Paramedic Functions Quiz - Emergency Medical Services

Questions and Answers

A major distinction between a paramedic and an EMT is that the paramedic:

Cannot carry out procedures

Has less training than an EMT

Can perform advanced pharmacologic skills (correct)

Works only in hospitals

A paramedic is considered a health care professional, and as such should:

Be off duty when not on a call

Avoid social interactions

Meet social expectations whether on or off duty (correct)

Work without any guidelines

A treatment outlined in a study that is rated Class 1 by the American Association should:

Be considered outdated

Require further study

Be recommended (correct)

Be avoided

Emergency medical dispatchers could provide which of the following instructions to a caller?

How to control life-threatening bleeding Signup and view all the answers

How can the paramedic reduce errors when handing off patients to another medical provider?

Provide a written copy of the assessment and treatment along with a verbal report. Signup and view all the answers

If an emergency medical responder is appropriately trained and competent, he or she should be able to:

Recognize the seriousness of a patient's condition, provide basic life support care, and relay information to the paramedic. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to become involved in a national or state EMS organization?

Such organizations have an impact on the future direction of EMS. Signup and view all the answers

Mobile army surgical hospitals (MAS*H) saved thousands of soldiers' lives during the Korean War by:

Bringing the hospital facilities closer to the battlefield. Signup and view all the answers

Performing the functions of a paramedic prior to licensure is lawful.

False Signup and view all the answers

What can an EMS provider do to minimize errors when handling and administering medications?

Keep medications in a specific location and in their original packaging. Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of continuous quality improvement (CQI)?

Improve the overall quality of delivered patient care. Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of the paramedic when performing patient assessment and care?

Prioritize the patient's needs based on injury severity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the priority of the paramedic during the scene management phase of an emergency call?

Ensure the safety of the patient, crew, and bystanders. Signup and view all the answers

What question should a paramedic ask when evaluating the credibility of medical research?

"Was the research peer reviewed?" Signup and view all the answers

What should the paramedic do prior to linking medical research and evidence to patient care?

Ensure that the quality of evidence is sufficient to justify changing patient care protocols. Signup and view all the answers

What should the paramedic do when they are unsure about which skill to perform when caring for a patient?

Talk with a partner or call the EMS supervisor. Signup and view all the answers

What step should the paramedic do first when conducting research?

Identify the specific problem to be investigated. Signup and view all the answers

What was a major recommendation made by the 2009 National EMS education Standards for paramedic training?

Inclusion of a college-level anatomy and physiology course as part of the training program. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a knowledge-based failure?

Administering the incorrect medication to a patient. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following may be a requirement of paramedics working in hospital-based systems?

Assist with patient care in other areas of the hospital during downtime. Signup and view all the answers

A patient who is visibly anxious starts to panic and says their arm is numb. You understand that sometimes patients subconsciously convert anxiety into bodily dysfunction. You recognize this as which of the following?

Conversion hysteria. Signup and view all the answers

At what point should the paramedic remove their medical gloves?

Before driving the ambulance. Signup and view all the answers

Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) would be most appropriate after which of the following situations?

Serious injury of a coworker in the line of duty. Signup and view all the answers

If you are in top physical condition and become injured, then you will tend to:

Heal more quickly with fewer complications. Signup and view all the answers

Patterns of living that you develop in your youth:

Are hard to modify in later life. Signup and view all the answers

The kind of stress that motivates an individual to achieve is called:

Eustress. Signup and view all the answers

The paramedic should spread their legs how many inches apart when lifting?

About 15 inches. Signup and view all the answers

Upon arriving at a patient's house, you learn that the patient has an active TB infection. What should you do before treating the patient?

Ask the patient to wear a surgical mask. Signup and view all the answers

Upon arriving on the scene of a vehicle crash, you notice a downed power line lying on the side of the road. What should you do?

Mark off the danger zone around the line. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step when removing medical gloves?

Partially remove one glove. Signup and view all the answers

What is the target heart rate for a 35 y/o man with a resting heart rate of 75 bpm?

152 beats/min. Signup and view all the answers

What should you do prior to lifting a patient?

Inform the patient what you are going to do. Signup and view all the answers

What should you do when exposed to a patient's blood or body fluids?

Wash the affected area immediately with soap and water. Signup and view all the answers

When coming into contact with a patient who poses a potential risk of infection to you, what should you do when communicating with other health care providers?

Use discretion about what information to share. Signup and view all the answers

When preparing to come into contact with a hostile patient, it is imperative to do which of the following first?

Carefully observe your surroundings. Signup and view all the answers

When should the paramedic wear a HEPA respirator or N95 mask?

When caring for a patient with TB or another contagious respiratory illness. Signup and view all the answers

When the paramedic observes standard precautions on a call, he or she:

Acknowledges that all bodily fluids are potentially infectious. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a way of buffering bad news until a person can mobilize the resources to deal with that news more effectively?

Denial Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP) that requires the use of appropriate PPE?

Administering a medication via nebulizer Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding stress is correct? The way one person reacts to stress may differ significantly from another person's reaction.

True Signup and view all the answers

A specific action intended to improve health and safety outcomes is called:

An intervention. Signup and view all the answers

According to the Haddon matrix, which of the following is an example of a pre-event strategy used to prevent injury in a child who is riding in a motor vehicle?

Reducing driving during high-risk times Signup and view all the answers

Compared to adults, children have thinner skin.

True Signup and view all the answers

From an injury prevention standpoint, the term 'intervention' is defined as?

A specific prevention measure or activity designed to increase positive health and safety outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

The leading cause of kidney failure in Americans 20 years of age and older is:

Diabetes. Signup and view all the answers

Upon arriving on the scene of a bicycle accident, you assess the child's injuries before loading them in the ambulance. En route, you clean and dress the patient's wound on their left arm and splint the arm. What step have you taken that would be considered secondary injury prevention?

Splinting the arm. Signup and view all the answers

When caring for a patient who has experienced minor injuries in a car accident, you learn that they weren't wearing their seatbelt. When is the best time for a teachable moment?

Immediately following the car accident. Signup and view all the answers

When comparing the number and nature of medical cases with the expected volume of calls for the community at a given time, an EMS agency is using which strategy?

Syndromic surveillance. Signup and view all the answers

When defining an injury problem in your community, it is important to determine:

The most frequent causes of fatal and nonfatal injuries. Signup and view all the answers

When designing awareness campaigns on injury and illness prevention, it is critical for the paramedic to work closely with which of the following organizations or groups of people?

Public health agency. Signup and view all the answers

When developing a public health project in your community, it is important to start the project with:

Small, realistic goals. Signup and view all the answers

When organizing a community illness or injury program, you should first:

Identify a lead person to coordinate the effort. Signup and view all the answers

When providing a wellness check in the home of an older patient, you notice that their medications are in unmarked containers. What should you do?

Inform the patient of the danger of putting their medications in unmarked containers. Signup and view all the answers

When using the Haddon matrix, which action would EMS perform in the pre-event phase of an event?

Teaching a child to wear their seatbelt. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a passive intervention?

Developing child-resistant medication bottles. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an appropriate teachable moment?

Advising the unrestrained passenger with minor injuries following a motor vehicle accident that she easily could have been more seriously injured. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of secondary injury prevention?

Administering epinephrine to a patient in anaphylactic shock. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would you categorize as an unintentional injury?

Drowning Signup and view all the answers

With regard to injury prevention, effective educational techniques include which of the following?

Behavioral feedback Signup and view all the answers

You arrive at a home where a child ingested a handful of their parent's antidepressant medications. What primary prevention measure might have helped to prevent this situation?

Locking the medicine cabinet. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Paramedic vs. EMT

Paramedics possess advanced pharmacologic skills, distinguishing them from EMTs.
Paramedics are health care professionals who must meet social expectations on and off duty.

Medical Research and Patient Care

Treatment rated Class 1 by the American Association is recommended for practice.
When evaluating medical research, a key question is if the research was peer-reviewed.
Paramedics must ensure the quality of evidence supports changes in patient care protocols.

Patient Assessment and Treatment

Minimize errors during patient handoff by providing written and verbal reports of assessment and treatment.
Prioritization of patient needs is essential based on injury severity during assessment and care.

Safety and Legal Considerations

Performing paramedic functions without licensure is unlawful.
Ensure safety for patients, crew, and bystanders during emergency call management.
Remove medical gloves before driving the ambulance.

Organizational Involvement

Join national or state EMS organizations to influence the future direction of emergency medical services.

Stress and Psychological Factors

Conversion hysteria occurs when anxiety manifests as a physical symptom.
Eustress is motivating and drives individuals toward goals.
Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) is vital after coworker injuries.

Lifting and Patient Handling

When lifting, paramedics should keep legs about 15 inches apart for stability.
Always inform the patient of the planned movements before lifting.

Infection Control

Use a HEPA respirator or N95 mask when caring for patients with tuberculosis or contagious illnesses.
Acknowledge that all bodily fluids are potentially infectious while observing standard precautions.

Injury Prevention Strategies

The leading cause of kidney failure in Americans over 20 is diabetes.
Pre-event strategies for injury prevention include reducing high-risk driving times.
Passive interventions, like developing child-resistant medication bottles, aim to prevent injuries.

Communicable Diseases and Scene Safety

Ask patients with active TB to wear surgical masks before providing treatment.
Mark hazard zones around downed power lines at accident scenes.

Community Health Initiatives

Start public health projects with small, attainable goals and identify a coordinator for the initiative.
Work closely with public health agencies when designing injury prevention campaigns.

Educational Techniques

Effective educational methods for injury prevention include behavioral feedback and teachable moments, promoting immediate learning after incidents.

Medication Safety

Inform patients about the dangers of storing medications in unmarked containers to prevent misuse.
Locking medicine cabinets can prevent unintentional ingestion of harmful substances by children.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts related to paramedics and EMTs with this flashcard quiz covering Chapters 1, 2, and 3. Each card presents a question and definition to enhance your understanding of the roles and responsibilities in emergency medical services.

Emergency Medical Services Chapter 1-3 Quiz