Medical Tests NREMT Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

Medical Tests NREMT Online Questions & Answers

• Question 171:

  What is one thing you should NOT do when treating a patient with an acute abdomen?

  A. Clear the patient's airway.
  B. Attempt to diagnose the cause of the problem.
  C. Administer oxygen.
  D. Monitor vital signs.
  B. Attempt to diagnose the cause of the problem.

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  Explanation/Reference:

• Question 172:

  A 70-year-old patient is complaining of shortness of breath. She has a history of emphysema. You should___

  A. Withhold oxygen, since these patients do not respond to oxygen.
  B. Withhold oxygen, because you could eliminate the hypoxic drive.
  C. Administer oxygen, because in most cases, the hypoxic drive will not be a problem.
  D. Withhold oxygen, because these patients become apneic if they receive high-flow oxygen.
  C. Administer oxygen, because in most cases, the hypoxic drive will not be a problem.

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  Explanation/Reference:

  While it may be true that providing high levels of oxygen over prolonged time periods may cause the hypoxic drive to fail, it is a rare occurrence in the prehospital field. With the complaint of shortness of breath, it is better to ensure that the patient is fully oxygenated rather than taking a chance that she is hypoxic. The EMT-Basic is prepared to ventilate the patient if she goes into respiratory arrest due to the high levels of oxygen.

• Question 173:

  You’re responding to a call for a 44-year-old woman who is complaining of feeling anxious and states, “I can't breathe.” You should do the following:

  A. Perform an abdominal thrust; she may be choking.
  B. Assess her respiratory rate and rhythm, check her oxygen saturation and listen to her lungs.
  C. Place a non-rebreather mask and turn the flow to 6 LPM.
  D. Immediately start manually ventilating since she said she can't breathe.
  B. Assess her respiratory rate and rhythm, check her oxygen saturation and listen to her lungs.

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  Explanation/Reference:

• Question 174:

  Your patient has a history of epilepsy, has had a seizure and has not recovered the way he normally does, according to his family. While assessing this unresponsive patient he suffers a second seizure. What is this condition?

  A. Stacked seizures
  B. Status epilepticus
  C. Tonic-clonic
  D. Repeatius epilepticus
  B. Status epilepticus

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  Explanation/Reference:

  When a patient as a second or subsequent seizures with out waking up this is classified as status epilepticus. This condition is a serious problem secondary hypoxia causing more cerebral irritation and propagation of ectopic foci which cause more seizures.

• Question 175:

  Which of the following does not lead to seizure activity?

  A. Head injury
  B. Drug withdrawal
  C. Diabetes
  D. Epilepsy
  C. Diabetes

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  Explanation/Reference:

  There are many complications secondary to diabetes and there certainly can be co-morbid chronic medical conditions however diabetes does not lead to seizure activity. A seizure can occur at the time of a head injury however, seizures usually develop during the recovery phase. Seizures from opiod withdrawal can occur as a result of the patient quitting the drug, running out or the use of an antagonist (Narcan).

• Question 176:

  A fall greater than _____ would be considered a significant mechanism of injury in a patient under the age of 8.

  A. The height of the patient
  B. 5 feet
  C. Double the patient's height
  D. 10 feet
  D. 10 feet

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  Explanation/Reference:

  The best answer is 10 feet. Though depending on the height of the patient, double their height may be greater than 10 feet, the correct answer is anything over 10 feet.

• Question 177:

  Following the immobilization of an extremity fracture to the lower right arm, the paramedic should perform what step last?

  A. Ensuring the splint is applied tightly.
  B. Placing the hand in the position of function.
  C. Assessing presence of distal motor, sensory, and perfusion.
  D. Placing the immobilized extremity below the level of the heart
  C. Assessing presence of distal motor, sensory, and perfusion.

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  Explanation/Reference:

  The last part of immobilizing the arm fracture (or any suspected fracture for that matter), is the assessment of distal motor, sensory, and perfusion status. This is done to assure there was no additional trauma from the immobilization process, and to assure the splint was not put on incorrectly (for example an air splint inflated too high). If there is a loss in the motor, sensory, perfusion findings following immobilization, the paramedic should immediately reassess the splinting process and correct any errors.

• Question 178:

  There are many causes of syncope.

  When does a syncopal episode usually happen?

  A. When the patient wakes up in the morning.
  B. Upon standing.
  C. When they go to bed.
  D. Any time they feel like it.
  B. Upon standing.

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  Explanation/Reference:

  Most syncopal episodes occur when the patient stands, postural hypotension,\. Blood has been pooling in the dependant appendages when the patient stands cardiac output drops and the patient passes out.

• Question 179:

  You are dispatched to a 75-year old female patient who is complaining of extreme chest pain, and trouble breathing. This patient is a high-capacity chain-smoker, and over-weight. Which of the following is most susceptible to be present?

  A. Coronary Artery Disease
  B. Pulmonary Edema
  C. Pulseless Electrical Activity
  D. Ventricular Fibrillation
  A. Coronary Artery Disease

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  Explanation/Reference:

  With this patient you could suspect many things, however the best choice is coronary artery disease.

• Question 180:

  When is it acceptable to take a patient directly from the hot zone without going through decontamination?

  A. When the patient requires lifesaving interventions.
  B. Never, no matter how sick the patient is they must be decontaminated.
  C. Anytime the EMS commander deems it acceptable.
  D. Only minor exposure patients only.
  B. Never, no matter how sick the patient is they must be decontaminated.

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  Explanation/Reference:

  It is never acceptable to skip the decontamination the risk of exposure of the EMS crew and other health care providers is too great allow patients by-pass decon. Most decon teams are capable of handling life threats as the patient is going through the decontamination process.