Chapter 11

When a penlight is shined into one​ eye, the opposite eye​ should:

constrict

When you are faced with a language barrier and are unable to find someone at the scene to​ translate, what would be the best way to​ proceed?

contact a telephone translation company

To adequately assess the​ patient's respirations, the EMT​ should:

count the number of respirations over 30 seconds and multiply by 2.

As a paramedic interviews a​ patient, which statement reflects the use of confrontation during active​ listening?

"You state you do not use any illicit drugs, but your pupils are dilated and sensitive to light"

The average range for an​ adult's respirations would​ be:

12 to 20 bpm

The normal range for an​ adult's respirations would​ be:

12 to 20 bpm

What is the longest amount of time a patient should go without a vital sign​ reassessment?

15 minutes

In American​ culture, at what distance does intimate space generally​ begin?

18 inches

You are testing orthostatic vital signs on a patient. You have just taken the vital signs while the patient was lying supine and just assisted the patient to a standing position. You should wait how long before taking the next set of vital​ signs?

2 min

What is the normal range of EtCO2​?

35-45 mm Hg

The emergency medical technician​ (EMT) should provide assisted ventilation to an adult breathing at a rate greater​ than:

40 breaths per minute

A mnemonic or memory aid that is used to help the EMS provider remember the information that must be included in a patient history would​ be:

SAMPLE

An acronym used to help you remember information to include in your​ patient's history​ is:

SAMPLE

A bluish gray color to the skin is referred to​ as:

cyanosis

Regarding skin​ color, inadequate oxygenation may be indicated​ by:

cyanosis

As you interview the patient about his history and injuries or medical​ problems, the reason why the ambulance was called is often called​ the:

chief complaint

You are treating a patient with the following vital​ signs: Blood​ pressure: 150/92,​ Pulse: 98,​ Respirations: 16, SpO2​: 96 percent. The EMT knows that this patient​ has:

hypertension

Which of the following is a reason for decreased EtCO2​ levels?

hyperventilation

You are treating a patient that was just involved in an unrestrained motor vehicle collision. The patient is alert and has NO obvious injuries. The​ patient's vital signs​ are: BP:​ 80/60, HR:​ 148, RR:​ 22, SpO2: 94 percent. You know that this patient is exhibiting signs​ of:

hypo perfusion (shock)

You are treating a patient complaining of general tiredness. You take the​ patient's vital signs while lying flat and then you take the vital signs again when the patient is standing. You are​ testing:

orthostatic vital signs

Which should the EMT perform first prior to obtaining a pulse oximetry reading on a​ patient?

remove nail polish

What steps are necessary in order to build a good rapport with your elderly​ patients?

respect their dignity and do not rush them

Vital signs

respiratory rate, heart rate, temperature, pulse, skin, pupils, pulse oximetry and blood pressure

Only slight chest movement or abdominal wall motion is an indication​ of:

shallow breathing

Which one of the following indicates an abnormal quality of​ respirations?

shallow breathing

Blood pressure can fall drastically due​ to:

spinal injury

The amount of pressure that is exerted on the arteries when the left ventricle contracts is called​ the:

systolic blood pressure

The reason that a patient calls EMS is known​ as:

the chief complaint

Sonorous breath sounds are typically the result​ of:

the tongue partially blocking the upper airway

Dilated pupils may be a sign​ of:

the use of cocaine

You are treating an​ 85-year-old patient who has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The patient requires oxygen via nasal cannula 24 hours a day. The patient presents with a right ankle that is extremely​ swollen, and cannot bear any weight. While taking the​ patient's vital​ signs, you note his capillary refill time to be 4 seconds. You​ know:

this finding is probably normal for the patient based on his history.

What would be an example of pertinent past medical history for a cardiac​ patient?

two prior heart attacks

When a patient is suffering from constriction of the​ bronchioles, the breath sound MOST likely heard on auscultation would​ be:

wheezing

If you are unable to bring a scene under​ control, your first priority should​ be:

your own safety

What is the most significant concern when dealing with an intoxicated​ patient?

your own safety

The EMT arrives at the​ patient's home and determines the patient is having pain with ambulation. Which question should the EMT use to obtain the most​ information?

​"Which activities that you do make it​ worse?"

A tilt test is the common name​ for:

an orthostatic vital sign test

When assessing your​ patient's pupils, suspect stroke or a head injury​ if:

one pupil reacts but the other does not

Your adolescent patient is unconscious. The BEST place to check a pulse in this patient​ is:

carotid

Before providing care to any​ patient, the EMT​ must:

gain patient consent

A capillary refill time of 3 seconds in an asymptomatic elderly man is an indicator​ of:

normalcy

Which of the following is true regarding an adult patient breathing greater than 40 breaths per​ minute?

Respiratory muscle fatigue will develop.

The normal resting pulse for a​ 10-year-old child​ is:

75 to 118 bpm

Glucose reading

80-120

Which statement concerning palpating a blood pressure is MOST​ accurate?

A palpated systolic blood pressure is slightly lower than that taken by auscultation.

Jaundice

A yellowing of the skin and eyes

Which of the following statements concerning capillary refill is MOST​ accurate?

Capillary refill time alone does not provide sufficient information to determine shock.

Dilated

Cardiac arrest (pupils will also be fixed), drug use such as LSD, amphetamines, or cocaine

Nonreactive

Cardiac arrest, brain injury, eye drops, or drug intoxication or overdose

Constricted

Central nervous system disorder or narcotics use

What would be the best way to proceed when faced with collecting information from a patient who is also suffering from a progressive neurological disease such as dementia or from delirium when no family members or care providers are​ present?

Do not spend too much time collecting a history

The EMT is assessing a patient who presents with shortness of breath and auscultates crackles in the bilateral lung bases. Which statement explains this​ occurrence?

Fluid surrounding and filling the alveoli

The EMT arrives on the scene and discovers an adult patient with a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute. The EMT places the pulse oximetry probe on the​ patient's finger. Which result indicates a need for supplemental oxygen​ administration?

O2 92%

The evaluation of a​ patient's symptoms, such as chest​ pain, may be accomplished by using the​ mnemonic:

OPQRST

What does a sudden increase in EtCO2 during a cardiac arrest most likely​ indicate?

ROSC

Wet or moist

Shock, heat emergency, or diabetic emergency

Abnormally dry

Spinal injury, dehydration, heat stroke, poisoning, or hypothyroidism

Unequal

Stroke, head injury, artificial eye (occasionally a normal finding), eye drops, or eye trauma

You have just performed a tilt test on your patient. Which of the following outcomes would indicate a positive​ result?

The pulse increases by 15​ bpm, and the systolic BP decreases by 15 mmHg.

pallor

Vasoconstriction, blood loss, shock, heart attack, fright, anemia, fainting, or emotional distress

Which of the following initial patient questions is worded in an appropriate​ format?

What seems to be the​ problem?

You are dispatched to a residence for a​ 72-year-old man having difficulty breathing. On your​ arrival, you are led into the​ kitchen, where the patient is sitting in the tripod position in apparent respiratory distress. Your history should begin with which of the following​ questions?

What seems to be the​ problem?

Noisy respirations such​ wheezing, rhonchi, or crackles and absent breath sounds may be further evaluated​ by:

auscultation

As an​ EMT, you will be measuring​ breathing, pulse,​ skin, pupils, and blood pressure. The FIRST set of measurements you take are known​ as:

baseline vital signs

During your patient​ assessment, you ask your EMT partner to obtain a set of vitals after applying oxygen. If this is the first set of​ vitals, what are they​ called?

baseline vital signs

The properly placed sphygmomanometer cuff​ should:

be centered over the brachial artery

You arrive at a scene to treat a pediatric patient who fell and struck his head. On​ arrival, you are led to the​ patient, who is sitting on the living room floor playing with a toy. The patient seems frightened and alarmed by your presence. One of the easiest things you can do to alleviate this fear is​ to:

bend down and get on the Childs level

mottling of the skin

blotchiness that indicates poor perfusion due to vasoconstriction

You are assessing a​ 9-month-old patient who is unconscious. You know that the BEST pulse to palpate in a patient this age is​ the:

brachial

A heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute is​ called:

bradycardia

You arrive at a chaotic scene. The EMT should initially attempt​ to:

bring order to the environment

A reliable indicator of perfusion in children less than 6 years of age​ is:

capillary refill

Which condition can cause the pulse oximeter not to display a​ value?

cardiac arrest

You should be especially careful when palpating this​ pulse, because excess pressure can cut off circulation to the brain.

carotid

The amount of pressure on the arterial walls when the left ventricle is at rest is called​ the:

diastolic blood pressure

You are treating a stable elderly patient for nausea and vomiting. At a​ minimum, how often should you reassess the​ patient's vital signs during your​ 30-minute transport to the​ hospital?

every 15 minutes

The EMT is providing care to a patient who sustained multiple injuries in a fall. The​ patient's level of consciousness is decreasing. How often should the EMT take the​patient's vital​ signs?

every 5 minutes

You are treating an unstable elderly patient for findings consistent with a stroke. At a​ minimum, how often should you reassess the​ patient's vital signs while transporting her to the stroke center 20 minutes​ away?

every 5 minutes

What does capnometry​ measure?

exhaled CO2

If you are obtaining a pedal​ pulse, you are palpating​ the:

foot

Which condition will cause the pulse oximeter to produce an erroneous​ reading?

hypothermia

The BEST places to assess skin color in adults are in the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyelids​ and:

in the nail beds

When assessing a​ patient's blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer​ cuff:

inflate the cuff to 30 mmHg above the point where you can no longer feel a pulse.

Asking a bystander who witnessed the patient fall to the ground is a method​ of:

investigating the chief complaint

A palpable pulse that presents with a chaotic rhythm and no predictable pattern is​ called:

irregularly irregular

The EMT responds to a call for a patient with increased weakness and falling. The patient has​ end-stage liver disease. Which integumentary assessment finding would the EMT expect to notice in the​ patient?

jaundice

In infants and​ children, retraction of the​ skin, muscles, and other tissues around the clavicle and between the ribs​ indicates:

labored breathing

Which of the following is TRUE about blood​ pressure?

low blood pressure indicates that there is not enough pressure in the arteries to keep the organs supplied adequately with blood

The paramedic is assessing the skin color of a patient who presents with shock due to blood pooling in the extremities. Which description should be included in the​documentation?

mottling

Your patient is very lethargic and NOT acting right. During your​ assessment, you note that the patient has bilateral pinpoint pupils. This finding is MOST likely due​ to:

narcotic use

If you are in an excessively noisy​ environment, you may wish to check your​ patient's blood pressure​ by:

palpation

You are attempting to assess the pulse of an elderly​ man, and you note that you are unable to determine an accurate rate because the pulse disappears whenever the patient inhales. This is​ called:

pluses paradoxus

You note that the​ patient's pulse seems to weaken during inhalation. You would report this finding​ as:

pluses paradoxus

The device that is used to measure the level of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen is known as​ a:

pulse oximeter

The difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressures is​ called:

pulse pressure