Question 1

Friends called 911 for a 37-year-old female who intentionally overdosed on a narcotic drug. Which one of the following eye findings would reinforce that the patient did indeed take a narcotic?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pupils that constrict to light 
B)  Bloodshot eyes with large pupils 
C)  Nonreactive pupils that are unequal 
D)  Pupils that are constricted

Question 2

Which one of the following blood pressures represents diastolic hypertension in an adult patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  240/88 mmHg 
B)  158/44 mmHg 
C)  136/92 mmHg 
D)  246/Palpation

Question 3

Which piece of equipment would the EMT need to obtain a patient's vital signs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Glucometer 
B)  Stethoscope 
C)  Oxygen 
D)  Automated defibrillator

Question 4

The EMT is correctly calculating a patient's respiratory rate when he or she:

Accepted Answer

A)  asks the patient to describe how he feels when he breathes. 
B)  obtains a pulse oximetry reading and divides it by 3. 
C)  assesses the patient for any sign of respiratory difficulty. 
D)  counts the number of breaths for 30 seconds and multiplies by 2.

Question 5

The EMT is correct when he identifies baseline vital signs as:

Accepted Answer

A)  a set of vital signs most close to normal. 
B)  the most important set of vital signs. 
C)  the first set of vital signs obtained. 
D)  any change in two consecutive sets of vital signs.

Question 6

You notice that your partner routinely only takes one set of vitals when treating and transporting patients. When asked, he states that he only gets baseline vitals since they are most important as they provide information related to the patient's clinical status at the time of the EMS call. How would you respond?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Examining several sets of vital signs can indicate the effectiveness of your treatment." 
B)  "You must at least get a pulse rate every 15 minutes since this is the most important vital sign." 
C)  "Comparing several sets of vital signs is the only way you will know if the patient is improving or deteriorating." 
D)  "You must get at least two sets of vital signs because that is what the national standard calls for."

Question 7

A 43-year-old female has accidentally taken too much of her antidepressant medication and is now confused. Emergency Medical Responders are on scene and providing the patient with high-concentration oxygen. As you arrive at the patient's side, your first action should be to:

Accepted Answer

A)  obtain vital signs. 
B)  perform a primary assessment. 
C)  get a pulse oximeter reading. 
D)  determine the type of medication taken.

Question 8

You are transporting a depressed patient who states that she is thinking of killing herself by taking a "whole bunch of pills." After giving this information, the patient has refused to speak and has been silent ever since. Which one of the following statements would be most appropriate at this time?

Accepted Answer

A)  "I don't understand why you won't talk. You called 911 for help, didn't you?" 
B)  "Has the cat got your tongue? If you talk to me I can help you." 
C)  "I understand if you do not want to talk. I will be sitting here if you need anything." 
D)  "I need you to talk to me. I cannot help you if you refuse to talk to me."

Question 9

A 69-year-old man is complaining of weakness to the left arm and leg. He also states that he is nauseated and has a headache. The patient's past medical history includes stroke and diabetes. In relation to this information, which one of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The headache is a symptom related to the chief complaint. 
B)  The history of diabetes is a sign related to the chief complaint. 
C)  The dizziness is a sign indicating the severity of the chief complaint. 
D)  The history of diabetes is a contributing symptom of the chief complaint.

Question 10

A female patient with a history of asthma called 911 with a complaint of shortness of breath. On scene, you assisted her with the administration of her metered dose inhaler containing albuterol. Which one of the following interventions will you use to best determine if the patient is improving or not?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ask the patient if she finds it easier to breathe. 
B)  Inquire if she feels the need for another dose of albuterol. 
C)  Obtain pulse oximetry readings every 3 minutes. 
D)  Re-obtain a SAMPLE history and look for new information.

Question 11

A pulse oximetry reading is considered normal when it is:

Accepted Answer

A)  100 percent. 
B)  greater than 97 percent. 
C)  greater than 90 percent. 
D)  greater than 75 percent.

Question 12

You have arrived by the side of a cyanotic patient who is responsive only to painful stimuli and exhibiting stridorous respirations. Which one of the following would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prepare and apply the pulse oximeter before administering oxygen. 
B)  Provide positive pressure ventilation with supplemental oxygen. 
C)  Obtain a full set of vital signs excluding the patient's temperature. 
D)  Attempt to determine what happened to the patient or any existing medical problems.

Question 13

You have been called to assess a conscious and alert 5-year-old whose chief complaint is nausea and vomiting over the last 2 hours. When assessing his pulse, you should first check which pulse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Brachial 
B)  Carotid 
C)  Pedal 
D)  Radial

Question 14

Assessment of a patient who is unresponsive reveals pupils that are both large at 8 millimeters and do not change size in response to light. The EMT would best document this finding as:

Accepted Answer

A)  bilateral dilation of the pupils. 
B)  constricted pupils nonreactive to light. 
C)  midsize pupils that are reactive to light. 
D)  nonreactive pupils of decreased size.

Question 15

Emergency Medical Responders inform you that a 27-year-old male with altered mental status has an open airway and is breathing 9 times every 30 seconds. His pulse rate is 40 beats per minute, and he has bruises to his chest. Based on this information, the EMT should recognize the:

Accepted Answer

A)  respiratory rate as normal. 
B)  heart as beating adequately. 
C)  blood pressure as normal. 
D)  heart rate as irregular.

Question 16

A patient has advanced liver disease from years of exposure to toxic chemicals in his place of employment. Which one of the following skin colors would the EMT expect?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bluish-gray 
B)  Pale and cyanotic 
C)  Pinkish and flushed 
D)  Yellow-orange

Question 17

When assessing a patient's pulse, you note that it is irregular. To get an accurate heart rate, you would:

Accepted Answer

A)  listen to the pulse with a stethoscope. 
B)  count the number of beats that occur in 1 minute. 
C)  double the number of beats obtained in 30 seconds. 
D)  feel the carotid pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.

Question 18

Correctly assessing orthostatic vital signs involves:

Accepted Answer

A)  taking the blood pressure and heart rate three times, 2 minutes apart. 
B)  determining if the patient's pulse disappears during deep inspiration. 
C)  taking the blood pressure in the supine, seated, and standing positions. 
D)  determining if the patient's respirations and heart rate are within normal limits.

Question 19

Which one of the following is an accurate method of assessing a patient's skin temperature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Placing the tips of two fingers on the patient's wrist 
B)  Using the palm to feel the patient's forehead 
C)  Placing the back of the hand on the patient's abdomen 
D)  Placing the inside of the arm against the patient's arm

Question 20

A young female patient has been stung by a bee and states that her "throat is closing up." She states that she is allergic to bee stings and the last time this happened, she had to have a "tube put into my windpipe." She is struggling to breathe and can only speak a few words at a time. Knowing that allergic reactions can cause swelling in the pharynx and at the level of the larynx, which one of the following respiratory sounds would indicate that the patient indeed has swelling in this area?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gurgling 
B)  Stridor 
C)  Snoring 
D)  Wheezing

Exam 11: Baseline Vital Signs, Monitoring Devices, and History Taking