Chapter 4 Practice Test

D

A DNR order is a written request giving permission for medical personnel not to: A. give oxygen to a patient with severe hypoxemia. B. begin resuscitation unless the patient is in shock. C. render treatment to patients with a terminal illness. D. attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest.

D

A paramedic unit requests that you respond to a call involving an injury to an elderly woman. Upon your arrival, you assess the patient and have reason to believe that she has been abused. A relative of the patient is present at the scene. You should: A. ask the relative if the patient has been abused by the family. B. notify law enforcement and have the family member arrested. C. avoid divulging your suspicions unless you are asked about them. D. report your suspicions to the paramedics and document carefully.

c

A patient who verbally or nonverbally lets you know that he or she is willing to accept treatment is giving you ____________ consent. A. informed B. implied C. expressed D. assumed

B

All of the following are signs of obvious death, except: A. decapitation. B. pulselessness. C. decomposition. D. dependent lividity.

D

An EMR has a legal duty to act: A. even when outside of his or her response jurisdiction. B. if he or she encounters an emergency scene while not on duty. C. only if he or she is not paid by a fire department or rescue squad. D. while employed by an agency that designates you as an EMR.

C

An advance directive is most accurately defined as a(n): A. legal document that allows EMS providers to provide all necessary treatment. B. notarized document that specifies who may and may not provide emergency care. C. legal document that indicates the care to be provided if the patient is incapacitated. D. document in which the patient's family determines what care the patient is to receive.

B

An uninvolved citizen who encounters a motor vehicle crash: A. has a legal duty to act. B. is not required by law to stop. C. is required to provide immediate care. D. must wait until EMS personnel arrive.

C

As part of your ethical responsibilities, you are expected to: A. transport every patient to the closest hospital. B. provide patient care as directed by a paramedic. C. conform to accepted professional standards of conduct. D. review the care provided by all members of the EMS system.

B

BThe best way to avoid being accused of abandonment is to: A. allow only a physician to assume care of the patient. B. never leave a patient alone after you have begun care. C. always transfer care of a patient to a qualified bystander. D. confirm that anyone assuming care of the patient knows CPR.

A

Documentation regarding patient care provided by the EMR should: A. be clear, concise, accurate, and readable. B. include no more than two sets of vital signs. C. remain on file for a maximum of 18 months. D. occur at the same time the patient is being treated.

D

Events that the EMR would likely be required to report to a state or federal agency include all of the following, except: A. child or elder abuse. B. gunshot or knife wounds. C. certain infectious diseases. D. sports-related injuries.

C

Following a call involving a high-profile individual, a police officer asks you for a copy of your patient care report. You should: A. provide the officer with the patient care report because you are required by law to do so. B. refuse to give the officer a copy of your report but verbally share the information with him or her. C. advise the officer that he or she must obtain a legal subpoena to receive a copy of your report. D. provide a copy of your report to the officer only if you have permission from the patient's family.

A

For a patient to be legally able to make a decision regarding his or her own health care, he or she must: A. be of legal age as defined by state law. B. have a non-life-threatening injury or illness. C. have at least two witnesses present at the scene. D. accept EMS transport to an appropriate hospital.

A

If a mentally competent adult refuses medical care, it is important to: A. advise the patient to call EMS if he or she changes his or her mind. B. recommend that the patient drive him- or herself to the hospital. C. ask a family member to witness the patient's refusal of care. D. tell the patient that his or her condition will ultimately cause death.

D

If a patient refuses emergency medical care but is not thinking rationally and appears to be a threat to self or others, the EMR's best course of action is to: A. restrain the patient. B. obtain a court order. C. contact medical control. D. involve law enforcement.

A

If you are presented with an advance directive that does not appear to be valid, you should: A. initiate the care that is appropriate for the patient's condition. B. look for a bracelet to determine whether the patient has a living will. C. contact the patient's attorney for guidance before providing care. D. begin care only after receiving approval from a licensed physician.

B

In general, you should never change or alter a patient care report, unless: A. a paramedic or licensed physician orders you to do so. B. you need to correct an error to ensure that the information is accurate. C. law enforcement personnel need the report for legal reasons. D. the patient's condition deteriorated after a paramedic assumed care.

B

In most cases, treatment of a minor in an out-of-hospital setting must wait until: A. the patient's condition becomes life-threatening. B. a parent or legal guardian gives consent for treatment. C. a paramedic unit arrives at the scene and assumes care. D. medical control orders you to initiate emergency treatment.

B

In most states, personal information regarding a patient cannot be released to someone not directly involved in that patient's care, unless: A. you have reason to believe that inappropriate care was provided. B. the patient signs a release and understands the nature of the release. C. the requesting individual is a law enforcement officer or attorney. D. permission is granted by an immediate member of the patient's family.

A

Maintenance of required certifications or registrations is the responsibility of the: A. individual provider. B. employing agency. C. state board of health. D. EMS medical director.

B

Proximate cause is most accurately defined as: A. failure of the EMS provider to respond to an emergency scene in an expedient manner. B. a correlation between the patient's injury or injuries and the EMS responder's negligence. C. an injury sustained by the EMS provider as a result of inappropriate scene safety precautions. D. death of a patient as a result of failure of the EMS provider to render the accepted standard of care.

B

Second only to your own safety, your priority at a crime scene is to: A. protect potential evidence. B. provide care to the patient. C. report to law enforcement. D. keep bystanders at a distance.

D

Several hours following death, a patient develops red or purple colored areas on the parts of the body that are closest to the ground. This is called: A. rigor mortis. B. decomposition. C. widespread pallor. D. dependent lividity.

C

The most common abandonment scenario occurs when: A. an EMR transfers care of a critically injured patient to a certified EMT or paramedic. B. a paramedic transfers care of a patient to an emergency department nurse or physician. C. an EMS provider assesses a patient but fails to transport and later learns the patient died. D. a competent patient refuses treatment at the scene but later dies of a hidden injury or illness.

C

The presence of rigor mortis indicates that: A. the body's tissues are beginning to decay. B. death has occurred within the last 15 minutes. C. the patient is dead and cannot be resuscitated. D. the muscles of the body are permanently stiff.

D

The principle of implied consent assumes that an unconscious patient: A. has a living will on file. B. is at least 18 years of age. C. has a life-threatening condition. D. would wish to receive treatment.

C

The purpose of the Good Samaritan law is to: A. encourage citizens to become EMRs. B. afford protection to EMS personnel who commit negligent acts. C. protect citizens from liability when rendering care in good faith. D. provide total immunity from being sued to all EMS professionals

D

The scope of care under which the EMR functions is specified by the: A. National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. B. State Department of Public Safety. C. National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. D. EMS system medical director.

A

The section of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that most directly affects EMS relates to: A. patient privacy. B. continuity of care. C. access to health insurance. D. combating waste and fraud.

A

To comply with the standard of care, the EMR must: A. treat the patient to the best of his or her ability and provide care that a reasonable, prudent person with similar training would provide under similar circumstances. B. provide prompt and competent care that is consistent with what is deemed appropriate by the paramedic in charge and that is clearly defined in the EMS system protocols. C. provide the same prompt and competent care that an individual with a higher level of training would have provided under the same or similar circumstances. D. treat the patient in a manner that is consistent with what is expected of the general public and that meets or exceeds the EMR's established scope of practice.

B

When functioning at a crime scene, the EMR should: A. position equipment in a location that is most convenient. B. avoid moving furniture unless it interferes with patient care. C. avoid moving the patient unless he or she is in cardiac arrest. D. obtain law enforcement permission before treating a critical patient.

D

Which of the following components is not required to prove negligence? A. Duty to act B. Breach of duty C. Resulting injuries D. Patient refusal of care

C

Which of the following concepts is the first and most important when providing patient care? A. Render proper treatment B. Maintain your composure C. Above all else, do no harm D. Provide your care in good faith

D

Which of the following is not considered an advance directive? A. Living will B. Durable power of attorney for health care C. Do not resuscitate (DNR) order D. EMS system protocols

C

Which of the following is the least important to document on a patient care report? A. The patient's initial and repeat vital signs B. The agency who assumed patient care C. The patient's social security number D. The patient's condition when found

A

Which of the following most accurately describes negligence? A. Performance of care that does not meet the accepted standards B. Desertion of a patient who is still in need of emergency treatment C. Failure to respond to the scene of an emergency when dispatched D. Performing skills that are beyond your level of EMS certification

D

Which of the following statements regarding a patient's consent to treatment is correct? A. Once a patient gives you consent, he or she cannot revoke it. B. A patient must be transported if he or she consents to treatment. C. Patients can give consent to treat only to an EMT or paramedic. D. Patients may refuse treatment at any time, even if treatment has begun.

D

While functioning at the scene of a patient in cardiac arrest, you do not initiate CPR because the patient is elderly and you think that he is probably dead. Paramedics arrive and determine that the patient has only been in cardiac arrest for 6 minutes. Which of the following statements regarding this scenario is correct? A. As an EMR, you did not have a legal duty to begin CPR. B. The patient would most likely not be able to be resuscitated. C. Your actions are consistent with the responsibilities of an EMR. D. You may be held liable for failure to follow the standard of care.

D

You and your partner are performing CPR on a 77-year-old man when his wife states that he has terminal cancer and does not want to be resuscitated. She further tells you that he has a living will; however, she is unable to locate it. You should: A. honor the wife's wishes and cease resuscitation efforts. B. assist the wife in looking for the living will documents. C. have the wife sign a release form and then cease CPR. D. continue CPR and contact medical control for guidance.

C

You are a volunteer EMR and have placed your name on the schedule to respond for a 12-hour shift. With 10 minutes left in your shift, you are dispatched for a patient with a possible fractured leg. You should: A. wait until your relief arrives and let him or her respond. B. respond only if it is convenient because you are a volunteer. C. proceed to the scene and begin providing care to the patient. D. wait for paramedics to arrive to determine if you are needed.

B

You are dispatched to an elementary school for a 7-year-old boy who sustained a minor injury while on the playground. The child is conscious, alert, and does not appear to have any life-threatening injuries. What should you do? A. Begin treatment of the child and request an EMT unit to transport him to the hospital. B. Ask a teacher to contact the child's parents to obtain consent for you to begin treatment. C. Allow a teacher to sign a patient refusal form because the child does not require treatment. D. Send the child to the nurse's office for minor treatment and then return your unit to service.

B

You are the first responder to arrive at the scene of a one-vehicle car crash. A paramedic crew is approximately 10 minutes away. The patient is outside of her car, sitting on the curb. As you approach her, she begins telling you what happened and asks you to take her blood pressure. This patient: A. should be placed in your response vehicle and transported to a hospital. B. is giving you actual consent to treat her and you should do so promptly. C. should not be treated until paramedics arrive and thoroughly assess her. D. is probably not significantly injured and will only require minimal care.

A

You arrive at the scene of an incident involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. Law enforcement officers are present, but the paramedic unit will not arrive for another 5 minutes. Your patient, who was struck by the vehicle, is a 16-year-old girl. She is unconscious and has severe bleeding from her head. You should: A. begin immediate treatment and ask a law enforcement officer to attempt to contact the child's parents. B. contact the child's parents and obtain phone consent before rendering any emergency medical care. C. keep curious bystanders away from the patient until the paramedic unit arrives at the scene. D. ask a law enforcement officer to sign a statement that you are providing care without parental consent.

D

Your response unit and a police officer simultaneously arrive at the scene of a shooting. After the police officer ensures that the scene is safe, you enter the residence and find the patient, a 22-year-old man, with several gunshot wounds to the chest. He is positioned in between the sofa and a coffee table. What should you do? A. Provide immediate care without moving the sofa, coffee table, or any other items at the scene. B. Move the patient to a more open area after the police officer takes photographs of the scene. C. Carefully document the original position of the patient prior to moving him to a more open area. D. Move the coffee table and provide immediate emergency medical treatment to the patient.