Question 1

A patient has been treated by paramedics for a sprained wrist. En route to the hospital, she suffers a stroke. What is the likely outcome of a negligence lawsuit brought by the patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  The suit would succeed because this was a foreseeable event. 
B)  The suit would fail because the plaintiff could not demonstrate that the paramedics' actions were the proximate cause of the stroke. 
C)  The suit would succeed because the paramedics had a duty to act and the patient suffered actual damages. 
D)  The suit would fail because the plaintiff failed to demonstrate malice on the part of the plaintiffs.

Question 2

Which of the following is TRUE of anaerobic metabolism?

Accepted Answer

A)  It occurs only in pathological conditions. 
B)  It occurs only during very strenuous exercise. 
C)  It is a normal part of cellular metabolism. 
D)  It occurs only in the presence of oxygen.

Question 3

Sending multiple levels of emergency care personnel to the same incident is called a:

Accepted Answer

A)  mass casualty incident. 
B)  helicopter EMS. 
C)  tiered response. 
D)  chain of survival.

Question 4

A well-written prehospital care report is: 1. accurate.
2) legible.
3) without alterations.
4) professional.

Accepted Answer

A)  1 and 2 only 
B)  1, 2, and 4 
C)  All of the above 
D)  None of the above

Question 5

Shortly after you have treated a patient who was experiencing a cardiac dysrhythmia, the patient complains of dry mouth, blurred vision, palpitations, and sensitivity to light. Which of the following drugs is most likely to cause these effects?

Accepted Answer

A)  Adenosine 
B)  Lidocaine 
C)  Amiodarone 
D)  Atropine

Question 6

How do reports to the base physician differ for trauma and medical patients?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is less important to include ETA for medical patients. 
B)  Only trauma patients require a description of the scene. 
C)  Medical reports describe a chief complaint, whereas trauma reports do not. 
D)  Medical reports emphasize history; trauma reports emphasize injuries and exam findings.

Question 7

Your paramedic partner is telling you about a situation in which he resuscitated a patient with a DNR, even though the DNR was present and available to him at the time he began resuscitation. He tells you he is justified because the patient survived for a year after the incident and suffered no ill effects from the cardiac arrest or the resuscitation efforts. Which of the following best describes the ethical approach used by your partner?

Accepted Answer

A)  Deontologicalism 
B)  Consequentialism 
C)  Ethical relativism 
D)  Self-determination

Question 8

The type of communication system that works like a telephone is:

Accepted Answer

A)  ultrasimplex. 
B)  multiplex. 
C)  simplex. 
D)  duplex.

Question 9

Which of the following is the most common cause of airway obstruction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Foreign bodies 
B)  Food 
C)  Upper airway edema 
D)  Tongue

Question 10

Which of the following is one of the paramedic's primary responsibilities?

Accepted Answer

A)  Accident reconstruction 
B)  Crowd control 
C)  Patient disposition 
D)  Public relations

Question 11

Which of the following can increase the risk of back injury?

Accepted Answer

A)  Smoking 
B)  Weak abdominal muscles 
C)  Poor nutrition 
D)  All of the above

Question 12

What tends to be the first body part that is injured in a pediatric patient during a motor vehicle collision?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chest 
B)  Head 
C)  Abdomen 
D)  Neck

Question 13

Which of the following is the appropriate method for preparing a site for venipuncture or injection?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chemical sterilization 
B)  Use of a disinfectant 
C)  Use of an antiseptic 
D)  Use of a sanitizer

Question 14

Guidelines developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for quality improvement in EMS systems include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  regulation and policy. 
B)  financial auditing. 
C)  communications. 
D)  human resources training.

Question 15

The chemical analysis of the strength, purity, and effectiveness of a drug is termed a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  assay. 
B)  formulary. 
C)  bioassay. 
D)  teratogen.

Question 16

Which of the following processes is used when glucose enters a body cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  Diffusion 
B)  Facilitated diffusion 
C)  Active transport 
D)  Hydrostatic pressure

Question 17

What would be the approximate size ET tube to use for a toddler you intend to intubate?

Accepted Answer

A)  4 
B)  5 
C)  3 
D)  6

Question 18

Entering a person's name and relevant information in a particular record maintained by an organization is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A)  registration. 
B)  reciprocity. 
C)  certification. 
D)  licensure.

Question 19

The movement of oxygen from the alveoli to the blood in the pulmonary capillaries depends on:

Accepted Answer

A)  facilitated transport by way of the hemoglobin molecule. 
B)  active transport of oxygen from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration. 
C)  diffusion of oxygen from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. 
D)  osmosis of the H2O molecule across the respiratory membrane, where oxygen dissociates from hydrogen.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a common side effect of a loop diuretic?

Accepted Answer

A)  Orthostatic hypotension 
B)  Hypokalemia 
C)  Hypernatremia 
D)  Reflex tachycardia

Exam 1: Introduction to Paramedicine