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EMT Test 1 ( Chapters 1 - 5 )

Terms in this set (50)

National guidelines for EMS care are intended to __________.
Select one:
A. facilitate a national EMS labor group
B. reduce expenses at the local and state levels
C. provide more consistent delivery of EMS care across the United States
D. unify EMS providers under a single medical director
C. provide more consistent delivery of EMS care across the United States
The determination that prompt surgical care in the hospital is more important than performing time-consuming procedures in the field on a major trauma patient is based MOSTLY on:
Select one:
A. the lead EMT's decision.
B. regional trauma guidelines.
C. EMS research.
D. local protocols.
C. EMS research
As an EMT, you may be authorized to administer aspirin to a patient with chest pain based on:
Select one:
A. medical director approval.
B. an order from a paramedic.
C. the patient's condition.
D. the transport time to the hospital.
A. medical director approval
Which of the following descriptions MOST accurately portrays emergency medical services (EMS)?
Select one:
A. A system composed exclusively of emergency medical responders (EMRs) and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are responsible for providing care to sick and injured patients
B. A vast network of advanced life support (ALS) providers who provide definitive emergency care in the prehospital setting
C. A team of health care professionals who are responsible for providing emergency care and transportation to the sick and injured
D. A team of paramedics and emergency physicians who are responsible for providing emergency care to critically injured patients
C. A team of healthcare professionals who are responsible for providing emergency care and transportation to the sick and injured.
What should an EMT do to limit errors in the field?
Select one:
A. Contact medical direction before initiating any treatments.
B. Follow the agency's written protocols.
C. Carry an EMT text for reference at all times.
D. Deviate from established standards when necessary.
B. Follow the agency's written protocols
What is an EMT's primary service area?
Select one:
A. The area serviced by the EMT's medical director
B. The main area in which the Correct
C. The only area the EMT is certified to provide patient care
D. The location where the EMT provides essential care during a 9-1-1 call
B. The main area in which the EMS agency operates
The ability to understand others and have them understand you is known as __________.
Select one:
A. communication
B. self-confidence
C. teamwork and diplomacy
D. scene leadership
A. Communication
Online medical control requires __________.
Select one:
A. the presence of an advanced-level provider
B. written protocols approved by medical control
C. phone or radio contact with the medical director
D. a physician's presence on the scene of the call
C. Phone or radio contact with the medical director
Which of the following statements regarding the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is correct?
Select one:
A. The ADA applies only to individuals with a diagnosed and well-documented physical disability.
B. According to the ADA, EMT candidates with a documented disability are exempt from taking the NREMT exam.
C. The ADA prohibits employers from failing to provide full and equal employment to those who are disabled.
D. The minimum number of hours required to successfully complete an EMT course is less for candidates who are disabled.
C. The ADA prohibits employers from failing to provide full and equal employment to those who are disabled.
Prehospital patient care decisions should be based on __________.
Select one:
A. EMS research
B. an EMS agency's fiscal resources
C. the experiences of EMTs
D. the opinions of physicians
A. EMS research
The EMT's first priority is __________.
Select one:
A. empathy for all patients
B. treatment and transport
C. rapid response
D. personal safety
D. Personal safety
When decontaminating the back of your ambulance after a call, you should:
Select one:
A. allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions.
B. spray the contaminated areas and then immediately wipe them dry with a towel.
C. clean all surfaces and patient contact areas with a mixture of alcohol and water.
D. use a bleach and water solution at a 1:2 dilution ratio to thoroughly wipe all surfaces.
A. Allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions
Vector-borne transmission of an infectious organism occurs via:
Select one:
A. smoke or dust.
B. inanimate objects.
C. direct contact.
D. animals or insects.
D. Animals or insects
While providing care to a patient, blood got onto the ambulance stretcher. Because the stretcher was not properly cleaned afterward, a virus was transmitted to another emergency medical technician (EMT) several days later. Which route of transmission does this scenario describe?
Select one:
A. Vector-borne transmission
B. Airborne transmission
C. Indirect contact
D. Direct contact
C. Indirect contact
At the scene of an automobile crash, a utility pole has been broken and power lines are lying across the car. The patients inside the car are conscious. You should:
Select one:
A. proceed with normal extrication procedures.
B. mark off a danger zone around the downed lines.
C. advise the patients to carefully get out of the car.
D. remove the lines with a nonconductive object.
B. Mark off a danger zone around the downed lines
Which of the following statements regarding the different stages of the grieving process is correct?
Select one:
A. The grieving process typically begins with severe depression.
B. It is rare that people will jump back and forth between stages.
C. Bargaining is the most unpleasant stage of the grieving process.
D. The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously.
D. The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously.
The MOST serious consequence of drug or alcohol abuse among EMS personnel is:
Select one:
A. low morale and frequently missed shifts.
B. tension among coworkers and supervisors.
C. punitive action and the loss of a job.
D. substandard or inappropriate patient care
D. Substandard or inappropriate patient careA
After assessing a patient's blood glucose level, you accidentally stick yourself with the contaminated lancet. You should:
Select one:
A. get immunized against hepatitis as soon as possible.
B. report the incident to your supervisor after the call.
C. immerse your wound in an alcohol-based solution.
D. discontinue patient care and seek medical attention.
B. Report the incident to your supervisor after the call
You are transporting an elderly woman who has possibly experienced a stroke. She is obviously scared but is unable to talk and cannot move the entire right side of her body. In addition to providing the medical care that she needs, you should:
Select one:
A. maintain eye contact at all times and tell her that there is no need for her to be scared.
B. tell her that you understand why she is scared and that everything will likely be okay.
C. acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her.
D. reassure her that after proper treatment in the hospital, she will regain her speech in time.
C. Acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her
Which of the following is an effective stress management strategy?
Select one:
A. Modestly increasing caffeine consumption
B. Frequently reflecting on troublesome calls
C. Requesting overtime to occupy your mind
D. Developing a social network outside of EMS
D. Developing a social network outside of EMS
You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious; has slow, shallow breathing; and has a weak pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for this patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should:
Select one:
A. decide on further action once the DNR order is produced.
B. honor the patient's wishes and withhold all treatment.
C. transport the patient without providing any treatment.
D. begin treatment and contact medical control as needed.
D. Begin treatment and contact medical control as needed
In which of the following situations does a legal duty to act clearly exist?
Select one:
A. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change.
B. The EMT hears of a cardiac arrest after his or her shift ends.
C. A bystander encounters a victim who is not breathing.
D. The EMT witnesses a vehicle crash while off duty.
A. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change
Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personnel?
Select one:
A. Protecting patient privacy
B. Preventing insurance fraud
C. Ensuring access to insurance
D. Controlling insurance costs
A. Protecting patient privacy
To help protect patients, EMS agencies are required to have __________.
Select one:
A. public forums with their medical director
B. an anonymous reporting system
C. a privacy officer to answer questions
D. online access to patient records
C. A privacy officer to answer questions
As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on:
Select one:
A. a consensus among paramedic supervisors.
B. the wishes of the general public.
C. the priorities of the medical director.
D. locally accepted protocols.
D. Locally accepted protocols
Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence?
Select one:
A. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation
B. Breach of duty, injury/damages, abandonment, and causation
C. Duty to act, abandonment, breach of duty, and causation
D. Abandonment, breach of duty, damages, and causation
A. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages and causation
You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should:
Select one:
A. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased.
B. stop any active bleeding and advise dispatch to send a paramedic crew.
C. ventilate the patient for 5 minutes and then stop if there is no response.
D. request the fire department to extricate the patient so you can begin CPR.
A. Have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased
Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct?
Select one:
A. Expressed consent is valid only if given in writing by a family member.
B. Patients who are intoxicated are generally allowed to refuse treatment.
C. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated.
D. All patients older than 18 years can legally refuse treatment or transport.
C. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated
Where would you MOST likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor?
Select one:
A. Social Security card
B. Driver's license
C. Voter registration card
D. Insurance card
B. Driver's license
When is forcible restraint permitted?
Select one:
A. Anytime that the EMT feels threatened
B. Only if law enforcement personnel have witnessed threatening behavior
C. Only if consent to restrain is given by a family member
D. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others
D. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others
Which of the following statements regarding a patient refusal is correct?
Select one:
A. Advice given to a patient who refuses EMS treatment should not be documented.
B. A patient who consumed a few beers will likely be able to refuse EMS treatment.
C. A mentally competent adult has the legal right to refuse EMS care and transport. Correct
D. Documentation of proposed care is unnecessary if the patient refuses treatment.
C. A mentally competent adult has the legal right to refuse EMS care and transport
Which of the following will help improve radio communications?
Select one:
A. Wait 1 second after pressing the transmit button before speaking.
B. Answer questions with "yes" or "no."
C. Use codes to speed communication.
D. Hold the radio at least 6 inches from your mouth.
A. Wait 1 second after pressing the transmit button before speaking
You are providing care to a 61-year-old female complaining of chest pain that is cardiac in origin. Your service utilizes a multiplex communication system. You wish to transmit the patient's electrocardiogram to the hospital. In order to accomplish this, you must:
Select one:
A. use the multiplex system to transmit the information .
B. be aware that only audio or data transmissions can be sent at any one time.
C. send the electrocardiogram from the back of the ambulance.
D. wait until you reach the hospital to transmit the information.
A. Use the multiplex system to transmit the information
Which of the following types of questions allow for the most detailed response?
Select one:
A. Open-ended questions
B. Multiple questions asked at once
C. Closed-ended questions
D. Yes or no questions
A. Open-ended questions
You are caring for a 56-year-old male patient complaining of abdominal pain. Your service has recently switched to an electronic PCR system (ePCR). When completing the ePCR, it is important to be aware that:
Select one:
A. the ePCR allows patient information to be transmitted directly to the receiving hospital's computers.
B. the ePCR is relatively unsecured and should not contain patient-specific information.
C. the ePCR does not contain the same level of information as the written version and your verbal report should be expanded.
D. a written patient care record will need to be completed on arrival at the hospital.
A. The ePCR allows patient information to be transmitted directly to the receiving hospital's computers
Which of the following statements regarding a "dedicated line" is correct?
Select one:
A. It is a frequency that is used exclusively by EMTs to communicate with one another in the field.
B. It is a constantly open line of communication that is under exclusive control of a single user.
C. It is a designated frequency on a portable radio that provides direct access to medical control.
D. It is a constantly open line of communication that cannot be accessed by outside users.
D. it is a constantly open line of communication that cannot be accessed by outside users
Medical control gives you an order that seems inappropriate for the patient's condition. After confirming that you heard the physician correctly, you should:
Select one:
A. advise the physician that the order is unclear and ask for clarification.
B. obtain consent from the patient and then carry out the order as usual.
C. carry out the order and then carefully document it on the run form.
D. state that you will not carry out the order because it is inappropriate.
A. Advise the physician that the order is unclear and ask for clarification
When providing a patient report via radio, you should protect the patient's privacy by:
Select one:
A. not disclosing his or her name.
B. withholding medical history data.
C. using coded medical language.
D. refraining from objective statements.
A. Not disclosing his or her name
During your assessment of a 20-year-old man with a severe headache and nausea, you ask him when his headache began, but he does not answer your question immediately. You should:
Select one:
A. repeat your question because he probably did not hear you.
B. ask him if he frequently experiences severe headaches and nausea.
C. tell him that you cannot help him unless he answers your questions.
D. allow him time to think about the question and respond to it.
D. Allow him time to think about the question and respond to it
A 4-year-old boy had an apparent seizure. He is conscious and calm and is sitting on his mother's lap. His father is sitting in a nearby chair. The child's mother suddenly begins crying uncontrollably, which causes the child to start crying. You should:
Select one:
A. attempt to calm the child's mother, but avoid separating her from her child because this will increase her anxiety.
B. reassure the child's mother that seizures in children are very common and that there is nothing to worry about.
C. ask the father to hold the child so you can assess him while your partner tries to calm the mother.
D. give the child a favorite toy or blanket to hold onto and perform your assessment to the best of your ability.
C. Ask the father to hold the child so you can assess him while your partner tries to calm the mother
In which of the following situations would the EMT be the LEAST likely to immobilize a patient's spine?
Select one:
A. No distracting injuries or evidence of intoxication
B. Pain to the c-spine, but no numbness or tingling.
C. Unresponsive, but moving all extremities equally
D. No spinal pain, but tingling in the extremities
A. No distracting injuries or evidence of intoxication
Basic life support (BLS) is defined as:
Select one:
A. any form of emergency medical treatment that is performed by advanced EMTs, paramedics, physicians, and emergency nurses.
B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
C. invasive emergency medical interventions such as intravenous therapy, manual defibrillation, and advanced airway management.
D. basic lifesaving treatment that is performed by bystanders while EMS providers are en route to the scene of an emergency.
B. Noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway obstruction, respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest.
Continuing education in EMS serves to:
Select one:
A. maintain, update, and expand the EMT's knowledge and skills.
B. enforce mandatory attendance at agency-specific training.
C. provide an ongoing review and audit of the EMS system.
D. confirm research and statistical findings in prehospital care.
A. Maintain, update and expand the EMT's knowledge and skills
Which of the following statements regarding striated muscle is correct?
Select one:
A. Striated muscle tissue is attached directly to the bones by tough bands of cartilage.
B. Most of the body's striated muscle is found within the walls of the blood vessels.
C. It forms the major muscle mass of the body and usually crosses at least one joint.
D. Striated muscle is involuntary because you have no conscious control over it.
C. Forms the major muscle mass of the body and usually crosses at least one joint
According to the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, an EMT should be able to:
Select one:
A. insert a peripheral IV line and infuse fluids.
B. assist a patient with certain prescribed medications.
C. interpret a basic (ECG) rhythm and treat accordingly.
D. administer epinephrine via the subcutaneous route
B. Assist a patient with certain prescribed medications
In which of the following situations would the EMTs MOST likely utilize a police escort?
Select one:
A. The EMTs are transporting a critical pediatric patient through traffic.
B. The EMTs are unfamiliar with the location, but the police officer knows the area.
C. The weather is treacherous and there are numerous roads washed out.
D. The call is dispatched as an unresponsive patient with CPR in progress.
B. The EMT's are unfamiliar with the location, but the police officer knows the area
When assisting with ALS procedures, it is important to use the __________ technique
aseptic
Which of the following would be the MOST practical method of communicating with a hearing-impaired patient until his or her hearing aids can be located?
Select one:
A. Using a piece of paper and writing utensil to ask questions
B. Attempting to use body language to determine the problem
C. Contacting dispatch and requesting a sign language interpreter
D. Using a high-pitched voice while speaking directly into the ear
A. Using a piece of paper and writing utensil to ask questions
Your documentation on a sexual assault victim should _______.
Select one:
A. describe the status of the suspect(s)
B. be subjective and summarize the crime
C. include your opinion of the nature of the incident
D. be objective and factual
D. Be objective and factual
You are dispatched to a local elementary school for an injured child. As you approach the child, you note that he is lying at the base of the monkey bars. He is unresponsive and there are no signs of breathing. You should:
Select one:
A. perform a head tilt-chin lift maneuver.
B. stabilize his head and check for a pulse.
C. open his airway and look in his mouth.
D. begin immediate rescue breathing.
B. Stabilize his head and check for a pulse
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