I want to cry

Which of the following patients is at highest risk for a pulmonary embolism?

71-year-old male with recent surgery to a lower extremity

When immobilizing a patient with a kyphotic spine to a long backboard, the EMT would most likely have to:

place blankets behind the patient's head.

A productive cough, fever, and chills in an 80-year-old patient with a compromised immune system should make you most suspicious for:

pneumonia

The leading cause of death in the geriatric patient is:

heart disease.

The slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function is known as:

Dementia

Which of the following is the most common mechanism of injury in older patients?

Falls

A 75-year-old woman complains of shortness of breath. Which of the following findings should alert the EMT to the possibility of a pulmonary embolism?

History of deep venous thrombosis

A 69-year-old female was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She is semiconscious with a blood pressure of 80/50 mm Hg and a heart rate of 74 beats/min that is weak. Her daughter, who was uninjured in the crash, tells you that her mother has a history of hypertension and takes beta-blockers. Because this patient is probably in shock, what is the most likely explanation for the absence of tachycardia?

The effects of her antihypertensive medication

Osteoporosis is defined as:

a decrease in bone mass and density.

A specific legal document that directs relatives and caregivers regarding the medical treatment that may be given to patients who cannot speak for themselves is called a(n):

advance directive

A 73-year-old female experienced a syncopal episode while watching TV. She is now conscious but diaphoretic, tachycardic, and hypotensive. Your assessment reveals abdominal tenderness and a pulsating mass to the left of her umbilicus. You should suspect:

an aortic aneurysm

Patients who have experienced even minor-appearing head injuries should be suspected of having a brain injury, especially if they:

are taking blood-thinning medications.

When faced with a situation in which an older patient with a terminal illness is in cardiac arrest, but written documentation regarding the patient's wishes cannot be located, the EMT should:

attempt to resuscitate the patient.

Syncope in the older patient is:

caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain.

When assessing a geriatric patient who has possibly experienced an acute ischemic stroke, it is most important to:

determine the onset of the patient's symptoms.

You are dispatched to a skilled nursing care facility for an 80-year-old female with abnormal behavior. The patient is clearly confused and asks you if you are her husband. You should:

determine the patient's baseline mental status.

Upon arriving at the residence of an elderly female who apparently fainted, you find the patient lying supine on her living room floor. She is not moving, and her eyes are closed. A neighbor tells you that she found the patient this way but did not move her. When you gently tap the patient, she does not respond. You should:

direct your partner to manually stabilize her head while you quickly visualize her chest for signs of breathing.

EMTs are dispatched to a residence for an 80-year-old woman who is ill. The patient's daughter states that her mother almost fainted after going to the bathroom and that her pulse was very slow. The patient's pulse rate is 80 beats/min and irregular, and she is conscious and alert. The EMTs should suspect that the patient:

experienced a vasovagal response.

The stooped posture of some older people, which gives them a humpback appearance, is called:

kyphosis

Fractures of the pelvis in older patients often occur as the result of a combination of:

osteoporosis and low-energy trauma.

In contrast to a living will, a "do not resuscitate" (DNR) order becomes valid when:

the patient develops cardiac arrest

A "silent" heart attack occurs when:

the usual chest pain is not present.

When transporting a stable older patient to the hospital, the most effective way to reduce his or her anxiety is to:

transport him or her to a hospital that he or she is familiar with.