Deck 14: Pharmacology Medication and Administration

Question 1

A patient with difficulty breathing has a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Which of the following medications is the MDI most likely to contain?

A) Albuterol
B) Steroids
C) Oxygen
D) Magnesium

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Medical direction has ordered you to administer 81 mg of aspirin to a patient with chest pain. Your response to the order would be:

A) "Confirmed. I will recontact you with any changes in the patient's condition."
B) "Copy. I will administer the medication as per your instruction."
C) "Received. I will administer 81 mg of aspirin orally."
D) "Affirmative. The patient has no allergies so I will administer the aspirin orally."

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which medication is included in the EMT scope of practice?

A) Pepcid
B) Oxygen
C) 50% dextrose (D₅₀)
D) Benadryl

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is one of the five rights of medication administration?

A) Right dose
B) Right EMT
C) Right allergies
D) Right physician

Question 5

You are by the side of an alert and oriented 56-year-old male patient complaining of generalized weakness and a pounding headache. His pulse is 104, respirations 18, and blood pressure 218/110 mmHg. He has a history of high blood pressure for which he takes lisinopril. He states that he has not taken the lisinopril for two weeks and hands you a container with the medication inside. You would:

A) assist the patient in taking the lisinopril.
B) ensure that it is the patient's medication and then administer it.
C) contact medical direction to request an order for the lisinopril.
D) continue treatment and transport to the hospital.

Question 6

Which of the following medications should be administered by the EMT only if the patient has a prescription for it?

A) Aspirin
B) Nitroglycerin
C) Oxygen
D) Oral glucose

Question 7

Which medication is included in the EMT scope of practice?

A) Tylenol
B) Glucose
C) Motrin
D) Benadryl

Question 8

A patient with a history of diabetes is confused and irritable. According to family members, he accidentally took too much insulin this morning and did not eat breakfast. Since he is conscious with an intact gag reflex, medical command orders you to administer oral glucose. Which one of the following best represents the indication for the medication?

A) Medical command authorization
B) Confusion and irritability
C) History of diabetes
D) High blood sugar

Question 9

After assisting a patient with her EpiPen, she tells you that it is much easier for her to breathe. However, her heart rate has increased from 92 to 118 beats per minute. Regarding the epinephrine, the EMT recognizes the increased heart rate as a(n):

A) therapeutic effect.
B) side effect.
C) contraindication.
D) allergy.

Question 10

A patient who is short of breath and has a history of right arm paralysis from a stroke has asked you to help him use his metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol. Since your medical director requires on-line authorization for albuterol, you would:

A) contact medical command for authorization.
B) withhold the medication and transport.
C) advise the hospital that the patient will need albuterol
D) administer the medication and document accordingly.

Question 11

After administering oral glucose to a patient with altered mental status, which one of the following best indicates a positive therapeutic effect or response to the medication?

A) Blood pressure decrease from 156/90 to 120/80 mmHg
B) No signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction
C) Pulse oximeter reading of 99% without supplemental oxygen
D) Mental status that is now alert and oriented

Question 12

Of the following, which one best illustrates how the EMT should document the administration of a medication?

A) 325 mg of aspirin administered orally at 1325
B) 0.4 of nitroglycerin administered sublingually at 0800
C) Medical direction (Dr. Cole) ordered albuterol at 1245. Given as ordered.
D) Assisted patient with administration of medication via metered-dose inhaler

Question 13

As an EMT, you may assist the patient in taking which of the following prescribed medications?

A) Inhalers used for difficulty breathing
B) Medications for high blood pressure
C) Drugs for heart-rhythm disorders
D) Seizure-control medications

Question 14

A patient with severe chest pain hands you a bottle of nitroglycerin. After reading the label, you determine that the medication expired two months ago. You should:

A) administer two of the nitroglycerin tablets.
B) withhold the medication and transport.
C) administer the nitroglycerin orally.
D) place one tablet under the patient's tongue.

Question 15

A patient with chest pain tells you that he feels the same as when he had a heart attack two years ago. He is diaphoretic, nauseated, vomiting, and has a pulse of 84, respirations of 16, and a blood pressure of 78/50 mmHg. He is allergic to aspirin. He asks you to assist him in taking one of his nitroglycerin pills. Which one of the assessment findings that follows represents a contraindication to the nitroglycerin?

A) Blood pressure of 78/50 mmHg
B) Heart rate below 100
C) Nausea and vomiting
D) Allergy to aspirin

Question 16

A 49-year-old male has summoned EMS for crushing chest pain. He states that he needs his nitroglycerin, but it is in his car in a nearby parking lot. A friend states that he also takes nitroglycerin and hands you his bottle of nitroglycerin. The patient appears very sick. Given the patient's condition, your best action would be to:

A) administer the friend's nitroglycerin.
B) have the patient retrieve his nitroglycerin from the car.
C) ask the friend to get the patient's nitroglycerin.
D) administer half a pill of the friend's nitroglycerin.

Question 17

The label on your patient's prescribed metered-dose inhaler reads as follows: "Administer three puffs as needed for shortness of breath." Your protocols state that you can only assist with two puffs. The patient is extremely short of breath. You should:

A) administer three puffs.
B) not administer the medication.
C) contact medical direction for orders.
D) administer two puffs.

Question 18

Which one of the following best describes the purpose of the five rights of drug administration?

A) Makes medication administration easier
B) Decreases the risk of a medication error
C) Ensures therapeutic benefit to the patient
D) Prevents clinical deterioration of the patient

Question 19

What selection illustrates a generic drug name?

A) Albuterol
B) Advil
C) Aspirin
D) Acetylsalicylic acid

Question 20

You are assisting a patient with her metered-dose inhaler (MDI). In an effort to determine the exact name of the medication, it would be best for the EMT to:

A) ask the patient the name of the medication.
B) contact and describe the MDI to medical direction.
C) look up the medication using the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR).
D) find the medication name on the label on the metered dose inhaler.

Question 21

The EMT should consider aspirin for a patient with:

A) chest discomfort.
B) headache.
C) shortness of breath.
D) fever.

Question 22

Which would be most important when administering aspirin to a patient with chest pain?
(A) Instructing the patient to chew the medication
(B) Giving the patient water with the aspirin
(C) Determining that the patient has a prescription for the aspirin
(D) Ensuring that the patient has an intact gag reflex

Question 23

The EMT shows she understands the difference between a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) and a small-volume nebulizer (SVN) when she states:

A) "The MDI uses oxygen to administer the medication; the small-volume nebulizer does not."
B) "The MDI provides medication with one or two of the patient's breaths; the SVN provides a continuous flow of medication until gone."
C) "The MDI uses a mask to administer the medication; the SVN merely requires the patient to hold the device in his mouth and inhale."
D) "The MDI requires the EMT to set up and prepare the medication for administration; the SVN does not."

Question 24

Atrovent, if prescribed to the patient, is indicated for what condition?

A) Headache
B) Chest discomfort
C) Nausea or vomiting
D) Difficulty breathing

Question 25

Which one of the following medical emergencies would most likely result in the use of epinephrine by the EMT?

A) Cardiac arrest
B) Asthma
C) Bee sting
D) Confusion

Question 26

Which of the following is the most reliable source for information about a medication?

A) Nurses who routinely administer medications
B) Paramedics and Advanced EMTs
C) Physician's Desk Reference (PDR)
D) EMS-related magazines and websites

Question 27

Which one of the following best describes why the EMT administers or assists with the administration of medications?

A) To stabilize a patient's medical condition
B) To prevent illness and injury
C) To justify a lights-and-siren transport
D) To expand the scope of the EMT's practice

Question 28

What statement, made by the EMT, shows an understanding of medication administration and drug dosages?

A) "It is best to administer a little less than the required dose to decrease the chance of an allergic reaction."
B) "If the patient is very sick, the dose of a medication can be increased to help the patient recover."
C) "The proper dose of a medicine should be administered unless medical command orders otherwise."
D) "If a patient has chest pain or shortness of breath, the dose of a medication must be increased."

Question 29

You have administered Xopenex to a patient, using a small-volume nebulizer. You then notify medical direction that you have administered the drug. This is an example of which type of medical control?

A) On-line
B) Direct
C) Off-line
D) Retrospective

Question 30

Which of the following is the best indication for the administration of oral glucose to a diabetic patient?

A) Chest pain
B) Low blood sugar
C) Diabetic history
D) Headache

Question 31

A beta₂ medication benefits a patient by:

A) diminishing the need for oxygen.
B) slowing the respiratory and heart rate.
C) eliminating chest pain.
D) dilating the small airways.

Question 32

A 66-year-old male is complaining of chest pain. The EMT is considering assisting with the patient's prescribed nitroglycerin. Which one of the following patient statements is most relevant to the EMT at this time?

A) "I forgot to take my high blood pressure medication this morning."
B) "I accidentally took five baby aspirins when the chest pain first started."
C) "I took a nitroglycerin yesterday for the pain and it didn't do anything."
D) "My urologist just started treating me for problems I am having with sex."

Question 33

A patient with a cardiac history complains of chest pain. He already took four baby aspirins and medical direction has given you the go ahead to assist the patient with his nitroglycerin. After administering nitroglycerin to the patient, he complains of a headache. Which of the following is appropriate?
(A) Inform the patient that he is allergic to nitroglycerin.
(B) Administer additional aspirin for the headache.
(C) Recognize a contraindication to the administration of nitroglycerin.
(D) Realize an undesirable side effect of the nitroglycerin and continue care.

Question 34

The route by which the EMT would administer epinephrine would be:
(A) oral.
(B) intramuscular.
(C) sublingual.
(D) topical.

Question 35

Activated charcoal is supplied in what form?

A) Suspension
B) Syrup
C) Aerosolized powder
D) Tablet

Question 36

After assisting a patient using his metered-dose inhaler, the patient's son asks why his father cannot take the medication in the form of a pill. Which one of the following responses is most appropriate?

A) "It would be best if you asked the doctor because I cannot legally answer that question."
B) "By giving the medication directly to the lungs, the effect is more immediate."
C) "Your father could take this medication by spraying it under his tongue. Check with his doctor?"
D) "There are only a few medications that come in pill form, and this is not one of them."

Question 37

When reviewing a prehospital care report, you note that a patient received nitroglycerin sublingually. As an EMT, you should recognize that the medication was a:

A) mist inhaled into the lungs.
B) tablet placed under the tongue.
C) medication injected into a muscle.
D) tablet chewed or swallowed whole.

Question 38

Which one of the following medications would the EMT administer orally?

A) Aspirin
B) Nitroglycerin
C) Albuterol
D) Epinephrine