Medical Examination NREMT Questions & Answers

• Question 11:

  When arriving at the scene of a possible hazardous materials incident, you would identify hazards by:

  A. Thoroughly investigating the scene yourself.

  B. Interviewing victims and bystanders.

  C. Scanning with binoculars from a safe distance.

  D. Assisting law enforcement officers in the search.

  Correct Answer: C

  Never enter a scene where hazardous materials are present until you have verified that the scene is safe. Use binoculars to survey the scene from a distance in order to identify hazardous materials placards. Consider victims and bystanders contaminated and take appropriate precautions.

• Question 12:

  In which of the following situations should you call for immediate assistance?

  A. You must care for two critical patients with gunshot wounds.

  B. Your patient is a 26-year-old woman in active labor.

  C. Your patient is a child with fever who has had a brief seizure.

  D. Your partner is needed to stabilize the cervical spine.

  Correct Answer: A

  You could make the argument that you need additional help in the management of each of these situations; however, the one with the most critical need is when you must care for more than one critical patient. Both patients with gunshot wounds need immediate attention, so you should call for backup.

• Question 13:

  EMTs should wear high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirators when they are in contact with patients who have which of the following?

  A. HIV or AIDS

  B. Tuberculosis

  C. Open wounds

  D. Hepatitis B

  Correct Answer: B

  High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirators are worn when in contact with patients who have airborne infections, such as tuberculosis. HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B are both blood borne pathogens. Contaminants from open wounds would also be blood borne.

• Question 14:

  Which statement about disposable gloves is correct?

  A. You should remove gloves by grasping the ends of the fingers and pulling them off right side out.

  B. It is not necessary to wear gloves when suctioning or ventilating a patient with a bag-valve-mask device.

  C. Gloves protect both you and the patient from the transmission of infectious diseases.

  D. One pair of gloves is sufficient for any call, no matter how many patients there are.

  Correct Answer: C

  Because gloves protect both you and your patients, most protocols now call for EMTs to wear gloves for any patient contact. Remove gloves by pulling them off inside out, so you do not touch the soiled outer surface; change gloves for each new patient contact.

• Question 15:

  To willfully leave a patient who is in need of care without a signed or verbal refusal of care is what?

  A. Allowed if the patient is rude or abusive

  B. Abandonment

  C. Implied Refusal

  D. Against Medical Advice

  Correct Answer: B

  Any time the patient/EMT relationship is terminated and without a refusal or transfer of care and continuing care is needed is considered Abandonment.

• Question 16:

  Which of the following agencies is responsible for regulation of EMS radio communications?

  A. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

  B. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

  C. National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)

  D. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  Correct Answer: A

  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for the control and regulation of all nongovernmental radio communications within the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the governmental agency responsible for developing EMS curricula. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for disaster response and management. The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is a nongovernmental professional organization dedicated to the advancement of EMS as a profession.

• Question 17:

  During completion of your patient care report, you write the following statement, The patient was obviously intoxicated and intentionally uncooperative. Subjective statements such as this can open the paramedic up to which of the following legal charges?

  A. Res ipsa loquitur

  B. Libel

  C. Malfeasance

  D. Slander

  Correct Answer: B

  Libel is the act of injuring a patient s character through written statements. Documenting personal opinion and derogatory statements expose the paramedic to Libel. Slander is similar to Libel, but refers to false or malicious statements made verbally. Malfeasance is defined as breach of duty by performing a wrongful or unlawful act. Res ipsa loquitur is a legal doctrine sometimes used in support of negligence claims.

• Question 18:

  Of the following, which item is not a desired outcome of continued quality improvement (CQI) programs in an EMS system?

  A. Provide statistics on call volume, patient profiles, and skills performed.

  B. Develop and implement a disciplinary policy for any type of variance in care rendered by the EMS providers.

  C. Allow the opportunity to identify potential topics for continuing education for the system's emergency providers.

  D. Provide a system of internal checks and balances that assures quality care is delivered, and system weaknesses are identified.

  Correct Answer: B

  The benefits of a well-run Continuous Quality Improvement program for an Emergency Medical Service system goes well beyond the ability to assess system performance. It allows for the collection of data for statistical analysis, provides a means by which areas of system weakness can be determined and addressed in a checks and balance manner, and also allows the ability to determine what type of continuing education courses may be offered since many times case studies are done on interesting calls. One thing that Continuous Quality Improvement programs should not do is develop and implement punitive recourses, should an area of improvement be identified. This would lead to providers who get better at hiding system weaknesses through inaccurate patient care reports and who are apprehensive to bring up concerns with management.

• Question 19:

  After releasing care of a possible child abuse victim over to the emergency department staff, you are having a discussion with another ambulance crew who was not present at the incident. As you are describing your suspicion that the child's mother is the perpetrator of child abuse, you are overheard by one of the child's family members. What legal violation have you possibly committed?

  A. Libel

  B. Malfeasance

  C. Negligence

  D. Slander

  Correct Answer: D

  Slander is the act of injuring a person s character, name, or reputation by making a false or malicious statement with malicious intent or reckless disregard for the falsity of the statement. If you had put the statement into writing, that would constitute possible Libel. Negligence is a deviation from accepted standards of care. Malfeasance is a form of negligence involving the performance of a wrongful or unlawful act.

• Question 20:

  You are called to the scene of a car versus tree accident. Upon arrival, you find the car to be engulfed in flames, with fire showing from underneath the hood and inside the passenger compartment. You can see that the operator of this vehicle is unconscious and slumped over the steering wheel. Which of the following is your first priority?

  A. Ensuring safety of any by-standers

  B. Ensuring safety of the fire department

  C. Effecting immediate rescue of the patient

  D. Ensuring safety of you and your partner

  Correct Answer: D

  While all of the answers listed are considered priorities in this scenario, the safety of yourself and your crew must always come first. Your primary responsibility is always to ensure the safety of yourself and your crew. Once this is completed, then the focus can turn to the extrication and management of the patient. Always stay attentive to the scene, however, as things may suddenly change for the worse.