Q&A Hero

Q: Which of the following inhalers would NOT be used to reverse an asthma attack? A) Proventil B) Ventolin C) Beclomethasone D) Albuterol

Q: In which of the following circumstances is medical direction necessary when assisting a patient with the use of a prescribed inhaler? A) Patient has already overused the inhaler before your arrival. B) Medical control is not necessary since assistance with inhaled medications is in the EMT scope of practice. C) The inhaler belongs to another family member, not the patient. D) Medical control is necessary in all situations in which an EMT assists with a prescribed inhaler.

Q: Which of the following is proper when assisting a patient with the use of a prescribed inhaler? A) Have the patient hold the inhaled medication in his lungs as long as possible. B) Make sure that the inhaler has been kept in the refrigerator. C) Do not use the patient's inhaler, because you do not know how the medication has been stored. D) Have the patient inhale deeply before delivering the spray.

Q: Which of the following sounds may be heard in lower respiratory obstruction? A) Crowing B) Wheezing C) Stridor D) Snoring

Q: When should the EMT most likely expect to hear wheezes in a patient complaining of shortness of breath secondary to an asthma attack? A) While breathing in B) In between breaths C) While breathing out D) While holding his breath

Q: When you hear wheezes while auscultating your patient's breath sounds, which of the following is most likely the cause? A) There is an upper airway obstruction. B) There is mucus in the air passages. C) There is fluid in the lungs. D) The lower air passages in the lungs are narrowed.

Q: You are called to the scene of a 45-year-old nonsmoker male with a history of asthma in respiratory distress. You find him lying supine on the couch. The patient is lethargic but can answer all your questions appropriately. He is diaphoretic, and complains of being cold, coughing, and having difficulty breathing for the past 3 days. His vital signs are blood pressure of 110/70, heart rate of 116, respiratory rate of 24, oxygen saturation of 93%, and temperature of 100.6F. You hear rhonchi in the left lobes and he is coughing up yellow-tinged sputum. What condition do you suspect? A) Asthma B) Silent myocardial infarction C) COPD D) Pneumonia

Q: Your patient is a 30-year-old female who may have overdosed on antidepressant medications. On your arrival, she is lying supine on her bed with her head on a pillow. She is unresponsive to painful stimuli and is snoring. She appears to be pale and her skin is cool and clammy. What should you do first? A) Apply oxygen by nonrebreather mask. B) Insert an oropharyngeal airway. C) Check the patient's pulse. D) Remove the patient's pillow.

Q: You are ventilating a 6-year-old child and note that his heart rate has decreased from 70 to 54. Which of the following is NOT appropriate? A) Notify medical control that the patient's condition has improved. B) Check the flow of oxygen reaching the bag-valve-mask device. C) Increase the force of ventilations. D) Insert an oropharyngeal airway and continue ventilating.

Q: You are first on the scene of a 61-year-old female in need of assistance with her respirations. You have a pocket mask with supplemental oxygen. How can you determine that your artificial ventilation is effective? A) You are assisting respirations at 10 breaths per minute. B) Patient's pulse returns to normal. C) You assure oxygen is being delivered at 15 liters per minute. D) Patient's skin color remains the same.

Q: Your patient is a 60-year-old female with a sudden onset of severe difficulty breathing. She has no prior history of respiratory problems. Which of the following should be done before applying oxygen by nonrebreather mask? A) Listen to the patient's breath sounds. B) Obtain a history of the present illness. C) Check the patient's oxygen saturation level. D) None of the above

Q: Which of the following patients with difficulty breathing should NOT receive supplemental oxygen? A) A patient with a chronic lung disease who may have a hypoxic drive B) An infant whose eyes may be damaged by excessive oxygen administration C) A patient whose oxygen saturation level is 100% on room air D) None of these patients should have oxygen withheld.

Q: What is the best way to determine that you are getting adequate ventilation with a bag-valve mask? A) Look for chest rise and fall. B) Push the full amount of the bag into the patient. C) Ensure the pulse oximeter reads 95 to 100%. D) Hyperventilate the patient until the oxygen saturation reaches 100%.

Q: Your patient is a 24-year-old woman with asthma who is struggling to breathe and is very agitated. She has cyanosis of her lips and nail beds, and is cool and clammy to the touch. When you attempt to assist her ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device, she becomes combative and repeatedly pushes the mask away from her face. Which of the following is the BEST option? A) Use a nasal cannula to administer supplemental oxygen. B) Have your partner restrain the patient's hands so you can ventilate her. C) Begin transport immediately and contact medical control for advice. D) Wait for the patient's level of consciousness to decrease so that she can no longer resist your attempts to ventilate.

Q: When ventilating a child with inadequate respirations, which of the following is the maximum rate at which artificial respirations should be delivered? A) 15 per minute B) 12 per minute C) 24 per minute D) 20 per minute

Q: Which of the following is a sign of adequate artificial ventilations in a pediatric patient? A) The breath is delivered easily. B) Pulse rate slows down. C) Pulse rate increases. D) You notice cyanosis developing around the mouth.

Q: Your patient is a 15-year-old male with a history of multiple prior hospitalizations for asthma. Upon your arrival the patient responds only to painful stimuli and is making very weak respiratory effort. Which of the following should you do next? A) Contact medical control. B) Check the patient's oxygen saturation level. C) Assist the patient with his inhaler. D) Assist the patient's ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device and supplemental oxygen.

Q: Which of the following signs of inadequate breathing is more prominent in children than in adults? A) See-sawing of the chest and abdomen B) Grunting respirations C) Nasal flaring D) All of the above

Q: While caring for a 3-year-old child, you should be concerned if his respiratory rate exceeds ________ breaths per minute. A) 16 B) 20 C) 24 D) 30

Q: While assessing the airway of a pediatric patient, you will notice that it is different than that of an adult. Which of the following is one of those differences? A) The cricoid cartilage is less developed, reducing the possibility that it can be completely occluded. B) The tongue is smaller, taking up less room in the mouth and allowing larger objects to occlude the airway. C) The trachea is smaller, softer, and more flexible, allowing it to be more easily obstructed. D) The chest wall is softer, making it easier for the chest to expand.

Q: Which of the following patients does NOT necessarily have inadequate breathing? A) Patient with cyanosis B) Patient's whose breath sounds cannot be heard C) Patient with agonal respirations D) Patient with an irregular respiratory rhythm

Q: Which of the following may be seen just prior to respiratory arrest? A) Breathing through the nose, not the mouth B) Very deep, rapid respirations C) Agonal respirations D) Accessory respirations

Q: Choose the correct completion to this statement regarding IV administration: This route is used to administer medication into the body directly or through the bloodstream and is: A) beyond the scope of the EMT level. B) allowed in larger cities and more advanced EMS services. C) used in advanced life support only when the patient is intubated. D) only performed on advanced life support services.

Q: What are the names given to each medication listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia? A) Official, chemical, and generic B) Manufacturers, general, and governmental C) Trade, chemical, and generic D) Trade, brand, and generic

Q: Your patient is a 59-year-old woman with a history of emphysema. Per protocol, you have assisted the patient in using her medication inhaler. Which of the following must be documented? A) Chemical name of the medication B) Expiration date of the medication C) Patient's response to the medication D) All of the above

Q: The EMT, after administering any medication, must do which of the following? A) Reconsider the five rights, reassess the patient, and contact medical control. B) Document the administration, reassess the patient, and report to the receiving facility. C) Wait 5 minutes, repeat the medication if needed, and reassess the patient's vitals. D) Document the route, dose, and time; reassess the patient; and re-administer the medication.

Q: The study of the effects of medications on the body in relation to age and weight is called: A) pharmacology. B) pharmacodynamics. C) measurement and documentation. D) pharmacokinetics.

Q: Nitroglycerin is given via the ________ route. A) parenteral B) lingual C) sublingual D) enteral

Q: Which of the following describes the sublingual route of medication administration? A) The medication is injected under the skin. B) The medication is breathed into the lungs, such as from an inhaler. C) The medication is placed under the tongue. D) The medication is swallowed whole, not chewed.

Q: The epinephrine auto-injector is given via the ________ route. A) oral B) enteral C) digestive D) parenteral

Q: Name the type of medical direction consisting of standing orders and protocols. A) Off-line B) Verbal C) On-line D) Written

Q: You are on the scene at a fancy hotel room for a 60-year-old male patient who calls 911 at 10 p.m. for chest pains. He states he was about to go to bed when he suddenly had chest pain that would not go away. He rates his pain as a 7 out of 10 and is diaphoretic. His vital signs are stable, and he takes medications for hypertension, high cholesterol, and erectile dysfunction. The patient is allergic to morphine. After placing the patient on oxygen, you contact medical control and request: A) to administer aspirin to the patient. B) to administer nitroglycerin to the patient. C) to administer both aspirin and nitroglycerin to the patient. D) no orders.

Q: You are called to assist a 25-year-old female patient who is in profound respiratory distress. The patient has a history of asthma and severe allergies to peanuts. She has a prescribed albuterol inhaler and an epinephrine auto-injector. The patient states she was working in her garden when she accidentally stirred up a hornets' nest and was stung multiple times. The patient has wheezing in all fields, and is breathing at 28 times per minute. She states that she triggered her asthma by running across the yard to the safety of her home. As you apply oxygen, you notice that she is now speaking in two- to three-word sentences, her skin has splotches, and her tongue and neck appear to be swelling. Your next action is to call medical control and then do what? A) Request to assist the patient with her Albuterol inhaler for her asthma. B) Request to assist the patient with her epinephrine pen for anaphylaxis. C) Request to assist the patient with her Albuterol for anaphylaxis. D) Do not request to give epinephrine. It was prescribed for a peanut reaction, not for asthma.

Q: You are called to an elementary school for an 8-year-old female patient who is experiencing respiratory distress. The school nurse states the patient has an epinephrine auto-injector for a possible anaphylactic reaction to bee stings. The patient also has an Albuterol inhaler for asthma. The patient is breathing 30 times a minute, is in the tripod position, and is speaking in two- to three-word sentences. The nurse states the patient was playing basketball in the gym when she started having difficulty breathing. The patient has wheezing in all lung fields. An ALS unit is en route but it is 10 minutes away. You are 20 minutes away from the nearest hospital. After placing the patient on oxygen, your next intervention should be to: A) contact medical control and request to assist the patient with her epinephrine. B) provide supportive care until the ALS unit arrives. C) cancel the ALS unit and call medical control to assist with the Albuterol administration while en route to the hospital. D) contact medical control and request to assist the patient with her Albuterol.

Q: Which of the following BEST describes the five rights? A) In date, right medication, right order, right dose, right time B) Right patient, right medication, in date, right dose, right route C) Right decision, right medication, right order, right dose, right place D) Right patient, right medication, right time, right dose, right route

Q: What is the first step in giving aerosol medications? A) Contact medical control to receive permission to give the medication. B) Determine that the inhaler actually belongs to the patient. C) Make sure the patient is suffering from asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis. D) Complete the primary assessment and take vital signs.

Q: An EMT is on the scene of a 48-year-old male patient complaining of chest pain. He has nitroglycerin prescribed and available. After performing the primary and secondary assessments, the EMT contacts medical control and is ordered to assist the patient in taking his nitroglycerin. Carefully, the EMT performs the "five rights" and checks the expiration before administering the medication. The patient states the medicine is not helping his pain. The patient also states he does not have a headache. Reassessment of the patient's vital signs shows no change in blood pressure. The EMT suspects the nitro is not working because the: A) medication is expired. B) medication is not nitroglycerin. C) EMT only gave one tablet instead of two. D) medication was somehow rendered inert.

Q: Which of the following instructions should you give to a patient whom you are about to assist with administering epinephrine? A) Insert the mouthpiece and inhale deeply as you depress the canister. B) I am going to inject medication into your thigh. C) Open your mouth and lift your tongue so I can spray this medication under your tongue. D) This is not pleasant tasting, but it is important that you drink all of it.

Q: Nitroglycerin (Nitro) is used for patients with recurrent chest pain or a history of heart attack. Nitro is most commonly supplied in what two forms? A) Pills and injectable B) Aerosol and spray C) Pills and spray D) Ointment and pills

Q: How is activated charcoal, which is carried by some EMS systems, supplied for use in emergency situations? A) As a powder, which is mixed with water before administration B) As a gel or paste C) As tablets D) As a fine liquid spray for inhalation

Q: A drug's form refers to which of the following? A) Its physical state, such as powder, liquid, or gas B) The mandatory paperwork that must be completed when giving any drug C) The type of container it comes in D) The way in which it is administered

Q: Bronchodilator inhalers have several common side effects, which include: A) decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate. B) bronchodilation and decreased heart rate. C) vasoconstriction and increased heart rate. D) jitteriness and increased heart rate.

Q: You are on the scene of a 48-year-old male patient complaining of chest pain. He has nitroglycerin prescribed and available. After performing your physical examination, you contact medical control and are ordered to assist the patient in taking his nitroglycerin. Five minutes after taking his nitroglycerin, the patient complains of being dizzy and having a headache. You lie the patient down on the stretcher and reassess his vital signs. He is now hypotensive. The patient is suffering from: A) an allergic reaction to nitroglycerin. B) an anaphylactic reaction to nitroglycerin. C) an untoward reaction to nitroglycerin. D) the side effects of nitroglycerin.

Q: You have just administered nitroglycerin to a 68-year-old patient. Within a few minutes, she complains of feeling faint and lightheaded, but states that she is still having some chest pain. Which of the following would be the BEST sequence of actions? A) Lower the head of the stretcher and take the patient's blood pressure. B) Administer activated charcoal to prevent further absorption of the nitroglycerin and closely monitor the patient's blood pressure. C) Advise the patient that this is a normal occurrence and administer a second dose of nitroglycerin. D) Increase the amount of oxygen you are giving to the patient before administering a second dose of nitroglycerin.

Q: Which of the following is a potential side effect of nitroglycerin? A) Decreased blood pressure B) Sudden increase in heart rate C) Difficulty breathing D) All of the above

Q: A serious negative interaction for giving Nitrostat is a drug interaction with what medications? A) Nitroglycerin, Ventolin, and epinephrine B) Sildenafil, vardenafil, and epinephrine C) Viagra, Levitra, or medication for erectile dysfunction D) Oral glucose, Viagra, and aspirin

Q: You are on the scene of a 44-year-old female patient who has attempted suicide by taking all 30 pills of her antidepressant medication at once. You are ordered by medical control to administer activated charcoal. How will activated charcoal reduce the effects of the medication? A) Activated charcoal will cause the patient to vomit the medication. B) Activated charcoal will inactivate the patient's stomach acid. C) Activated charcoal will coat the intestines, preventing absorption. D) Activated charcoal will bind to the medication, reducing absorption.

Q: How does aspirin actually reduce the chances that a patient suffering a heart attack will die? A) It reduces the amount of pain in the heart. B) It prevents a deadly fever from developing. C) It reduces the inflammation in the heart. D) It reduces the ability of the blood to form clots.

Q: How does nitroglycerin decrease the level of chest pain that a patient experiences? A) It constricts the blood vessels, forcing more blood into the heart muscle. B) It dilates the blood vessels, allowing more blood to enter the heart muscle. C) It constricts the blood vessels, forcing the toxic lactic acid out of the heart. D) It dilates the blood vessels, allowing more blood flow to wash away the toxic lactic acid.

Q: Albuterol and epinephrine both have bronchodilation properties that improve the amount of oxygen that a person can inhale and absorb. However, Albuterol is administered only for asthma, whereas epinephrine is administered for both asthma and anaphylaxis. Why is epinephrine, and not Albuterol, the first choice for anaphylaxis? A) Albuterol makes the heart rate increase too much. B) Albuterol slows down the heart rate too much. C) Albuterol drops the blood pressure too low. D) Albuterol is not a vasoconstrictor.

Q: You are on the scene of a 68-year-old patient with a history of COPD who is breathing 44 times per minute and has a diminished level of consciousness. His wife states he has an Albuterol inhaler and nitroglycerin tablets for angina. What is the most important drug you can administer to the patient? A) Oxygen by bag-valve mask B) Oxygen by nonrebreather mask C) Albuterol D) Nitroglycerin

Q: What is the most important medication that should be administered to a patient experiencing chest pain with difficulty breathing? A) Oxygen B) Aspirin C) Nitroglycerin D) Albuterol

Q: What is the first medication that should be administered to a patient experiencing chest pain with difficulty breathing? A) Oxygen B) Aspirin C) Nitroglycerin D) Albuterol

Q: You respond to a medical call for a 59-year-old female complaining of tightness in her chest. You place her on a high concentration of oxygen and prepare for a short 5-minute transport to the hospital. The patient tells you she is on nitroglycerin, which she has not taken. Your partner tells you that you can give aspirin per protocol. Should you delay the patient transport to give the medication and why? A) No, any delay will cause the patient more heart damage; each delay weakens the myocardium. B) Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the blood vessels to dilate and restore some blood flow, and the aspirin will slow the clotting process. C) Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the heart to beat stronger and restore some blood flow, and the aspirin will ease the pain. D) No, any delay will cause the patient more stress; she needs to be in a definitive care facility.

Q: Which of the following is an example of a medication's trade name? A) Epinephrine B) Nitrostat C) 4 dihydroxyphenyl acetate D) Oxygen

Q: Which of the following is a desired action of epinephrine delivered by auto-injector? A) Constriction of blood vessels B) Constriction of coronary arteries C) Dilation of coronary arteries D) Decrease in blood pressure

Q: Epinephrine delivered by auto-injector may be indicated for patients with which of the following conditions? A) Drug overdose B) Severe allergies to peanut, shellfish, penicillin, or bee stings C) Chest pain D) Chronic pulmonary diseases

Q: Which of the following is often prescribed for a patient with a heart condition? A) Ventolin B) Nitroglycerin C) Epinephrine auto-injector D) Non-aspirin pain relievers such as Tylenol

Q: What is the reason for giving an epinephrine auto-injector in a life-threatening allergic reaction? A) It will help raise the patient's blood pressure and slow the heart rate. B) It will constrict the patient's airway passages and blood vessels. C) It will help constrict the patient's blood vessels and relax the airway passages. D) It will help dilate the patient's blood vessels and relax the airway passages.

Q: Nitroglycerin is indicated for which of the following chief complaints? A) Decreased level of consciousness B) Chest pain C) Headache D) Difficulty breathing

Q: Which of the following statements is true concerning oxygen? A) Never give oxygen to a chronic obstructed pulmonary disease (COPD) patient. B) Always document the need for oxygen by pulse oximetry before giving it to the patient. C) Only withhold oxygen to anyone who is allergic to it. D) Never withhold oxygen to any patient who needs it.

Q: Why would an EMT give aspirin to a patient? A) Aspirin reduces the heart's ability to beat fast and works to prevent rapid heart rate. B) Aspirin reduces the pain level in patients who are in pain. C) Aspirin reduces the blood's ability to clot and works to prevent further clot formation in patients suffering chest pain. D) It is given to calm the patient by reducing the pain because stress is the real killer.

Q: Which of the following is a commonly accepted list of medications an EMT can assist the patient in taking or administer under the direction of the Medical Director? A) Prescribed bronchodilator inhalers, prescribed nitroglycerin, and prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors B) Any over-the-counter medication, oral glucose, and oxygen C) Aspirin, acetaminophen, oral glucose, insulin, prescribed bronchodilator inhalers, nitroglycerin, and epinephrine auto-injectors D) Aspirin, oral glucose, oxygen, prescribed bronchodilator inhalers, nitroglycerin, and epinephrine auto-injectors

Q: What medication is given when a patient suffers from a medical or traumatic condition called hypoxia? A) Oxygen B) Oral glucose C) Epinephrine D) Aspirin

Q: Why should EMTs study pharmacology? A) As an EMT, you will be trusted to administer medications in emergency situations; many of these may be lifesaving, but there is potential to do harm. B) An EMT must know the manufacturer, sources, characteristics, and effects of every medication that has been prescribed to the patient. C) As an EMT, you will be trusted to administer medications in emergency situations, although many of these may do nothing but give the patient false hope. D) An EMT must know the sources, characteristics, and effects of each medication that the physician may prescribe.

Q: What condition must be present before you give oral glucose? A) The patient must not have a history of diabetes. B) The patient, if conscious, must be able to swallow; if unconscious, you can apply the gel to a tongue depressor and place it between the cheek and gum or under the tongue. C) The patient must be conscious and able to swallow with an altered mental status and history of diabetes. D) The patient must be unconscious and have a history of diabetes.

Q: Which of the following BEST describes a contraindication to a medication? A) An unintended action of the drug B) The way in which a drug causes its effects C) A reason why you should a never giving a medication to a patient D) A reason why you should give a medication to a patient

Q: When you give patients nitroglycerin, they sometimes develop a headache. This would be called a(n): A) side effect. B) contraindication. C) untoward effect. D) indication.

Q: The symptoms or circumstances for which a medication is given are called: A) contraindications. B) indications. C) side effects. D) untoward effects.

Q: The QI manager calls your partner into his office after your shift. He pulls out his EMS report on a call he ran last month on a 45-year-old driver of a single-vehicle motor vehicle collision. There were several empty beer cans in the patient's vehicle and the EMT detected an odor of alcoholic beverages on the patient's breath. The QI manager, however, critiques your partner about calling the patient an alcoholic and giving opinions in the report. He tells your partner to never write opinions in the EMS report. Your partner is confused because he is sure the patient was drunk, and he was actually arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Your partner believes his assessment is supported by facts and not just his opinion. How can you help your partner understand the QI manager's concerns? A) Calling the patient an alcoholic is not polite, even if it is true. B) The QI manager is afraid the patient will sue the EMS service for libel. C) Documenting that the patient is an alcoholic gives an incorrect opinion of the patient that is not supported by facts, and could negatively influence other medical providers. D) The patient is assumed to be innocent until proven guilty. He is not an alcoholic until he is convicted of drinking and driving by a court of law.

Q: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires ambulance services to do all of the following except: A) place patient care reports in a locked box. B) safeguard patient confidentiality. C) report child abuse. D) All of the above are required by HIPAA.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a reason for routine review of patient care reports in a quality improvement program? A) Assess conformity to patient care standards B) Review excellent patient care C) Review poor patient care D) Satisfy requirements of the shift supervisor

Q: Which of the following pieces of legislation applies to use of information on a patient care report? A) FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) B) EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act) C) COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) D) HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

Q: Which of the following is the most common situation in which an EMT may be liable? A) Patient refusal of treatment and transport B) Failing to get the receiving physician's signature on the patient care report C) Failure to document all of a patient's medications on the patient care report D) Inaccurate recording of times and mileage

Q: You have responded to a call at a government office building. One of the office workers became very upset during a fire drill and experienced an episode of difficulty breathing. As your partner is speaking with the patient, who is not sure she wants to be transported, an individual wearing civilian clothes approaches you and states she is a security guard in the building. She asks you for the "yellow copy" of your patient care report. Which of the following should you do? A) Get permission from medical control. B) Ask the patient if it is alright with her if you provide the individual with a copy of the patient care report. C) State that you are unable to comply with the request due to patient confidentiality. D) Provide the documentation if the individual shows proper identification.

Q: Which of the following is a possible consequence of using medical terminology about which you are unsure of the meaning in your patient care report? A) Loss of credibility B) Embarrassment C) Negative impact on patient care D) All of the above

Q: In which of the following circumstances is a fully documented patient care report NOT necessary? A) A patient is treated but not transported. B) Multiple patients come from an office building evacuation. C) A patient says that someone else called EMS and he does not want any assistance. D) A fully documented patient care report is required for all of the above.

Q: Which of the following is NOT an appropriate use of patient care report (PCR) information? A) To conduct research B) To provide EMS personnel with education and quality assurance C) For billing and insurance purposes D) For referral to Alcoholics Anonymous or similar social services

Q: Which of the following does NOT need to be documented regarding a patient refusal of treatment? A) That you informed the patient of the consequences of refusing care B) Patient's mental status C) Any insulting remarks the patient made to you D) That you advised the patient to call back if he changed his mind

Q: Which of the following is the correct manner for making a correction on a patient care report? A) Get a credible witness to co-sign your patient care report. B) Draw a single line through the error and initial it. C) Use typing correction fluid to cover up the error and write over it. D) Blacken out the entire error and draw an arrow to the correct information.