21) When covering a patient’s mouth and nose with a mask of any kind, which of the following is
the primary risk?
A) Causing or exasperating respiratory illnesses
B) Interfering with patient communication
C) Upsetting the patient because of the social stigma
D) Obstructing the ability to visualize and protect the airway
Objective: 2.8
22) When the potential exists for exposure to exhaled air of a person with suspected or confirmed
TB, a(n) ________ mask should be worn by the EMT.
A) surgical
B) B-50
C) nonrebreather
D) N-95
Objective: 2.8
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23) The tuberculin skin test (TST), formerly known as the purified protein derivative (PPD) test,
is used to:
A) determine if a person has infected others with TB.
B) detect a person’s exposure to tuberculosis.
C) inoculate healthcare workers against TB infections.
D) prevent tuberculosis from spreading following an exposure.
Objective: 2.9
24) Which of the following terms is best defined as “a state of physical and/or psychological
arousal to a stimulus?”
A) Homeostasis
B) Distress
C) Stress
D) Eustress
Objective: 2.10
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25) Which of the following is the form of stress that can cause immediate and long-term
problems with an EMT’s health and well-being?
A) Megastress
B) Hyperstress
C) Distress
D) Eustress
Objective: 2.10
26) What action does an organ undergo to best describe the term hypertrophy?
A) Absence
B) Wasting
C) Changing
D) Enlargement
Objective: 2.11
13
27) Which of the following parts of the nervous system is responsible for the “fight or flight”
response experienced in response to a stressor?
A) Parasympathetic nervous system
B) Central nervous system
C) Peripheral nervous system
D) Sympathetic nervous system
Objective: 2.11
28) Which hormone helps the body control stress, regulate metabolism, and influence an immune
response?
A) Immunoglobulin
B) Serotonin
C) Epinephrine
D) Cortisol
Objective: 2.11
14
29) An EMT is confronted by an armed gunman who is threatening to kill the EMT and his
partner. An elevation in the EMT’s heart rate and blood pressure occurs in which stage of the
body’s response to stress?
A) Resistance stage
B) Exhaustion stage
C) Alarm reaction stage
D) Response stage
Objective: 2.11
30) The “Stress Triad,” or the body’s response to a stressful stimulation, is known as general
________ syndrome.
A) incident
B) resistance
C) reaction
D) adaptation
Objective: 2.11
31) According to Dr. Hans Selye, the third stage of the “Stress Triad” is known as the ________
stage.
A) resistance
B) cumulative
C) exhaustion
D) alarm
Objective: 2.11
15
32) Which of the following is a physiologic effect of the “Stress Triad” as described by the
physician Hans Selye?
A) Bleeding gastric ulcers
B) Hypertrophy of the lymph nodes
C) Atrophy of the adrenal glands
D) Amnesia for stressful events
Objective: 2.11
33) The term burnout is also known as a(n) ________ stress reaction.
A) delayed
B) post-traumatic
C) acute
D) cumulative
Objective: 2.12
34) Post-traumatic stress disorder may be described as a(n):
A) acute stress reaction.
B) cumulative stress reaction.
C) severe stress reaction.
D) delayed stress reaction.
Objective: 2.12
16
35) What are some signs and symptoms that a coworker may be experiencing delayed stress
reaction (PTSD)?
A) Suspicion of friends, family, coworkers, or patients
B) Excessive sleeping, loss of appetite, and distractibility
C) Headaches, stomach ailments, and a chronic cough
D) Flashbacks, nightmares, and feelings of detachment
Objective: 2.12
36) A(n) ________ is a situation that may lead to an acute stress reaction.
A) routine call
B) abuse of alcohol
C) ongoing night shift
D) injury of a coworker
Objective: 2.12
37) One’s “cognitive ability” refers to his or her ability to do which of the following?
A) Control his or her emotions
B) Use fine motor skills
C) Adapt to stress
D) Think and solve problems
Objective: 2.12
17
38) Which of the following terms refers to a positive form of stress that helps people work when
under pressure and respond effectively?
A) Prostress
B) Distress
C) Unstress
D) Eustress
Objective: 2.12
39) Which of the following behaviors would be considered a common sign of stress rather than
an acute psychological problem?
A) Failure to use PPE appropriately on a regular basis
B) Irritability with friends, family, coworkers, or patients
C) Flashbacks, nightmares, and feelings of detachment
D) Increased speeding and reckless driving
Objective: 2.12
18
40) For the last few days, your regular EMT partner has been having trouble sleeping, has been
on edge, and has trouble concentrating on his job during EMS calls. Luckily, your call volume
has been low with no serious calls since the infant cardiac arrest you both worked last month.
You ask him if anything is bothering him and he states he is fine in every way. He states that he
has been going to the bars lately to relax and invites you to come along for some drinks after
work. Choose the best answer for this situation.
A) Your partner is suffering from acute stress reaction and you should recommend to him that he
seek professional counseling.
B) Your partner is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and you should go to the bar with
him to provide moral support and talk with him.
C) Your partner is suffering from a delayed stress reaction and you should recommend that he
seek professional counseling.
D) Your partner is suffering from a cumulative stress reaction. This is a natural response and he
should be fine in a few days.
Objective: 2.12
41) What is a positive, healthy way to help deal with stress?
A) Caffeine to “get up and go”
B) Regular physical exercise
C) Adding workload to a busy regular schedule
D) Drinking alcohol to “unwind”
Objective: 2.13
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42) An EMT involved in an especially difficult call, such as one in which a coworker was killed,
should be urged to:
A) discuss the experience freely with coworkers.
B) begin a course of psychiatric medications.
C) seek help from a trained mental health professional.
D) conceal the problem because care may not be covered financially.
Objective: 2.13
43) Since EMS personnel are often exposed to both acute and chronic stressors, ________
management may be helpful to cope with on-the-job experiences.
A) critical incident stress
B) crisis intervention
C) stress prevention
D) chronic stress
Objective: 2.14
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