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Prehospital Emergency Care Practice Test: Respiratory Emergencies
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In an emergency, EMTs should assess a patient's airway and help them breathe using artificial ventilation. Oxygen is the main treatment for respiratory difficulty. Here are some basic steps to take: Position: If the patient is breathing adequately, use a nonrebreather mask at 12-15 liters per minute. If the patient is not breathing well, have them lie down to receive artificial ventilations. Comfort: Have the patient sit up in a comfortable position. Inhalers: If the patient has an inhaler, you can help them use it after consulting with medical direction.  Respiratory distress, also... Show more
Prehospital Emergency Care Practice Test: Respiratory Emergencies
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25 Questions

1. Pursed lip breathing is most commonly observed when a patient has:
2. A 48-year-old male patient is short of breath and confused. His airway is open, and his breathing is fast. A radial pulse is easily palpated. His skin is warm to cool and dry. Your partner reports the following vital signs: pulse, 124; respirations, 24 breaths/min; blood pressure, 158/86 mmHg; and SpO2, 89% on room air. The patient's lung sounds indicate slight wheezing. Based on this information, which of these conditions poses the most immediate threat to this patient's well-being?
3. After you administer a medication through a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) and the patient has inhaled the medication, it is important that the patient:
4. When assessing an adult patient with difficulty breathing, which of these signs or symptoms would be of most immediate concern?
5. A patient with a history of COPD is breathing 32 times a minute. Her vital signs are pulse, 140; blood pressure, 168/102 mmHg; and SpO2, 98% on room air. You would classify this patient's condition as:
6. A confused and cyanotic patient is breathing 8 times per minute with poor chest rise and fall. Which instruction would you give your partner about the respiratory care of this patient?
7. Your medical director's written protocol instructs you to obtain on-line medical direction prior to assisting a patient with a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Given this protocol, you must contact:
8. The EMT is properly using a small-volume nebulizer when she:
9. A 36-year-old patient has overdosed on an unknown drug and is unresponsive. His breathing is shallow, with a rate of 6 breaths/min. He has cyanosis around his lips and to his fingertips. His skin is cool to the touch, and his radial pulse is rapid. His breath sounds are diminished but clear. The EMT should recognize which respiratory condition from this assessment?
10. You are starting to assess a patient's breath sounds and have just listened to the upper right back. You would next listen to the:
11. As compared to an adult, how would you describe the respiratory rate of an infant?
12. You are called to a motor vehicle collision. A 26-year-old female states that she was unrestrained and struck the steering column with her chest after the car she was driving hit another car from behind. She is somewhat confused, and complains of chest pain and difficult and painful breathing when she inhales. Her airway is patent and her breathing is adequate. Assessment of the radial pulse reveals it to be rapid and very irregular and weak. The patient has cyanosis in her nose and fingertips. Her breath sounds are clear and equal, and her skin is moist and pale. The patient informs you that she has asthma and has a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). What is your best initial action in treating this patient?
13. You are treating a patient who states that he has been short of breath for the past month. Tonight, his breathing just 'got too bad' and he decided to call 911. The 67-year-old male patient is alert and oriented and has a patent airway. He appears to have an adequate tidal volume. His pulse is strong and regular, and his skin is warm. Vital signs are pulse, 92; respirations, 22 breaths/min; blood pressure, 128/66 mmHg; and SpO2, 93% while on home oxygen at 2 lpm. Which instruction would you give to your partner regarding this patient's care?
14. You have been called to an industrial warehouse for a young adult male patient who was exposed to an unknown chemical gas. The patient was immediately removed from the environment and presents to you with a patent airway, burning to the throat with inspiration, and complaint of shortness of breath. His vital signs are pulse, 120; respirations, 28 breaths/min; blood pressure, 164/60 mmHg; and SpO2, 90%. In addition, you note bilateral wheezing to the lungs. What should be your first action in caring for this patient?
15. A patient in respiratory distress is exhibiting pursed lip breathing. You realize that he is doing this to:
16. You have been called to a residence for a patient with altered mental status and shortness of breath. On scene, an Emergency Medical Responder meets you and states that he believes the patient had a stroke and is unresponsive. As you enter the room, you see the patient lying in bed with snoring respirations. Oxygen at 15 liters per minute has been applied. Your immediate action when you reach the patient's side would be to:
17. A 6-year-old female patient is in acute respiratory distress and is still breathing adequately but will not keep the nonrebreather face mask on her face. In this situation, the EMT should:
18. Auscultation of breath sounds in a patient complaining of shortness of breath reveals wheezing. Which condition is responsible for this finding?
19. You are by the side of a 77-year-old male patient with a complaint of shortness of breath. Auscultation of his lungs indicates crackles in the bases. In addition, both of his feet are swollen. His SpO2 on room air is 82%. The remainder of his vital signs are pulse, 144; respirations, 26 breaths/min; and blood pressure 168/90, mmHg. The patient reports lower back pain with a history of a 'pinched nerve' in that area. He states that he always has this pain. He has difficulty finishing his sentences without gasping for air. What is the most appropriate care for this patient after initiating oxygen?
20. You arrive on scene for a 9-year-old female patient with a severe cough. Her mother states that she has spoken to her pediatrician, who believes that the child may have whooping cough and should be taken to the hospital for evaluation. Her mother is unsure if her daughter has had all her immunizations. Which of these statements would be most appropriate in regard to the care of this patient?
21. After administering a bronchodilator to a patient through a small-volume nebulizer, which of these statements made by the patient should be of most concern to an EMT?
22. The EMT understands adequate breathing when he states:
23. You have been called for a patient who complains of shortness of breath. On scene, you find the 41-year-old woman sitting upright in bed with nasal flaring and wheezing. A metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is lying on the nightstand next to her. To assist her with the MDI, which criteria must be met?
24. When administering albuterol to a patient with shortness of breath, the EMT realizes that the therapeutic effect of this medication is achieved by:
25. You are transporting a 4-year-old female patient whom you found sitting in a chair with labored respirations, inspiratory stridor, and drooling. Which sign or symptom would warrant immediate reassessment?

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