PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE CHAPTER 23 EMT
COURSE 2025/2026 | QUESTION BANK | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ | EMERGENCY
RESPONSE & PATIENT MANAGEMENT STUDY GUIDE |
GUARANTEED SUCCESS
21) When EMS enters the room of a 62-year-old female patient with an
unknown medical complaint, which of these clues observed during the scene
size-up would increase the EMT's suspicion that the patient has an acute
abdominal condition?
A) The patient is in her nightgown and the air conditioning is turned on "high"
B) A portable commode is next to the bed, with a large amount of urine inside
C) The patient is lying on her side, with her knees drawn to her chest
D) The patient is wearing a nasal cannula attached to oxygen at 2 lpm -
CORRECT ANSWER -C) The patient is lying on her side, with her knees
drawn to her chest
22) Which of these statements indicates that the EMT correctly understands the
goal of assessing a geriatric patient with abdominal pain?
A) "It is important to determine whether the liver is the cause of pain, since that
is the most life-threatening condition."
B) "If the patient has tenderness on palpation of the abdomen, the EMT should
assume bleeding is the cause."
C) "It is more important to recognize a possible abdominal emergency, as
opposed to determining the exact cause, because pain perception may be
distorted."
D) "To appropriately treat the patient, the EMT must identify the exact cause of
the patient's pain." - CORRECT ANSWER -C) "It is more important to
recognize a possible abdominal emergency, as opposed to determining the exact
cause, because pain perception may be distorted."
23) You have been dispatched for a patient with abdominal pain. On scene, you
find the patient lying supine and complaining of severe pain to his lower
abdomen. He is pale and has a look of distress on his face as he answers your
,questions. Which action should the EMT take after assuring the airway and
breathing are adequate?
A) Inspect the patient's abdomen
B) Obtain the patient's blood pressure
C) Palpate the patient's abdomen
D) Check the patient's pulse - CORRECT ANSWER -D) Check the patient's
pulse
24) Which of these assessment findings is of most concern with a 46-year-old
male patient who complains of severe abdominal pain?
A) Blood pressure of 90/64 mmHg
B) Respiratory rate of 22 breaths/min
C) Heart rate of 96 beats/min
D) Increased tenderness to the right upper quadrant with palpation - CORRECT
ANSWER -A) Blood pressure of 90/64 mmHg
25) A 42-year-old female patient is crying and states that she has sharp
abdominal pain that she localizes to her right lower quadrant. When assessing
this patient's abdomen, the EMT would:
A) Start palpating in the left upper quadrant
B) Avoid palpating the entire abdomen
C) Start palpating in the right lower quadrant
D) Avoid palpating the right lower quadrant - CORRECT ANSWER -A) Start
palpating in the left upper quadrant
26) A patient with a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding is complaining of
weakness and abdominal pain. He informs you that he vomited 5 minutes before
you arrived. Which of these questions is most important that the EMT ask first
regarding the vomit?
A) "Did you eat anything that made you vomit?"
B) "Are you allergic to any foods or medications?"
,C) "Did you take an antacid over the past 24 hours?"
D) "Was the vomit red or did it look like coffee grounds?" - CORRECT
ANSWER -D) "Was the vomit red or did it look like coffee grounds?"
27) When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you note that his abdomen
feels rigid. What should you do next as part of the abdominal assessment?
A) Ask the patient to take a deep breath and then relax, while you repalpate the
rigid area
B) Note that the patient has guarding and obtain a blood pressure
C) Gently massage the abdominal muscles until they relax
D) Increase the pressure of palpation until the rigid muscles relax - CORRECT
ANSWER -A) Ask the patient to take a deep breath and then relax, while you
repalpate the rigid area
28) Upon your arrival at the scene of a patient with severe abdominal pain, an
Emergency Medical Responder tells you that he is concerned because the
patient's blood pressure is 146/88 mmHg and the patient has no history of high
blood pressure. He states that it may be a good idea to treat the patient for
hypertension as well as the abdominal pain. Your best response would be:
A) "Thank you, you are right. We will call for ALS assistance right away."
B) "That is concerning. We will have to see if anyone has blood pressure pills
the patient can take."
C) "Sometimes pain can naturally increase the blood pressure. I will take
another reading so we can compare it with the baseline reading."
D) "If the patient does not have a history of hypertension, then we will have to
transport using lights and sirens." - CORRECT ANSWER -C) "Sometimes pain
can naturally increase the blood pressure. I will take another reading so we can
compare it with the baseline reading."
29) When an EMT inspects the abdomen of a patient with pain to his right
upper quadrant, it appears large and possibly distended. To determine if the
abdomen is indeed distended, the EMT would ask:
, A) "Do you feel sick to your stomach at this time, as if you are going to vomit?"
B) "Does your belly normally seem to be this size?"
C) "Have you been doing any abdominal exercises or heavy lifting recently?"
D) "Did you eat spicy food last night, or food containing a lot of sodium?" -
CORRECT ANSWER -B) "Does your belly normally seem to be this size?"
30) Which of these assessment findings for a patient complaining of abdominal
and back pain would raise the most concern in the EMT?
A) Surgical scar in the right upper quadrant
B) Pulsating mass above the umbilicus
C) History of gallbladder disease
D) Increased bowel sounds associated with diarrhea - CORRECT ANSWER -
B) Pulsating mass above the umbilicus
31) Your medical director is providing an in-service program on abdominal
pain. He notes that there are several different categories of pain and asks if
anyone can describe visceral pain. Which response made by the EMT would be
correct?
A) "Visceral pain is typically described as 'sharp' and occurs when a hollow
organ has become infected."
B) "The exact site of visceral pain is easily located by the patient and is
typically associated with nausea and vomiting."
C) "Visceral pain occurs when the peritoneum lining the abdomen becomes
infected and causes a rapid increase in body temperature."
D) "A patient with visceral pain typically describes the pain as 'aching' and has
a hard time identifying its exact location." - CORRECT ANSWER -D) "A
patient with visceral pain typically describes the pain as 'aching' and has a hard
time identifying its exact location."
32) Which of these assessment findings would increase the EMT's suspicion of
a gastrointestinal bleed that is likely occurring slowly?
COURSE 2025/2026 | QUESTION BANK | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ | EMERGENCY
RESPONSE & PATIENT MANAGEMENT STUDY GUIDE |
GUARANTEED SUCCESS
21) When EMS enters the room of a 62-year-old female patient with an
unknown medical complaint, which of these clues observed during the scene
size-up would increase the EMT's suspicion that the patient has an acute
abdominal condition?
A) The patient is in her nightgown and the air conditioning is turned on "high"
B) A portable commode is next to the bed, with a large amount of urine inside
C) The patient is lying on her side, with her knees drawn to her chest
D) The patient is wearing a nasal cannula attached to oxygen at 2 lpm -
CORRECT ANSWER -C) The patient is lying on her side, with her knees
drawn to her chest
22) Which of these statements indicates that the EMT correctly understands the
goal of assessing a geriatric patient with abdominal pain?
A) "It is important to determine whether the liver is the cause of pain, since that
is the most life-threatening condition."
B) "If the patient has tenderness on palpation of the abdomen, the EMT should
assume bleeding is the cause."
C) "It is more important to recognize a possible abdominal emergency, as
opposed to determining the exact cause, because pain perception may be
distorted."
D) "To appropriately treat the patient, the EMT must identify the exact cause of
the patient's pain." - CORRECT ANSWER -C) "It is more important to
recognize a possible abdominal emergency, as opposed to determining the exact
cause, because pain perception may be distorted."
23) You have been dispatched for a patient with abdominal pain. On scene, you
find the patient lying supine and complaining of severe pain to his lower
abdomen. He is pale and has a look of distress on his face as he answers your
,questions. Which action should the EMT take after assuring the airway and
breathing are adequate?
A) Inspect the patient's abdomen
B) Obtain the patient's blood pressure
C) Palpate the patient's abdomen
D) Check the patient's pulse - CORRECT ANSWER -D) Check the patient's
pulse
24) Which of these assessment findings is of most concern with a 46-year-old
male patient who complains of severe abdominal pain?
A) Blood pressure of 90/64 mmHg
B) Respiratory rate of 22 breaths/min
C) Heart rate of 96 beats/min
D) Increased tenderness to the right upper quadrant with palpation - CORRECT
ANSWER -A) Blood pressure of 90/64 mmHg
25) A 42-year-old female patient is crying and states that she has sharp
abdominal pain that she localizes to her right lower quadrant. When assessing
this patient's abdomen, the EMT would:
A) Start palpating in the left upper quadrant
B) Avoid palpating the entire abdomen
C) Start palpating in the right lower quadrant
D) Avoid palpating the right lower quadrant - CORRECT ANSWER -A) Start
palpating in the left upper quadrant
26) A patient with a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding is complaining of
weakness and abdominal pain. He informs you that he vomited 5 minutes before
you arrived. Which of these questions is most important that the EMT ask first
regarding the vomit?
A) "Did you eat anything that made you vomit?"
B) "Are you allergic to any foods or medications?"
,C) "Did you take an antacid over the past 24 hours?"
D) "Was the vomit red or did it look like coffee grounds?" - CORRECT
ANSWER -D) "Was the vomit red or did it look like coffee grounds?"
27) When assessing a patient with abdominal pain, you note that his abdomen
feels rigid. What should you do next as part of the abdominal assessment?
A) Ask the patient to take a deep breath and then relax, while you repalpate the
rigid area
B) Note that the patient has guarding and obtain a blood pressure
C) Gently massage the abdominal muscles until they relax
D) Increase the pressure of palpation until the rigid muscles relax - CORRECT
ANSWER -A) Ask the patient to take a deep breath and then relax, while you
repalpate the rigid area
28) Upon your arrival at the scene of a patient with severe abdominal pain, an
Emergency Medical Responder tells you that he is concerned because the
patient's blood pressure is 146/88 mmHg and the patient has no history of high
blood pressure. He states that it may be a good idea to treat the patient for
hypertension as well as the abdominal pain. Your best response would be:
A) "Thank you, you are right. We will call for ALS assistance right away."
B) "That is concerning. We will have to see if anyone has blood pressure pills
the patient can take."
C) "Sometimes pain can naturally increase the blood pressure. I will take
another reading so we can compare it with the baseline reading."
D) "If the patient does not have a history of hypertension, then we will have to
transport using lights and sirens." - CORRECT ANSWER -C) "Sometimes pain
can naturally increase the blood pressure. I will take another reading so we can
compare it with the baseline reading."
29) When an EMT inspects the abdomen of a patient with pain to his right
upper quadrant, it appears large and possibly distended. To determine if the
abdomen is indeed distended, the EMT would ask:
, A) "Do you feel sick to your stomach at this time, as if you are going to vomit?"
B) "Does your belly normally seem to be this size?"
C) "Have you been doing any abdominal exercises or heavy lifting recently?"
D) "Did you eat spicy food last night, or food containing a lot of sodium?" -
CORRECT ANSWER -B) "Does your belly normally seem to be this size?"
30) Which of these assessment findings for a patient complaining of abdominal
and back pain would raise the most concern in the EMT?
A) Surgical scar in the right upper quadrant
B) Pulsating mass above the umbilicus
C) History of gallbladder disease
D) Increased bowel sounds associated with diarrhea - CORRECT ANSWER -
B) Pulsating mass above the umbilicus
31) Your medical director is providing an in-service program on abdominal
pain. He notes that there are several different categories of pain and asks if
anyone can describe visceral pain. Which response made by the EMT would be
correct?
A) "Visceral pain is typically described as 'sharp' and occurs when a hollow
organ has become infected."
B) "The exact site of visceral pain is easily located by the patient and is
typically associated with nausea and vomiting."
C) "Visceral pain occurs when the peritoneum lining the abdomen becomes
infected and causes a rapid increase in body temperature."
D) "A patient with visceral pain typically describes the pain as 'aching' and has
a hard time identifying its exact location." - CORRECT ANSWER -D) "A
patient with visceral pain typically describes the pain as 'aching' and has a hard
time identifying its exact location."
32) Which of these assessment findings would increase the EMT's suspicion of
a gastrointestinal bleed that is likely occurring slowly?
