Emergency Care, 13e (Limmer et al.)
Chapter 16 General Pharmacology
1) The symptoms or circumstances for which a medication is given are called:
A) contraindications.
B) indications.
C) side effects.
D) untoward effects.
Objective: 16.1
2) When you give patients nitroglycerin, they sometimes develop a headache. This would be
called a(n):
A) side effect.
B) contraindication.
C) untoward effect.
D) indication.
Objective: 16.1
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3) Which of the following BEST describes a contraindication to a medication?
A) An unintended action of the drug
B) The way in which a drug causes its effects
C) A reason why you should a never giving a medication to a patient
D) A reason why you should give a medication to a patient
Objective: 16.1
4) What condition must be present before you give oral glucose?
A) The patient must not have a history of diabetes.
B) The patient, if conscious, must be able to swallow; if unconscious, you can apply the gel to a
tongue depressor and place it between the cheek and gum or under the tongue.
C) The patient must be conscious and able to swallow with an altered mental status and history
of diabetes.
D) The patient must be unconscious and have a history of diabetes.
Objective: 16.2
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5) Why should EMTs study pharmacology?
A) As an EMT, you will be trusted to administer medications in emergency situations; many of
these may be lifesaving, but there is potential to do harm.
B) An EMT must know the manufacturer, sources, characteristics, and effects of every
medication that has been prescribed to the patient.
C) As an EMT, you will be trusted to administer medications in emergency situations, although
many of these may do nothing but give the patient false hope.
D) An EMT must know the sources, characteristics, and effects of each medication that the
physician may prescribe.
Objective: 16.2
6) What medication is given when a patient suffers from a medical or traumatic condition called
hypoxia?
A) Oxygen
B) Oral glucose
C) Epinephrine
D) Aspirin
Objective: 16.2
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7) Which of the following is a commonly accepted list of medications an EMT can assist the
patient in taking or administer under the direction of the Medical Director?
A) Prescribed bronchodilator inhalers, prescribed nitroglycerin, and prescribed epinephrine auto-
injectors
B) Any over-the-counter medication, oral glucose, and oxygen
C) Aspirin, acetaminophen, oral glucose, insulin, prescribed bronchodilator inhalers,
nitroglycerin, and epinephrine auto-injectors
D) Aspirin, oral glucose, oxygen, prescribed bronchodilator inhalers, nitroglycerin, and
epinephrine auto-injectors
Objective: 16.2
8) Why would an EMT give aspirin to a patient?
A) Aspirin reduces the heart’s ability to beat fast and works to prevent rapid heart rate.
B) Aspirin reduces the pain level in patients who are in pain.
C) Aspirin reduces the blood’s ability to clot and works to prevent further clot formation in
patients suffering chest pain.
D) It is given to calm the patient by reducing the pain because stress is the real killer.
Objective: 16.2
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9) Which of the following statements is true concerning oxygen?
A) Never give oxygen to a chronic obstructed pulmonary disease (COPD) patient.
B) Always document the need for oxygen by pulse oximetry before giving it to the patient.
C) Only withhold oxygen to anyone who is allergic to it.
D) Never withhold oxygen to any patient who needs it.
Objective: 16.2
10) Nitroglycerin is indicated for which of the following chief complaints?
A) Decreased level of consciousness
B) Chest pain
C) Headache
D) Difficulty breathing
Objective: 16.2
11) What is the reason for giving an epinephrine auto-injector in a life-threatening allergic
reaction?
A) It will help raise the patient’s blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
B) It will constrict the patient’s airway passages and blood vessels.
C) It will help constrict the patient’s blood vessels and relax the airway passages.
D) It will help dilate the patient’s blood vessels and relax the airway passages.
Objective: 16.2
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12) Which of the following is often prescribed for a patient with a heart condition?
A) Ventolin
B) Nitroglycerin
C) Epinephrine auto-injector
D) Non-aspirin pain relievers such as Tylenol
Objective: 16.2
13) Epinephrine delivered by auto-injector may be indicated for patients with which of the
following conditions?
A) Drug overdose
B) Severe allergies to peanut, shellfish, penicillin, or bee stings
C) Chest pain
D) Chronic pulmonary diseases
Objective: 16.2
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14) Which of the following is a desired action of epinephrine delivered by auto-injector?
A) Constriction of blood vessels
B) Constriction of coronary arteries
C) Dilation of coronary arteries
D) Decrease in blood pressure
Objective: 16.2
15) Which of the following is an example of a medication’s trade name?
A) Epinephrine
B) Nitrostat
C) 4 dihydroxyphenyl acetate
D) Oxygen
Objective: 16.3
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16) You respond to a medical call for a 59-year-old female complaining of tightness in her chest.
You place her on a high concentration of oxygen and prepare for a short 5-minute transport to the
hospital. The patient tells you she is on nitroglycerin, which she has not taken. Your partner tells
you that you can give aspirin per protocol. Should you delay the patient transport to give the
medication and why?
A) No, any delay will cause the patient more heart damage; each delay weakens the
myocardium.
B) Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the blood vessels to dilate and restore some blood flow, and
the aspirin will slow the clotting process.
C) Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the heart to beat stronger and restore some blood flow, and
the aspirin will ease the pain.
D) No, any delay will cause the patient more stress; she needs to be in a definitive care facility.
Objective: 16.3
17) What is the first medication that should be administered to a patient experiencing chest pain
with difficulty breathing?
A) Oxygen
B) Aspirin
C) Nitroglycerin
D) Albuterol
Objective: 16.3
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18) What is the most important medication that should be administered to a patient experiencing
chest pain with difficulty breathing?
A) Oxygen
B) Aspirin
C) Nitroglycerin
D) Albuterol
Objective: 16.3
19) You are on the scene of a 68-year-old patient with a history of COPD who is breathing 44
times per minute and has a diminished level of consciousness. His wife states he has an Albuterol
inhaler and nitroglycerin tablets for angina. What is the most important drug you can administer
to the patient?
A) Oxygen by bag-valve mask
B) Oxygen by nonrebreather mask
C) Albuterol
D) Nitroglycerin
Objective: 16.3
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20) Albuterol and epinephrine both have bronchodilation properties that improve the amount of
oxygen that a person can inhale and absorb. However, Albuterol is administered only for asthma,
whereas epinephrine is administered for both asthma and anaphylaxis. Why is epinephrine, and
not Albuterol, the first choice for anaphylaxis?
A) Albuterol makes the heart rate increase too much.
B) Albuterol slows down the heart rate too much.
C) Albuterol drops the blood pressure too low.
D) Albuterol is not a vasoconstrictor.
Objective: 16.3
21) How does nitroglycerin decrease the level of chest pain that a patient experiences?
A) It constricts the blood vessels, forcing more blood into the heart muscle.
B) It dilates the blood vessels, allowing more blood to enter the heart muscle.
C) It constricts the blood vessels, forcing the toxic lactic acid out of the heart.
D) It dilates the blood vessels, allowing more blood flow to wash away the toxic lactic acid.
Objective: 16.3
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