Question 1

Which one of the pulses listed below is palpated in the groin area?

Accepted Answer

The femoral pulse is palpated in the groin area. The carotid pulse is felt in the neck, the inguinal pulse is not a valid pulse location, and the pedal pulse is felt in the foot.

Question 2

You determine a radial pulse is readily palpable, but has uneven intervals between beats. This would best be documented on the prehospital care report as:

Accepted Answer

"Uneven intervals between beats" indicates an irregular pulse. "Readily palpable" indicates a strong pulse. Therefore, the best choice would be "strong and irregular." None of the other options fully capture the described characteristics of the pulse.

Question 3

Which of the following signs related to breathing would be most concerning to the EMT?

Accepted Answer

The use of accessory muscles indicates that the patient is having difficulty breathing and is working harder to move air in and out of their lungs. This is a more concerning sign than the other options given.

Question 4

Which patient description contains only vital signs?

Accepted Answer

Skin warm and dry, heart rate 74, pupils equal and reactive are all vital signs.

Question 5

Emergency Medical Responders inform you that a 27-year-old male with altered mental status has an open airway and is breathing 9 times every 30 seconds. His pulse rate is 40 beats per minute, and he has bruises to his chest. Based on this information, the EMT should recognize the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Emergency Medical Responders inform you that a...

Question 6

You determine a patient's heart rate to be 48 beats per minute. That heart rate would be categorized as:

Accepted Answer

A heart rate of 48 beats per minute falls within the bradycardic range, which is defined as a heart rate lower than 60 beats per minute.

Question 7

Which piece of equipment would the EMT need to obtain a patient's vital signs?

Accepted Answer

The EMT would need a stethoscope to obtain a patient's vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. A glucometer is used to measure blood sugar levels, oxygen is used to treat respiratory distress, and an automated defibrillator is used to treat cardiac arrest.

Question 8

Which statement made by your partner indicates that he understands assessment of a patient's breathing?

Accepted Answer

Option C accurately states that a respiratory rate less than 8 requires further evaluation and assessment, which indicates an understanding of the importance of proper assessment of a patient's breathing. Options A, B, and D are incorrect: option A is incorrect because simply looking at the respiratory rate is not enough to determine if a patient is getting adequate oxygen; option B is incorrect because a normal respiratory rate does not necessarily mean the patient is breathing adequately; and option D is incorrect because full vital signs are not the only factor to consider in determining if a patient is breathing adequately.

Question 9

Which one of the following characteristics is a quality of a patient's pulse?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which one of the following characteristics is...

Question 10

A young female patient has been stung by a bee and states that her "throat is closing up." She states that she is allergic to bee stings and the last time this happened, she had to have a "tube put into my windpipe." She is struggling to breathe and can only speak a few words at a time. Knowing that allergic reactions can cause swelling in the pharynx and at the level of the larynx, which one of the following respiratory sounds would indicate that the patient indeed has swelling in this area?

Accepted Answer

Stridor is a high-pitched, harsh sound that is heard during inspiration and is indicative of obstruction at the level of the larynx or trachea. In this case, the patient's history of allergic reactions and difficulty breathing suggests that there is swelling in this area, which could result in stridor. Gurgling and snoring sounds usually arise from the lower respiratory tract and are not specific to upper airway obstruction, while wheezing is usually associated with bronchospasm, which is not the primary concern in this case.

Question 11

You are assessing a 61-year-old male who is confused. During the primary assessment, you cannot locate a radial pulse. Your immediate action should be to:

Accepted Answer

If you are unable to find a radial pulse, the next step is to check for a carotid pulse, which is located in the neck. This will help to determine if the patient has a pulse and whether CPR is necessary. If a carotid pulse is detected, it is important to continue with the secondary assessment to determine the cause of the confusion. It may be necessary to call for ALS assistance or start CPR if the patient's condition deteriorates. Applying the AED is not necessary at this point in the assessment.

Question 12

When assessing a patient's pulse, you note that it is irregular. To get an accurate heart rate, you would:

Accepted Answer

Counting the number of beats that occur in 1 minute will provide an accurate heart rate even if the pulse is irregular. It may be necessary to count for a longer period of time to get an accurate average. Listening with a stethoscope or feeling the carotid pulse for a shorter period of time and multiplying may not provide an accurate heart rate if the irregularity of the pulse causes skipped beats or premature contractions. Doubling the number of beats obtained in 30 seconds may also not be accurate if the irregularity persists.

Question 13

When assessing a patient's pulse, you can locate the right radial pulse, but not the left. Which one of the following is the most likely explanation for this finding?

Accepted Answer

The left radial artery may be occluded, meaning it is blocked or narrowed, preventing a pulse from being felt.

Question 14

A family has called you for a 41-year-old male they cannot wake up. They state he has been threatening to kill himself and believe that he may have intentionally overdosed on his pain medications. As you enter the patient's bedroom, you observe him supine on the floor with his eyes closed. As he breathes, you hear snoring respirations. As a knowledgeable EMT, you recognize which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The snoring respirations indicate partial airway obstruction, which is most likely due to the tongue blocking the airway. Immediate intervention, such as positioning the patient's head and suctioning if needed, is necessary to prevent complete airway obstruction and potential respiratory arrest. The other options do not accurately reflect the situation presented.

Question 15

The EMT recognizes which one of the following heart rates (beats per minute) as normal for a 24-year-old male?

Accepted Answer

The normal range for a resting heart rate in adults is typically between 60-100 beats per minute. Therefore, a heart rate of 62 is within the normal range for a 24-year-old male. Options A, C, and D are all outside of the normal range and may indicate potential cardiac issues.

Question 16

The EMT is correctly calculating a patient's respiratory rate when he or she:

Accepted Answer

The correct way to calculate a patient's respiratory rate is to count the number of breaths for 30 seconds and then multiply that number by 2. This method has been shown to be the most accurate way of measuring respiratory rate and is widely used in healthcare. Asking the patient to describe how they feel when they breathe or assessing for signs of respiratory difficulty can give important information about the patient's respiratory function, but they are not methods for calculating respiratory rate. Obtaining a pulse oximetry reading and dividing it by 3 is not a method for calculating respiratory rate either; it is a method for estimating oxygen saturation.

Question 17

You have been called to assess a conscious and alert 5-year-old whose chief complaint is nausea and vomiting over the last 2 hours. When assessing his pulse, you should first check which pulse?

Accepted Answer

The radial pulse is the most appropriate pulse to check in a conscious and alert 5-year-old. It is easily accessible and can be checked simultaneously while assessing other vital signs such as respiratory rate and blood pressure. The other options (brachial, carotid, and pedal) may be difficult to locate in young children and may cause discomfort, especially if the child is already feeling nauseous.

Question 18

During the primary assessment of a geriatric patient complaining of shortness of breath and fever, you quickly locate the radial pulse. What should you do next?

Accepted Answer

The radial pulse is a peripheral pulse that can be used to assess the heart rate and rhythm. It is located on the thumb side of the wrist, just below the base of the thumb. To assess the radial pulse, place two fingers on the pulse point and apply gentle pressure. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to get the heart rate. Also, note the regularity of the pulse and the strength of the beats.

Question 19

An EMT is correctly assessing a patient's radial pulse when he:

Accepted Answer

Using fingertips to feel for a pulse at the patient's wrist is the correct and most reliable method for assessing a radial pulse. Using the palm of the hand may not be sensitive enough to detect a weak or irregular pulse, while using the thumb may result in the EMT feeling their own pulse. Checking for a heart rate on both sides of the neck is not appropriate for assessing a radial pulse.

Question 20

Which one of the following statements concerning assessment of the pulse is correct?

Accepted Answer

The correct method for determining heart rate from the pulse is to count the number of beats felt in 30 seconds and then multiply by 2 to get the rate per minute. Option B is incorrect because using a stethoscope is not necessary and may actually be more time-consuming and cumbersome than simply feeling the pulse. Option C is incorrect because the brachial pulse is typically felt in infants up to 1 year of age, not in patients under 6 years of age. Option D is incorrect because estimating the pulse rate without actually counting the beats is not a reliable or accurate method.

Quiz 11: Baseline Vital Signs, Monitoring Devices, and History Taking