Chapter 9, Part 1, 2, 3: Patient Assessment, Baseline Vital Signs, and Scene Size-Up

Normal respiratory rates should not exceed ________________ breaths per minute in toddlers and ________________ breaths per minute in infants. a. 40,60 b. 30,40 c. 18,28 d. 20,30

a. 40,60

For an adult, the normal resting pulse should be between: a. 60 and 100 beats/min. b. 50 and 60 beats/min. c. 70 and 110 beats/min. d. 50 and 70 beats/min.

a. 60 and 100 beats/min.

Which of the following is the MOST effective method of assessing the quality of air movement in the lungs? a. Auscultating breath sounds with a stethoscope b. Evaluating the patient's chest for cyanosis c. Looking for the presence of accessory muscle use d. Applying a pulse oximeter and monitoring the Sp02

a. Auscultating breath sounds with a stethoscope

When palpating the carotid pulse of a responsive patient, you should: a. avoid compressing both carotid arteries simultaneously. b. ensure that his or her head is in a hyperextended position. c. firmly compress the artery because the pulse is often weak. d. avoid gentle pressure so that weak pulses can be detected.

a. avoid compressing both carotid arteries simultaneously.

When assessing the skin of an unresponsive patient, you note that it has a bluish tint to it. This finding is called: a. cyanosis. b. mottling. c. pallor. d. flushing.

a. cyanosis.

As you assess the head of a patient with a suspected spinal injury, your partner should: a. maintain stabilization of the head. b. assess the rest of the body for bleeding. c. look in the ears for gross bleeding. d. prepare the immobilization equipment.

a. maintain stabilization of the head.

A 40-year-old male crashed his motorcycle into a tree. He is semiconscious, has snoring respirations, and has a laceration to the forearm with minimal bleeding. You should: a. open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver. b. tilt the patient's head back and lift up on his chin. c. apply a cervical collar and suction his airway. d. apply a pressure dressing to the patient's arm.

a. open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver.

With regard to the assessment of a patient's cardiovascular status, capillary refill time is MOST reliable in: a. patients who are younger than 6 years of age. b. patients who are older than 70 years of age. c. patients who are significantly hypotensive. d. patients who were exposed to cold temperatures.

a. patients who are younger than 6 years of age.

When you use the palpation method to obtain a blood pressure, the measurement you obtain is the: a. systolic blood pressure. b. cardiac output pressure. c. pulse pressure. d. diastolic blood pressure.

a. systolic blood pressure.

As time progresses following a significant injury: a. the body's ability to compensate for shock decreases. b. most patients will die secondary to internal bleeding. c. the patient's injuries will most likely be irreparable. d. the patient's blood pressure elevates significantly.

a. the body's ability to compensate for shock decreases.

You should gently palpate a patient's pelvis only if: a. the patient does not complain of pelvic pain. b. the possibility of a pelvic fracture has been ruled out. c. you note gross deformity to the pelvic area. d. the MOI suggests significant trauma to the pelvis.

a. the patient does not complain of pelvic pain.

Which of the following questions would you ask a patient to ascertain the "M" in the SAMPLE history? a. "How long have you had your chest pain?" b. "How much Tylenol do you take each day?" c. "When was the last time you ate a meal?" d. "Have you ever had any major surgeries?"

b. "How much Tylenol do you take each day?"

In the adult, bradycardia is defined as a pulse rate less than _______________ beats/min, and tachycardia is defined as a heart rate greater than _______________ beats/min. a. 40, 120 b. 60, 100 c. 50, 110 d. 30, 130

b. 60, 100

Which of the following factors would MOST likely cause a patient's pulse rate to be slower than normal? a. Anxiety or severe stress b. Beta-blocker medications c. Lack of a regular exercise routine d. Internal bleeding from trauma

b. Beta-blocker medications

Which of the following assessments would be the MOST useful in determining the possible cause of a patient's altered mental status? a. Capillary refill time b. Blood glucose level c. Respiratory rate d. Blood pressure

b. Blood glucose level

A 71-year-old female slipped on a rug and fell. She is conscious and alert and complains of severe pelvic pain. Her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth and her heart rate is 120 beats/min. Which of the following is NOT indicated for this patient? a. Rapid head-to-toe exam b. Gentle palpation of the pelvis c. Application of a cervical collar d. Treating her for possible shock

b. Gentle palpation of the pelvis

Which of the following situations or conditions warrants immediate transport? a. Decreased ability to move an extremity b. Severe chest pain and cool, pale skin c. Mild pain in the lower abdomen d. Responsiveness and ability to follow commands

b. Severe chest pain and cool, pale skin

A blood pressure cuff that is too small for a patient's arm will give a: a. falsely low systolic and diastolic reading. b. falsely high systolic and diastolic reading. c. falsely high systolic but low diastolic reading. d. falsely low systolic but high diastolic reading.

b. falsely high systolic and diastolic reading.

The diastolic blood pressure represents the: a. increased arterial pressure that occurs during ventricular contraction. b. minimum amount of pressure that is always present in the arteries. c. difference in pressure between ventricular contraction and relaxation. d. average pressure against the arterial walls during a cardiac cycle.

b. minimum amount of pressure that is always present in the arteries.

You respond to the residence of a 62-year-old male who is unresponsive. Your primary assessment reveals that he is apneic and pulseless. You should: a. perform CPR and transport the patient immediately. b. start CPR and attach the AED as soon as possible. c. ask the family if the patient has a terminal disease. d. notify dispatch and request a paramedic ambulance.

b. start CPR and attach the AED as soon as possible.

While evaluating a patient with chest pain, your partner tells you that the patient's blood pressure is 140/94 mm Hg. The lower number represents the pressure from the: a. atria contracting. b. ventricles relaxing. c. ventricles contracting. d. atria relaxing.

b. ventricles relaxing.

Which of the following statements regarding the blood pressure is correct? a. Blood pressure is the most reliable indicator of perfusion. b. Blood pressure falls early in patients with hypoperfusion. c. Blood pressure is usually not measured in children younger than 3 years of age. d. The systolic pressure represents ventricular relaxation.

c. Blood pressure is usually not measured in children younger than 3 years of age.

Which of the following statements regarding stridor is correct? a. It is a whistling sound heard in the lower airway. b. It suggests the presence of fluid in the lungs. c. It is a high-pitched, crowing upper airway sound. d. It is caused by incorrect airway positioning.

c. It is a high-pitched, crowing upper airway sound.

When performing a rapid exam on a supine patient, what part of the body is typically assessed last? a. Extremities b. Anterior chest c. Posterior d. Abdomen

c. Posterior

Which of the following signs of respiratory distress is seen MOST commonly in pediatric patients? a. Accessory muscle use b. Pursed-lip breathing c. Seesaw breathing d. Rapid respirations

c. Seesaw breathing

Which of the following abnormal breath sounds indicates obstruction of the upper airway? a. Rhonchi b. Rales c. Stridor d. Crackles

c. Stridor

Poor peripheral circulation will cause the skin to appear: a. flushed. b. pink. c. ashen. d. cyanotic.

c. ashen.

An adult patient who is NOT experiencing difficulty breathing will: a. assume a position that will facilitate effective and easy breathing. b. exhibit an indentation above the clavicles and in between the ribs. c. be able to speak in complete sentences without unusual pauses. d. have a respiratory rate that is between 20 and 24 breaths/min.

c. be able to speak in complete sentences without unusual pauses.

When auscultating the blood pressure in a patient's upper extremity, you should place the head of the stethoscope over the _______________ artery. a. radial b. apical c. brachial d. femoral

c. brachial

When you inspect a patient's pupils with a penlight, the pupils should normally react to the light by: a. enlarging. b. dilating. c. constricting. d. fluttering.

c. constricting.

When palpating a patient's pulse, you note that it is grossly irregular. You should: a. count the pulse rate for at least 30 seconds to ensure accuracy. b. count the number of pulsations in 30 seconds and multiply by two. c. count the pulse rate for a full minute to obtain an accurate reading. d. count the number of pulsations in 15 seconds and multiply by four.

c. count the pulse rate for a full minute to obtain an accurate reading.

A patient with profuse sweating is referred to as being: a. plethoric. b. flushed. c. diaphoretic. d. edematous.

c. diaphoretic.

Upon arriving at a potentially unsafe scene, you should: a. remove all bystanders. b. move the patient to safety. c. ensure that you are safe. d. request another ambulance.

c. ensure that you are safe.

If you cannot palpate a pulse in an unresponsive patient whose collapse was not witnessed, you should: a. apply an AED at once. b. palpate at another pulse site. c. immediately begin CPR. d. assess for adequate breathing.

c. immediately begin CPR.

A decrease in blood pressure may indicate: a. forceful cardiac contraction. b. arterial constriction. c. loss of vascular tone. d. increased blood volume.

c. loss of vascular tone.

You are dispatched to the county jail for an inmate who is "sick." When you arrive, you find the patient, a 33-year-old male, unresponsive. His airway is patent and his respirations are rapid and shallow. Your initial action should be to: a. request a paramedic unit. b. apply a pulse oximeter. c. provide assisted ventilation. d. assess his blood pressure.

c. provide assisted ventilation.

If a patient develops difficulty breathing after your primary assessment, you should immediately: a. auscultate his or her breath sounds. b. begin assisting his or her breathing. c. reevaluate his or her airway status. d. determine his or her respiratory rate.

c. reevaluate his or her airway status.

A patient who does not respond to your questions, but moves or cries out when his or her trapezius muscle is pinched, is said to be: a. conscious and alert. b. completely unresponsive. c. responsive to painful stimuli. d. responsive to verbal stimuli.

c. responsive to painful stimuli.

The pressure exerted against the walls of the artery when the left ventricle contracts is called the: a. diastolic pressure. b. pulse pressure. c. systolic pressure. d. blood pressure.

c. systolic pressure.

A properly sized blood pressure cuff should cover: a. one third the length from the armpit to the crease at the elbow. b. the entire upper arm between the armpit and the crease at the elbow. c. two thirds the length from the armpit to the crease at the elbow. d. one half the length between the armpit and the crease at the elbow.

c. two thirds the length from the armpit to the crease at the elbow.

In which of the following situations is a pertinent negative identified? Select one: a. A 53-year-old man with dizziness also tells you that he has vomited three times. b. A 56-year-old woman states that her chest hurts when she takes a deep breath. c. A 50-year-old woman states that nothing makes her chest pain better or worse. d. A 59-year-old man complains of crushing chest pain but denies shortness of breath.

d. A 59-year-old man complains of crushing chest pain but denies shortness of breath.

A patient is sitting in a chair, leaning forward on his outstretched arms. His head and chin are thrust forward. This position indicates that he: a. has a decreased level of consciousness. b. has abdominal muscle spasms. c. is experiencing severe back pain. d. is experiencing difficulty breathing.

d. is experiencing difficulty breathing.

Normal skin color, temperature, and condition should be: a. flushed, cool, and dry. b. pink, warm, and moist. c. pale, cool, and moist. d. pink, warm, and dry.

d. pink, warm, and dry.

In responsive patients who are older than 1 year of age, you should palpate the pulse at the artery. a. carotid b. brachial c. femoral d. radial

d. radial

Pain that moves from its point of origin to another body location is said to be: a. provoking. b. palliating. c. referred. d. radiating.

d. radiating.

A pulse with a consistent pattern is considered to be: a. weak. b. strong. c. irregular. d. regular.

d. regular.

Jugular venous distention suggests a problem with blood returning to the heart if the patient is: a. in a recumbent position. b. in a prone position. c. in a supine position. d. sitting up at a 45° angle.

d. sitting up at a 45° angle.

After performing a head tilt-chin lift maneuver to open the airway of an unresponsive patient who has a pulse, you should: a. assess respiratory rate, depth, and regularity. b. place him or her in the recovery position. c. provide positive-pressure ventilatory assistance. d. suction as needed and insert an airway adjunct.

d. suction as needed and insert an airway adjunct.

When a patient's respirations are shallow: a. carbon dioxide elimination is increased. b. chest rise will be easily noticeable. c. oxygenation occurs more efficiently. d. tidal volume is markedly reduced.

d. tidal volume is markedly reduced.

A patient with spontaneous respirations is breathing: a. at a normal rate. b. with shallow depth. c. without difficulty. d. without assistance.

d. without assistance.