EMT Ch 17 Quiz

Your patient answers your questions appropriately, although her eyes remain closed the entire time. She moves each extremity on command, although her left side is weaker than the right. You should assign a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of: A. 12 B. 13 C. 14 D. 15

12

Which of the following patients would MOST likely demonstrate typical signs of infection, such as a fever? A. A 3-month-old female who was born prematurely B. A 17-year-old male with anxiety C. A 35-year-old female in the later stages of AIDS D. An 88-year-old male with chronic renal problems

A 17-year-old male with anxiety

Which of the following MOST accurately describes the cause of an ischemic stroke? A. Blockage of a cerebral artery B. Acute atherosclerotic disease C. Rupture of a cerebral artery D. Narrowing of a carotid artery

Blockage of a cerebral artery

Which of the following medications would indicate that a patient has a history of seizures? A. Enalapril (Vasotec) B. Levetiracetam (Keppra) C. Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) D. Metformin (Glucophage)

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

Which of the following findings should concern the EMT the MOST when assessing a patient who complains of a headache? A. Sinus congestion B. Neck stiffness or pain C. History of migraines D. Slow onset of symptoms

Neck stiffness or pain

Which of the following clinical signs is MOST suggestive of a ruptured aneurysm? A. Unilateral hemiparesis B. Confusion and weakness C. Nasal discharge of blood D. Sudden, severe headache

Sudden, severe headache

Components of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale include: A. speech, pupil reaction, and memory. B. arm drift, memory, and grip strength. C. arm drift, speech, and facial droop. D. facial droop, speech, and pupil size.

arm drift, speech, and facial droop.

A 58-year-old male presents with confusion, right-sided weakness, and slurred speech. His wife is present and is very upset. As your partner is applying oxygen, it is MOST important for you to: A. list all of the patient's current medications. B. obtain a complete set of baseline vital signs. C. administer glucose to rule out hypoglycemia. D. ask his wife when she noticed the symptoms.

ask his wife when she noticed the symptoms.

Law enforcement has summoned you to a nightclub, where a 22-year-old female was found unconscious in an adjacent alley. Your primary assessment reveals that her respirations are rapid and shallow and her pulse is rapid and weak. She is wearing a medical alert bracelet that identifies her as an epileptic. There is an empty bottle of vodka next to the patient. You should: A. place a bite block in her mouth in case she has a seizure and transport at once. B. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, place her on her left side, and transport. C. assist ventilations, perform a rapid exam, and prepare for immediate transport. D. apply oxygen via nonrebreathing mask and transport her for a blood-alcohol test.

assist ventilations, perform a rapid exam, and prepare for immediate transport.

Muscle control and body coordination are controlled by the: A. cerebrum. B. cerebellum. C. brain stem. D. cerebral cortex.

cerebellum.

A 29-year-old male complains of a severe headache and nausea that has gradually worsened over the past 12 hours. He is conscious, alert, and oriented and tells you that his physician diagnosed him with migraine headaches. He further tells you that he has taken numerous different medications, but none of them seem to help. His blood pressure is 132/74 mm Hg, his pulse is 110 beats/min and strong, and his respirations are 20 breaths/min. Treatment should include: A. assisting him with his migraine medication and transporting without lights and siren. B. placing him in a supine position and transporting with lights and siren to a stroke center. C. applying warm compresses to the back of his neck and transporting with lights and siren. D. dimming the lights in the back of the ambulance and transporting without lights and siren.

dimming the lights in the back of the ambulance and transporting without lights and siren.

The anterior aspect of the cerebrum controls: A. touch. B. emotion. C. movement. D. vision.

emotion.

A 40-year-old patient without a history of seizures experiences a generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure. The LEAST likely cause of this seizure is: A. epilepsy. B. a brain tumor. C. a serious infection. D. intracranial bleeding.

epilepsy.

You arrive at a grocery store shortly after a 35-year-old male stopped seizing. Your assessment reveals that he is confused and incontinent of urine. The patient's girlfriend tells you that he has a history of seizures and takes topiramate (Topamax). When obtaining further medical history from the girlfriend, it is MOST important to: A. determine if the patient is a known alcohol abuser. B. obtain a description of how the seizure developed. C. determine when he was last seen by his physician. D. ask her how long the patient has been taking his medication.

obtain a description of how the seizure developed.

Status epilepticus is characterized by: A. generalized seizures that last fewer than 5 minutes. B. an absence seizure that is not preceded by an aura. C. profound tachycardia and total muscle flaccidity. D. prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness.

prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness.

A generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure is characterized by: A. severe twitching of all the body's muscles. B. a blank stare and brief lapse of consciousness. C. unconsciousness for greater than 30 minutes. D. a core body temperature of greater than 103°F (40°C).

severe twitching of all the body's muscles.

Successful treatment of a stroke depends on whether: A. surgical intervention is performed to remove obstructive clots. B. medications are given to restore the function of infarcted cells. C. the stroke occurs within the left or right hemisphere of the brain. D. thrombolytic therapy is given within 3 hours of symptoms beginning.

thrombolytic therapy is given within 3 hours of symptoms beginning.

A patient who is experiencing aphasia is: A. not able to swallow without choking. B. experiencing a right hemispheric stroke. C. unable to produce or understand speech. D. usually conscious but has slurred speech.

unable to produce or understand speech.

The principal clinical difference between a stroke and hypoglycemia is that patients with hypoglycemia: A. always take oral medications to maintain normal blood glucose levels. B. do not present with slurred speech or weakness to one side of the body. C. are typically alert and attempt to communicate with health care providers. D. usually have an altered mental status or decreased level of consciousness.

usually have an altered mental status or decreased level of consciousness.