question

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

answer

2

question

If you cannot palpate a pulse in an unresponsive patient whose collapse was not witnessed, you should:

answer

immediately begin CPR

question

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

answer

reevaluate his or her airway status

question

The "Golden Hour" begins when an injury occurs and ends when:

answer

the patient receives definitive care

question

When performing a rapid exam on a supine patient, what part of the body is typically assessed last?

answer

Extremities

question

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

answer

radial

question

Which of the following MOST accurately describes paradoxical movement of the chest wall? a) A marked decrease in chest wall movement due to abdominal breathing b) One side of the chest wall moves opposite the direction of the other c) Only one section of the chest rises on inspiration, while another area falls d) Multiple rib fractures that cause a marked deformity of the chest wall

answer

c) Only one section of the chest rises on inspiration, while another area falls

question

Supplemental oxygen via nonrebreathing mask should be administered to patients:

answer

with difficulty breathing and adequate tidal volume

question

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

answer

count the pulse rate for a full minute to obtain an accurate reading

question

When assessing a patient's abdomen, you will evaluate for all of the following, EXCEPT: A. open wounds or eviscerations. B. gross bleeding and tenderness. C. rigidity and obvious bleeding. D. subcutaneous emphysema.

answer

D. subcutaneous emphysema.

question

ou 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:

answer

position yourself in between the patient and the gun and ask your partner to request law enforcement assistance.

question

A patient with profuse sweating is referred to as being

answer

Diaphoretic

question

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

answer

ensure that the patient can see you approaching him

question

Which of the following questions would you ask a patient to ascertain the "M" in the SAMPLE history?

answer

"How much Tylenol do you take each day?"

question

Which of the following patient responses would establish the "E" in the SAMPLE history?

answer

"I was mowing the lawn when the pain began."

question

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

answer

date and event

question

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

answer

flushed and red

question

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

answer

the patient does not complain of pelvic pain.

question

A 71-year-old female slipped on a rug and fell. She is conscious and alert and complains of severe pelvic pain. Her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth and her heart rate is 120 beats/min. Which of the following is NOT indicated for this patient? a) Rapid head-to-toe exam b) Gentle palpation of the pelvis c) Application of a cervical collar d) Treating her for possible shock

answer

b) Gentle palpation of the pelvis

question

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

answer

place the tips of your index and long fingers over the pulse point

question

You should suspect that a patient is experiencing respiratory failure if he or she: a) is anxious, tachycardic, and leaning forward. b) has bradycardia and diminished muscle tone. c) has an increased heart rate and retractions. d) is restless and is working hard to breathe.

answer

b) has bradycardia and diminished muscle tone.

question

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

answer

avoid compressing both carotid arteries simultaneously

question

When palpating a patient's pulse, you note that there is a short interval between pulsations. This indicates that the pulse is:

answer

Rapid

question

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:

answer

13

question

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

answer

become smaller.

question

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

answer

perform a careful and thorough assessment.

question

Which of the following actions would NOT be performed during the scene size-up?

answer

rapidly assessing a patient's respiratory status

question

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.

answer

60, 100

question

In patients with deeply pigmented skin, changes in color may be apparent only in certain areas, such as the

answer

lips or oral mucosa.

question

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

answer

seesaw breathing

question

When using the pulse oximeter as part of your assessment of a patient, it is important to remember that

answer

any situation that causes vasoconstriction or loss of red blood cells, such as anemia or bleeding, may result in an inaccurate or misleading value.

question

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

answer

forceful coughing

question

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:

answer

open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver.

question

A crackling sound produced by air bubbles under the skin is called:

answer

subcutaneous emphysema

question

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

answer

constricting.

question

A pulse with a consistent pattern is considered to be:

answer

Regular

question

Which of the following is an example of a symptom?

answer

headache

question

Which of the following would the EMT likely NOT perform on a responsive patient with a headache and no apparent life-threatening conditions? a) Systematic head-to-toe examination b) Noninvasive blood pressure monitoring c) Assessment of oxygen saturation d) Focused secondary assessment

answer

a) Systematic head-to-toe examination

question

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

answer

suction as needed and insert an airway adjunct.

question

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:

answer

airway, breathing, and circulation.

question

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

answer

The MOI may allow you to predict the severity of a patient's injuries.

question

The normal respiratory rate for an adult should range from:

answer

12 to 20 breaths per minute.

question

Normal respiratory rates should not exceed _______ breaths per minute in toddlers and _______ breaths per minute in infants.

answer

40, 60

question

You receive a call to a 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:

answer

assess for a brachial pulse for 5 to 10 seconds

question

Which of the following statements regarding the secondary assessment is correct?

answer

You may not have time to perform a secondary assessment if you must continually manage life threats that were identified during the primary assessment.

question

The goal of the systematic head-to-toe exam that is performed during the secondary assessment is to:

answer

locate injuries not found in the primary assessment

question

When a patient's respirations are shallow:

answer

tidal volume is markedly reduced.

question

Reassessment is performed to determine all of the following, EXCEPT:

answer

the reason why the patient called EMS.

question

Jugular venous distention suggests a problem with blood returning to the heart if the patient is:

answer

sitting up at a 45° angle.

question

The diastolic pressure represents the:

answer

minimum amount of pressure that is always present in the arteries.

question

The pressure exerted against the walls of the artery when the left ventricle contracts is called the:

answer

Systolic pressure

question

When auscultating the blood pressure in a patient's upper extremity, you should place the diaphragm (head) of the stethoscope over the _________ artery.

answer

brachial

question

Which of the following situations or conditions warrants immediate transport?

answer

severe chest pain and cool, pale skin

question

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:

answer

confirm this information with law enforcement personnel at the scene.

question

Family histroy

answer

"Does your mother have diabetes?"

question

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

answer

beta-blocker medications

question

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

answer

jaw-thrust maneuver

question

Which of the following statements regarding the blood pressure is correct?

answer

Blood pressure is usually not measured in children younger than 3 years of age.

question

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

answer

60 and 100 beats/min.

question

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

answer

become smaller.

question

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:

answer

start CPR and attach the AED as soon as possible.

question

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

answer

60 to 90 seconds.

question

Which of the following questions is used to determine a patient's chief complaint?

answer

"What seems to be the matter?"

question

What part of the patient assessment process focuses on obtaining additional information about the patient's chief complaint and any medical problems he or she may have?

answer

History taking

question

End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) is defined as the

answer

maximal concentration of CO2 at the end of an exhaled breath.

question

A properly sized blood pressure cuff should cover

answer

two thirds the length from the armpit to the crease in the elbow.

question

A blood pressure cuff that is too small for a patient's arm will give a:

answer

falsely high systolic and diastolic reading

question

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:

answer

provide assisted ventilation.

question

The rapid exam of a patient that occurs following the primary assessment should take no longer than:

answer

90 to 120 seconds

question

Which of the following is the most effective method of assessing the quality of air movement in the lungs? a) Auscultating breath sounds with a stethoscope b) Evaluating the patient's chest for cyanosis c) Applying a pulse oximeter and monitoring the SpO2 d) Looking for the presence of accessory muscle use

answer

a) Auscultating breath sounds with a stethoscope

question

For children younger than 1 year old, you should palpate the _____ artery when assessing the pulse.

answer

brachial

question

Cyanosis of the skin is caused by:

answer

decreased blood oxygen

question

Which of the following scenarios does NOT involve the presence of any symptoms? a) A 55-year-old male with a severe headache and 2 days of nausea b) A 44-year-old male with abdominal pain and severe dizziness c) A 49-year-old female with blurred vision and ringing in the ears d) A 61-year-old female who is unconscious with facial cyanosis

answer

d) A 61-year-old female who is unconscious with facial cyanosis

question

Which of the following conditions would be least likely to cause an altered level of consciousness? a) Acute anxiety b) Drug overdose c) Poisoning d) Inadequate perfusion

answer

a) Acute anxiety

question

The systematic head-to-toe assessment should be performed on: a) responsive medical patients and patients without a significant MOI. b) stable patients who are able to tell you exactly what happened. c) all patients with traumatic injuries who will require EMS transport. d) patients with a significant MOI and unresponsive medical patients.

answer

a) responsive medical patients and patients without a significant MOI.

question

Which of the following medical history questions would be of LEAST pertinence in an acute situation? a) "Has this ever happened to you before?" b) "Are there medications that you cannot take?" c) "Does your mother have diabetes?" d) "Does the pain stay in your chest?"

answer

c) "Does your mother have diabetes?"

question

Which of the following assessments would be the MOST useful in determining the possible cause of a patient's altered mental status? a) Blood pressure b) Capillary refill time c) Blood glucose level d) Respiratory rate

answer

c) Blood glucose level

question

A 50-year-old male presents with altered mental status. His wife tells you that he had a "small stroke" three years ago but has otherwise been in good health. The patient is responsive but unable to follow commands. After administering oxygen if needed, you should:

answer

prepare for immediate transport

question

During the primary assessment, circulation is evaluated by assessing:

answer

pulse quality, external bleeding, and skin condition.

question

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

answer

all the patients have been triaged.

question

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:

answer

responsive to painful stimuli.

question

Capnography is used to:

answer

determine how much carbon dioxide is being exhaled

question

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. What clinical finding is consistent with his GCS score?

answer

opens eyes in response to pain, uses inappropriate words, withdraws from pain

question

When performing the secondary assessment on a trauma patient, you note the presence of Battle sign. This is defined as:

answer

bruising behind the ear

EMT-B Chapter 9 – Patient Assessment – Flashcards

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