Question 1

When physically preparing yourself to work safely as a paramedic, you should:

Accepted Answer

A)  exercise your cardiovascular system at least three times a week. 
B)  read as much as you can about physical fitness. 
C)  perform as many traditional sit-ups as you can to promote abdominal strength. 
D)  do as little as possible to preserve your strength for emergency duty.

Question 2

Which of the following medications will block the influx of calcium ions during phase 0 of the slow potential in the heart?

Accepted Answer

A)  Amiodarone (Cordarone) 
B)  Lidocaine (Xylocaine) 
C)  Esmolol (Brevibloc) 
D)  Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Question 3

The MOST common indication for a surgical cricothyrotomy is:

Accepted Answer

A)  massive facial or neck trauma. 
B)  failed rapid sequence intubation. 
C)  status seizures with trismus. 
D)  foreign body airway obstruction.

Question 4

Studies with video laryngoscopy demonstrate that it is superior to traditional direct laryngoscopy unless:

Accepted Answer

A)  the patient is not properly positioned. 
B)  optical laryngoscopy has already been used. 
C)  retrograde intubation is in effect. 
D)  the pharynx is full of blood, emesis, or secretions.

Question 5

With regard to placing peripheral intravenous lines with an ultrasound device, which of the following is NOT a correct statement about arteries and veins?

Accepted Answer

A)  Veins collapse easily and completely when gentle pressure is applied with the transducer. 
B)  Arteries will not collapse completely, although slight compression of artery walls can be seen. 
C)  Color-flow Doppler and pulsed-wave spectral Doppler can help identify veins and differentiate them from arteries. 
D)  Veins will often be pulsating and the venous walls may be thicker than arterial walls.

Question 6

A document that is signed by a physician and that outlines the life-sustaining measures that may or may not be taken when a patient's heart and respiratory functions have ceased is a:

Accepted Answer

A)  DNR order. 
B)  power of attorney. 
C)  living will. 
D)  statement of last rites.

Question 7

To minimize the stress of shift work, on their days off paramedics should sleep:

Accepted Answer

A)  at the times they sleep on workdays. 
B)  after a heavy meal or strenuous exercise. 
C)  at least 12 hours to catch up on lost sleep. 
D)  at night, regardless of when they sleep on workdays.

Question 8

Which of the following describes the Moro reflex in the infant?

Accepted Answer

A)  When the infant's cheek is stroked, he turns his head in that direction. 
B)  When the infant's lips are touched, he makes sucking motions. 
C)  When startled, the infant throws his arms out wide, then grasps with the fingers and arms. 
D)  The infant's hand grasps an object placed in the palm of the hand.

Question 9

The statistic that reflects only the odds of seeing the results of a particular piece of research if the study hypothesis is TRUE is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  nominal data. 
B)  P value. 
C)  chi square test. 
D)  t test.

Question 10

Two solutions are separated by a membrane that is more permeable to water than to sodium. Solution A contains 250 mEq/mL of sodium, and Solution B contains 125 mEq/mL of sodium. Given this, which of the following is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Active transport is required to move sodium ions from Solution A to Solution B. 
B)  Water will move from Solution A to Solution B. 
C)  Water will move from Solution B to Solution A. 
D)  Sodium ions will diffuse from Solution A to Solution B.

Question 11

Blood pressure is represented by:

Accepted Answer

A)  cardiac output multiplied by peripheral vascular resistance. 
B)  the difference between preload and afterload. 
C)  stroke volume multiplied by heart rate. 
D)  the difference between cardiac contractile force and peripheral vascular resistance.

Question 12

Which of these is not necessarily a step EMS providers should take when conducting a research study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Implement a cohort study model. 
B)  Determine how to obtain informed consent from study subjects. 
C)  Prepare a null hypothesis and research hypothesis. 
D)  Define the population to be studied.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of professional development?

Accepted Answer

A)  Participating in mentoring activities 
B)  Reading professional publications 
C)  Attending refresher and continuing education classes 
D)  All of the above

Question 14

When a foreign substance invades the body, the inflammatory response develops ________ compared to the immune response.

Accepted Answer

A)  more quickly 
B)  more specifically 
C)  for a longer time 
D)  with fewer cell types

Question 15

All of the following changes in the geriatric patient affect the pharmacokinetics of a medication, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  decreased gastrointestinal motility. 
B)  depressed liver function that may prolong drug action. 
C)  increased body fat and decreased muscle mass. 
D)  uncompromised renal function.

Question 16

Under what circumstances should paramedics try to hide charting errors?

Accepted Answer

A)  Always 
B)  When directed to by a supervisor or superior officer 
C)  When a lawsuit is probable 
D)  Never

Question 17

Which of the following basic airway adjuncts prevents the tongue from falling back to occlude the airway?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yankauer catheter 
B)  Laryngeal mask airway 
C)  Nasal cannula 
D)  Oropharyngeal airway

Question 18

To correct an error on the PCR, the paramedic should:

Accepted Answer

A)  make it a habit to use erasable ink so mistakes can be completely erased. 
B)  cross it out with one line and initial it. 
C)  block it out completely. 
D)  use correction fluid matching the paper color of each copy of the PCR.

Question 19

An example of a quality improvement activity in EMS is:

Accepted Answer

A)  peer review of patient care. 
B)  displaying the "Star of Life" symbol. 
C)  disciplinary action for patient care issues. 
D)  using a Type II or III ambulance.

Question 20

Without adequate airway maintenance and ventilation, the patient can succumb to brain injury or death in how many minutes?

Accepted Answer

A)  4 
B)  10 
C)  6 
D)  12

Exam 1: Introduction to Paramedicine