ADHS EMT Chapter 8 Review Questions

Questions and Answers

How long should you count the pulse rate to obtain an accurate reading?

one full minute

For an adult, the normal resting pulse should be between:

70 and 110 beats/min

50 and 60 beats/min

50 and 70 beats/min

60 and 100 beats/min (correct)

In the adult, bradycardia is defined as a pulse rate less than _ beats/min, and tachycardia is defined as a heart rate greater than _ beats/min.

60, 100

A pulse with a consistent pattern is considered to be:

regular Signup and view all the answers

When palpating a patient's pulse, a short interval between pulsations indicates that the pulse is:

rapid Signup and view all the answers

When assessing a 62-year-old female with crushing chest pain, what should you do in addition to administering oxygen?

transport at once and consider requesting a paramedic unit Signup and view all the answers

In patients with deeply pigmented skin, changes in color may be most apparent in which areas?

lips or oral mucosa Signup and view all the answers

In infants and small children, skin color should be assessed on the:

palms and soles Signup and view all the answers

Poor peripheral circulation will cause the skin to appear:

ashen Signup and view all the answers

When assessing the skin of an unconscious patient, a bluish tint is indicative of:

cyanosis Signup and view all the answers

Cyanosis of the skin is caused by:

decreased blood oxygen Signup and view all the answers

Normal skin color, temperature, and condition are described as:

pink, warm, and dry Signup and view all the answers

A patient with high blood pressure would be expected to have skin that is:

flushed and red Signup and view all the answers

In a patient with jaundice, which condition should you suspect?

liver dysfunction Signup and view all the answers

A patient with profuse sweating is referred to as being:

diaphoretic Signup and view all the answers

When assessing capillary refill time (CRT) in an infant, normal color should return within:

2 seconds Signup and view all the answers

If a 6-month-old male has a capillary refill time of approximately 4 seconds, what can you conclude?

peripheral circulation is decreased Signup and view all the answers

In assessing a patient's cardiovascular status, capillary refill time is MOST reliable in:

children who are younger than 6 years of age Signup and view all the answers

External bleeding from an extremity can usually be controlled by a combination of:

direct pressure and elevation Signup and view all the answers

For a stab wound patient, what should you do as you approach?

apply direct pressure to the wound Signup and view all the answers

The full-body scan of a patient following the primary assessment should take no longer than:

60 to 90 seconds Signup and view all the answers

A rapid scan of the body should be performed in order to:

identify less obvious injuries that require immediate treatment Signup and view all the answers

You should gently palpate a patient's pelvis only if:

the patient does not complain of pelvic pain Signup and view all the answers

For a patient with severe pelvic pain after a fall, which action would NOT be appropriate?

gentle palpation of the pelvis Signup and view all the answers

When assessing a patient's abdomen, which of the following should NOT be evaluated?

subcutaneous emphysema Signup and view all the answers

Which situation warrants immediate transport?

severe chest pain and cool, pale skin Signup and view all the answers

When performing a full-body scan on a supine patient, what part of the body is typically assessed last?

posterior Signup and view all the answers

As you assess the head of a patient with a suspected spinal injury, your partner should:

maintain stabilization of the head Signup and view all the answers

After administering oxygen to a patient with altered mental status, what should you do next?

prepare for immediate transport Signup and view all the answers

The 'Golden Period' begins when an injury occurs and ends when:

the patient receives definitive care Signup and view all the answers

After the first 60 minutes of experiencing a significant injury, what is most likely true?

the body's ability to compensate for shock decreases Signup and view all the answers

An unstable patient should be reassessed at least every:

5 minutes Signup and view all the answers

During a 30-minute transport of a stable patient, you should reassess him or her at least ________ times.

2 Signup and view all the answers

What part of the patient assessment process focuses on obtaining additional information about the patient's chief complaint?

history taking Signup and view all the answers

The chief complaint is MOST accurately defined as the:

most serious thing the patient is concerned about Signup and view all the answers

Upon arriving at the scene of a patient with difficulty breathing, what should your first action be?

introduce yourself to the patient Signup and view all the answers

Which question is used to determine a patient's chief complaint?

"What seems to be the matter?" Signup and view all the answers

When interviewing a patient, how can you show understanding of their situation?

repeating statements back to him or her Signup and view all the answers

For an unconscious patient found in a car, what should the EMT do regarding medical history?

determine if the patient has a medical alert bracelet or wallet card Signup and view all the answers

Which medical history question would be of LEAST pertinence in an acute situation?

"Does your mother have diabetes?" Signup and view all the answers

Which question would you ask a patient to ascertain the "M" in the SAMPLE history?

"How much Tylenol do you take each day?" Signup and view all the answers

Which response establishes the "E" in the SAMPLE history?

"I was mowing the lawn when the pain began." Signup and view all the answers

Palliating factors regarding a patient's pain involve those that:

alleviate the pain Signup and view all the answers

Pain that moves from its point of origin to another body location is said to be:

radiating Signup and view all the answers

In which situation is a pertinent negative identified?

A 59-year-old man complains of crushing chest pain but denies shortness of breath Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a symptom? (Select all that apply)

Headache Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios does NOT involve the presence of any symptoms? (Select all that apply)

A 61-year-old female who is unconscious with facial cyanosis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions would NOT be performed during the scene size-up? (Select all that apply)

Rapidly assessing a patient's respiratory status Signup and view all the answers

While en route to the scene of a shooting, the dispatcher advises you that the caller states that the perpetrator has fled the scene. You should:

Confirm this information with law enforcement personnel at the scene Signup and view all the answers

Upon arriving at a potentially unsafe scene, you should:

Ensure that you are safe Signup and view all the answers

You are assessing a 72-year-old man with abdominal pain. The patient is sitting in a chair; he is conscious, alert, and calm. As you are talking to the patient, your partner discreetly directs your attention to a handgun, which is located on a nearby table. You should:

Position yourself in between the patient and the gun and ask your partner to request law enforcement assistance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding the mechanism of injury (MOI) is correct?

The MOI may allow you to predict the severity of a patient's injuries Signup and view all the answers

The MOST effective way to determine whether your patient's problem is medical or traumatic in origin is to:

Perform a careful and thorough assessment Signup and view all the answers

During an EMS call, you should take standard precautions:

Upon exiting the ambulance, but before actual patient contact Signup and view all the answers

Treatment and transport priorities at the scene of a mass-casualty incident should be determined after:

All the patients have been triaged Signup and view all the answers

When is it MOST appropriate to consider requesting additional ambulances at an accident scene?

When you determine there are multiple patients Signup and view all the answers

The goal of the primary assessment is to:

Identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions Signup and view all the answers

Observations made when forming a general impression of a patient would include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Pulse strength Signup and view all the answers

When approaching a 32-year-old male who is complaining of traumatic neck pain, you should:

Ensure that the patient can see you approaching him Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions would be LEAST likely to cause an altered level of consciousness?

Acute anxiety Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following patients does NOT have an altered mental status?

A patient with an acute allergic reaction and dizziness Signup and view all the answers

A patient who does not respond to your questions but moves or cries out when his or her trapezius muscle is pinched, is said to be:

Responsive to painful stimuli Signup and view all the answers

An elderly patient has fallen and hit her head. You assess her level of consciousness as unresponsive using the AVPU scale. Your initial care should focus on:

Airway, breathing, and circulation Signup and view all the answers

A patient's short-term memory is MOST likely intact if he or she correctly answers questions regarding:

Date and event Signup and view all the answers

A 29-year-old male with a head injury opens his eyes when you speak to him, is confused as to the time and date, and is able to move all of his extremities on command. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is:

13 Signup and view all the answers

An injured patient is assigned a total score of 9 on the GCS. He is assigned a score of 2 for eye opening, a score of 3 for verbal response, and a score of 4 for motor response. Which of the following clinical findings is consistent with his GCS score?

Opens eyes in response to pain, uses inappropriate words, withdraws from pain Signup and view all the answers

When you inspect a patient's pupils with a penlight, the pupils should normally react to the light by:

Constricting Signup and view all the answers

When you shine a light into one pupil, the normal reaction of the other pupil should be to:

Become smaller Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pupillary changes would indicate depressed brain function?

Both pupils dilate with the introduction of a bright light Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions would MOST likely cause the pupils to remain significantly constricted?

Overdose of an opiate drug Signup and view all the answers

What maneuver should be used to open the airway of an unresponsive patient with suspected trauma?

Jaw-thrust maneuver Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding stridor is MOST correct?

It is a high-pitched, crowing upper airway sound Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following findings indicates that your patient has a patent airway?

Forceful coughing Signup and view all the answers

You respond to a call for a female pedestrian who has been struck by a car. As your partner maintains manual stabilization of her head, you perform a primary assessment. She is unconscious, has ineffective breathing, and has bloody secretions in her mouth. You should:

Immediately suction her oropharynx Signup and view all the answers

A 40-year-old male crashed his motorcycle into a tree. He is semiconscious, has snoring respirations, and has a laceration to the forearm with minimal bleeding. You should:

Open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver Signup and view all the answers

After performing a head tilt-chin lift maneuver to open the airway of an unresponsive patient who has a pulse, you should:

Suction as needed and insert an airway adjunct Signup and view all the answers

A patient with spontaneous respirations is breathing:

Without assistance Signup and view all the answers

Typical methods of assessing a patient's breathing include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Observing for nasal flaring during inhalation Signup and view all the answers

Supplemental oxygen via nonrebreathing mask should be administered to patients:

With difficulty breathing and adequate tidal volume Signup and view all the answers

You are dispatched to the county jail for an inmate who is 'sick.' When you arrive, you find the patient, a 33-year-old male, unresponsive. His airway is patent and his respirations are rapid and shallow. Your initial action should be to:

Provide assisted ventilation Signup and view all the answers

If a patient develops difficulty breathing after your primary assessment, you should immediately:

Reevaluate his or her airway status Signup and view all the answers

The normal respiratory rate for an adult should range from:

12 to 20 breaths per minute Signup and view all the answers

Normal respiratory rates should not exceed _ breaths per minute in children and _ breaths per minute in infants.

30, 50 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the MOST effective method of assessing the quality of air movement in the lungs?

Auscultating breath sounds with a stethoscope Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following abnormal breath sounds indicates obstruction of the upper airway?

Stridor Signup and view all the answers

Clinical signs of labored breathing include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Shallow chest movement Signup and view all the answers

When a patient's respirations are shallow:

Tidal volume is markedly reduced Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following signs of respiratory distress is seen MOST commonly in pediatric patients?

Seesaw breathing Signup and view all the answers

An adult patient who is NOT experiencing difficulty breathing will:

Be able to speak in complete sentences without unusual pauses Signup and view all the answers

You should suspect that a patient is experiencing respiratory failure if he or she:

Has bradycardia and diminished muscle tone Signup and view all the answers

During the primary assessment, circulation is evaluated by assessing:

Pulse quality, external bleeding, and skin condition Signup and view all the answers

A palpable pulse is created by:

Pressure waves through the arteries caused by cardiac contraction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the MOST accurate guide to palpating a pulse?

Place the tips of your index and long fingers over the pulse point Signup and view all the answers

In responsive patients that are older than 1 year of age, you should palpate the pulse at the ________ artery.

Radial Signup and view all the answers

Palpating the carotid pulse is not recommended in infants because:

You may inadvertently compress the trachea Signup and view all the answers

When palpating the carotid pulse of a responsive older patient, you should:

Avoid compressing both carotid arteries simultaneously Signup and view all the answers

You receive a call to a local daycare center for an unresponsive 8-month-old infant. Upon arrival, you perform an assessment and determine that the infant is not breathing. Your next action should be to:

Assess for a brachial pulse for 5 to 10 seconds Signup and view all the answers

If you cannot palpate a pulse in an unresponsive patient, you should:

Immediately begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Signup and view all the answers

You respond to the residence of a 62-year-old male who is unresponsive. Your primary assessment reveals that he is apneic and pulseless. You should:

Start CPR and attach the AED as soon as possible Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors would MOST likely cause a patient's pulse rate to be slower than normal?

Beta-blocker medications Signup and view all the answers

When palpating a patient's pulse, you note that it is grossly irregular. You should:

Pause here for further instruction Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Symptoms and Scenarios

A headache is classified as a symptom.
An unconscious patient with facial cyanosis does not exhibit any symptoms.

Scene Size-Up and Safety

During scene size-up, rapidly assessing respiratory status is crucial.
It is vital to ensure safety upon arriving at potentially dangerous scenes.

Assessments and MOI

The mechanism of injury helps predict the severity of a patient's injuries.
A thorough assessment is the most effective method for distinguishing between medical and traumatic problems.

Emergency Procedures

Standard precautions should be taken before patient contact, such as exiting the ambulance.
For mass-casualty incidents, treatment priorities are established after all patients have been triaged.

Patient Evaluation

Surgical conditions should be approached cautiously, especially in the presence of weapons.
An altered level of consciousness may be caused by various factors, excluding acute anxiety.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Insights

A GCS of 13 indicates confusion, alertness, and the ability to follow commands.
Inconsistent GCS scoring can provide insights into a patient's neurological status.

Pupil Reactions

Pupils should constrict in response to light; dilation may indicate depressed brain function.
Constricted pupils are commonly seen in opiate overdoses.

Airway Management

The jaw-thrust maneuver is recommended for unresponsive patients with suspected trauma.
Maintaining patent airways and suctioning secretions can be life-saving measures.

Respiratory Assessment

Normal adult respiratory rates range from 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
Pediatric respiratory distress may be indicated by seesaw breathing patterns.

Pulse Assessment

The carotid pulse is often unreliable in infants due to potential trachea compression.
A regular pulse indicates a consistent heart rhythm; rapid pulses suggest tachycardia.

Skin and Circulation Assessment

Skin color changes can indicate underlying conditions; bluish skin (cyanosis) indicates poor oxygenation.
In deeply pigmented skin individuals, assessing color changes may require examination of non-pigmented areas, such as the lips or oral mucosa.

Emergency Response Protocols

Unresponsive patients should have their airways assessed immediately, with CPR initiated if no pulse is detected.
Changes in coloration of the skin may reveal critical physiological status and necessitate swift medical attention.### Skin Assessment and Conditions
Normal skin appearance is pink, warm, and dry, indicating healthy circulation.
High blood pressure is often associated with flushed and red skin.
Jaundice in skin and sclera suggests liver dysfunction in patients.

Patient Conditions and Assessment Techniques

Profuse sweating is described as diaphoretic.
Capillary refill time (CRT) normal for infants is within 2 seconds; CRT linked to peripheral circulation status.
A 4-second CRT in an infant indicates decreased peripheral circulation.