Question 1

Slight movement of the chest during respiration is usually indicative of which of the following?
A) Labored breathing
B) Normal breathing
C) Noisy breathing
D) Shallow breathing

Accepted Answer

The answer of Slight movement of the chest during respiration...

Question 2

Which of the following is a normal respiratory rate for an adult at rest?
A) 12 breaths per minute
B) 10 breaths per minute
C) 24 breaths per minute
D) 22 breaths per minute

Accepted Answer

A respiratory rate of 12 breaths per minute is considered normal for an adult at rest. The other options are either too high or too low for a resting respiratory rate.

Question 3

You respond to a childcare center for a report of an injured 4-year-old.Her pulse is 130 beats per minute.Which of the following BEST describes this finding?
A) Bradycardic
B) Normal for the child's age
C) Tachycardic
D) Unable to determine without knowing the family history

Accepted Answer

A pulse of 130 beats per minute in a 4-year-old child is considered tachycardic. Normal heart rate range for a child 3 to 5 years old is 80-120 beats per minute.

Question 4

An inaccurate oxygen saturation reading can result in all of the following except:
A) carbon monoxide inhalation.
B) a patient that smokes cigarettes.
C) a patient wearing fingernail polish.
D) Any of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the listed factors can potentially cause an inaccurate oxygen saturation reading. Carbon monoxide inhalation can displace oxygen on hemoglobin, leading to a falsely elevated SpO2 reading. Smoking cigarettes can also affect the accuracy of the reading. Finally, dark nail polish or artificial nails can interfere with the reading by preventing light from passing through the finger to the sensor.

Question 5

You are assessing an 82-year-old female that has been lost in the woods behind her nursing home for several hours on a crisp fall evening.Your pulse oximeter shows her oxygen saturation to be 82% even though she appears to be breathing adequately.In order to ensure an accurate reading you should:
A) try a different pulse oximeter.
B) place the probe on the patient's toe.
C) place the probe on the patient's earlobe.
D) warm the patient's hands and try again.

Accepted Answer

Warming the patient's hands can improve the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading by increasing peripheral blood flow, which can be reduced in cold environments, leading to falsely low readings.

Question 6

What category would include a patient with a blood pressure of 134/84 mmHg?
A) Hypotension
B) Normotension
C) Hypertension
D) Prehypertension

Accepted Answer

The patient's blood pressure falls into the prehypertension category, which is defined as having a systolic blood pressure between 120-139 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure between 80-89 mmHg.

Question 7

An approximate normal systolic blood pressure can be calculated for infants and children by using which of the following formulas?
A) 80 plus 2 times the age in years
B) 120 plus 2 times the age in years
C) 120 minus 2 times the age in years
D) 80 times 2 plus the age in years

Accepted Answer

The formula "80 plus 2 times the age in years" is a commonly used approximation to calculate the normal systolic blood pressure in infants and children. This formula helps healthcare providers estimate a child's normal blood pressure range based on their age.

Question 8

The range of normal blood glucose level is from a low of 60 to 80 mg/dL to a high of:
A) 110 to 130.
B) 100 to 120.
C) 90 to 100.
D) 120 to 140.

Accepted Answer

The highest range of normal blood glucose level is 120 to 140 mg/dL. However, it's important to note that these ranges may vary slightly depending on factors such as age, health status, and time of day.

Question 9

You are about to apply a blood pressure cuff to an unconscious patient when you notice that she appears to have a tube underneath the skin of her arm.The tube feels like it has fluid going through it.You should:
A) move the cuff down to the forearm and inflate.
B) continue to take her blood pressure in the arm.
C) find another site to measure her blood pressure.
D) use an automatic blood pressure cuff instead.

Accepted Answer

It is important to avoid placing the blood pressure cuff over any tubes, catheters, or other medical devices that may compress them or interfere with their function. Therefore, in this scenario, the best choice is to find another site to measure the patient's blood pressure.

Question 10

Your patient has a heart rate of 82,a respiratory rate of 16,and a blood pressure of 120/80 and does not appear to be in any distress.You should repeat vital sign measurements at least every:
A) 5 minutes.
B) 10 minutes.
C) 15 minutes.
D) 20 minutes.

Accepted Answer

The patient's vital signs are stable and within normal range. Therefore, repeating vital sign measurements every 15 minutes is appropriate for routine monitoring. It is not necessary to repeat vital signs more frequently unless there is a change in the patient's condition or if they are on continuous monitoring.

Question 11

If capillary refill is assessed in a child patient,how long should it take the normal pink color to return to the nail bed?
A) 2 seconds
B) 4 seconds
C) 3 seconds
D) 5 seconds

Accepted Answer

In a child patient, the normal capillary refill time should be less than 2 seconds, so option A is the best choice. If it takes longer than 2 seconds for the pink color to return to the nail bed, it may indicate poor circulation or other underlying health issues that need to be addressed. Options B, C, and D are all too slow and would indicate a potential problem.

Question 12

When pupils are dilated they are:
A) elliptical or elongated in shape.
B) smaller than normal.
C) larger than normal.
D) irregularly shaped.

Accepted Answer

When pupils are dilated, they are larger than their normal size.

Question 13

You have a 38-year-old patient who has fainted.Following your local protocol you use a light wave device to determine the SpO₂.As the EMT,you attach the device on the patient's finger,which gives you a reading of 91.What does that reading indicate?
A) Significant hypoxia
B) Severe hypoxia
C) Normal results
D) Mild hypoxia

Accepted Answer

A SpO₂ reading of 91 indicates mild hypoxia, meaning the patient's blood is not carrying enough oxygen. This reading is typically considered abnormal and may require further evaluation and treatment.

Question 14

Your patient is warm,dry,pink,and denies shortness of breath.Which of the following should the EMT expect to find when evaluating the patient's oxygen saturation?
A) 91%
B) 98%
C) 102%
D) 95%

Accepted Answer

The patient's presentation indicates that they are likely adequately oxygenated. A SpO2 of 98% would be within normal range and expected in this scenario. A SpO2 of 91% may indicate hypoxia, but that would not be expected given the patient's presentation. A SpO2 of 102% is impossible and likely a measurement error. A SpO2 of 95% could be within normal range, but since the patient has no signs of respiratory distress or hypoxia, a higher SpO2 would be expected.

Question 15

You respond to a 30-month-old patient who has passed out.Is the patient's blood pressure important to your treatment and why?
A) Yes, blood pressure must be taken on everyone because without it we cannot impact the patient's field management.
B) No, blood pressure taken on children younger than age 3 can cause damage to the tender tissues of the arm that could lead to hypertension in later life.
C) Yes, blood pressure can be taken on children because it is the only way we can understand the patient's condition.
D) No, blood pressure taken on children younger than age 3 is difficult and has little impact on the patient's field management.

Accepted Answer

Blood pressure measurement in children younger than age 3 is often difficult and not typically necessary for immediate field management, as it provides limited information for treatment decisions in emergency situations.

Quiz 13: Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices

Slight movement of the chest during respiration is usually indicative of which of the following?

Which of the following is a normal respiratory rate for an adult at rest?

You respond to a childcare center for a report of an injured 4-year-old.Her pulse is 130 beats per minute.Which of the following BEST describes this finding?

An inaccurate oxygen saturation reading can result in all of the following except:

You are assessing an 82-year-old female that has been lost in the woods behind her nursing home for several hours on a crisp fall evening.Your pulse oximeter shows her oxygen saturation to be 82% even though she appears to be breathing adequately.In order to ensure an accurate reading you should:

What category would include a patient with a blood pressure of 134/84 mmHg?

An approximate normal systolic blood pressure can be calculated for infants and children by using which of the following formulas?

The range of normal blood glucose level is from a low of 60 to 80 mg/dL to a high of:

You are about to apply a blood pressure cuff to an unconscious patient when you notice that she appears to have a tube underneath the skin of her arm.The tube feels like it has fluid going through it.You should:

Your patient has a heart rate of 82,a respiratory rate of 16,and a blood pressure of 120/80 and does not appear to be in any distress.You should repeat vital sign measurements at least every:

If capillary refill is assessed in a child patient,how long should it take the normal pink color to return to the nail bed?

When pupils are dilated they are:

You have a 38-year-old patient who has fainted.Following your local protocol you use a light wave device to determine the SpO₂.As the EMT,you attach the device on the patient's finger,which gives you a reading of 91.What does that reading indicate?

Your patient is warm,dry,pink,and denies shortness of breath.Which of the following should the EMT expect to find when evaluating the patient's oxygen saturation?

You respond to a 30-month-old patient who has passed out.Is the patient's blood pressure important to your treatment and why?