Download NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Study Guide and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity! NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Containing 238 Questions with Definitive Solutions 2024-2025. When assessing a conscious patient with an MOI that suggests spinal injury, you should: - Answer: determine if the strength in all extremities is equal. 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: - Answer: allow him time to think about the question and respond to it. 1 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam While at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you determine that there are two critically injured patients and that another ambulance is needed. You attempt to contact the dispatcher with your portable radio but are unsuccessful. You should: - Answer: use the mobile radio in the ambulance to contact dispatch. The MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness is: - Answer: abdominal or joint pain. A severe risk of terrorist attacks is indicated by the color _____ by the Department of Homeland Security Security Advisory System. - Answer: red When enlisting the help of an interpreter who signs, it is important for you to ask the interpreter to: - Answer: report exactly what the patient signs and not to add any commentary. Which of the following statements regarding striated muscle is correct? - Answer: It forms the major muscle mass of the body and usually crosses at least one joint. A mother who is pregnant with her first baby is typically in the first stage of labor for approximately: - Answer: 16 hours You respond to the residence of a 70-year-old male who complains of weakness and severe shortness of breath. His wife tells you that he is a dialysis patient, but has missed his last two treatments. After applying high-flow oxygen, you 2 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Which of the following statements regarding anaphylaxis is correct? - Answer: Anaphylaxis is characterized by airway swelling and hypotension. The MOST reliable indicator of an underlying fracture is: - Answer: point tenderness Which of the following conditions is more common in women than in men? - Answer: cystitis Subcutaneous injections deliver the medication: - Answer: between the skin and the muscle. Medications encased in a gelatin shell taken by mouth are called: - Answer: capsules According to the rule of palm method for estimating the extent of a patient's burns, the palm of the patient's hand is equal to _____ of his or her total BSA. - Answer: 1% A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed MDI, you should: - Answer: reassess the patient and document her response to the medication. 5 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam In determining the potential for a terrorist attack, you should routinely observe all of the following on every call, EXCEPT: - Answer: weather conditions Which of the following statements regarding gonorrhea is correct? - Answer: Painful urination is a common symptom of gonorrhea in men and women. Accumulation of blood in the abdominal cavity will MOST likely cause: - Answer: distention You are assessing a 30-year-old woman with multiple large bruises to her chest and abdomen that she experienced during an assault. She is conscious but restless, and her skin is cool and pale. You should be MOST concerned with: - Answer: the fact that her clinical signs could indicate that she is bleeding internally. Spina bifida is a developmental defect in which: - Answer: a portion of the spinal cord or meninges protrudes outside of the vertebrae. Correct Calming and reassuring an anxious patient can be facilitated by: - Answer: maintaining eye contact with the patient whenever possible. Which of the following statements regarding glucose is correct? - Answer: The brain requires glucose as much as it requires oxygen. 6 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam You are summoned to a convalescent center for an 88-year-old female with an altered mental status. A staff nurse advises you that the patient has terminal cancer and her physician stated that she would probably die within the next few hours; a valid do not resuscitate (DNR) order is presented to you. When caring for this patient, you should: - Answer: make her comfortable and provide emotional support. You are assessing a 45-year-old female who is severely depressed. She states that it seems as though her entire world is crashing down around her. She further states that she has had frequent thoughts of suicide, but is not sure if she can actually go through with it. How should you manage this situation? - Answer: Ask the patient if she has developed a suicidal plan. Which of the following statements regarding the rapid extrication technique is correct? - Answer: The rapid extrication technique is indicated if the scene is unsafe and the patient is not entrapped in his or her vehicle. The six-pointed Star of Life® emblem identifies vehicles that: - Answer: meet federal specifications as licensed or certified ambulances. Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF), such as Ebola, cause the blood to: - Answer: seep out of the blood vessels and tissues. 7 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Following direct trauma to the left upper back, a 44-year-old male presents with diaphoresis and restlessness. His blood pressure is 100/50 mm Hg, his pulse rate is 120 beats/min and weak, and his respirations are 24 breaths/min and labored. Your assessment reveals abrasions and contusions over the left scapula. You should: - Answer: apply high-flow oxygen, consider spinal precautions, and transport without delay. A young female was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She complains of pain to her left eye, which appears to have a piece of glass impaled in it. Further assessment reveals a large laceration to her left forearm with active venous bleeding. As your partner manually stabilizes the patient's head, you should: - Answer: apply direct pressure to her arm wound The general adaptation syndrome is characterized by which of the following phases? - Answer: alarm response, reaction and resistance, and recovery The major side effect associated with ingestion of activated charcoal is: - Answer: black stools Hypotension, hypoventilation, and pinpoint pupils would be expected following an overdose of: - Answer: oxycodone (Percocet). When the body loses sweat, it also loses: - Answer: electrolytes 10 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam When you begin an oral report, you should state the patient's age, sex, and: - Answer: chief complaint If direct pressure with a sterile dressing fails to immediately stop severe bleeding from an extremity, you should apply: - Answer: a tourniquet proximal to the injury. Common names for activated charcoal include all of the following, EXCEPT: - Answer: fructose Which of the following is a metabolic cause of a seizure? - Answer: poisoning In contrast to bleeding caused by external trauma to the vagina, bleeding caused by conditions such as polyps or cancer: - Answer: may be relatively painless. Successful treatment of a stroke depends on whether: - Answer: thrombolytic therapy is given within 3 hours after symptoms began. You respond to the scene of a motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, you find the driver, a young female, sitting on the curb. She is confused, is in obvious respiratory distress, and has pale, moist skin. As your partner manually stabilizes her head, you perform a primary assessment. After performing any immediate livesaving treatment, you should: - Answer: perform a rapid scan of her entire body and prepare for immediate transport. 11 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to increase a person's risk of hypothermia? - Answer: hyperglycemia Which of the following statements regarding the physical examination of a patient with a behavioral problem is correct? - Answer: A physical examination for a behavioral problem may be difficult to perform but may provide clues to the patient's state of mind and thought processes. The term "behavioral crisis" is MOST accurately defined as: - Answer: any reaction that interferes with activities of daily living or is deemed unacceptable by others. During two-rescuer CPR, the compressor and ventilator switch positions. While rescuer one is finishing his or her cycle of 30 compressions, rescuer two should: - Answer: move to the opposite side of the patient's chest. Bleeding from the nose following head trauma: - Answer: is a sign of a skull fracture and should not be stopped. As you enter the residence of a patient who has possibly overdosed, you should: - Answer: be alert for personal hazards. Which of the following conditions is NOT categorized as a psychiatric condition? - Answer: substance abuse 12 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Which of the following conditions is the diabetic patient at an increased risk of developing? - Answer: blindness Elderly patients with abdominal problems may not exhibit the same pain response as younger patients because of: - Answer: age-related deterioration of their sensory systems. A ventilation/perfusion (V/Q ratio) mismatch occurs when: - Answer: a disruption in blood flow inhibits the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs, even though the alveoli are filled with fresh oxygen. A patient regains consciousness en route from his office to the emergency department. The patient tells you that he feels fine and does not want to go to the hospital. Under these circumstances, you should: - Answer: assess whether or not the patient's mental condition is impaired. The presence of thick meconium in the amniotic fluid indicates: - Answer: that the baby's airway may be obstructed. A female patient with a suspected spinal injury is breathing with a marked reduction in tidal volume. The MOST appropriate airway management for her includes: - Answer: assisting ventilations at an age-appropriate rate. A "hip" fracture is actually a fracture of the: - Answer: proximal femur 15 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam What is the function of the sternocleidomastoid muscle? - Answer: allows movement of the head An EMT may administer aspirin to a patient if: - Answer: authorization from medical control has been obtained. According to the terminal drop hypothesis: - Answer: mental function is presumed to decline in the 5 years preceding death. An 81-year-old female fell and struck her head. You find the patient lying on her left side. She is conscious and complains of neck and upper back pain. As you are assessing her, you note that she has a severely kyphotic spine. What is the MOST appropriate method of immobilizing this patient? - Answer: Leave her on her side and use blanket rolls to immobilize her to the long backboard. Which of the following statements regarding pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is correct? - Answer: PID can scar the fallopian tubes, which increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding and hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the: - Answer: liver Which of the following is a function of the upper airway? - Answer: warms and humidifies inhaled air 16 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Jugular venous distention suggests a problem with blood returning to the heart if the patient is: - Answer: sitting up at a 45° angle. Proper procedure for administering oral glucose to a patient includes all of the following, EXCEPT: - Answer: ensuring the absence of a gag reflex. When splinting a possible fracture of the foot, it is MOST important for the EMT to: - Answer: leave the toes exposed. When faced with a situation in which an older patient with a terminal illness is in cardiac arrest, but written documentation regarding the patient's wishes cannot be located, the EMT should: - Answer: attempt to resuscitate the patient The most significant risk factor of hemorrhagic stroke - Answer: hypertension The EMT must assume that any unwitnessed water-related incident is accompanied by: - Answer: possible spinal injury In which of the following patients would the head tilt-chin lift maneuver be the MOST appropriate method of opening the airway? - Answer: a 37-year-old female who is found unconscious in her bed Common side effects of epinephrine include all of the following, EXCEPT: - Answer: drowsiness 17 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Which of the following statements regarding age-related changes in the nervous system is correct? - Answer: Interconnections between brain cells often prevent a loss of knowledge or skill, despite a loss of neurons. You are assessing a 49-year-old man who complains of chest pressure that began the night before. He is conscious, but anxious, and tells you he has a history of angina and hypertension. After applying high-flow oxygen, you expose his chest to auscultate his lungs and note that he has a nitroglycerin patch on his right upper chest. His skin is cool and pale, his blood pressure is 78/50 mm Hg, and his pulse is 110 beats/min and irregular. You should: - Answer: remove the nitroglycerin patch, place him in a supine position and elevate his lower extremities, and prepare for immediate transport. The musculoskeletal system refers to the: - Answer: bones and voluntary muscles of the body The single most significant factor that contributes to suicide is: - Answer: depression Which of the following statements regarding rape is correct? - Answer: Rape is a legal diagnosis, not a medical diagnosis. A 67-year-old female with severe chest pain becomes unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic during transport. You should: - Answer: stop the ambulance, begin CPR, and attach the AED as soon as possible. 20 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Supplemental oxygen via nonrebreathing mask should be administered to patients: - Answer: with difficulty breathing and adequate tidal volume. What is the approximate blood volume of a 75-kg adult? - Answer: 5.25 L When communicating with an older patient, it is important to remember that: - Answer: age-related changes diminish the effectiveness of the eyes and ears. The respiratory distress that accompanies emphysema is caused by: - Answer: chronic stretching of the alveolar walls. Which of the following patients does NOT have an altered mental status? - Answer: a patient with an acute allergic reaction and dizziness Ventricular tachycardia is characterized by: - Answer: wide QRS complexes and a heart rate greater than 100 beats/min. Which of the following cardiac arrhythmias is characterized by a complete absence of myocardial electrical and mechanical activity? - Answer: assystole When perfusion to the core of the body decreases: - Answer: blood is shunted away from the skin. 21 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam You are dispatched to a local nursery for a 39-year-old female who is sick. When you arrive, you find the patient lying on the floor. She is semiconscious, has copious amounts of saliva coming from her mouth, and is incontinent of urine. You quickly feel her pulse and note that it is very slow. Initial management for this patient should include: - Answer: assisted ventilation with a bag-mask device. Which of the following abnormal breath sounds indicates obstruction of the upper airway? - Answer: stridor A 27-year-old male was stabbed in the chest during a disagreement at a poker game. As you approach him, you see that a knife is impaled in his chest. Before you make physical contact with the patient, it is MOST important to: - Answer: follow standard precautions The __________ of a medication usually dictates the route by which it will be administered. - Answer: form Delivering a patient to the hospital involves all of the following activities, EXCEPT: - Answer: giving a verbal report to the triage clerk. Poor maintenance of home, poor personal care, and dietary neglect are all possible indicators of ____________ elder abuse. - Answer: physical The systemic veins function by: - Answer: returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart. 22 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam When introduced into the body, ricin causes: - Answer: pulmonary edema and circulatory failure. Which of the following situations would require the use of a specialized rescue team? - Answer: a patient trapped in a cave or a confined space With proper technique, you and your partner should be able to safely lift a patient who weighs up to ______ lb. - Answer: 220 Which of the following statements regarding the use of the warning lights and siren on the ambulance is correct? - Answer: If it is necessary to use the siren, you should tell the patient beforehand. A technique used to gain insight into a patient's thinking, which involves repeating in question form what the patient has said, is called: - Answer: reflective listening Which of the following patients has experienced the MOST significant fall? - Answer: a 4 6″ patient who fell 13′ ′ Hemoglobin is: - Answer: found within the red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess: - Answer: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. 25 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam In contrast to the parietal peritoneum, the visceral peritoneum: - Answer: is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous system, which are less able to localize pain or sensation. As the first arriving emergency responder at the scene of a suspected terrorist or WMD incident, you should request additional resources as needed and then: - Answer: function as the incident commander until additional personnel arrive. Which of the following organs is at MOST risk for injury as the result of a pelvic fracture? - Answer: urinary bladder A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when: - Answer: the normal body processes destroy a clot in a cerebral artery. The term primigravida refers to a woman who: - Answer: is pregnant for the first time Substance abuse is MOST accurately defined as: - Answer: knowingly misusing a substance to produce a desired effect A 39-year-old female experienced a severe closed head injury. She is unconscious with her eyes slightly open; her pupils are bilaterally dilated and slow to react. In addition to managing problems with airway, breathing, and circulation, you should: - Answer: close her eyes and cover them with a moist dressing. 26 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Which of the following interventions is the MOST critical to the outcome of a patient with multisystem trauma? - Answer: rapid transport to a trauma center Early signs and symptoms of viral hepatitis include all of the following, EXCEPT: - Answer: jaundice and abdominal pain. The function of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) is to: - Answer: prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents. When a motor vehicle strikes a tree while traveling at 40 mph, the unrestrained occupant: - Answer: remains in motion until acted upon by an external force. Which of the following MOST accurately describes a mass-casualty incident? - Answer: an incident that greatly taxes or depletes a system's available resources When assessing a patient with a hemothorax, you will MOST likely find: - Answer: signs and symptoms of shock. During an altercation in a bar, two patrons got into a fist fight. The first patient, a 44-year-old female, was struck in the mouth and refuses EMS care. The second patient, a 39-year-old female, has a small laceration to her left knuckle and also refuses EMS care. Which of the following statements regarding this scenario is MOST correct? - Answer: The 39-year-old female is at high risk for an infection. 27 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam You respond to a college campus for a young male who is acting strangely. After law enforcement has secured the scene, you enter the patient's dorm room and find him sitting on the edge of the bed; he appears agitated. As you approach him, you note that he has dried blood around both nostrils. He is breathing adequately, his pulse is rapid and irregular, and his blood pressure is 200/110 mm Hg. Treatment for this patient includes: - Answer: attempting to calm him and giving him oxygen if tolerated. A 56-year-old male is found semiconscious by his wife. Your assessment reveals that his respirations are rapid and shallow, his pulse is rapid and irregular, and his blood pressure is low. The patient's wife states that he complained of left arm pain and nausea the day before, but would not allow her to call 9-1-1. The MOST likely cause of this patient's present condition is: - Answer: cardiogenic hypoperfusion. You and your partner are dispatched to a residence for an "ill person." When you arrive, you find that the patient, a 44-year-old man, does not speak English. There are no relatives or bystanders present who can act as an interpreter. You should: - Answer: use short, simple questions and point to specific parts of your body to try to determine the source of the patient's complaint. A folding or portable stretcher is MOST beneficial when: - Answer: a second patient must be transported on the squad bench of the ambulance 30 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam The jaw-thrust maneuver is used to open the airway of patients with suspected: - Answer: cervical spine injuries. The signs and symptoms of insulin shock are the result of: - Answer: decreased blood glucose levels In contrast to simple access, complex access: - Answer: involves forcible entry into a vehicle The rescue team is in the process of extricating a 40-year-old male from his truck. The patient's wife, who was uninjured in the crash, is calmly observing the extrication and asks you if her husband will be all right. You should: - Answer: ensure that she is in a safe area, away from the scene. The severity of bleeding should be based on all of the following findings, EXCEPT: - Answer: systolic blood pressure. The onset of menstruation is called menarche and usually occurs in women who are: - Answer: between 11 and 16 years of age The effectiveness of positive-pressure ventilations when treating a head-injured patient can ONLY be determined by: - Answer: immediate reassessment following the intervention 31 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam According to the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), you should consider air medical transport of a trauma patient if: - Answer: traffic conditions hamper the ability to get the patient to a trauma center by ground within the ideal time frame for the best clinical outcome. General guidelines for safe ambulance driving include all of the following, EXCEPT: - Answer: regularly using the siren as much as possible. The upper jawbones are called the: - Answer: maxillae When administering supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient with a chronic lung disease, you should: - Answer: adjust the flow rate accordingly until you see symptom improvement, but be prepared to assist his or her ventilations. You are assessing the arm drift component of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale on a 60-year-old woman. When she holds both of her arms out in front of her and closes her eyes, both of her arms immediately fall to her sides. You should: - Answer: repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself. Early bruising following abdominal trauma often manifests as: - Answer: red areas of skin Which of the following organs would MOST likely bleed profusely if injured? - Answer: liver 32 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam The EMT should use an AED on a child between 1 month and 8 years of age if: - Answer: pediatric pads and an energy-reducing device are available When a female has reached menarche: - Answer: she is capable of becoming pregnant Early signs of respiratory distress in the child include: - Answer: restlessness A fracture caused by minimal force that is associated with diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis is called a __________ fracture. - Answer: pathologic Which of the following statements regarding abdominal eviscerations is correct? - Answer: The protruding organs should be kept warm and moist Phosphorus or elemental sodium should be brushed off of the skin instead of irrigated with water because: - Answer: these chemicals may ignite upon contact with water. A 71-year-old male is semiconscious following a sudden, severe headache. There is vomitus on his face and his respirations are slow and shallow. The EMT must immediately: - Answer: perform oropharyngeal suctioning Law enforcement has summoned you to a nightclub, where a 22-year-old female was found unconscious in an adjacent alley. Your primary assessment reveals that her respirations are rapid and shallow and her pulse is rapid and weak. She is 35 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam wearing a medical alert bracelet that identifies her as an epileptic. There is an empty bottle of vodka next to the patient. You should: - Answer: assist ventilations, perform a rapid exam, and prepare for immediate transport. You respond to a call for an unknown emergency. When you arrive at the scene, the patient's husband meets you at the door and states that his wife has been depressed and has locked herself in an upstairs bedroom. He further tells you that he keeps his handgun in the bedroom. You should: - Answer: remain in a safe place and request law enforcement. A 19-year-old male was stung multiple times by fire ants. He is experiencing obvious signs and symptoms of anaphylactic shock. You administer 100% oxygen and give him epinephrine via subcutaneous injection. Upon reassessment, you determine that his condition has not improved. You should: - Answer: repeat the epinephrine injection after consulting with medical control. The meninges, along with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that circulates in between each meningeal layer, function by: - Answer: acting as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord. Your priority in caring for a patient with a surface contact poisoning is to: - Answer: avoid contaminating yourself. Potentially life-threatening consequences of PID include: - Answer: ovarian abscess and ectopic pregnancy. 36 NREMT EMT Cognitive Final Exam Which of the following medications blocks the release of histamines? - Answer: diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Which of the following is NOT a known risk factor of SIDS? - Answer: putting a baby to sleep on his or her back Which of the following will MOST reliably allow you to determine the nature of a patient's illness? - Answer: Asking questions related to the chief complaint 37