Block Exam 3 - EMT - Ch14

In addition to obtaining a SAMPLE history and asking questions related to the chief complaint, what else should you specifically inquire about when assessing a patient with a potentially infectious disease? 1) Recent travel 2) HIV status 3) Sexual practices 4) Drug allergies

1) Recent travel

Patients with tuberculosis pose the greatest risk for transmitting the disease when they: 1) cough. 2) vomit. 3) are bleeding. 4) have a fever.

1) cough.

Typical chief complaints in patients with an infectious disease include: 1) fever, rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing. 2) crushing chest pain, vomiting, and weakness. 3) headache, low back pain, and arm numbness. 4) joint pain, muscle aches, and blurred vision.

1) fever, rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing.

When caring for a patient with an altered mental status and signs of circulatory compromise, you should: 1) limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible. 2) perform a detailed secondary assessment prior to transporting the patient. 3) transport immediately and begin all emergency treatment en route to the hospital. 4) have a paramedic unit respond to the scene if it is less than 15 minutes away. Save

1) limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible.

Which of the following patients is at greatest risk for complications caused by the influenza virus? 1) 12-year-old child with a fractured arm 2) 68-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes 3) 39-year-old man with mild hypertension 4) 50-year-old woman moderate obesity

2) 68-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes

Which of the following will MOST reliably allow you to determine the nature of a patient's illness? 1) Trending of the patient's vital signs over time 2) Asking questions related to the chief complaint 3) Refraining from asking open-ended questions 4) Focusing solely on how the call is dispatched

2) Asking questions related to the chief complaint

Which of the following medications would the EMT be LEAST likely to administer to a patient with a medical complaint? 1) Aspirin 2) Ibuprofen 3) Albuterol 4) Oral glucose

2) Ibuprofen

Which of the following assessment findings is MOST indicative of a cardiovascular problem? 1) Unequal breath sounds 2) Jugular venous distention 3) Use of the accessory muscles 4) Palpable pain to the epigastrium

2) Jugular venous distention

Which of the following statements regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is correct? 1) Most cases of MRSA transmission occur following an accidental needlestick. 2) MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections and is resistant to most antibiotics. 3) The communicable period for MRSA is 10 days to 2 weeks after being infected. 4) Studies have shown that fewer than 1% of health care providers are MRSA carriers.

2) MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections and is resistant to most antibiotics.

A 58-year-old man complains of chest discomfort and nausea. He is conscious and alert; his blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, his pulse is 104 beats/min, and his respirations are 16 breaths/min. Your partner has applied supplemental oxygen. Prior to assisting the patient with one of his prescribed nitroglycerin tablets, you ask him if he takes medication to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and he tells you that he does. You should: 1) avoid giving him nitroglycerin and transport him at once. 2) ask him what he takes, how much, and when he last took it. 3) recall that erectile ED drugs can cause significant hypertension. 4) administer his nitroglycerin and then reassess his blood pressure.

2) ask him what he takes, how much, and when he last took it.

The BEST way to prevent infection from whooping cough is to: 1) ask all patients if they have recently traveled abroad. 2) get vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. 3) wear a HEPA mask when treating any respiratory patient. 4) routinely place a surgical mask on all respiratory patients.

2) get vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

In contrast to the assessment of a trauma patient, assessment of a medical patient: 1) almost exclusively focuses on physical signs that indicate the patient is experiencing a problem. 2) is focused on the nature of illness, the patient's chief complaint, and his or her symptoms. 3) requires a thorough head-to-toe exam that involves a detailed assessment of all body systems. 4) is not as complex for the EMT because most patients typically present with classic symptoms.

2) is focused on the nature of illness, the patient's chief complaint, and his or her symptoms.

A patient who presents with a headache, fever, confusion, and red blotches on his or her skin should be suspected of having: 1) hepatitis. 2) meningitis. 3) MERS-CoV. 4) tuberculosis.

2) meningitis.

Which of the following statements regarding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is correct? 1) HIV is far more contagious than hepatitis B and is easily transmitted in the health care setting. 2) The risk of HIV infection is high, even if an infected person's blood comes in contact with your intact skin. 3) The risk of HIV infection is greatest when deposited on a mucous membrane or directly into the bloodstream. 4) Most patients who are infected with HIV experience chronic symptoms that vary in duration and severity.

3) The risk of HIV infection is greatest when deposited on a mucous membrane or directly into the bloodstream.

The primary prehospital treatment for most medical emergencies: 1) typically does not require the EMT to contact medical control. 2) focuses on definitive care because a diagnosis can usually be made. 3) addresses the patient's symptoms more than the actual disease process. 4) involves transport only until treatment can be performed at the hospital.

3) addresses the patient's symptoms more than the actual disease process.

Hepatitis B is more virulent than hepatitis C, which means that it: 1) is less resistant to treatment. 2) is a more contagious type of disease. 3) has a greater ability to produce disease. 4) leads to chronic infection after exposure.

3) has a greater ability to produce disease.

In which of the following situations would it be MOST appropriate to utilize an air medical transportation service? 1) 29-year-old woman who is 18 weeks pregnant, has light vaginal bleeding, and stable vital signs 2) 43-year-old man experiencing a heart attack, and the closest appropriate hospital is 15 minutes away 3) 50-year-old conscious woman with severe nausea and vomiting, fever, and chills of 3 days' duration 4) 61-year-old man with signs and symptoms of a stroke and your ground transport time is 50 minutes

4) 61-year-old man with signs and symptoms of a stroke and your ground transport time is 50 minutes

In addition to looking for severe bleeding, assessment of circulation in the conscious patient should involve: 1) palpating the carotid pulse to determine the approximate rate and checking capillary refill time. 2) taking a blood pressure and determining if the patient is alert and oriented or confused. 3) applying a pulse oximeter probe to the finger to determine if peripheral perfusion is adequate. 4) checking the radial pulse and noting the color, temperature, and condition of the skin.

4) checking the radial pulse and noting the color, temperature, and condition of the skin.

Early signs and symptoms of viral hepatitis include all of the following, EXCEPT: 1) loss of appetite and a cough. 2) vomiting, fever, and fatigue. 3) pain in the muscles and joints. 4) jaundice and abdominal pain.

4) jaundice and abdominal pain.

End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitoring is clearly indicated for patients who present with: 1) headache. 2) abdominal pain. 3) high blood pressure. 4) respiratory distress.

4) respiratory distress.