EMS FINAL EXAM
1. A young female presents with costovertebral angle tenderness. She is conscious and
alert with stable vital signs. Which of the following organs is MOST likely causing her pain?
A) Liver
B) Kidney
C) Pancreas
D) Gallbladder
2. A patient whose speech is slurred and difficult to understand is experiencing:
A) aphasia.
B) dysarthria.
C) dysphagia.
D) paraplegia.
3. Dyspnea is MOST accurately defined as:
A) shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
B) a complete cessation of respiratory effort.
C) a marked increase in the exhalation phase.
D) labored breathing with reduced tidal volume.
4. Which of the following questions would you ask a patient to ascertain the “M” in the SAMPLE
history?
A) “Have you ever had any major surgeries?”
B) “How long have you had your chest pain?”
C) “How much Tylenol do you take each day?”
D) “When was the last time that you ate a meal?”
5. When palpating a patient's pulse, you note that it is grossly irregular. You should:
A) count the pulse rate for at least 30 seconds to ensure accuracy.
B) count the number of pulsations in 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
C) count the number of pulsations in 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
D) count the pulse rate for a full minute to obtain an accurate reading.
6. Which of the following statements regarding hemophilia is MOST correct?
A) Hemophilia is defined as a total lack of platelets.
B) Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously.
C) Hemophiliacs take aspirin to enhance blood clotting.
D) Approximately 25% of the population has hemophilia.
7. Which of the following medications blocks the release of histamines?
A) Adrenaline
B) Epinephrine
C) Diphenhydramine
D) Acetaminophen
,8. You are attempting to resuscitate a 50-year-old male in cardiac arrest. He is on the second
floor of his home. What is the MOST appropriate device to use when carrying him to the first
floor?
A) Long backboard
B) Wheeled stretcher
C) Folding stair chair
D) Portable stretcher
9. Which of the following statements regarding abdominal eviscerations is MOST correct?
A) Most eviscerations occur to the left upper quadrant.
B) The protruding organs should be kept warm and moist.
C) The organs should carefully be replaced to avoid heat loss.
D) Adherent material is preferred when covering an evisceration.
10. Index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
A) the way in which traumatic injuries occur.
B) a predictable pattern that leads to serious injuries.
C) concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
D) the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries.
11. A nuchal cord is defined as an umbilical cord that:
A) has separated from the placenta.
B) is wrapped around the baby's neck.
C) is lacerated due to a traumatic delivery.
D) has abnormally developed blood vessels.
12. When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, it is best to:
A) document the medications on your patient care report, but leave them at home so they do
not get misplaced.
B) take all of the patient's medications with you to the hospital and document them on your
patient care report.
C) send the patient's medications to the hospital with a family member or other person who will
safeguard them.
D) let the hospital staff retrieve the patient's medical records, which should show a list of his or
her current medications.
13. In contrast to a behavioral crisis, a psychiatric emergency occurs when a person:
A) demonstrates agitation or violence or becomes a threat to self or others.
B) experiences feelings of sadness and despair for greater than one month.
C) exhibits impaired functioning due to a chemical or genetic disturbance.
D) experiences a sudden attack of panic secondary to a stressful situation.
, 14. Once a cervical collar has been applied to a patient with a possible spinal injury, it should
not be removed unless:
A) the patient adamantly denies neck pain.
B) lateral immobilization has been applied.
C) it causes a problem managing the ABCs.
D) sensory and motor functions remain intact.
15. Shock is the result of:
A) hypoperfusion to the cells of the body.
B) the body's maintenance of homeostasis.
C) temporary dysfunction of a major organ.
D) widespread constriction of the blood vessels.
16. The __________________ is a prominent bony mass that is located at the base of the skull
and posterior to the ear.
A) orbital socket
B) sphenoid fossa
C) zygomatic arch
D) mastoid process
17. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the:
A) testicles.
B) gallbladder.
C) urinary bladder.
D) fallopian tubes.
18. Ketone production is the result of:
A) acidosis when blood glucose levels are low.
B) blood glucose levels higher than 120 mg/dL.
C) fat metabolization when glucose is unavailable.
D) rapid entry of glucose across the cell membrane.
19. Your partner, a veteran EMT-B who you have worked with regularly for the past 4 years,
seems unusually agitated during a call involving an elderly patient. Upon arrival back at your
station, you note the obvious smell of alcohol on his breath. What should you do?
A) Remain quiet and simply request another partner.
B) Report the incident to your EMS medical director.
C) Discreetly report your suspicions to your supervisor.
D) Tell your partner that he must seek professional help.
1. A young female presents with costovertebral angle tenderness. She is conscious and
alert with stable vital signs. Which of the following organs is MOST likely causing her pain?
A) Liver
B) Kidney
C) Pancreas
D) Gallbladder
2. A patient whose speech is slurred and difficult to understand is experiencing:
A) aphasia.
B) dysarthria.
C) dysphagia.
D) paraplegia.
3. Dyspnea is MOST accurately defined as:
A) shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
B) a complete cessation of respiratory effort.
C) a marked increase in the exhalation phase.
D) labored breathing with reduced tidal volume.
4. Which of the following questions would you ask a patient to ascertain the “M” in the SAMPLE
history?
A) “Have you ever had any major surgeries?”
B) “How long have you had your chest pain?”
C) “How much Tylenol do you take each day?”
D) “When was the last time that you ate a meal?”
5. When palpating a patient's pulse, you note that it is grossly irregular. You should:
A) count the pulse rate for at least 30 seconds to ensure accuracy.
B) count the number of pulsations in 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
C) count the number of pulsations in 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
D) count the pulse rate for a full minute to obtain an accurate reading.
6. Which of the following statements regarding hemophilia is MOST correct?
A) Hemophilia is defined as a total lack of platelets.
B) Patients with hemophilia may bleed spontaneously.
C) Hemophiliacs take aspirin to enhance blood clotting.
D) Approximately 25% of the population has hemophilia.
7. Which of the following medications blocks the release of histamines?
A) Adrenaline
B) Epinephrine
C) Diphenhydramine
D) Acetaminophen
,8. You are attempting to resuscitate a 50-year-old male in cardiac arrest. He is on the second
floor of his home. What is the MOST appropriate device to use when carrying him to the first
floor?
A) Long backboard
B) Wheeled stretcher
C) Folding stair chair
D) Portable stretcher
9. Which of the following statements regarding abdominal eviscerations is MOST correct?
A) Most eviscerations occur to the left upper quadrant.
B) The protruding organs should be kept warm and moist.
C) The organs should carefully be replaced to avoid heat loss.
D) Adherent material is preferred when covering an evisceration.
10. Index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:
A) the way in which traumatic injuries occur.
B) a predictable pattern that leads to serious injuries.
C) concern for potentially serious underlying injuries.
D) the detection of less obvious life-threatening injuries.
11. A nuchal cord is defined as an umbilical cord that:
A) has separated from the placenta.
B) is wrapped around the baby's neck.
C) is lacerated due to a traumatic delivery.
D) has abnormally developed blood vessels.
12. When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, it is best to:
A) document the medications on your patient care report, but leave them at home so they do
not get misplaced.
B) take all of the patient's medications with you to the hospital and document them on your
patient care report.
C) send the patient's medications to the hospital with a family member or other person who will
safeguard them.
D) let the hospital staff retrieve the patient's medical records, which should show a list of his or
her current medications.
13. In contrast to a behavioral crisis, a psychiatric emergency occurs when a person:
A) demonstrates agitation or violence or becomes a threat to self or others.
B) experiences feelings of sadness and despair for greater than one month.
C) exhibits impaired functioning due to a chemical or genetic disturbance.
D) experiences a sudden attack of panic secondary to a stressful situation.
, 14. Once a cervical collar has been applied to a patient with a possible spinal injury, it should
not be removed unless:
A) the patient adamantly denies neck pain.
B) lateral immobilization has been applied.
C) it causes a problem managing the ABCs.
D) sensory and motor functions remain intact.
15. Shock is the result of:
A) hypoperfusion to the cells of the body.
B) the body's maintenance of homeostasis.
C) temporary dysfunction of a major organ.
D) widespread constriction of the blood vessels.
16. The __________________ is a prominent bony mass that is located at the base of the skull
and posterior to the ear.
A) orbital socket
B) sphenoid fossa
C) zygomatic arch
D) mastoid process
17. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the:
A) testicles.
B) gallbladder.
C) urinary bladder.
D) fallopian tubes.
18. Ketone production is the result of:
A) acidosis when blood glucose levels are low.
B) blood glucose levels higher than 120 mg/dL.
C) fat metabolization when glucose is unavailable.
D) rapid entry of glucose across the cell membrane.
19. Your partner, a veteran EMT-B who you have worked with regularly for the past 4 years,
seems unusually agitated during a call involving an elderly patient. Upon arrival back at your
station, you note the obvious smell of alcohol on his breath. What should you do?
A) Remain quiet and simply request another partner.
B) Report the incident to your EMS medical director.
C) Discreetly report your suspicions to your supervisor.
D) Tell your partner that he must seek professional help.
