Chapter 1—Introduction to Emergency Medical Care
Select the BEST answer to the following multiple--‐choice questions.
1. You and another new EMT are
... [Show More] studying your local protocols. The other EMT notices
that you may give oral glucose without utilizing on-line medical control, but you must get
an on-line order from a physician before assisting a patient in taking his nitroglycerin for
chest pain. The EMT asks you why some drugs require on-line medical control while
others do not. What is the best answer to give him?
A. Glucose is only sugar so it cannot hurt the patient.
B. The physician does not trust EMTs.
C. The patient’s nitroglycerin might be expired.
D. The physician wants to be sure it is appropriate for the patient.
Answer: D
Rationale:
Glucose is sugar and relatively safe; however, it can be harmful if given to an unresponsive
patient. This answer does not explain why not to give nitroglycerin without a physician’s
order. The reason protocols are written is not because physicians do not trust EMTs; they are
written because EMTs do not have the advanced training that physicians have. Although
medications may be expired, this does not require contacting medical control to confirm.
Nitroglycerin, although indicated for most chest pain patients, is not appropriate for all
cardiac patients. The physician, with his advanced training, is better suited to make that
determination.
2. You have just come on duty. The EMT on the previous shift complains to you that the QI
manager was giving him grief because he did not document three sets of vital signs on the
patient record. The EMT is angry and does not understand why documenting three sets of
vital signs is so important. What is the best answer you could give him?
A. Vital signs are something you have to fill out because the state requires it.
B. The recording of three sets of vital signs demonstrates that you were trending the
patient’s condition.
C. It is important you show the QI manager that you are a team player.
D. The report looks better when all the boxes are filled out.
Answer: B
Rationale:
The local or state governmental authority may or may not require three sets of vital signs;
regardless, this should not be the primary reason to document them. Teamwork is an [Show Less]