CH 17

Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the signs and symptoms of a stroke? Select one: A. Hypovolemia B. A postictal state C. Intracranial bleeding D. Hypoglycemia

A. Hypovolemia

Which of the following is a metabolic cause of a seizure? Select one: A. Poisoning B. Head trauma C. Brain tumor D. Massive stroke

A. Poisoning

When assessing for arm drift of a patient with a suspected stroke, you should: Select one: A. ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment. B. ask the patient to hold his or her arms up with the palms down. C. observe movement of the arms for approximately 2 minutes. D. expect to see one arm slowly drift down to the patient's side.

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

During the primary assessment of a semiconscious 70-year-old female, you should: Select one: A. ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed. B. insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assist ventilations. C. immediately determine the patient's blood glucose level. D. ask family members if the patient has a history of stroke.

A. ensure a patent airway and support ventilation as needed.

The mental status of a patient who has experienced a generalized seizure: Select one: A. is likely to improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes. B. is easily differentiated from that of acute hypoglycemia. C. typically does not improve, even after several minutes. D. progressively worsens over a period of a few hours.

A. is likely to improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes.

When transporting a stable stroke patient with a paralyzed extremity, place the patient in a: Select one: A. recumbent position with the paralyzed side down. B. recumbent position with the paralyzed side up. C. sitting position with the head at a 45° to 90° angle. D. supine position with the legs elevated 6 feet to 12 feet.

A. recumbent position with the paralyzed side down.

You respond to a residence for a child who is having a seizure. Upon arrival at the scene, you enter the residence and find the mother holding her child, a 2-year-old male. The child is conscious and crying. According to the mother, the child had been running a high fever and then experienced a seizure that lasted approximately 3 minutes. You should: Select one: A. transport the child to the hospital and reassure the mother en route. B. cover the child with wet towels and give oxygen via nasal cannula. C. call medical control and request permission to give the child aspirin. D. advise the mother to take her child to the doctor the following day.

A. transport the child to the hospital and reassure the mother en route.

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

A. when the patient last appeared normal.

The spinal cord exits the cranium through the: Select one: A. cauda equina. B. foramen magnum. C. foramen lamina. D. vertebral foramen.

B. foramen magnum.

The MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is: Select one: A. heavy exertion. B. hypertension. C. diabetes mellitus. D. severe stress.

B. hypertension.

You arrive at a local grocery store approximately 5 minutes after a 21-year-old female stopped seizing. She is confused and disoriented; she keeps asking you what happened and tells you that she is thirsty. Her brother, who witnessed the seizure, tells you that she takes valproate (Depakote) for her seizures, but has not taken it in a few days. He also tells you that she has diabetes. In addition to administering oxygen, you should: Select one: A. give her small cups of water to drink and observe for further seizure activity. B. monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level. C. place her in the recovery position and transport her with lights and siren. D. administer one tube of oral glucose and prepare for immediate transport.

B. monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level.

Your patient opens his eyes, moans, and pulls away from you when you pinch his trapezius muscle. You should assign a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of: Select one: A. 7. B. 9. C. 6. D. 8.

D. 8.

You are dispatched to a residence for a 66-year-old male who, according to family members, has suffered a massive stroke. Your primary assessment reveals that the patient is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. You should: Select one: A. obtain a blood glucose sample to rule out hypoglycemia. B. perform CPR for 5 minutes before applying the AED. C. initiate CPR and attach an AED as soon as possible. D. assess the patient for a facial droop and hemiparesis.

C. initiate CPR and attach an AED as soon as possible.

Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding and hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the: Select one: A. brain. B. kidneys. C. liver. D. pancreas.

C. liver.

You are assessing the arm drift component of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale on a 60-year-old woman. When she holds both of her arms out in front of her and closes her eyes, both of her arms immediately fall to her sides. You should: Select one: A. defer this part of the test and assess her for facial droop and slurred speech. B. instruct the patient to keep her eyes open and then repeat the arm drift test. C. repeat the arm drift test and ensure that her palms are facing downward. D. repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself.

D. repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself.

Febrile seizures: Select one: A. are also referred to as absence seizures. B. are usually benign but should be evaluated. C. occur when a child's fever rises slowly. D. often result in permanent brain damage.

B. are usually benign but should be evaluated.

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

B. cerebral vasodilation.

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

B. cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.

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

C. A seizure that begins in one extremity

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when: Select one: A. medications are given to dissolve a cerebral blood clot. B. a small cerebral artery ruptures and causes minimal damage. C. a small clot in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms. D. signs and symptoms resolve spontaneously within 48 hours.

C. a small clot in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms.