Basic EMT Fall Session Chapter 15

What Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score would you assign to a patient who responds to painful stimuli, uses inappropriate words, and maintains his or her arms in a flexed position? Choose one answer. A. 8 Correct B. 6 Incorrect C. 9 Incorrect D. 10 Incorrect

A. 8

Which of the following MOST accurately describes a simple partial seizure? Choose one answer. A. a seizure that begins in one extremity Correct B. a generalized seizure without incontinence Incorrect C. a seizure that is not preceded by an aura Incorrect D. a seizure that causes the patient to stare blankly Incorrect

A. a seizure that begins in one extremity

Law enforcement has summoned you to a nightclub, where a 22-year-old female was found unconscious in an adjacent alley. Your primary assessment reveals that her respirations are rapid and shallow and her pulse is rapid and weak. She is wearing a medical alert bracelet that identifies her as an epileptic. There is an empty bottle of vodka next to the patient. You should: Choose one answer. A. assist ventilations, perform a rapid exam, and prepare for immediate transport. Correct B. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, place her on her left side, and transport. Incorrect C. apply oxygen via nonrebreathing mask and transport her for a blood-alcohol test. Incorrect D. place a bite block in her mouth in case she has a seizure and transport at once. Incorrect

A. assist ventilations, perform a rapid exam, and prepare for immediate transport.

A patient with an altered mental status is: Choose one answer. A. not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused. Correct B. typically alert but is confused as to preceding events. Incorrect C. usually able to be aroused with a painful stimulus. Incorrect D. completely unresponsive to all forms of stimuli. Incorrect

A. not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused.

You are caring for a semiconscious man with left-sided paralysis. His airway is patent and his respirations are 14 breaths/min with adequate tidal volume. Treatment for this patient should include: Choose one answer. A. oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, left lateral recumbent position, and transport. Correct B. an oral airway, assisted ventilation with a bag-mask device, Fowler's position, and transport. Incorrect C. assisted ventilation with a bag-mask device, right lateral recumbent position, and transport. Incorrect D. oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, supine position with legs elevated 6″ to 12″, and transport. Incorrect

A. oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, left lateral recumbent position, and transport.

An absence seizure is also referred to as a: Choose one answer. A. petit mal seizure. Correct B. grand mal seizure. Incorrect C. generalized motor seizure. Incorrect D. total body seizure. Incorrect

A. petit mal seizure.

Status epilepticus is characterized by: Choose one answer. A. prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness. Correct B. an absence seizure that is not preceded by an aura. Incorrect C. profound tachycardia and total muscle flaccidity. Incorrect D. generalized seizures that last less than 5 minutes. Incorrect

A. prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when: Choose one answer. A. the normal body processes destroy a clot in a cerebral artery. Correct B. medications are given to dissolve a cerebral blood clot. Incorrect C. a small cerebral artery ruptures and causes minimal damage. Incorrect D. signs and symptoms resolve spontaneously within 48 hours. Incorrect

A. the normal body processes destroy a clot in a cerebral artery.

When obtaining medical history information from the family of a suspected stroke patient, it is MOST important to determine: Choose one answer. A. when the patient last appeared normal. Correct B. if there is a family history of a stroke. Incorrect C. the patient's overall medication compliance. Incorrect D. if the patient has been hospitalized before. Incorrect

A. when the patient last appeared normal.

The most basic functions of the body, such as breathing, blood pressure, and swallowing, are controlled by the: Choose one answer. A. cerebellum. Incorrect B. brain stem. Correct C. cerebral cortex. Incorrect D. cerebrum. Incorrect

B. brain stem.

Interruption of cerebral blood flow may result from all of the following, EXCEPT: Choose one answer. A. a thrombus. Incorrect B. cerebral vasodilation. Correct C. an acute arterial rupture. Incorrect D. an embolism. Incorrect

B. cerebral vasodilation.

You arrive at the residence of a 33-year-old woman who is experiencing a generalized seizure. She has a small amount of vomitus draining from the side of her mouth. After protecting her from further injury, you should: Choose one answer. A. place a bite block in between her teeth, apply high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, and consider inserting a nasopharyngeal airway. Incorrect B. maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen. Correct C. wait for the seizure to stop, manually open her airway, insert an oropharyngeal airway, and assess her oxygen saturation with the pulse oximeter. Incorrect D. restrain her extremities to prevent her from injuring herself, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, and assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device. Incorrect

B. maintain her airway with manual head positioning, suction her airway to remove the vomitus, insert a nasopharyngeal airway, and administer high-flow oxygen.

The left cerebral hemisphere controls: Choose one answer. A. the right side of the face. Incorrect B. the right side of the body. Correct C. heart rate and pupil reaction. Incorrect D. breathing and blood pressure. Incorrect

B. the right side of the body.

Successful treatment of a stroke depends on whether: Choose one answer. A. medications are given to restore the function of infarcted cells. Incorrect B. thrombolytic therapy is given within 3 hours after symptoms began. Correct C. surgical intervention is performed to remove obstructive clots. Incorrect D. the stroke occurs within the left or right hemisphere of the brain. Incorrect

B. thrombolytic therapy is given within 3 hours after symptoms began.

The three major parts of the brain are the: Choose one answer. A. brain stem, midbrain, and spinal cord. Incorrect B. cerebellum, medulla, and occiput. Incorrect C. cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. Correct D. midbrain, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Incorrect

C. cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.

A patient who is possibly experiencing a stroke is NOT eligible for thrombolytic (fibrinolytic) therapy if he or she: Choose one answer. A. has a GCS score that is less than 8. Incorrect B. is older than 60 years of age. Incorrect C. has bleeding within the brain. Correct D. has had a prior heart attack. Incorrect

C. has bleeding within the brain.

Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the signs and symptoms of a stroke? Choose one answer. A. hypoglycemia Incorrect B. intracranial bleeding Incorrect C. hypovolemia Correct D. a postictal state Incorrect

C. hypovolemia

A generalized seizure is characterized by: Choose one answer. A. a core body temperature of greater than 103°F (40°C). Incorrect B. unconsciousness for greater than 30 minutes. Incorrect C. severe twitching of all the body's muscles. Correct D. a blank stare and brief lapse of consciousness. Incorrect

C. severe twitching of all the body's muscles.

Febrile seizures: Choose one answer. A. are also referred to as petit mal seizures. Incorrect B. often result in permanent brain damage. Incorrect C. occur when a child's fever progressively rises. Incorrect D. are usually benign but should be evaluated. Correct

D. are usually benign but should be evaluated.

When assessing arm movement of a patient with a suspected stroke, you should: Choose one answer. A. observe for approximately 5 minutes. Incorrect B. ask the patient to hold his or her arms up with the palms down. Incorrect C. expect to see one arm slowly drift down to the patient's side. Incorrect D. ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment. Correct

D. ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment.

Which of the following is NOT an assessment parameter included in the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale? Choose one answer. A. arm drift Incorrect B. speech Incorrect C. facial droop Incorrect D. memory Correct

D. memory

When transporting a stable stroke patient with unilateral paralysis, it is best to place the patient in a: Choose one answer. A. recumbent position with the paralyzed side up. Incorrect B. sitting position with the head at a 45° to 90° angle. Incorrect C. supine position with the legs elevated 6″ to 12″. Incorrect D. recumbent position with the paralyzed side down. Correct

D. recumbent position with the paralyzed side down.

Which of the following conditions is NOT a common cause of seizures? Choose one answer. A. poisoning or overdose Incorrect B. acute alcohol withdrawal Incorrect C. acute hypoglycemia Incorrect D. severe hypovolemia Correct

D. severe hypovolemia

A patient who is experiencing aphasia is: Choose one answer. A. not able to swallow without choking. Incorrect B. usually conscious but has slurred speech. Incorrect C. experiencing a right hemispheric stroke. Incorrect D. unable to produce or understand speech. Correct

D. unable to produce or understand speech.

When caring for a patient with documented hypoglycemia, you should be MOST alert for: Choose one answer. A. an acute stroke. Incorrect B. respiratory distress. Incorrect C. a seizure. Correct D. a febrile convulsion. Incorrect

C. a seizure.