Question 1

A patient who was complaining of a headache is being transported to the hospital. After providing a report to the emergency department, the patient begins to seize. The seizure lasts for 1 minute and then stops. At this time, you are 5 minutes from the hospital. After providing care for the seizure, your next action should be to:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient who was complaining of a...

Question 2

You have accepted the head position on a committee that oversees the operation and maintenance of the communications system for your busy service. Which of the following mandates would you make to maximize the effectiveness and quality of the communication system?

Accepted Answer

Emergency generators must be placed at the base station and repeater stations is the best choice in order to maximize the effectiveness and quality of the communication system. This ensures that even in the event of a power outage, the communication system will still be functional and able to transmit important information. Sterilizing radios daily (option A) and using non-rechargeable batteries (option C) may not have a significant impact on the functionality of the communication system. Changing out batteries on a specific day each week (option D) may not be necessary as batteries should be changed based on usage and battery life instead of a set schedule.

Question 3

Your patient denies difficulty breathing, but displays signs of respiratory distress. You state, "I know that you said you are breathing fine, but you cannot speak more than two to three words at a time without gasping for air." Your response is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Confrontation is the act of pointing out discrepancies between verbal and nonverbal behavior. In this scenario, the patient is displaying signs of respiratory distress but denying difficulty breathing, so the provider is confronting the patient's words with their observable behavior.

Question 4

Over the radio, medical direction has given the following order for an unstable patient you suspect of having a heart attack: "have the patient chew four baby aspirin, each one at 81 mg, and transport as soon as possible." You would show reception of this order by stating:

Accepted Answer

The best choice is C because it accurately reflects the order given by medical direction and includes both the administration of the baby aspirin and the instruction to transport the patient as soon as possible. Options A and D are also close, but option B is incorrect as it suggests administering the full dose of aspirin all at once instead of having the patient chew them individually.

Question 5

When relying on a cell for medical communications, the EMT realizes that:

Accepted Answer

Cellular communications for medical purposes, such as those used by EMTs, should adhere to the same structured communication protocols as radio transmissions to ensure clarity, accuracy, and efficiency in conveying patient information.

Question 6

An advantage to asking the patient close-ended questions is a(n):

Accepted Answer

Close-ended questions are those that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." This type of question is advantageous when medical information needs to be obtained quickly and efficiently.

Question 7

Which one of the following is a disadvantage in using cell phones as an emergency backup communication system?

Accepted Answer

Cell phone towers may be damaged or overloaded during a disaster, making cell phone communication unreliable or unavailable. Therefore, relying solely on cell phones as an emergency backup communication system may not be effective.

Question 8

The wife of a 57-year-old male called 911 because he had chest pain. Which of the following pieces of information would be included in your SBAR report at the hospital?

Accepted Answer

The information about the patient's symptoms and potential treatment (suggesting aspirin) is relevant and important to include in an SBAR report. The other options (A, B, and D) are not as critical or relevant to the patient's care.

Question 9

Your ambulance was dispatched for a patient complaining of shortness of breath at 1512. You arrived on scene at 1523 and left at 1538. You arrived at the hospital with the patient at 1557 and were back in service at 1622. Which one of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

The scene time was calculated by subtracting the arrival time from the dispatch time, which is 11 minutes (1512-1523).

Question 10

When interviewing a patient with a medical emergency, the EMT is using the technique of summary when she says:

Accepted Answer

The EMT is using the technique of summary by restating the patient's chief complaint and summarizing the duration of the symptoms. This helps to ensure accurate information gathering and communication between the EMT and the receiving medical facility. Choices A and B involve closed-ended questions, while choice D offers a personal anecdote and doesn't directly address the patient's symptoms.

Question 11

When providing a lengthy radio report, the most important reason to pause every 30 seconds is so that:

Accepted Answer

Pausing every 30 seconds during a lengthy radio report allows others to break in with emergency transmissions, ensuring that critical communications can be relayed without delay. This practice is essential in maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of radio communications, especially in emergency situations where time is of the essence.

Question 12

Throughout a radio transmission to the dispatch center, the EMT periodically uses the term "break." You should recognize this to mean he is:

Accepted Answer

The term "break" is commonly used in radio communication to signify a deliberate pause in the transmission. This allows the EMT to gather their thoughts, take a breath, or indicate that they need to interrupt the conversation temporarily. It is not always necessary to wait for a response from the dispatcher before continuing the transmission.

Question 13

You have arrived at the scene of a medical emergency. As you enter the room where the patient is located, you note him to be sitting up and talking without difficulty. Emergency Medical Responders are on scene and providing basic care for the patient. Which one of the following will you do first?

Accepted Answer

Getting a report from the Emergency Medical Responder is important in order to understand what care has been provided and what the current status of the patient is. This will help guide any further actions that need to be taken. The other options may be important later on, but getting a report first is the priority.

Question 14

Which one of the following is an open-ended question?

Accepted Answer

Open-ended questions are designed to encourage a full, meaningful answer using the subject's own knowledge and/or feelings. "Can you describe the pain to me?" is an open-ended question because it allows for a detailed response, unlike the other options which prompt specific, short answers.

Question 15

You have arrived by the side of an 82-year-old male complaining of generalized weakness. After introducing yourself, he states, "My name is Edward Burns, but everyone calls me Eddy." Which of the following is your most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Asking the patient how they prefer to be addressed shows respect for their preferences and helps establish rapport.

Question 16

Over the next three days, your ambulance service is getting new and improved mobile radios. As an EMT with knowledge of communication equipment, you realize that:

Accepted Answer

The statement mentions "new and improved mobile radios" and "new radios will be installed in all of the ambulances." Therefore, it can be concluded that new radios will be installed in the ambulances.

Answer: B
 The statement mentions "new portable radios will be issued to the field crews." Therefore, it can be concluded that new portable radios will be issued to the field crews.

Answer: A and C are incorrect. There is no mention of combined radio/cell phone use or any increase in transmission power.

Question 17

Which one of the following best explains the reason why emergency services communications are recorded?

Accepted Answer

Communications may become evidence in legal cases or investigations, and therefore need to be recorded for documentation purposes.

Question 18

You arrive in the parking lot of a retail store and find a middle-age male on the ground, unresponsive and with blood coming from a laceration to his forehead. Several shoppers have gathered around the patient and have covered him with a blanket. What should you do first?

Accepted Answer

The first priority in this situation is to assess the patient's condition and provide any necessary care. Therefore, the best choice is to go to the patient and begin providing care.

Question 19

As you drive lights and sirens to the hospital with a critical patient, the paramedic asks you to notify the receiving hospital since he is busy caring for the patient. He tells you to specifically let the emergency department know that the patient's blood sugar is 15 mg/dL (very low). There is no history of diabetes. Of the following reports, which is best?

Accepted Answer

Choice A provides clear and concise information that the receiving hospital needs to know - the patient's blood sugar is critically low at 15 mg/dL. It also provides the correct units of measurement (mg/dL). Choice B adds unnecessary information about who checked the blood sugar and does not provide the important context of how low the blood sugar is. Choice C is not as specific and may not convey the urgency of the situation. Choice D adds personal speculation and does not provide a clear report of the patient's condition.

Question 20

A 31-year-old female with a history of depression took some pills in a suicide attempt. Her husband is visibly upset and her three young children are crying as you place her into the ambulance. She is conscious and stable as you transport her to the hospital. During the transport, she tearfully states she did not mean to take the pills and asks if she is going to die. In regards to therapeutic communication, which one of the following is your best response?

Accepted Answer

Option B is the best response as it acknowledges the patient's concern for her well-being, while also providing reassurance that she is stable and receiving appropriate care. Option A may minimize her feelings and Option C or D may seem judgmental and invalidate her experiences.

Quiz 5: Communication