EMT Chapter 12 Principles of Pharmacology

Which of the following medication routes delivers a drug through the skin over an extended period of time, such as a nitroglycerin or fentanyl patch?

A. Transcutaneous

B. Intraosseous

C. Subcutaneous

D. Sublingual

A. Transcutaneous

Which of the following medication routes would be the MOST appropriate to use in an unresponsive patient when intravenous access cannot be obtained?

A. Intraosseous

B. Subcutaneous

C. Transcutaneous

D. Intramuscular

A. Intraosseous

Which of the following is an example of a generic of a drug?

A. Bayer

B. Excedrin

C. Advil

D. Aspirin

D. Aspirin

Medications encased in a gelatin shell that are taken by mouth are called:

A. pills.

B. tablets.

C. caplets.

D. capsules.

D. capsules

Which of the following statements regarding the epinephrine auto-injector is correct?

A. The auto-injector delivers epinephrine via the subcutaneous route.

B. The adult auto-injector delivers 0.5 to 1 mg of epinephrine.

C. The epinephrine auto-injector delivers a preset amount of the drug.

D. EMTs do not need physician authorization to use the auto-injector.

C. The epinephrine auto-injector delivers a preset amount of the drug

Which of the following statements regarding parenteral medications is correct?

A. Compared to enteral medications, parenteral medications have fewer side effects.

B. Tylenol is an example of a parenteral medication because it is taken orally.

C. Parenteral medications are absorbed more quickly than enteral medications.

D. Parenteral medications are absorbed by the body through the digestive system.

C. Parenteral medications are absorbed more quickly than enteral medications

A medication with antagonistic properties is one that:

A. stimulates receptor sites and allows other chemicals to attach to them.

B. produces a cumulative effect when mixed with the same type of medication.

C. blocks receptor sites and prevents other chemicals from attaching to them.

D. enhances the effects of another medication when given in a higher dose.

C. blocks receptor sites and prevents other chemicals from attaching to them

EMTs respond to a known heroin abuser who is unresponsive. If they give naloxone (Narcan) to this patient, the EMTs should recall that:

A. naloxone should be administered in increments of 2 mg.

B. naloxone should not be given if the patient's breathing is slow.

C. naloxone administration could cause seizures in this patient.

D. the effects of naloxone last longer than most opioid drugs.

C. naloxone administration could cause seizures in this patient

With the flowmeter set at 6 L/min, the nasal cannula will deliver up to _______ oxygen.

A. 44%

B. 34%

C. 24%

D. 14%

A. 44%

An example of an anti-inflammatory is:

A. Oxygen.

B. Narcan.

C. Nitroglycerin.

D. Aspirin.

D. Aspirin

You are dispatched to a state park for a young female experiencing an allergic reaction. Your assessment reveals that her breathing is severely labored and her blood pressure is very low. You carry epinephrine auto-injectors on your ambulance and have been trained and approved by your medical director to administer them. As your partner gives the patient supplemental oxygen, you attempt to contact medical control but do not have a signal from your cell phone. You should:

A. immediately load the patient into the ambulance, begin transport, and reattempt to contact medical control when you receive a cell signal.

B. notify dispatch and request that a paramedic unit respond to the scene so they can administer epinephrine to the patient.

C. place her in a supine position, keep her warm, begin transport to the hospital, and request a paramedic intercept en route.

D. administer epinephrine to the patient, begin immediate transport, and attempt to contact medical control en route to the hospital.

D. administer epinephrine to the patient, begin immediate transport, and attempt to contact medical control en route to the hospital

A 62-year-old male is seen with crushing chest pain, which he describes as being the same kind of pain that he had with a previous heart attack. He has prescribed nitroglycerin but states that he has not taken any. After administering supplemental oxygen, if needed, and contacting medical control, you should:

A. administer up to three doses of nitroglycerin before assessing his blood pressure.

B. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg.

C. administer the nitroglycerin unless he has taken Viagra within the past 72 hours.

D. begin immediate transport and request a rendezvous with a paramedic unit.

B. assist him with his nitroglycerin unless his systolic blood pressure is less than 100 mmHg.

When administering naloxone (Narcan) via the intranasal route, the EMT should administer:

A. a maximum of 0.5 mL.

B. at least 2 mL into each nostril.

C. a minimum of 2.5 mg.

D. a half dose into each nostril.

D. a half dose into each nostril

Which of the following medication routes has the slowest rate of absorption?

A. Rectal

B. Sublingual

C. Inhalation

D. Oral

D. Oral

Which of the following is the MOST rapidly acting medication administration route?

A. Intravenous (IV)

B. Intramuscular (IM)

C. Sublingual (SL)

D. Subcutaneous (SC)

A. Intravenous (IV)

A 31-year-old female is experiencing an acute asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in obvious respiratory distress. After assisting her with her prescribed MDI, you should:

A. check the drug's expiration date to ensure that it is still current.

B. administer another treatment in 30 seconds if she is still in distress.

C. contact medical control and apprise him or her of what you did.

D. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication.

D. reassess the patient and document her response to the medication

You are dispatched to a movie theater for a 39-year-old female with signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. As you are assessing her, she pulls an epinephrine auto-injector out of her purse and hands it to you. After confirming the drug's name and expiration date, you should:

A. ask her if she takes other medications.

B. administer the drug.

C. contact medical control.

D. request an ALS ambulance to administer the drug.

C. contact medical control

Which of the following is an example of a rules-based medication error?

A. The EMT administers the correct drug, but gives it by the wrong route.

B. The EMT administers a drug that is not approved by the medical director.

C. The EMT accidentally gives a higher drug dose than what is indicated.

D. The EMT administers a drug that is contraindicated for the patient.

B. The EMT administers a drug that is not approved by the medical director

The term "pharmacology" is MOST accurately defined as:

A. the study of drug excretion from the human body.

B. the study of how medications affect the brain.

C. the study of drugs that are produced illegally.

D. the study of drugs and their actions on the body.

D. the study of drugs and their actions on the body

The medical term for a low blood glucose level is:

A. hypertension.

B. hypotension.

C. hypoglycemia.

D. hyperglycemia.

C. hypoglycemia

After taking diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for an allergic reaction, a person begins experiencing drowsiness and a dry mouth. These findings are an example of a(n):

A. adverse effect.

B. untoward effect.

C. unpredictable effect.

D. therapeutic effect.

A. adverse effect

How is nitroglycerin usually given by the EMT?

A. Sublingually

B. Injected

C. Orally

D. Inhaled

A. sublingually

To reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose you should administer:

A. Advil.

B. Tylenol.

C. EpiPen.

D. Narcan.

D. Narcan

Nitroglycerin, when given to patients with cardiac-related chest pain:

A. constricts the veins throughout the body.

B. increases blood return to the right atrium.

C. relaxes the walls of the coronary arteries.

D. increases myocardial contraction force.

C. relaxes the walls of the coronary arteries

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of epinephrine?

A. Secreted naturally by the adrenal glands

B. Decreases heart rate and blood pressure

C. Constricts the blood vessels

D. Dilates passages in the lungs

B. decreases heart rate and blood pressure

Shortly after assisting a 65-year-old female with her prescribed nitroglycerin, she begins complaining of dizziness and experiences a drop of 30 mm Hg in her systolic blood pressure. The patient remains conscious and her breathing is adequate. You should:

A. assist ventilations with a bag-valve mask.

B. place her in a supine position.

C. wait 5 minutes and reassess her blood pressure.

D. transport her in a sitting position.

B. place her in a supine position

For which of the following conditions is albuterol prescribed?

A. Heart disease

B. Hypertension

C. Asthma

D. Allergic reactions

C. asthma

Subcutaneous injections deliver the medication:

A. between the skin and the muscle.

B. below the first layer of muscle.

C. directly into the muscle tissue.

D. through the mucosa under the tongue.

A. between the skin and the muscle

What medication form does oral glucose come in?

A. Suspension

B. Liquid

C. Fine powder

D. Gel

D. gel

A 49-year-old male with an extensive cardiac history presents with 2 hours of crushing chest pain and shortness of breath. He is pale and diaphoretic and tells you that he feels like he is going to die. His medications include nitroglycerin, sildenafil (Viagra), and enalapril (Vasotec). His blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In addition to administering supplemental oxygen if needed, you should:

A. obtain physician approval to give the nitroglycerin.

B. administer one nitroglycerin and call medical control.

C. ask him if he took his Viagra within the past 24 hours.

D. place him in a supine position and transport at once.

C. ask him if he took his Viagra within the past 24 hours

When gathering a patient's medications, you find the following: Isordil, Lasix, Nexium, and digoxin. Which of these medications can be obtained over-the-counter (OTC)?

A. Digoxin

B. Nexium

C. Lasix

D. Isordil

B. Nexium

EMTs arrive at the scene of a patient who was "found down." A family member states that she gave naloxone (Narcan) to the patient before the ambulance arrived. The EMTs should suspect that the patient:

A. experienced a prolonged seizure.

B. has a history of allergic reactions.

C. has a low blood glucose level.

D. overdosed on an opioid drug.

D. overdosed on an opioid drug

Separation is especially an issue with medicine used as a(n):

A. suspension.

B. solution.

C. gel.

D. elixir.

A. suspension

You are treating a 45-year-old woman who was stung by a hornet and has a rash. She tells you that she is allergic to hornets and has her own epinephrine auto-injector. She also tells you that she takes medication for hypertension. Her breath sounds do not reveal any wheezing, her breathing is unlabored, and her blood pressure is 154/94 mm Hg. What should you do if you are not able to make contact with medical control?

A. Begin immediate transport and request an intercept with a paramedic ambulance.

B. Administer her epinephrine, reassess her condition, and transport her promptly.

C. Give her half the dose of her epinephrine in case her allergic reaction is delayed.

D. Begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route.

D. begin transport to the hospital and closely monitor her condition while en route

Which of the following statements regarding glucose is correct?

A. Glucose is usually administered by the EMT via the intravenous route.

B. Glucose is given to patients who are suspected of being hyperglycemic.

C. Glucose is a complex sugar that rapidly absorbs into the bloodstream.

D. Glucose is a simple sugar that is readily absorbed by the cells.

D. glucose is a simple sugar that is readily absorbed by the cells

While assisting a paramedic in the attempted resuscitation of a 55-year-old male in cardiac arrest, you should expect the paramedic to:

A. give the patient activated charcoal to rule out a drug overdose.

B. give the patient nitroglycerin to increase his blood pressure.

C. withhold drug therapy until an intraosseous catheter is in place.

D. administer drugs via the IV route to achieve the fastest effect.

D. administer drugs via the IV route to achieve the fastest effect

Which of the following is an example of a trade (brand) name of a drug?

A. Furosemide

B. Tylenol

C. Ibuprofen

D. Nitroglycerin

B. Tylenol

A drug is contraindicated for a patient when it:

A. is used to treat a multitude of conditions.

B. produces actions other than the desired ones.

C. is used to treat a specific medical condition.

D. may cause harm or has no positive effect.

D. may cause harm or has no positive effect

Advil, Nuprin, and Motrin are trade (brand) names for the generic medication:

A. aspirin.

B. acetaminophen.

C. ibuprofen.

D. nitrostat

C. ibuprofen

An EMT may administer aspirin to a patient if:

A. the patient is currently experiencing hypotension.

B. transport time to the hospital is greater than 30 minutes.

C. authorization from medical control has been obtained.

D. the patient is believed to be experiencing an acute stroke.

C. authorization from medical control has been obtained