation MOST likely take? A) Plavix and Vasotec B) Lisinopril and aspirin C) Digitalis and Coumadin D) Cordarone and furosemide
Ans: C Page: 952 Type: General Knowledge
- If a young female with a known history of gonorrhea presents with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and bleeding between periods:
A) you should suspect disseminated gonococcemia.
B) one of her ovaries is probably grossly enlarged.
C) it is likely that she has an ectopic pregnancy.
D) she most likely has pelvic inflammatory disease.
Ans: D
Page: 1199
Type: General Knowledge