unit 4 exam

Question 1

The term “pharmacology” is MOST accurately
defined as:

Select one:

a. the study of drugs and their actions on the
body.
b. the study of drug excretion from the human body.
c. the study of drugs that are produced illegally.
d. the study of how medications affect the brain.

Answer 1

a. the study of drugs and their action on the body.

Question 2

This route is the preferred route for the administration of Nitroglycerin.

Select one:

a. Sublingual
b. Intranasal
c. Intramuscular
d. Transdermal

Answer 2

a. sublingual

Question 3

While assisting a paramedic in the attempted resuscitation
of a 55-year-old male in cardiac arrest, you should expect the paramedic to:

Select one:
a. give the patient nitroglycerin to increase his
blood pressure
b. give the patient nitroglycerin to increase his
blood pressure administer drugs via the IV route to achieve the fastest effect
c. give the patient activated charcoal to rule out
a drug overdose
d. withhold drug therapy until an intraosseous
catheter is in place

Answer 3

b. give the patient nitroglycerin to increase his blood pressure, administer drugs via the IV route to acheive the fastest effect

Question 4

Activated charcoal is an example of a:

Select one:

a. gel
b. solution
c. elixir
d. suspension

Answer 4

d. suspension

Question 5

After taking diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for an
allergic reaction, a person begins experiencing drowsiness and a dry mouth.
These findings are an example of a(n):

Select one:

a. therapeutic effect
b. untoward effect
c. side effect
d. unpredictable effect

Answer 5

c. side effect

Question 6

In ___________ administration, you are
administering medication to yourself or your partner.

Select one:

a. EMT-administered
b. patient-assisted
c. peer-assisted
d. paramedic-administered

Answer 6

c. peer-assisted

Question 7

Advil, Nuprin, and Motrin are trade names for
the generic medication:

Select one:

a. nitrostat
b. aspirin
c. ibuprofen
d. acetaminophen

Answer 7

c. ibuprofen

Question 8

Which of the following clinical signs would
necessitate the administration of naloxone (Narcan)?

Select one:

a. Hypertension
b. Extreme agitation
c. Tachycardia
d. Slow respirations

Answer 8

d. slow respirations

Question 9

The medical term for an extremely low blood glucose level is:

Select one:

a. hypertension.
b. hyperglycemia.
c. hypotension.
d. hypoglycemia

Answer 9

d. hypoglycemia

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a generic drug?

Select one:

a. Bayer
b. Aspirin
c. Advil
d. Excedrin

Answer 10

b. aspirin

Question 11

Which of the following statements regarding the
epinephrine auto-injector is correct?

Select one:
a. The adult auto-injector delivers 0.5 to 1 mg of
epinephrine.
b. EMTs do not need physician authorization to use
the auto-injector
c. The epinephrine auto-injector delivers a preset
amount of the drug.
d. The auto-injector delivers epinephrine via the subcutaneous route.

Answer 11

c. The epinephrine auto-injector delivers a preset amount of the drug.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic
of epinephrine?

Select one:

a. Constricts the blood vessels
b. Decreases heart rate and blood pressure
c. Dilates passages in the lungs
d. Secreted naturally by the adrenal glands

Answer 12

b. Decreases heart rate and blood pressure

Question 13

Which of the following patient populations
typically require a modified drug dose?

Select one:

a. Middle adults
b. Females
c. Patients with asthma
d. Pediatric patients

Answer 13

d. pediatric patients

Question 14

A 74-year-old woman complains of heaviness in her chest, nausea, and sweating that suddenly began about an hour ago. She is conscious and alert, but anxious. Her blood pressure is 144/84 mm Hg and her heart rate is 110 beats/min. She took two of her prescribed nitroglycerin (0.4-mg tablets) before your arrival but still feels heaviness in her chest. You should:

Select one:

a. recall that geriatric patients often have slower absorption and elimination times, which may necessitate modification of the dosing of certain drugs.
b. give her high-flow oxygen, avoid giving her any more nitroglycerin because it may cause a drop in her blood pressure, and transport.
c. assist her in taking one more of her nitroglycerin tablets, reassess her blood pressure, and contact medical control for further instructions.
d. transport her at once and wait at least 20 minutes before you consider assisting her with a third dose of her prescribed nitroglycerin.

Answer 14

c. assist her in taking one more of her nitroglycerin tablets, reassess her blood pressure, and contact medical control for further instructions.

Question 15

A mucosal atomizer device (MAD) is used to deliver certain medications via the:

Select one:

a. intranasal route.
b. inhalation route.
c. sublingual route.
d. transdermal route.

Answer 15

a. intranasal route.

Question 16

Aspirin is beneficial to patients suspected of having a heart attack because it:

Select one:

a. prevents the aggregation of platelets.
b. reduces the associated chest pain.
c. dissolves the coronary artery clot
d. causes direct coronary vasodilation.

Answer 16

a. prevents the aggregation of platelets.

Question 17

A 62-year-old male is seen with crushing chest
pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain that he had with a
previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin but states that he has
not taken any. After administering supplemental oxygen if needed and contacting
medical control, you should:

Select one:
a. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his
systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg
b. begin immediate transport and request a
rendezvous with a paramedic unit.
c. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin before assessing his blood pressure.
d. administer the nitroglycerin unless he has taken Viagra within the past 72 hours

Answer 17

a. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg

Question 18

An EMT may administer aspirin to a patient if:

Select one:

a. authorization from medical control has been obtained.
b. the patient is currently experiencing hypotension.
c. transport time to the hospital is greater than 30 minutes.
d. transport time to the hospital is greater than 30 minutes.

Answer 18

a. authorization from medical control has been obtained.

Question 19

An EMT can administer all of the following medications except?

Select one:

a. ibuprofen
b. diphenhydramine
c. Advair
d. Epi

Answer 19

c. Advair

Question 20

You are treating a 45-year-old woman who was
stung by a hornet and has a rash. She tells you that she is allergic to hornets
and has her own epinephrine auto-injector. She also tells you that she takes
medication for hypertension. Her breath sounds do not reveal any wheezing, her
breathing is unlabored, and her blood pressure is 154/94 mm Hg. What should you
do if you are not able to make contact with medical control?

Select one:
a. Begin transport to the hospital and closely
monitor her condition while en route.
b. Administer her epinephrine, reassess her
condition, and transport her promptly.
c. Begin immediate transport and request an
intercept with a paramedic ambulance.
d. Give her half the dose of her epinephrine in
case her allergic reaction is delayed.

Answer 20

a. Begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route.

Question 21

The amount of medication that is given is known
as the _________.

Select one:

a. contraindication
b. indication
c. dose
d. side effect

Answer 21

c. dose

Question 22

What medication form does oral glucose come in?

Select one:

a. Suspension
b. Liquid
c. Gel
d. Fine powder

Answer 22

c. Gel

Question 23

Medications encased in a gelatin shell that are
taken by mouth are called:

Select one:

a. capsules.
b. caplets
c. tablets
d. pills

Answer 23

a. capsules.

Question 24

Which of the following statements regarding
glucose is correct?

Select one:
a. Glucose is a complex sugar that rapidly absorbs
into the bloodstream
b. Glucose is a simple sugar that is readily
absorbed by the bloodstream
c. Glucose is given to patients who are suspected
of being hyperglycemic
d. Glucose is usually administered by the EMT via
the intravenous route

Answer 24

b. Glucose is a simple sugar that is readily absorbed by the bloodstream

Question 25

Which of the following medication routes would be the MOST appropriate to use in an unresponsive patient when intravenous access cannot be obtained?

Select one:

a. Transcutaneous
b. Intramuscular
c. Subcutaneous
d. Intraosseous

Answer 25

d. intraosseous

Question 26

What is the route of administration for the EpiPen
auto-injector?

Select one:

a. Sublingual
b. Intravenous
c. Intraosseous
d. Intramuscular

Answer 26

d. intramuscular

Question 27

When assessing an elderly male who complains of
nausea and generalized weakness, you find that he takes atorvastatin (Lipitor)
and amlodipine (Norvasc). These medications suggest a history of:

Select one:

a. cardiovascular disease
b. bacterial infection
c. reactive airway disease
d. non–insulin-dependent diabetes

Answer 27

a. cardiovascular disease

Question 28

The process of binding or sticking to a surface
is called:

Select one:

a. digestion
b. absorption
c. suspension
d. adsorption.

Answer 28

d. adsorption.

Question 29

EMTs respond to a known heroin abuser who is
unresponsive. If they give naloxone (Narcan) to this patient, the EMTs should
recall that:

Select one:
a. naloxone administration could cause seizures in
this patient.
b. naloxone should not be given if the patient’s
breathing is slow.
c. the effects of naloxone last longer than most
opioid drugs.
d. naloxone should be administered in increments of
2 mg.

Answer 29

a. naloxone administration could cause seizures in this patient.

Question 30

Which of the following statements regarding
parenteral medications is correct?

Select one:
a. Parenteral medications are absorbed more quickly
than enteral medications.
b. Tylenol is an example of a parenteral medication
because it is taken orally
c. Compared to enteral medications, parenteral
medications have fewer side effects
d. Parenteral medications are absorbed by the body
through the digestive system

Answer 30

a. Parenteral medications are absorbed more quickly than enteral medications.

Question 31

Which of the following is required for an EMT to administer a drug to a patient?

Select one:

a. A patient with an altered level of consciousness
b. An alert adult patient
c. A patient with stable vital signs
d. Medical direction approval

Answer 31

d. Medical direction approval

Question 32

Which of the following medication routes delivers a drug through the skin over an extended period of time, such as a nitroglycerin or nicotine patch?

Select one:

a. Transcutaneous
b. Sublingual
c. Intraosseous
d. Subcutaneous

Answer 32

a. Transcutaneous

Question 33

A 37-year-old male is found unresponsive in his car. His airway is patent and his respirations are rapid and labored. As you and your partner are assessing and treating the patient, a police officer hands you a medication named Alupent, which he found in the backseat of the patient’s car. This medication suggests that the patient has a history of:

Select one:

a. heart disease.
b. asthma.
c. hypertension
d. allergic reactions

Answer 33

b. asthma

Question 34

You are dispatched to a state park for a young
female experiencing an allergic reaction. Your assessment reveals that her
breathing is severely labored and her blood pressure is very low. You carry
epinephrine auto-injectors on your ambulance and have been trained and approved
by your medical director to administer them. As your partner gives the patient
supplemental oxygen, you attempt to contact medical control but do not have a
signal from your cell phone. You should:

Select one:
a. administer epinephrine to the patient, begin
immediate transport, and attempt to contact medical control en route to the
hospital
b. notify dispatch and request that a paramedic
unit respond to the scene so they can administer epinephrine to the patient
c. place her in a supine position, keep her warm,
begin transport to the hospital, and request a paramedic intercept en route
d. immediately load the patient into the ambulance,
begin transport, and reattempt to contact medical control when you receive a
cell signal.

Answer 34

a. administer epinephrine to the patient, begin immediate transport, and attempt to contact medical control en route to the hospital

Question 35

Nitroglycerin, when given to patients with
cardiac-related chest pain:

Select one:

a. increases myocardial contraction force
b. relaxes the walls of the coronary arteries.
c. increases blood return to the right atrium.
d. constricts the veins throughout the body.

Answer 35

b. relaxes the walls of the coronary arteries.

Question 36

A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed MDI, you should:

Select one:
a. contact medical control and apprise him or her
of what you did.
b. administer another treatment in 30 seconds if
she is still in distress
c. check the drug’s expiration date to ensure that it is still current.
d. reassess the patient and document her response
to the medication.

Answer 36

d. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication.

Question 37

Which of the following is an example of a
rules-based medication error?

Select one:
a. The EMT administers a drug that is
contraindicated for the patient.
b. The EMT accidentally gives a higher drug dose
than what is indicated.
c. The EMT administers a drug that is not approved
by the medical director
d. The EMT administers the correct drug, but gives
it by the wrong route

Answer 37

c. The EMT administers a drug that is not approved by the medical director

Question 38

How is nitroglycerin usually given by the EMT?

Select one:

a. Orally
b. Sublingually
c. Inhaled
d. Injected

Answer 38

b. sublingually

Question 39

What is the dose in MG’s of oral glucose?

Select one:

a. 15mg
b. 12.5mg
c. 25mg
d. 1mg

Answer 39

a. 15mg

Question 40

Shortly after assisting a 65-year-old female
with her prescribed nitroglycerin, she begins complaining of dizziness and
experiences a drop of 30 mm Hg in her systolic blood pressure. The patient
remains conscious and her breathing is adequate. You should:

Select one:

a. wait 5 minutes and reassess her blood pressure.
b. transport her in a sitting position.
c. place her in a supine position.
d. assist ventilations with a bag-valve mask.

Answer 40

c. place her in a supine position.