unit 6 part 1 retest (heart)

Question 1

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when:

Select one:

a. signs and symptoms resolve spontaneously within 48 hours
b. a small clot in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms
c. a small cerebral artery ruptures and causes minimal damage
d. medications are given to dissolve a cerebral blood clot

Answer 1

c. a small cerebral artery ruptures and causes minimal damage

Question 2

The most basic functions of the body, such as breathing, blood pressure, and swallowing, are controlled by the:

Select one:

a. cerebellum
b. brain stem
c. cerebrum
d. cerebral cortex

Answer 2

b. brain stem

Question 3

Blood that is ejected from the right ventricle:

Select one:

a. flows into the pulmonary arteries
b. has a high concentration of oxygen
c. enters the systemic circulation
d. was received directly from the aorta

Answer 3

a. flows into the pulmonary arteries

Question 4

The mental status of a patient who has experienced a generalized seizure:

Select one:

a. is likely to improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes
b. progressively worsens over a period of a few hours
c. typically does not improve, even after several minutes
d. is easily differentiated from that of acute hypoglycemia

Answer 4

a. is likely to improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes

Question 5

You are assisting an asthma patient with his prescribed metered-dose inhaler. After the patient takes a deep breath and depresses the inhaler, you should:

Select one:

a. instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can
b. immediately reapply the oxygen mask and reassess his condition
c. allow him to breathe room air and assess his oxygen saturation
d. advise him to exhale forcefully to ensure medication absorption

Answer 5

a. instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can

Question 6

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:

Select one:

a. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask and transport at once
b. place her in the recovery position and monitor for vomiting
c. insert an oropharyngeal airway and perform oral suctioning
d. insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation

Answer 6

d. insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation

Question 7

The myocardium receives oxygenated blood from the __________, which originate(s) from the __________.

Select one:

a. aorta, inferior vena cava
b. coronary arteries, aorta
c. vena cava, coronary veins
d. coronary sinus, vena cava

Answer 7

b. coronary arteries, aorta

Question 8

Acute pulmonary edema would MOST likely develop as the result of:

Select one:

a. an upper airway infection
b. toxic chemical inhalation
c. severe hyperventilation
d. right-sided heart failure

Answer 8

b. toxic chemical inhalation

Question 9

Assessment of a patient’s blood pressure with an automatic BP cuff reveals that it is 204/120 mm Hg. The patient is conscious and alert and denies any symptoms. The EMT should:

Select one:

a. reassess her blood pressure in 5 minutes
b. conclude that she has hypertension
c. obtain a manual blood pressure
d. prepare for immediate transport

Answer 9

c. obtain a manual blood pressure

Question 10

You are dispatched to a residence for a 66-year-old male who, according to family members, has suffered a massive stroke. Your primary assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. You should:

Select one:

a. perform CPR for 5 minutes before applying the AED
b. initiate CPR and attach an AED as soon as possible
c. assess the patient for a facial droop and hemiparesis
d. obtain a blood glucose sample to rule out hypoglycemia

Answer 10

b. initiate CPR and attach an AED as soon as possible

Question 11

What is the function of the left atrium?

Select one:

a. It receives blood from the pulmonary arteries
b. It receives oxygenated blood from the lungs
c. It ejects oxygenated blood into the aorta
d. It receives oxygenated blood from the vena cava

Answer 11

b. it receives oxygenated blood from the lungs

Question 12

An alert patient presents with a regular pattern of inhalation and exhalation and breath sounds that are clear and equal on both sides of the chest. These findings are consistent with:

Select one:

a. respiratory difficulty
b. adequate air exchange
c. an obstructed airway
d. respiratory insufficiency

Answer 12

b. adequate air exchange

Question 13

When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, it is best to:

Select one:

a. let the hospital staff retrieve the patient’s medical records, which should show a list of his or her current medications
b. send the patient’s medications to the hospital with a family member or other person who will safeguard them
c. document the medications on your patient care report, but leave them at home so they do not get misplaced
d. take all of the patient’s medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient care report

Answer 13

d. take all of the patient’s medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient care report

Question 14

You are assessing the arm drift component of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale on a 60-year-old woman. When she holds both of her arms out in front of her and closes her eyes, both of her arms immediately fall to her sides. You should:

Select one:

a. defer this part of the test and assess her for facial droop and slurred speech
b. repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient’s arms into position yourself
c. instruct the patient to keep her eyes open and then repeat the arm drift test
d. repeat the arm drift test and ensure that her palms are facing downward

Answer 14

b. repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient’s arm into position yourself

Question 15

A 62-year-old man with a history of congestive heart failure 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:

Select one:

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

Answer 15

a. apply a CPAP device, monitor his blood pressure, and observe him for signs of improvement or deterioration

Question 16

A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He denies any past medical history and takes no medications. During your assessment, you hear wheezing over all the lung fields. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In addition to giving him high-flow oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is:

Select one:

a. a beta-antagonist
b. epinephrine
c. albuterol
d. an antihistamine

Answer 16

b. epinephrine

Question 17

The head and brain receive their supply of oxygenated blood from the:

Select one:

a. iliac arteries
b. carotid arteries
c. subclavian arteries
d. brachial arteries

Answer 17

b. carotid arteries

Question 18

When administering supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient with a chronic lung disease, you should:

Select one:

a. avoid positive-pressure ventilation because the majority of patients with chronic lung disease are at increased risk for lung trauma
b. begin with a low oxygen flow rate, even if the patient is unresponsive, because high-flow oxygen may depress his or her breathing
c. recall that most patients with chronic lung diseases are stimulated to breathe by increased carbon dioxide levels
d. adjust the flow rate accordingly until you see symptom improvement, but be prepared to assist his or her ventilations

Answer 18

d. adjust the flow rate accordingly until you see symptom improvement, but be prepared to assist his or her ventilations

Question 19

You arrive at a local grocery store approximately 5 minutes after a 21-year-old female stopped seizing. She is confused and disoriented; she keeps asking you what happened and tells you that she is thirsty. Her brother, who witnessed the seizure, tells you that she takes valproate (Depakote) for her seizures, but has not taken it in a few days. He also tells you that she has diabetes. In addition to administering oxygen, you should:

Select one:

a. administer one tube of oral glucose and prepare for immediate transport
b. place her in the recovery position and transport her with lights and siren
c. monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level
d. give her small cups of water to drink and observe for further seizure activity

Answer 19

c. monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level

Question 20

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

Select one:

a. request a paramedic to give her a sedative
b. provide reassurance and give oxygen as needed
c. have her breathe into a paper or plastic bag
d. position her on her left side and transport at once

Answer 20

b. provide reassurance and give oxygen as needed

Question 21

You arrive at the residence of a 33-year-old woman who is experiencing a generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure. She has a small amount of vomitus draining from the side of her mouth. After protecting her from further injury, you should:

Select one:

a. restrain her extremities to prevent her from injuring herself, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, and assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device
b. place a bite block in between her teeth, apply high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, and consider inserting a nasopharyngeal airway
c. wait for the seizure to stop, manually open her airway, insert an oropharyngeal airway, and assess her oxygen saturation with the pulse oximeter
d. maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen

Answer 21

d. maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen

Question 22

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:

Select one:

a. administer oxygen with the appropriate device
b. retrieve the stretcher and prepare for transport
c. assess her oxygen saturation and blood pressure
d. perform a head-to-toe secondary assessment

Answer 22

a. administer oxygen with the appropriate device

Question 23

The spinal cord exits the cranium through the:

Select one:

a. cauda equina
b. foramen lamina
c. foramen magnum
d. vertebral foramen

Answer 23

c. foramen magnum

Question 24

Dyspnea is MOST accurately defined as:

Select one:

a. labored breathing with reduced tidal volume
b. shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
c. a marked increase in the exhalation phase
d. a complete cessation of respiratory effort

Answer 24

b. shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Question 25

Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding and hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the:

Select one:

a. kidneys
b. pancreas
c. brain
d. liver

Answer 25

d. liver

Question 26

When treating a patient with chest pain, you should assume that he or she is having an AMI because:

Select one:

a. angina usually occurs after an AMI
b. most patients with chest pain are experiencing an AMI
c. the cause of the pain cannot be diagnosed in the field
d. angina and AMI present identically

Answer 26

c. the cause of pain cannot be diagnosed in the field

Question 27

The electrical stimulus that originates in the heart’s primary pacemaker is controlled by impulses from the brain that arrive by way of the:

Select one:

a. autonomic nervous system
b. somatic nervous system
c. pons and medulla
d. parietal lobe

Answer 27

a. autonomic nervous system

Question 28

Febrile seizures:

Select one:

a. are also referred to as absence seizures
b. occur when a child’s fever rises slowly
c. often result in permanent brain damage
d. are usually benign but should be evaluated

Answer 28

d. are usually benign but should be evaluated