West Coast EMT Block Exam #1 Questions and Answers

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American Heart Association protocols are based on __________. Select one: A. theories ready for field trial B. trends in the EMS community C. opinions from a core group of cardiologists D. eviden... ce-based research - ANSWER D. evidence-based 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. the patient's condition. C. an order from a paramedic. D. the transport time to the hospital. - ANSWER A. medical director approval. National guidelines for EMS care are intended to __________. Select one: A. reduce expenses at the local and state levels B. unify EMS providers under a single medical director C. facilitate a national EMS labor group D. provide more consistent delivery of EMS care across the United States - ANSWER D. provide more consistent delivery of EMS care across the United States Online medical control requires __________. Select one: A. the presence of an advanced-level provider B. written protocols approved by medical control C. a physician's presence on the scene of the call D. phone or radio contact with the medical director - ANSWER D. phone or radio contact with the medical director Prehospital patient care decisions should be based on __________. Select one: A. the experiences of EMTs B. the opinions of physicians C. an EMS agency's fiscal resources D. EMS research - ANSWER D. EMS research The ability to handle multiple tasks based on their priority is called __________. Select one: A. patient empathy B. patient advocacy C. integrity D. time management - ANSWER D. time management The ability to take appropriate action with little direction is known as __________. Select one: A. self-motivation B. diplomacy C. time management D. self-confidence - ANSWER A. self-motivation The ability to understand others and have them understand you is known as __________. Select one: A. self-confidence B. teamwork and diplomacy C. communication D. scene leadership - ANSWER C. communication 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. - ANSWER C. EMS research. The EMT is legally obligated to protect a patient's privacy according to _____________. Select one: A. APGAR B. CQI C. HIPAA D. DCAP - ANSWER C. HIPAA What is an EMT's primary service area? Select one: A. The only area the EMT is certified to provide patient care B. The main area in which the EMS agency operates C. The area serviced by the EMT's medical director D. The location where the EMT provides essential care during a 9-1-1 call - ANSWER B. The main area in which the EMS agency operates What should an EMT do to limit errors in the field? Select one: A. Contact medical direction before initiating any treatments. B. Carry an EMT text for reference at all times. C. Follow the agency's written protocols. D. Deviate from established standards when necessary. - ANSWER C. Follow the agency's written protocols. Which of the following courses requires about 150 hours of training? Select one: A. EMT B. EMR C. AEMT D. Paramedic - ANSWER A. EMT Which of the following descriptions MOST accurately portrays emergency medical services (EMS)? Select one: A. A team of paramedics and emergency physicians who are responsible for providing emergency care to critically injured patients B. A team of health care professionals who are responsible for providing emergency care and transportation to the sick and injured C. A vast network of advanced life support (ALS) providers who provide definitive emergency care in the prehospital setting D. 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 - ANSWER B. A team of health care professionals who are responsible for providing emergency care and transportation to the sick and injured Which of the following interventions is used by all levels of EMS providers? Select one: A. Automatic transport ventilators B. Automated external defibrillator C. Needle decompression D. Multilumen airways - ANSWER B. Automated external defibrillator Which of the following is a specific example of the Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) model? Select one: A. EMTs respond to a woman who complains of high fever B. Paramedics pick up a patient from an acute care clinic C. EMTs assess a patient whose lung disease is "acting up" D. The paramedic administers a patient's flu vaccination - ANSWER D. The paramedic administers a patient's flu vaccination Which of the following statements regarding the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is correct? Select one: A. The minimum number of hours required to successfully complete an EMT course is less for candidates who are disabled. B. According to the ADA, EMT candidates with a documented disability are exempt from taking the NREMT exam. C. The ADA applies only to individuals with a diagnosed and well-documented physical disability. D. The ADA prohibits employers from failing to provide full and equal employment to those who are disabled. - ANSWER D. The ADA prohibits employers from failing to provide full and equal employment to those who are disabled. Which of the following statements regarding the NREMT is correct? Select one: A. The NREMT is a governmental agency that certifies EMTs. B. EMS training standards are regulated by the NREMT. C. The NREMT is the exclusive certifying body for EMTs. D. The NREMT provides a national standard for EMS testing. - ANSWER D. The NREMT provides a national standard for EMS testing You are caring for a driver who struck a light pole. She admits to drinking alcohol but orders you not to tell anyone. You should report the information to __________. Select one: a. the state motor vehicle department b. your medical director c. the receiving nurse or doctor d. law enforcement personnel - ANSWER c. the receiving nurse or doctor You are encouraging a patient to go to the hospital by ambulance. You know that a transport will keep you on duty several hours after your regular quitting time. This is an example of __________. Select one: A. abuse of authority B. scope of practice C. undue hardship D. patient advocacy - ANSWER D. patient advocacy 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. discontinue patient care and seek medical attention. D. immerse your wound in an alcohol-based solution. - ANSWER B. report the incident to your supervisor after the call. 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. mark off a danger zone around the downed lines. B. proceed with normal extrication procedures. C. advise the patients to carefully get out of the car. D. remove the lines with a nonconductive object. - ANSWER A. mark off a danger zone around the downed lines. Common factors that influence how a patient reacts to the stress of an illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one: A. mental disorders. B. fear of medical personnel. C. history of chronic disease. D. assessment by the EMT. - ANSWER D. assessment by the EMT. General adaptation syndrome is characterized by which of the following phases? Select one: A. Delayed reaction, alarm response, and physical recovery B. Immediate reaction, psychological exhaustion, and recovery C. Alarm response, reaction and resistance, and recovery D. Reaction and resistance, euphoria, and physical exhaustion - ANSWER C. Alarm response, reaction and resistance, and recovery Gloves, a mask, eye protection, and a face shield should be used: Select one: A. whenever you touch nonintact skin. B. during routine cleaning of the ambulance. C. while handling needles or other sharps. D. when performing endotracheal intubation. - ANSWER D. when performing endotracheal intubation. Quid pro quo, a type of sexual harassment, occurs when the harasser: Select one: A. touches another person without his or her consent. B. stares at certain parts of another person's anatomy. C. requests sexual favors in exchange for something else. D. makes rude remarks about a person's body parts. - ANSWER C. requests sexual favors in exchange for something else. The EMT's first priority is __________. Select one: A. personal safety B. rapid response C. treatment and transport D. empathy for all patients - ANSWER A. personal safety The MOST serious consequence of drug or alcohol abuse among EMS personnel is: Select one: A. punitive action and the loss of a job. B. low morale and frequently missed shifts. C. substandard or inappropriate patient care. D. tension among coworkers and supervisors. - ANSWER C. substandard or inappropriate patient care. The simplest, yet most effective method of preventing the spread of an infectious disease is to: Select one: A. wash your hands in between patient contacts. B. undergo an annual physical examination. C. ensure that your immunizations are up-to-date. D. undergo annual testing for tuberculosis and hepatitis. - ANSWER A. wash your hands in between patient contacts. Upon arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you note that two small cars collided head-on; the occupants are still in their vehicles. The fire department is in the process of stabilizing the vehicles and law enforcement personnel are directing traffic. After parking the ambulance at a safe distance, you and your partner should: Select one: A. put on high-visibility safety vests. B. assist with vehicle stabilization. C. quickly begin the triage process. D. report to the incident commander. - ANSWER A. put on high-visibility safety vests. Vaccination against the hepatitis A virus is unnecessary if you: Select one: A. have been infected with hepatitis in the past. B. have a weak immune system. C. received a hepatitis B vaccination. D. are older than 35 years of age. - ANSWER A. have been infected with hepatitis in the past. Vector-borne transmission of an infectious organism occurs via: Select one: A. animals or insects. B. direct contact. C. smoke or dust. D. inanimate objects. - ANSWER A. animals or insects. When decontaminating the back of your ambulance after a call, you should: Select one: A. spray the contaminated areas and then immediately wipe them dry with a towel. B. use a bleach and water solution at a 1:2 dilution ratio to thoroughly wipe all surfaces. C. clean all surfaces and patient contact areas with a mixture of alcohol and water. D. allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions. - ANSWER D. allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions. Which of the following is an effective stress management strategy? Select one: A. Requesting overtime to occupy your mind B. Developing a social network outside of EMS C. Frequently reflecting on troublesome calls D. Modestly increasing caffeine consumption - ANSWER B. Developing a social network outside of EMS Which of the following scenarios MOST accurately depicts a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reaction? Select one: A. An EMT is emotionally exhausted and depressed after a school bus crash involving critical injuries and the death of several children. B. A newly certified EMT becomes extremely nauseated and diaphoretic at the scene of an incident involving grotesque injuries. C. An EMT with many years of field experience becomes irritable with her coworkers and experiences headaches and insomnia. D. An EMT becomes distracted at the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving the same type of car in which a child was previously killed. - ANSWER D. An EMT becomes distracted at the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving the same type of car in which a child was previously killed. Which of the following statements regarding HIV is correct? Select one: A. HIV is easily transmittable in the EMS field. B. HIV is transmitted exclusively via blood. C. HIV is far more contagious than hepatitis B. D. There is no vaccine against HIV infection. - ANSWER D. There is no vaccine against HIV infection. Which of the following statements regarding the different stages of the grieving process is correct? Select one: A. The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously. 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 grieving process typically begins with severe depression. - ANSWER A. The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously. Which of the following would provide the EMT with the BEST cover in a situation involving active gunfire? Select one: A. A concrete barricade B. Behind a car door C. A large cluster of shrubs D. Stacked empty barrels - ANSWER A. A concrete barricade 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. Direct contact B. Airborne transmission C. Indirect contact D. Vector-borne transmission - ANSWER C. Indirect contact 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. reassure her that after proper treatment in the hospital, she will regain her speech in time. B. maintain eye contact at all times and tell her that there is no need for her to be scared. C. acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her. D. tell her that you understand why she is scared and that everything will likely be okay. - ANSWER C. acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her. As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on: Select one: A. locally accepted protocols. B. the wishes of the general public. C. a consensus among paramedic supervisors. D. the priorities of the medical director. - ANSWER A. locally accepted protocols. During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you: Select one: A. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand. B. violated the patient's privacy because you should have discussed the information only with the EMTs involved. C. acted appropriately but must have each EMT sign a waiver stating that he or she will not discuss the cases with others. D. adequately safeguarded the patient's PHI because the cases were discussed internally. - ANSWER A. are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand. In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information? Select one: A. A police officer requests a copy to place on file B. The family requests a copy for insurance purposes C. A media representative inquires about the patient D. The patient is competent and signs a release form - ANSWER D. The patient is competent and signs a release form In which of the following situations does a legal duty to act clearly exist? Select one: A. The EMT hears of a cardiac arrest after his or her shift ends. B. The EMT witnesses a vehicle crash while off duty. C. A bystander encounters a victim who is not breathing. D. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change. - ANSWER D. A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change. Maintaining the chain of evidence at the scene of a crime should include: Select one: A. quickly moving any weapons out of the patient's sight. B. placing the patient in a private area until the police arrive. C. making brief notes at the scene and then completing them later. D. not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons. - ANSWER D. not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons. Putrefaction is defined as: Select one: A. profound cyanosis to the trunk and face. B. blood settling to the lowest point of the body. C. separation of the torso from the rest of the body. D. decomposition of the body's tissues. - ANSWER D. decomposition of the body's tissues. The EMT's scope of practice within his or her local response area is defined by the: Select one: A. medical director. B. EMS supervisor. C. state EMS office. D. local health district. - ANSWER A. medical director. To help protect patients, EMS agencies are required to have __________. Select one: A. online access to patient records B. public forums with their medical director C. an anonymous reporting system D. a privacy officer to answer questions - ANSWER D. a privacy officer to answer questions When is forcible restraint permitted? Select one: A. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others B. Only if law enforcement personnel have witnessed threatening behavior C. Anytime that the EMT feels threatened D. Only if consent to restrain is given by a family member - ANSWER A. When the patient poses a significant threat to self or others When performing his or her duties, the EMT is generally expected to: Select one: A. exercise reasonable care and act prudently. B. function above his or her scope of practice. C. contact medical control on every EMS call. D. consistently exceed the standard of care. - ANSWER A. exercise reasonable care and act prudently. Where would you MOST likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor? Select one: A. Insurance card B. Social Security card C. Voter registration card D. Driver's license - ANSWER D. Driver's license Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personnel? Select one: A. Preventing insurance fraud B. Controlling insurance costs C. Protecting patient privacy D. Ensuring access to insurance - ANSWER C. Protecting patient privacy Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence? Select one: A. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation B. Abandonment, breach of duty, damages, and causation C. Duty to act, abandonment, breach of duty, and causation D. Breach of duty, injury/damages, abandonment, and causation - ANSWER A. Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct? Select one: A. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated. B. Patients who are intoxicated are generally allowed to refuse treatment. C. All patients older than 18 years can legally refuse treatment or transport. D. Expressed consent is valid only if given in writing by a family member. - ANSWER A. A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated. Which of the following statements about the patient care report is correct? Select one: a. It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report. b. EMTs are not liable for any actions that are accurately documented. c. Patient care cannot be discredited based on poor documentation. d. Incomplete reports are common and accepted in EMS. - ANSWER a. It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report. Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital? Select one: A. Formal B. Implied C. Expressed D. Informed - ANSWER C. Expressed 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. ventilate the patient for 5 minutes and then stop if there is no response. B. stop any active bleeding and advise dispatch to send a paramedic crew. C. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased. D. request the fire department to extricate the patient so you can begin CPR. - ANSWER C. have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased. You are called to attend to an elderly patient with an extensive medical history who is now in cardiac arrest. The patient's family tells you that the patient has a DNR order. There is no paperwork available but the patient does have a MedicAlert bracelet indicating Do Not Resuscitate. You should: Select one: A. initiate resuscitation in the absence of paperwork. B. transport with minimal care. C. confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet. D. confirm the patient's identity and honor the DNR order. - ANSWER C. confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet. You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do? Select one: A. Withhold treatment until the parents arrive and give you consent for treatment. B. Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital. C. Begin transport at once and have the parents meet you en route to the hospital. D. Treat the child at the scene and wait for the parents to arrive and give consent. - ANSWER B. Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital. 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. - ANSWER D. begin treatment and contact medical control as needed. 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. ask the father to hold the child so you can assess him while your partner tries to calm the mother. C. reassure the child's mother that seizures in children are very common and that there is nothing to worry about. D. give the child a favorite toy or blanket to hold onto and perform your assessment to the best of your ability. - ANSWER B. ask the father to hold the child so you can assess him while your partner tries to calm the mother. As you are wheeling your patient through the emergency department doors, you receive another call for a major motor vehicle crash. You should: Select one: A. place the patient in a high-visibility area and then respond to the call. B. leave a copy of the run form with a nurse and then respond to the call. C. inform the admissions clerk of the situation and then respond at once. D. respond only after giving a verbal patient report to a nurse or physician. - ANSWER D. respond only after giving a verbal patient report to a nurse or physician. Communicating with patients who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can be facilitated by doing all of the following, EXCEPT: Select one: A. shining a light on your face when you are in a darkened environment. B. placing yourself in a position to ensure that the patient can see your lips. C. providing pen and paper if the patient prefers to write his or her response. D. elevating the tone of your voice and exaggerating word pronunciation. - ANSWER D. elevating the tone of your voice and exaggerating word pronunciation. 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. allow him time to think about the question and respond to it. B. tell him that you cannot help him unless he answers your questions. C. repeat your question because he probably did not hear you. D. ask him if he frequently experiences severe headaches and nausea. - ANSWER A. allow him time to think about the question and respond to it. Effective therapeutic communication skills require _________. Select one: A. supervision by advanced life support personnel B. correct use of complex medical terminology C. English-speaking patients or family members D. verbal and nonverbal communication techniques - ANSWER D. verbal and nonverbal communication techniques Ethnocentrism is defined as: Select one: A. considering your own cultural values to be more important when interacting with people of a different culture. B. understanding that people from different cultural backgrounds respond to pain and stress differently. C. subconsciously forcing your cultural values onto a patient because you feel that your own values are more acceptable. D. suspecting that a person has an ulterior motive based on the tone of his or her voice when answering a question. - ANSWER A. considering your own cultural values to be more important when interacting with people of a different culture. 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. carry out the order and then carefully document it on the run form. B. advise the physician that the order is unclear and ask for clarification. C. state that you will not carry out the order because it is inappropriate. D. obtain consent from the patient and then carry out the order as usual. - ANSWER B. 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. refraining from objective statements. C. withholding medical history data. D. using coded medical language. - ANSWER A. not disclosing his or her name. When relaying patient information via radio, communications should be: Select one: A. brief and easily understood. B. lengthy and complete. C. spoken in a loud voice. D. coded and scripted. - ANSWER A. brief and easily understood. When you are communicating with an older patient, it is important to remember that: Select one: A. your questions should focus exclusively on the patient's obvious problem. B. most older people think clearly and are capable of answering questions. C. speaking loudly and distinctly will ensure that the patient can hear you. D. hostility and confusion should be presumed to be due to the patient's age. - ANSWER B. most older people think clearly and are capable of answering questions. Which of the following incidents does NOT require a report to be filed with local authorities? Select one: A. Animal bites B. Gunshot wounds C. Spousal abuse D. Cardiac arrest - ANSWER D. Cardiac arrest Which of the following statements is NOT appropriate to document in the narrative section of a PCR? Select one: A. "The patient admits to smoking marijuana earlier in the day." B. "Significant damage was noted to the front end of the vehicle." C. "After oxygen was administered, the patient's breathing improved." D. "General impression revealed that the patient was intoxicated." - ANSWER D. "General impression revealed that the patient was intoxicated." 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 designated frequency on a portable radio that provides direct access to medical control. C. 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 is under exclusive control of a single user. - ANSWER C. It is a constantly open line of communication that cannot be accessed by outside users. Which of the following statements regarding a patient refusal is correct? Select one: A. Documentation of proposed care is unnecessary if the patient refuses treatment. B. Advice given to a patient who refuses EMS treatment should not be documented. C. A patient who consumed a few beers will likely be able to refuse EMS treatment. D. A mentally competent adult has the legal right to refuse EMS care and transport. - ANSWER D. A mentally competent adult has the legal right to refuse EMS care and transport. Which of the following types of questions allow for the most detailed response? Select one: A. Closed-ended questions B. Open-ended questions C. Multiple questions asked at once D. Yes or no questions - ANSWER B. Open-ended questions Which of the following will help improve radio communications? Select one: A. Use codes to speed communication. B. Wait 1 second after pressing the transmit button before speaking. C. Answer questions with "yes" or "no." D. Hold the radio at least 6 inches from your mouth. - ANSWER B. Wait 1 second after pressing the transmit button before speaking. 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. a written patient care record will need to be completed on arrival at the hospital. D. the ePCR does not contain the same level of information as the written version and your verbal report should be expanded. - ANSWER A. the ePCR allows patient information to be transmitted directly to the receiving hospital's computers. [Show More]

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