Which one of the following statements concerning assessment of the pulse is correct? B) "The heart rate can be determined by doubling the number of beats counted in 30 seconds." When should the EMT use
the pulse oximeter? C) Routinely on all patients with a medical or trauma complaint During the primary assessment of a geriatric patient complaining of shortness of breath and fever, you quickly locate the radial pulse. What should you do next?
A) Determine the rate and quality of the pulse. A mother has called 911 because her 2-year-old daughter is fussy and not eating. When assessing the toddler, which one of the following is the best indication of her perfusion status? A) Skin color and temperature When evaluating a patient's skin color, the EMT should: B) observe the nail beds and/or mucous membranes inside the eyelids. When assessing a patient's pulse, you can locate the right radial pulse, but not the left. Which one of the following is the most likely explanation for this
finding? B) The left radial artery may be occluded. The EMT recognizes which one of the following
heart rates (beats per minute) as normal for a 24-year-old male? The EMT understands the primary reason to obtain a medical history using the SAMPLE mnemonic when he states: C) "After performing the primary assessment, the SAMPLE mnemonic helps guide the EMT in further assessment and care." Correctly assessing orthostatic vital signs involves: D) taking the blood pressure in the supine, seated, and standing positions. You are unable to auscultate a blood pressure in a patient's right arm. Which one of the following will allow you to obtain the most accurate baseline assessment of the patient's vital signs? C) Auscultate the blood pressure in the left arm. When obtaining blood pressure on a patient in a standing position, the patient states that he suddenly feels weak and is going to pass out. Your
immediate action should be to: C) place the patient back into bed. An 86-year-old female
has called 911 for rectal bleeding. There is a large amount of dark red blood and clots in the toilet and on the patient's clothing. The Emergency Medical Responder reports a blood pressure of 84/68 mmHg with a heart rate of 124 beats per minute. Given this information, the EMT should recognize: C) narrowed pulse pressure and possible shock. Which one of the following blood pressures represents diastolic hypertension in an adult patient? Which one of the following patients should the EMT recognize as tachycardic? A) 37-year-old male with a complaint of fatigue and a heart rate of 104 You are caring for a 5-year-old male with the complaint of difficulty breathing. Your assessment indicates that the patient is tachypneic with labored breathing. To get more information about the patient's respiratory function, which one of the following findings would you recognize as most
important? D) Retractions between the ribs Which one of the following indicates the correct documentation of a pulse oximetry reading on the prehospital care
report? You notice that your partner routinely only takes one set of vitals when treating and transporting patients. When asked, he states that he only gets baseline vitals since they are most important as they provide information related to the patient's clinical status at the time of the EMS call. How would you respond?
B) "Examining several sets of vital signs can indicate the effectiveness of your treatment." You are assessing a 49-year-old male complaining of lower back pain. Which one of the following would be pertinent medical information related to the back pain that the EMT will obtain using the SAMPLE mnemonic? A) Arthritis in the spine and pelvis Where would the EMT palpate for a popliteal pulse? You are
trying to get a pulse oximeter reading on an 18-month-old child with difficulty breathing. Every time you place the sensor on the finger, he becomes upset and removes it. The EMT's best course of action would be to: A) place the sensor on the child's toe. For which one of the following conditions would the EMT most likely get an inaccurate pulse oximeter reading despite proper application of the sensor? A
pulse oximetry reading is considered normal when it is: B) greater than 97 percent. When using a pulse oximeter on an adult patient, the EMT knows that the sensor is most often attached to the
patient's: To test a patient's capillary refill, the EMT will: D) firmly compress and then release pressure on the nail bed. You have arrived by the side of a cyanotic patient who is responsive only to painful stimuli and exhibiting stridorous respirations. Which one of the following would be most appropriate? C) Provide positive pressure ventilation with supplemental oxygen. A female patient with a history of asthma called 911 with a complaint of shortness of breath. On scene, you assisted her with the administration of her metered dose inhaler containing albuterol. Which one of the following interventions will you use to best determine if the patient is improving or not? A) Obtain pulse oximetry readings every 3 minutes. A patient states that he is short of breath, light-headed, and has chest pain that worsens when he takes a deep breath. Assessment reveals an open
airway, adequate breathing, and a rapid pulse of 120 beats per minute. His skin is hot to the touch, and he has a blood pressure of 116/84 mmHg. The patient informs you that he was diagnosed with pneumonia three days ago and has not been taking the prescribed antibiotics. Which one of these assessment findings would the EMT best recognize as a sign related to the patient's chief complaint? A) Blood pressure of 116/84 mmHg You have assisted the patient in taking one of his nitroglycerin tablets. Five minutes later, you note the blood pressure is 108/74 mmHg. To determine if the nitroglycerin has affected the blood pressure, the
EMT should: B) compare to the baseline blood pressure.
The EMT is correct when he identifies baseline vital signs as: A) the first set of vital signs obtained. A female patient who called 911 when she noticed blood in her stool is scared and anxious. Her pulse rate is 124 and her blood pressure is 88/60 mmHg. After you get her vital signs, she nervously asks you if they are normal. Given her anxiety, you should: A) inform her of the vital signs. Which statement is true regarding vital signs obtained from a patient with nausea and vomiting? C) The vital signs will help to determine the relative stability or instability of the patient. Which patient description contains only vital
signs? D) Skin warm and dry, heart rate 74, pupils equal and reactive Emergency Medical Responders inform you that a 27-year-old male with altered mental status has an open airway and is breathing 9 times every 30 seconds. His pulse rate is 40 beats per minute, and he has bruises to his chest. Based on this information, the EMT should recognize the: B) respiratory rate as normal. You are assessing a 61-year-old male who is confused. During the primary assessment, you cannot locate a radial pulse. Your immediate action should be to: B) check for a carotid pulse. Which piece of equipment would the EMT need to obtain a patient's vital signs? The EMT is correctly calculating a patient's
respiratory rate when he or she: D) counts the number of breaths for 30 seconds and multiplies by 2. Which of the following signs related to breathing would be most concerning to the EMT?
C) Respiratory rate of 20, use of accessory muscles Which statement made by your partner indicates that he understands assessment of a patient's breathing? D) "A rate less than 8 may allow adequate breathing, but requires further evaluation and assessment." A family has called you
for a 41-year-old male they cannot wake up. They state he has been threatening to kill himself and believe that he may have intentionally overdosed on his pain medications. As you enter the patient's bedroom, you observe him supine on the floor with his eyes closed. As he breathes, you hear snoring respirations. As a knowledgeable EMT, you recognize which one of the following? B) His tongue is partially blocking the airway. Which one of the pulses listed below is palpated in the groin area? A young female patient has been stung by a bee and states that her "throat is closing up." She states that she is allergic to bee stings and the last time this happened, she had to have a "tube put into my windpipe." She is struggling to breathe and can only speak a few words at a time. Knowing that allergic reactions can cause swelling in the pharynx and at the level of the larynx, which one of the following respiratory sounds would indicate
that the patient indeed has swelling in this area? The EMT is correctly using a noninvasive blood pressure monitor when she: C) auscultates a blood pressure before applying and activating the device. An EMT is correctly assessing a patient's radial pulse when he: C) uses his fingertips to feel for a pulse at the patient's wrist. A patient with
chest pain informs you that the pain hurts more when he takes a deep breath. The EMT is using the active listening technique clarification when he responds by saying:
A) "I see. Can you describe what the pain feels like?" When applying the pulse oximeter sensor to a patient's finger, he asks you what it is for. Your response would be: A) "It measures the amount of oxygen being carried by your blood cells." You are transporting a depressed patient who states that she is thinking of killing herself by taking a "whole bunch of pills." After giving this information, the patient has refused to speak and has been
silent ever since. Which one of the following statements would be most appropriate at this time? B) "I understand if you do not want to talk. I will be sitting here if you need anything." Which one of the following is necessary to obtain an accurate pulse oximetry measurement? B) Remove nail polish from the patient's fingernail. The EMT is appropriately using the SAMPLE mnemonic when he asks which one of the following questions? C) "When did you eat last?" A patient who appears to be intoxicated has fallen and is complaining of pain to his right arm. He is loud and using profane language. Which one of the following should be your initial approach to
the patient? B) "Let me put an ice pack on your wrist. It will help it feel better." Which one of the following statements would the EMT regard as a symptom? D) "The patient is sharp and is a 10 out of 10." You cannot obtain a reading on the pulse oximeter after applying the sensor to the patient's finger. Which one of the following would be the most likely reason for this? C) The patient's hands are cold. Which one of the following illustrates a question that would be asked when obtaining a medical history, using the SAMPLE mnemonic, for a female patient who is crying and complaining of dizziness? A) "What were you doing when the dizziness started?" An EMT has an accurate understanding of the diastolic blood pressure when she tells you that the diastolic pressure: A) is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is not contracting. The fire department has requested your assistance at a residence where the family's carbon monoxide (CO) detector has been going off. Of three patients, you first assess a 28-year-old female who states she has a sinus headache but otherwise feels fine. Her vital signs are: pulse 90, respirations 16, blood pressure 118/60 mmHg, and SpO2 100%. Given these assessment findings, you should immediately: A) administer high-concentration oxygen. Which one of the following pieces of information would be obtained when getting a
history using the SAMPLE mnemonic? D) Sensation of dizziness prior to falling A blood pressure is
reported as 116/68 mmHg. Which one of the following is true? A) The systolic blood pressure is 116 mmHg. When obtaining a blood pressure, the EMT listens for a pulse over what blood vessel? Which one of the following questions would the EMT ask when using the OPQRST mnemonic? B) "Does the pain feel dull or sharp?" When assessing a patient who does not speak the same language as you or your partner, the best approach in the immediate care of the patient is to: A) request that a family member act as an interpreter. Which one of the following
descriptions would be obtained when asking about the "A" component of the SAMPLE history? The EMT is correctly palpating a central pulse when he palpates which of the following? When obtaining a medical history using the SAMPLE mnemonic, which one of the following statements relates to the "P" component? C) "There is a history of pancreatitis." When using the OPQRST mnemonic, the EMT is getting information as it applies to the "P" category when she asks: B) "Do you feel more short of breath when you are lying down?" To assess a patient's blood pressure, the EMT will need a: As you enter the scene of a medical emergency, the Emergency Medical Responder informs you that the patient is not
breathing and has pupils that are fixed and dilated. Based on this description, which one of the following are you expecting to see when you reach the patient's side? B) Neither pupil will react when light is directed into the eyes. An EMT has an accurate understanding of the systolic blood pressure when he tells you that the systolic blood pressure is: B) produced when the heart contracts. Which one of the following is an indication to palpate the blood pressure? The EMT is
correct when he makes which one of the following statements about assessment of the pupils? D) "Some people naturally have unequal pupils, but both should react to light." When getting a blood pressure on a patient, the radial pulse disappears when the gauge reads 130 mmHg. When deflating the cuff, the EMT hears a pulse at 118 mmHg. The pulse disappears at 76 mmHg. Which one of the following is true? D) The systolic blood pressure is 118 mmHg. An EMT student asks you if it matters if the blood pressure cuff seems too small for a patient, even though a
reading can still be obtained. You should respond: D) "Cuffs that are too small provide inaccurately high readings." Your partner states that he wants to palpate the blood pressure. What equipment would you hand him? You have placed the blood pressure cuff on the arm of a patient who is short of breath. What
is your next step? D) Inflate to a reading of 70 mmHg, check for a radial pulse, and continue inflation until the pulse is no longer felt. Your partner reports that a patient's blood pressure is 156/78 mmHg. From this reading, you realize: B) The diastolic blood pressure is 78 mmHg. A 69-year-old man is complaining of weakness to the left arm and leg. He also states that he is nauseated and has a headache. The patient's past medical history includes stroke and diabetes. In relation to
this information, which one of the following is true? C) The headache is a symptom related to the chief complaint. Which one of the statements listed below indicates an appropriate understanding of palpating a blood pressure? A) "A palpated blood pressure is typically falsely lower than a blood pressure obtained by auscultation." In the prehospital care report, the EMT should
recognize that a blood pressure has been palpated when she sees: You observe your partner correctly obtaining a patient's blood pressure when he: D) deflates the cuff 2 mmHg per second while listening with a stethoscope. The purpose of the OPQRST mnemonic is to guide the EMT in which one of the following? C) Exploring the patient's chief complaint What pulse site is commonly used when the EMT elects to palpate a blood pressure? You have been dispatched to a residence for a 14-year-old female complaining of abdominal pain. As you enter the living room, you see the conscious patient lying on a couch with her father and an Emergency Medical Responder at her side. Which one of the following actions would be most appropriate to perform first? B) Introduce yourself and your partner. You have applied the pulse oximeter to a 73-year-old male complaining of weakness and heart palpitations. Your partner reports that the patient's breath sounds are
clear and equal with a respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute and skin that is warm but pale in color. He continues to state the following vital signs: pulse 92, blood pressure 168/70 mmHg, and SpO2 90% on room air. Given this information, which one of the following instructions would be most appropriate? C) "Let's give him high-concentration oxygen through a nonrebreather." Which one of the following is an example of an open-ended question? A) "Why did you call 911?" Which one of the following indicates that the EMT has correctly positioned the blood pressure cuff on the patient's arm? D) The cuff is on the same level as the patient's heart. Your partner is having a difficult time determining what a normal and abnormal
blood pressure is for a child. Which one of the following statements will help him most? C) "A normal systolic pressure can be estimated by doubling the child's age and adding it to 80." When assessing a patient's pupils, the EMT should: D) determine the size of the pupil and then look for a change in pupillary size as you shine a light in the eye. Assessment of a patient who is unresponsive reveals pupils that are both large at 8 millimeters and do not change size in response to light. The EMT would best document this finding as: A) bilateral dilation of the pupils. Which one of the following indicates a normal pupillary exam? C) Both pupils constrict when light is directed into the eye. A 41-year-old male patient reacts to painful stimuli by moaning. You shine a light at his right pupil. Which one of the following reactions would be normal? B) Constriction of the left pupil You are assessing a patient who is in bright sunlight after collapsing in the hot sun at a picnic. If you cannot immediately move the patient out of the sun, assessment of the pupils will be made
more accurate by: A) shading the patient's eyes. You are attempting to get a history from a 56-year-old female who is short of breath. When you ask
questions, the daughter continually answers for the patient. To best handle this situation, you should: B) explain to the daughter it is important for the patient to answer. Friends called 911 for a 37-year-old female who intentionally overdosed on a narcotic drug. Which one of the following eye findings would reinforce that the patient did indeed take a narcotic? D) Pupils that are constricted You have been dispatched to a residence for a female with unknown injuries. At the patient's side, you quickly become aware that the 43-year-old female was assaulted by her husband. The husband comes into the room and states, "Don't you touch her, or I will take care of you, too!"
Which one of the following should be your immediate action? C) Leave the house, taking the patient with you, if possible. A 43-year-old female has accidentally taken too much of her antidepressant medication and is now confused. Emergency Medical Responders are on scene and providing the patient with high-concentration oxygen. As you arrive at the patient's side, your first action should be to: D) perform a primary assessment. When using the SAMPLE mnemonic, which of the following statements made by the patient would be categorized under the letter "M"? D) "I take Zocor, but I am not sure why." You have been called to a bar for a patient who was involved in an altercation and is complaining of abdominal pain. Law enforcement is present, the patient has been handcuffed, and he is sitting on
the sidewalk. He has an odor of alcohol on his breath, his speech is slurred, and he is angrily yelling at the police officers. Which one of the following would be most appropriate when talking to the patient? B) Maintain eye contact to establish a rapport. An alert and oriented 87-year-old female has fallen and suffered a 3-cm laceration to the back of her head. According to the patient, her walker became caught in the carpet, causing her to trip. When obtaining a medical history, which one of the following sources should be asked first? Which of the following would explain a gurgling noise you hear when assessing the unconscious patient's respirations?The “wet” or “gurgling” sounds are caused by air passing over pooled oral and respiratory secretions the patient is no longer able to swallow or cough up – the patient may still be fully or partially conscious or unconscious. Wet breathing sounds can occur on inhalation or exhalation.
Which best describes the proper placement of the blood pressure cuff when measuring blood pressure?Place the cuff on your bare upper arm one inch above the bend of your elbow. Make sure the tubing falls over the front center of your arm so that the sensor is correctly placed.
Which of the following methods of determining blood pressure is determined by feeling the changes in a patient's pulse?Palpatory method - Inflate the cuff rapidly to 70 mmHg, and increase by 10 mm Hg increments while palpating the radial pulse. Note the level of pressure at which the pulse disappears and subsequently reappears during deflation will be systolic blood pressure.
What is the normal response of the pupils when exposed to bright light select one?Pupils are round and equal in size, in both bright and dim light. Pupils quickly and symmetrically constrict to a bright light directed into either of the eyes and when the bright light swings between the two eyes.
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