EMT Chapter 3 Test

You have been called for a 96dash-year-old female with altered mental status. On scene the patient is​ unresponsive, not​ breathing, and pulseless. Family provides you with a valid DNR order. Which of the following signs would you document as a presumptive sign of her​ death?

Absent blood pressure

You have been dispatched to a residence for an​ 88-year-old female who is in and out of consciousness. The family provides you with a valid Do Not Resuscitate​ (DNR) order. Assessment of the patient shows her to be very confused with a low blood pressure and low oxygen level. Which one of the following would be appropriate given the​ situation?

Administer supplemental oxygen.

Which one of the following patients may be treated under the guideline of implied​ consent?

An unresponsive​ 33-year-old female who is treated by EMS after overdosing on a street drug

In which one of the following situations would the Good Samaritan Law protect the​ EMT?

An​ off-duty EMT stops at the scene of an auto collision and provides proper​ care, but the patient dies.

You have been called to transfer a trauma patient from a rural hospital emergency department to the emergency department of a large urban medical center. Which one of the following will best decrease your chance of becoming involved in an EMTALA​ violation?

Assessing the patient for stability prior to transfer

A patient who was transported by EMS for a laceration on her arm is suing the service and the hospital because her laceration became​ infected, resulting in loss of the extremity.​ However, it becomes known that the patient was appropriately treated by EMS and the emergency​ department, but failed to seek​ follow-up medical care at a health clinic and did not take the antibiotics that were prescribed to her. Which one of the following would most likely be used by the medical community as a defense in this​ case?

Contributory negligence

For negligence to be​ proven, which of the following must be​ present?

Duty to​ act, injury, proximate cause

A pregnant woman is choking inside a local restaurant. Who has the legal duty to​ act?

EMTs from another county eating lunch after dropping off a patient at a local hospital

Which one of the following best illustrates the​ EMT's failure to meet the standard of care when treating a patient with chest​ pain?

Failing to give the patient oxygen

A homeless patient is​ sick, and while he accepted​ treatment, he is refusing transport. Since the temperature tonight will be near​ zero, the EMT picks up the patient and puts him on the cot. The patient continues to​ refuse, despite the​ EMT's explanation that it will be warm in the hospital and the patientwill be fed. The patient is transported without the use of restraints. Which one of the following could the EMT be charged​ with?

False imprisonment

A plaintiff is suing an EMT in civil court for alleged improper care and resultant injury. Which of the following is​ true?

If the suit is​ successful, the plaintiff will most likely be awarded money.

In discussing an EMS response that involved potential​ negligence, your medical director asks you to determine if the statute of limitations is active. As a knowledgeable​ EMT, you understand that you will need to determine which one of the​ following?

If the time for the patient to file a lawsuit has passed

Which one of the following constitutes a breach of the​ EMT's duty, placing him at risk for the charge of​ negligence?

Obtaining a refusal from a patient without first attempting to obtain vital signs

Many states require EMTs to report which one of the following to law​ enforcement?

Physical and mental abuse

While transferring a patient from her house to the​ ambulance, one of the EMTs slips on a patch of ice and falls. The stretcher​ overturns, and the patient suffers a broken wrist. She files a lawsuit in civil court alleging negligence. For the​ patient, which of the following will be the most difficult component of negligence to​ prove?

Proximate cause

A local politician has been involved in a motor vehicle collision. Witnesses state that they saw the man leave a bar.​ Then, just two miles down the​ road, he struck a utility pole head on. On scene and throughout​ transport, the patient is confused and combative. When leaving the​ hospital, a reporter asks you what happened and you state that it looks as though the politician may be​ drunk, but you are not sure. Your statement is printed in the newspaper.​ Later, it is determined that the man was not​ drunk, but rather he was a diabetic and his blood sugar was low. What charge could the politician levy against​ you?

Slander

You have moved to another state and wish to work as an EMT. In your previous state of​ employment, EMTs were allowed to administer a select number of drugs. To determine if EMTs can administer drugs in your new state of​ residence, you should check​ the:

State Emergency Medical Technicians Scope of Practice.

A 22-year-old female has been assaulted and taken to the emergency department. With regards to the release of confidential medical​ information, which one of the following may receive information related to her injuries without her​ consent?

State police

A​ patient's spouse, who is a​ doctor, states that an EMT is negligent because he put his wife on low-concentration oxygen when she should have gotten high-concentration. The patient was having chest pain that was later determined to be caused by anxiety. She was released from the emergency department later in the day. Which one of the following statements is​ true?

The EMT cannot be proven negligent because that patient suffered no harm or damage.

While off​ duty, an EMT comes on the scene of a motor vehicle collision. A young man has been seriously injured and is bleeding. The EMT is alone with his baby daughter in the car and cannot leave her to provide help.​ Therefore, he alerts 911 of the emergency and drives away. Later in the​ week, he finds out that the patient died. Which one of the following is normally​ true?

The EMT had no duty to act and cannot be held liable for the​ man's death.

A​ 62-year-old male is short of breath. The EMT asks the patient if it would be okay to assess​ him, including taking his vital signs. The patient agrees. Which one of the following is​ true?

The EMT has obtained expressed consent.

A male EMT was discussing a​ patient's medical condition with a female EMT from a different service. The woman then repeated this information to​ others, which eventually made its way back to the patient. In regards to issues of​ confidentiality, which one of the following is​ true?

The male EMT violated the HIPAA law.

Which one of the following best indicates that informed consent has been​ obtained?

The patient agrees to oxygen therapy after being told it may help decrease his chest pain but may dry his​ nose, causing discomfort.

Despite a​ patient's protest not to have his blood pressure​ taken, the EMT places a BP cuff on his arm and takes his blood pressure. The EMT​ states: "See? It is just as I​ suspected, your blood pressure is sky high. You really need to be seen in the emergency​ department." The patient states he did not realize that his blood pressure was that high. In terms of​ battery, which one of the following is​ true?

The patient could charge the EMT with​ battery, regardless of his blood pressure reading.

A paramedic was late in reregistering and​ now, according to the State EMS​ Agency, must function as an EMT until all of the reregistration requirements are satisfied. As an​ EMT, he is on the scene of a motor vehicle accident and taking care of a critically injured teenager. While waiting for a paramedic to​ arrive, he starts an​ IV, but does not hang the IV fluid that will be used to stabilize her by increasing her blood pressure. This is immediately done by a paramedic once he arrives. Which of the following is​ true?

The​ paramedic/EMT violated the scope of practice and can be held accountable even though the patient survived.

You have been called to a local emergency department to transfer a 67dash-yeardash-old male to another facility. At the​ hospital, the emergency physician informs you that the patient and his family have requested the transfer because his doctor is affiliated with the other hospital. At​ bedside, you see that the patient is receiving an antibiotic through an IV. Though your state does allow EMTs to perform​ non-emergent transports of patients receiving normal saline through an​ IV, it does not allow transport of patients receiving IV medications. When informed of​ this, the physician states that the antibiotic will be done in 10 minutes and that he will give written permission to start the transport while the medication is infusing. Which one of the following EMT actions would be most appropriate at this​ time?

Transfer the patient once all of the medication is infused.

Which one of the following best illustrates an EMT upholding a high ethical​ standard?

Treating alcoholics and drug addicts with respect

A diabetic patient has an elevated blood sugar​ (545 mg/dL) and requires an injection of insulin. Your EMT partner is also a diabetic and administers insulin injections to himself throughout the day as needed. Although the Scope of Practice lists nothing about EMTs giving​ insulin, your partner administers the insulin injection to the patient. The​ patient's blood sugar comes down and her condition improves. Which of the following is​ true?

Your partner violated the Scope of Practice and may have his certification revoked.

You are approached by a college student who states that his college is working with a physician on a project that examines the types of violent trauma occurring within your jurisdiction. He then asks you if he may see copies of all patient care reports that involved patients who were either stabbed or shot. Who would be the best person to contact regarding this​ request?

Your​ service's privacy officer

While making patient care​ decisions, your first priority is​ to:

adhere to your professional code of ethics.

You have been dispatched for a​ 15-year-old female with a headache. On​ scene, the patient is found holding her daughter in her arms. She states that she has had a migraine headache for two days and would like to be transported to the hospital for further evaluation. As an EMT you​ would:

assess and transport the patient as she desires.

Involuntary consent would most likely apply​ to:

a​ 23-year-old prisoner with a laceration to the right cheek and refusing care.

Your best protection when a patient refuses care or transport is​ to:

completely and thoroughly document the incident.

Any time there is a question about the appropriate care for your​ patient, you are obligated​ to:

consult medical direction.

An intoxicated​ 72-year-old male with an alcoholic history has fallen and has a laceration on the back of his head. He states that he does not want treatment and becomes combative when you try to talk to or assess him. Your best course of action would be​ to:

contact medical direction.

In addition to obtaining a​ patient's expressed and informed​ consent, it is a good practice​ to:

document the​ patient's consent for treatment on the prehospital care report.

The highest priority for the EMT working on a patient at the scene of a crime​ is:

ensuring personal safety.

The EMT recognizes that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act​ (HIPAA) limits the​ EMT's ability​ to:

exchange medical information regarding the patient.

You have arrived at the emergency department with a patient complaining of nausea. The department is extremely busy and you are waiting to give a verbal report to the nurse or doctor. While​ waiting, dispatch contacts you over the radio and states that you are needed for a critically injured child. Your best action would be​ to:

go to the​ nurse's station and provide the registered nurse with a quick report.

A patient who is extremely dizzy and vomiting declines your care and will not sign the refusal form. Your best action would be​ to:

have a family member sign as a witness to the refusal.

A​ 77-year-old female is​ unresponsive, but breathing and with a pulse. On​ scene, a family member hands you an official document stating that the patient does not want feeding​ tubes, ventilators, or other​ long-term life support equipment to keep her alive. There is no mention of whether to administer​ life-saving drugs or withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The EMT would recognize this document as​ a(n):

living will document.

Regarding an​ EMT's duty to​ act, the relationship between an EMT and patient​ starts:

once the EMT makes physical contact with the patient.

A​ 46-year-old man who is​ conscious, competent, and rational is refusing treatment despite crushing chest pain and shortness of breath. He states that the hospital will not do anything for him and he does not want you to treat or transport him. The EMT should recognize that​ the:

patient has a right to refuse treatment and transport.

An alert and oriented patient complaining of a severe headache is refusing all treatment as well as transport by the EMTs. After having signed the​ refusal, the patient suddenly seizes and becomes unresponsive. The EMT​ should:

provide care under the guideline of implied consent.

A young male patient has suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Realizing that there is little chance for​ survival, the EMT notes that the patient is a potential organ donor. The patient is unresponsive and breathing four times a minute on scene. You are providing positive pressure ventilation. En route to the​ hospital, the patient stops breathing and loses a pulse. Since the patient is a potential organ​ donor, the EMT​ should:

provide the same resuscitation as for a person who is not an organ donor.

You are pulling into the ambulance bay at a local hospital. On board you have a patient with behavioral problems who continually seeks treatment at this particular hospital. Before that patient can be​ unloaded, the physician comes out and states that the patient must be taken to another hospital. As an EMT you​ should:

recognize a violation of the EMTALA statute.

A patient with a terminal disease is​ unresponsive, not​ breathing, and without a pulse. The family states that the patient has a Do Not Resuscitate​ (DNR) order signed by her medical​ doctor, but they cannot find it. The EMT​ should:

start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

You have been asked to review a legal case in which a patient intentionally overdosed on heroin and then died after EMS arrived because they did not have a bagdash-valve mask to ventilate the nonbreathing patient. The evidence indicates that the EMT and paramedics both signed their morning equipment check indicating that they had inspected the ambulance and had all the necessary equipment to do their job. In this​ case, you would​ realize:

the EMT and paramedic were negligent in caring for the patient.

In a community​ park, a​ 10-year-old boy has fallen from the top of a slide. His right wrist is deformed and he is in pain. He states that he lives with his mother and she is working. He does not know her work number. The​ EMT's best action would be​ to:

treat the patient under the guidelines of implied consent.

The medical​ examiner's office would most likely be called for which of the following​ situations?

violent deaths.

During​ orientation, an EMT is told that by the nature of his​ employment, he is covered by sovereign immunity. Based on this​ statement, the EMT​ must:

work for a public EMS agency.

You are off duty and have come across a motor vehicle collision. A car has crashed​ head-on into a utility pole. There is moderate damage to the vehicle and the driver is walking about the scene. You stop and assess the patient. He has a large bruise on his arm and is complaining of abdominal pain where the seat belt contacted his body. Emergency Medical Responders​ (EMRs) are on scene and a responding ambulance has a​ 2-minute ETA. At this​ point, you realize​ that:

you cannot leave until another EMT or paramedic arrives to assume care.

The EMT shows he understands Do Not Resuscitate​ (DNR) orders and a living will when he​ states:

​"A DNR applies to resuscitation issues​ only, like when a patient stops breathing or the heart ceases to​ beat."

The EMT correctly understands a Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment document when he​ states:

​"A POLST is designed to allow a patient to choose the desired type of care prior to the need for​ resuscitation."

A competent adult patient with chest pain is refusing all treatment. Which one of the following indicates the​ EMT's most appropriate​ response?

​"Before you​ refuse, I need to tell you that this could be a heart attack and you could​ die."

A woman calls the station and asks if you transported a patient named Patricia Gardner earlier in the day. She says that she is her friend and wants to know if she is okay. An appropriate response would​ be:

​"I do not doubt that you are her​ friend, but I cannot release that​ information."

You have been called to a home for an alert and oriented female with terminal lung cancer. At the​ home, the​ daughter, who is her​ mother's durable power of​ attorney, states that she wants her mother transported to the hospital. The​ patient, who is alert and​ oriented, does not want to go. Which of the following statements indicates that the EMT is acting both appropriately and legally in this​ conflict?

​"I know that you are the durable power of​ attorney, but your mother is alert and oriented so we cannot legally take her against her​ will."

You are by the side of a female patient who has overdosed on a drug. She is conscious and​ oriented, but very combative and noncompliant with your requests. Which one of the following statements made by the EMT best suggests​ assault?

​"If you do not let me get your blood​ pressure, I will take off the oxygen and you will​ suffocate."

The EMT shows understanding of the standard of care when he​ states:

​"The standard of care is a measure of whether or not the right assessment and care have been provided to the​ patient."

There has been a very serious motor vehicle collision involving a high-profile judge seeking reelection. The judge was traveling at a high rate of speed and crossed the center​ line, striking and killing a motorcyclist. Newspaper reporters are on​ location, asking you to describe what happened. Which one of the following statements is most​ appropriate?

​"There has been a serious accident in which a person was​ killed."

A 20-year-old male has been stabbed in the abdomen. Assessment reveals him to be unresponsive with shallow breathing and a low blood pressure. Which of the following instructions will you provide to your new EMT partner given that the patient has been involved in a​ crime?

​"When cutting his shirt​ off, make sure not to cut through the area where the knife​ penetrated."