Chapter 13: Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a vital sign?
- 1. Pulse
- 2. Mental status
- 3. Temperature
- 4. Blood pressure

Answer 1

Mental status

Question 2

You should obtain the first vital signs:

Answer 2

During the secondary assessment

Question 3

The vital sign that is least useful in adults is:

Answer 3

Capillary refill

Question 4

The patient that you would expect to have the slowest at-rest pulse rate is a(n):

Answer 4

Athlete

Question 5

An EMT should be most concerned with a pulse rate maintained above:

Answer 5

120 beats per minute

Question 6

In case of shock or later stages of blood loss, an EMT would expect the pulse to be:

Answer 6

Rapid and thready

Question 7

The first pulse taken by an EMT on patients one year old and older is the:

Answer 7

Radial pulse

Question 8

If an EMT has trouble finding the radial pulse on a conscious patient, they should first:

Answer 8

Try the wrist on the other arm

Question 8

A rapid pulse, or any pulse over 100 beats per minute, is called:

Answer 8

Tachycardia

Question 9

A person is considered febrile if they have a temperature greater than:

Answer 9

101.3 F

Question 10

All of the following are signs of labored breathing EXCEPT:
- 1. Nasal flaring
- 2. Retractions
- 3. Grunting
- 4. Palpitations

Answer 10

Palpitations

Question 10

In cases of children and infants, an EMT can expect to find the highest normal respiration rates in a(n):

Answer 10

Newborn

Question 11

The respiratory sound that points toward medical problems such as asthma is:

Answer 11

Wheezing

Question 12

The respiratory sound that indicates a patient might need suctioning is:

Answer 12

Gurgling

Question 13

The skin color that indicates poor circulation is

Answer 13

Pale

Question 14

The skin color that indicates inadequate breathing or heart function is:

Answer 14

Cyanotic

Question 15

For skin to be called “clammy”, it must be:

Answer 15

Cool and moist

Question 16

When checking pupils, an EMT should look for all of the following EXCEPT:
- 1. Size
- 2. Reactivity
- 3. Equality
- 4. Color

Answer 16

Color

Question 17

In cases of stroke or head injury, the pupils are likely to be:

Answer 17

Unequal

Question 18

A normal systolic blood pressure for a 40-year-old female would be:

Answer 18

100

Question 19

When deflating the cuff of a sphygmomanometer, the “systolic” blood pressure is the:

Answer 19

First sound

Question 20

A normal pulse oximeter reading is at least:

Answer 20

96%

Question 21

For unstable patients, an EMT should take vital signs every:

Answer 21

5 minutes

Question 22

What is a normal vital sign in a light-skinned patient?

Answer 22

Pink, warm skin

Question 23

A normal blood glucose level is usually at least:

Answer 23

70 to 100 mg/dL

Question 24

The most important part of the patient assessment is the [_________].

Answer 24

Chief complaint

Question 25

The outward signs of what is going on inside a patients body are the [_________].

Answer 25

Vital signs

Question 26

The first set of vital signs an EMT obtains is called [_______] vital signs.

Answer 26

Baseline

Question 26

The rhythmic beats felt as the heart pumps blood through the arteries is called the [_____].

Answer 26

Pulse

Question 27

A rapid pulse, usually over 100 beats per minute, is known as [___________].

Answer 27

Tachycardia

Question 28

A slow pulse, usually below 60 beats per minute, is known as [___________].

Answer 28

Bradycardia

Question 29

Pressing too hard on the [_______] artery can result in a slowing of the heart.

Answer 29

Carotid

Question 30

If the pulse rate, rhythm, or character is not normal, an EMT should continue taking the pulse for [____] seconds.

Answer 30

60

Question 31

For determination of vital signs, an EMT is concerned with two respiratory factors: [_____] and [________].

Answer 31

Rate; Quality

Question 32

An EMT should be concerned with an adult patient with a respiratory rate above [_____] breaths per minute or below [______] breaths per minute.

Answer 32

24; 10

Question 33

Snoring, wheezing, gurgling, and crowing are examples of [______] breathing.

Answer 33

Noisy

Question 34

[__________] sounds usually mean that an EMT needs to suction the patients airway.

Answer 34

Gurgling

Question 35

A good place for an EMT to assess a patients skin temperature is a patients [________].

Answer 35

Forehead

Question 35

The best places for an EMT to assess the skin color of a dark-skinned patient are the inner eyelids, lips, and [__________].

Answer 35

Nail beds

Question 36

"Goose pimples" or "goose bumps" are associated with exposure to [_____], [______], or [_____].

Answer 36

Cold; Pain; Fear

Question 37

In cases of stroke, a patients pupils will probably be [_________].

Answer 37

Unequal

Question 38

The proper term for a blood pressure cuff is [_____________].

Answer 38

Sphygmomanometer

Question 39

The force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels is known as [_____] [______].

Answer 39

Blood pressure

Question 40

The center of the bladder of the blood pressure cuff should be over the [________] artery.

Answer 40

Brachial

Question 41

Taking blood pressure by use of the fingertips is known as [___________].

Answer 41

Palpitation

Question 42

Blue-grey skin is [_________].

Answer 42

Cyanotic

Question 43

Yellow skin is [________].

Answer 43

Jaundiced

Question 44

A person with a pulse oximetry level less than [_____] is considered to be in [_______] hypoxia.

Answer 44

85; Severe

Question 45

A blood glucose level less than [_______] is considered to be low.

Answer 45

70 mg/dL

Question 46

Capnography measures end-tidal carbon dioxide, or [______].

Answer 46

ETCO2

Question 47

Pressure created when the heart contracts:

Answer 47

Systolic

Question 48

Pulse felt in the major artery in the neck:

Answer 48

Carotid

Question 49

Rapid pulse, usually above 100 beats per minute:

Answer 49

Tachycardia

Question 50

Force of blood against the walls of blood vessels:

Answer 50

Blood pressure

Question 51

Number of breaths taken in one minute:

Answer 51

Respiratory rate

Question 52

Pulse felt in the major artery of the upper arm:

Answer 52

Brachial

Question 53

To get smaller, as in the pupils of the eyes:

Answer 53

Constrict

Question 54

Slow pulse rate, usually below 60 beats per minute:

Answer 54

Bradycardia

Question 55

Act of breathing in and out:

Answer 55

Respiration

Question 56

Normal or abnormal character of breathing:

Answer 56

Respiratory quality

Question 57

Outward signs of what is going on inside the body:

Answer 57

Vital signs

Question 58

Black center of the eye:

Answer 58

Pupil

Question 59

Listening, as in use of a stethoscope for characteristic sounds:

Answer 59

Auscultation

Question 60

To get larger, as in the pupil of the eyes:

Answer 60

Dilate

Question 61

Pulse felt at the wrist:

Answer 61

Radial

Question 62

Respiratory System: Sign - Snoring

Answer 62

Respiratory System: Probable Cause - Blocked airway

Question 63

Respiratory System: Sign - Wheezing

Answer 63

Respiratory System: Probable Cause - Asthma

Question 64

Respiratory System: Sign - Crowing

Answer 64

Respiratory System: Probable Cause - Medical problem that cannot be treated on the scene

Question 64

Respiratory System: Sign - Gurgling

Answer 64

Respiratory System: Probable Cause - Fluids in the airway

Question 65

Skin Temperature: Sign - Cool, clammy

Answer 65

Skin Temperature: Probable Cause - Shock

Question 66

Skin Temperature: Sign - Hot, dry

Answer 66

Skin Temperature: Probable Cause - High fever

Question 66

Skin Temperature: Sign - Cold, dry

Answer 66

Skin Temperature: Probable Cause - Exposure to cold

Question 66

Skin Temperature: Sign - "Goose pimples/bumps"

Answer 66

Skin Temperature: Probable Cause - Fear

Question 67

Skin Color: Sign - Cyanotic

Answer 67

Skin Color: Probable Cause - Hypoxia

Question 68

Skin Color: Sign - Flushed

Answer 68

Skin Color: Probable Cause - Exposure to heat

Question 68

Skin Color: Sign - Pale

Answer 68

Skin Color: Probable Cause - Shock

Question 68

Skin Color: Sign - Jaundiced

Answer 68

Skin Color: Probable Cause - Liver problems

Question 68

Pupils: Sign - Dilated

Answer 68

Pupils: Probable Cause - Blood loss

Question 69

Pupils: Sign - Constricted

Answer 69

Pupils: Probable Cause - Narcotics

Question 69

Pupils: Sign - Unequal

Answer 69

Pupils: Probable Cause - Stroke

Question 69

Temperature: Signs - 101 F, patient inside

Answer 69

Temperature: Probable Cause - Infection

Question 70

Temperature: Signs - 105 F, patient in hot environment

Answer 70

Temperature: Probable Cause - Heat stroke

Question 71

Temperature: Signs - 93 F, patient in cold environment

Answer 71

Temperature: Probable Cause - Hypothermia