ATI RN
Basic Care of Patient Questions
Question 1 of 5
When conducting a 12-lead electrocardiogram on a patient, which lead is located on the right side of the body and does not view a specific area of the heart?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Certainly! Lead aVR is located on the right side of the body and does not view a specific area of the heart. This is because it is aVR, meaning augmented vector right, which views the heart from the right shoulder towards the center of the heart. Leads V4, I, and aVL are positioned on the left side of the body and each provides a specific view of different areas of the heart. Lead V4 views the left ventricle, lead I views the lateral wall of the left ventricle, and lead aVL views the high lateral wall of the left ventricle. Therefore, the correct answer is C (aVR) as it is on the right side and does not view a specific area of the heart.
Question 2 of 5
You are treating and transporting a 26-year-old female involved in an MVA. She has multiple injuries, but all associated hemorrhage is controlled. The patient is exhibiting signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock. During treatment and transport, you infuse one liter of lactated Ringer's solution, and the patient remains hypotensive. Once at the hospital, which of the following is most likely to be administered immediately upon arrival?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: O-negative packed red blood cells. In hypovolemic shock, the primary issue is a significant loss of red blood cells leading to decreased oxygen-carrying capacity and subsequent hypotension. Packed red blood cells contain a concentrated amount of red blood cells, which can help improve the patient's oxygenation status and hemodynamic stability more effectively than whole blood or other blood products. O-negative blood is used to avoid potential reactions due to ABO incompatibility. Administering packed red blood cells upon arrival at the hospital is crucial to rapidly address the underlying cause of hypovolemic shock. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because whole blood or packed red blood cells without plasma may not provide the necessary oxygen-carrying capacity to address the patient's condition effectively. Additionally, using O-positive blood products for a female patient can lead to potentially harmful reactions due to ABO incompatibility.
Question 3 of 5
For EMS professionals to determine death in the pre-hospital environment, which of the following criteria must be met by the paramedic?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: No electrical activity in the heart as confirmed by an EKG tracing indicating asystole. This is the most accurate criteria for determining death in the pre-hospital environment as it indicates complete cessation of cardiac activity. Asystole on an EKG is a definitive sign of cardiac arrest and irreversible death. Choice B is incorrect because apnea with a gag reflex does not confirm death. A gag reflex may still be present even in a deceased individual. Choice C is incorrect because lividity and skin condition are not definitive indicators of death and can be influenced by other factors. Choice D is incorrect because pinpoint pupils and decreased muscle tone are not exclusive to death and can be present in other medical conditions.
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of hypotension other than spinal cord injury?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Presence of deep tendon reflexes. This finding indicates intact neurological function and rules out spinal cord injury as the cause of hypotension. Spinal cord injury typically results in loss of deep tendon reflexes. Prispism (choice A) is a painful erection, which is not directly related to hypotension. Bradycardia (choice B) indicates a slow heart rate but does not specifically suggest a cause of hypotension. Diaphragmatic breathing (choice C) is a breathing pattern that may occur in various conditions but does not directly point to a specific cause of hypotension.
Question 5 of 5
A 22-year-old man is brought to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle into a telephone pole. He is unconscious and in profound shock. He has no open wounds or obvious fractures. The cause of his shock is MOST LIKELY caused by:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen. In this scenario, the man's profound shock without open wounds or fractures suggests internal bleeding, likely from hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen. This type of bleeding can lead to rapid blood loss and shock. Subdural and epidural hematomas involve bleeding in the brain, not the cause of shock in this case. A transected lumbar spinal cord may cause neurological deficits but is less likely to lead to profound shock without external injuries. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen is the most likely cause of shock in a trauma patient without external signs of bleeding.