Paramedic Quiz For Maes Students Chapter 8

The correct answer is intravenous. Intravenous (IV) route is the most commonly used medication route in the prehospital setting. This is because IV administration allows for rapid and direct delivery of medications into the bloodstream, ensuring quick onset of action. It is also a reliable route for administering fluids and medications in emergency situations where oral or other routes may not be feasible or effective. In addition, IV access can be easily obtained and maintained by trained healthcare professionals, making it the preferred route in many emergency medical situations.

Normal saline, which is a solution of water with 0.9% sodium chloride, is called an isotonic solution because it has the same concentration of solutes as the cells in the body. This means that when normal saline is introduced into the body, it does not cause any net movement of water across the cell membrane, making it compatible with the body's cells and tissues. Additionally, normal saline is capable of carrying oxygen when infused and is often used in medical settings for this purpose. It is also of minimal value in expanding the vascular space, meaning it does not significantly increase blood volume.

The correct answer is "should not be administered to the patient." If a drug is contraindicated for a particular patient, it means that the drug is not safe or suitable for that individual due to factors such as allergies, medical conditions, or potential interactions with other medications. Therefore, administering the drug to the patient can lead to harmful or even fatal consequences.

Before administering medication to any patient, it is important for the paramedic to inquire about drug allergies. This is crucial to ensure the safety of the patient and prevent any potential adverse reactions or complications. By asking about drug allergies, the paramedic can identify if the patient has any known allergies or sensitivities to certain medications, allowing them to make informed decisions and choose appropriate medications that will not cause harm to the patient. This step is essential in providing quality care and minimizing the risk of allergic reactions.

Sodium is the principal extracellular cation that regulates the distribution of water throughout the body. It plays a crucial role in maintaining fluid balance and osmotic pressure. Sodium ions are responsible for attracting and holding water molecules, ensuring proper hydration of cells and tissues. Imbalances in sodium levels can result in dehydration or fluid retention, affecting various bodily functions.

The IO space remains patent, even when peripheral veins have collapsed. This means that even if the peripheral veins are not accessible or have collapsed, the IO route can still be used for medication administration or fluid infusion. IO cannulation involves inserting a needle directly into the bone marrow, allowing for rapid access to the systemic circulation. This method is often used in emergency situations when intravenous access is difficult or not possible.

The 10 mL vial of Valium contains 10 mg of the medication. The protocols call for administering 5 mg of diazepam to the patient. To determine how many mL to give, we can set up a proportion: 10 mg is to 10 mL as 5 mg is to x mL. Cross-multiplying, we get 10x = 50, and dividing both sides by 10, we find that x = 5 mL. Therefore, the correct answer is 5 mL.

The most common inhaled medication is oxygen because it is a vital gas that is often administered to patients with respiratory difficulties. Oxygen therapy helps to increase the oxygen levels in the blood, improving breathing and overall oxygenation of the body. While Alupent, Ventolin, and Bronkosol are also inhaled medications, they are specifically used for treating respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas oxygen is a general therapy used in various medical settings.

Edema is the accumulation of excess fluid in the body's tissues, which is a cardinal sign of overhydration. When there is an excessive intake of fluids, the body may struggle to eliminate the excess water, leading to fluid retention and swelling in various parts of the body. This can be observed as swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, or legs. Therefore, edema is a clear indication of overhydration.

In the prehospital setting, isotonic crystalloids are the most commonly used IV solutions. Isotonic crystalloids have a similar concentration of solutes as the blood and extracellular fluid, making them compatible with the body's fluid balance. They help to restore and maintain adequate hydration and electrolyte balance. Colloid solutions, hypotonic crystalloids, and hetastarch and saline may also be used in specific situations, but isotonic crystalloids are the preferred choice due to their effectiveness and safety profile.

The major cations of the body are positively charged ions that play important roles in various physiological processes. Sodium, calcium, and potassium are all major cations found in the body. Bicarbonate, on the other hand, is an anion, not a cation. It is an important component of the body's buffering system and helps regulate pH levels. Therefore, bicarbonate is not a major cation of the body.

The paramedic generally does not ask himself or herself if the patient has had IV therapy before when determining the most appropriate IV solution to use. This question is not relevant in the decision-making process because whether or not the patient has had IV therapy before does not impact the choice of IV solution. The paramedic needs to consider the patient's condition, whether the patient will need medications or fluid replacement, and if the patient's condition is critical when determining the appropriate IV solution.

Sharps containers should be puncture-proof and bear a biohazard logo because this ensures the safe disposal of used needles and other sharp medical instruments. Puncture-proof containers prevent accidental injuries and the biohazard logo indicates the presence of potentially infectious materials. This helps to protect healthcare workers and the general public from the risk of needlestick injuries and the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. It is important to follow proper disposal protocols and use appropriate sharps containers to maintain a safe and hygienic healthcare environment.

When administering a medication via the intramuscular route, it is important to stretch the skin over the injection site and insert the needle at a 90 degree angle. This technique ensures that the medication is delivered directly into the muscle, allowing for optimal absorption and effectiveness. By stretching the skin, it provides a taut surface for needle insertion, reducing the risk of injecting into fatty tissue or causing unnecessary pain or injury. Inserting the needle at a 90 degree angle also ensures that the medication is delivered to the correct depth within the muscle, maximizing its therapeutic effects.

When administering sublingual nitroglycerin, it is important to place the tablet under the patient's tongue and allow it to dissolve. Chewing and swallowing the tablet would prevent the medication from being absorbed properly. Performing a focused history and physical examination is necessary to assess the patient's condition and determine the appropriateness of nitroglycerin administration. Ensuring the patient's mucous membranes are moist helps with the absorption of the medication. Thoroughly assessing the patient for any transdermal patches is important to avoid potential drug interactions.

Kidney failure can lead to overhydration because when the kidneys are not functioning properly, they are unable to effectively regulate the body's fluid balance. This can result in an excessive accumulation of fluid in the body, leading to overhydration.

Diazepam is appropriate to administer via the rectal route because it is available in a rectal gel form. Rectal administration is useful when the patient is unable to take the medication orally or intravenously. Diazepam is commonly used for the treatment of seizures, and the rectal route provides a rapid and reliable absorption of the medication.

Cations are electrolytes that have an overall positive charge because they have lost electrons and become positively charged. Anions, on the other hand, are electrolytes that have an overall negative charge because they have gained electrons and become negatively charged.

The appropriate metric units of weight from largest to smallest are kilogram (kg), gram (g), milligram (mg), and microgram (microg). The kilogram is the largest unit, followed by the gram, milligram, and microgram, which is the smallest unit.

Sodium bicarbonate is commonly known as baking soda and its chemical formula is NaHCO3. This compound consists of one sodium ion (Na+), one hydrogen ion (H+), one carbonate ion (CO3^2-), and one hydroxide ion (OH-). The correct chemical sign for sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3, as indicated in the answer.

Administering isotonic solutions to patients with hypertension and congestive heart failure requires caution because these patients already have high blood pressure and compromised heart function. Isotonic solutions can increase blood volume and potentially worsen hypertension and heart failure. Therefore, careful monitoring and adjustment of fluid administration are necessary to prevent further complications in these patients.

When a manually inserted intraosseous needle is placed properly in an adult, it should rest at a 90 degree angle to the bone. This position ensures that the needle is securely inserted into the bone marrow, allowing for effective delivery of fluids or medications. Placing the needle at a 45 degree angle may not provide optimal access to the bone marrow, while the use of a pressure infuser is not necessary if the needle is correctly positioned. Additionally, the needle should not be easily removable in order to maintain a stable and secure access point.

Patients with inadequate peripheral perfusion should not be given subcutaneous or intramuscular injections. Inadequate peripheral perfusion means that there is poor blood flow to the extremities, which can interfere with the absorption and distribution of the medication. Subcutaneous and intramuscular injections rely on good blood flow to ensure proper absorption and distribution of the drug. Therefore, it is important to avoid these types of injections in patients with inadequate peripheral perfusion to ensure that the medication is effective.

Failure to pinch the tubing proximal to the injection port when administering a drug via the IV bolus route can result in too much of the medication entering the patient's circulation. This occurs because without pinching the tubing, the medication may flow freely into the bloodstream without being adequately diluted, potentially leading to adverse effects or overdose. It is essential to control the flow of medication during IV bolus administration to ensure patient safety and proper dosage delivery.

Bicarbonate is the primary buffer used in all circulating body fluids. It helps maintain the pH balance in the body by neutralizing excess acid or base. Bicarbonate ions can combine with hydrogen ions to form carbonic acid, which can then be converted into water and carbon dioxide by the body. This process helps regulate the acidity of the blood and other body fluids, ensuring that they stay within a narrow pH range for optimal function. Phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium are important electrolytes in the body, but they do not function as primary buffers in the same way as bicarbonate.

To administer 500 mL of normal saline over 1 hour using a macrodrip administration set that allows 15 gtts/min, you need to calculate the flow rate in gtts/min. The formula for calculating flow rate is volume (in mL) divided by time (in minutes), which gives you 500 mL/60 min = 8.33 mL/min. Since the administration set allows 15 gtts/min, you can convert the flow rate from mL/min to gtts/min by multiplying it by the drop factor (gtts/mL), which is 15 gtts/mL. Therefore, 8.33 mL/min x 15 gtts/mL = 124.95 gtts/min, which can be rounded up to 125 gtts/min.

To convert pounds to kilograms, we divide the weight in pounds by 2.2046. In this case, dividing 130 pounds by 2.2046 gives us approximately 58.96 kilograms, which can be rounded up to 59 kilograms. Therefore, the correct answer is 59.

Medications are rarely given orally in the prehospital setting because absorption via this route is slow. This means that the medication takes longer to enter the bloodstream and produce its desired effect. In emergency situations, time is critical, and a slow onset of action can be detrimental to the patient's condition. Therefore, other routes of administration, such as intravenous or intramuscular, are preferred as they allow for faster absorption and a more predictable onset of action.

The correct answer is "it bypasses most barriers to drug absorption." When medication is administered intravenously, it is directly injected into the bloodstream, bypassing the need for absorption through the gastrointestinal tract or other barriers. This allows the medication to quickly reach its target and take effect faster compared to other routes of administration.

Isotonic solutions have almost the same osmolarity as bodily fluids. Osmolarity refers to the concentration of solutes in a solution, and isotonic solutions have a similar concentration of solutes as bodily fluids. This means that when isotonic solutions are administered, there is no net movement of water into or out of the cells, as the osmolarity is balanced. This helps to maintain the normal fluid balance in the body and prevent any adverse effects on cells and tissues.

Before delivering the medication during an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, it is important to pull back on the plunger to aspirate for blood. This step helps to ensure that the needle has not entered a blood vessel. If blood is aspirated into the syringe, it indicates that the needle has punctured a blood vessel, and the medication should not be injected at that site. This step is crucial to prevent accidental injection into a blood vessel, which could lead to adverse effects or complications.

Bradypnea refers to abnormally slow breathing. While dehydration can cause various symptoms such as flushed, dry skin, postural hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up), and dry mucous membranes, it does not typically cause bradypnea. Therefore, bradypnea is the exception among the given signs and symptoms of dehydration.

Subcutaneous medication administration typically involves administering volumes of a drug that are 1 mL or less. This means that the amount of medication given through subcutaneous injection is usually small. Other routes of administration, such as intramuscular or intravenous, may be used for larger volumes of medication.

Diffusion is the correct answer because it refers to the movement of compounds or charges across a cell membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. This process occurs spontaneously and does not require any energy input. Osmosis, on the other hand, specifically refers to the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane. Filtration involves the movement of substances through a membrane under pressure, and selective permeability refers to the property of allowing certain substances to pass through while restricting others.

The answer "subcutaneous, intramuscular, sublingual, inhalation, intravenous" is correct because it lists the medication routes in order from slowest to fastest rates of absorption. Subcutaneous administration involves injecting the medication into the fatty tissue beneath the skin, which results in slower absorption. Intramuscular administration involves injecting the medication into the muscle tissue, which allows for faster absorption compared to subcutaneous. Sublingual administration involves placing the medication under the tongue, where it is rapidly absorbed through the mucous membranes. Inhalation administration involves inhaling the medication into the lungs, which allows for quick absorption through the respiratory system. Intravenous administration involves injecting the medication directly into the bloodstream, resulting in the fastest absorption rate.

The correct answer is "is the water contained inside the cells." Intracellular fluid refers to the fluid that is present within the cells of the body. It is the water and other solutes that are contained within the cell membrane. This fluid is essential for the proper functioning of the cells and plays a crucial role in various cellular processes.

Once an IV solution is removed from its protective sterile plastic bag, it must be used within 24 hours to ensure its safety and effectiveness. This is because once the solution is exposed to air and other contaminants, the risk of bacterial growth and contamination increases over time. Using the solution within 24 hours helps to minimize this risk and ensure that the patient receives a safe and effective treatment.

Solutes are defined as the dissolved particles contained in a solvent. In a solution, the solute is the substance that is dissolved, while the solvent is the substance in which the solute is dissolved. The solute particles are typically smaller in size and are dispersed throughout the solvent. This definition accurately describes the nature of solutes in a solution, distinguishing them from the solvent and emphasizing their dissolved state.

To determine the IV flow rate in gtts/min, we need to calculate the total number of drops required to deliver 4,500 mL over 8 hours. First, we convert 8 hours to minutes by multiplying it by 60, resulting in 480 minutes. Then, we divide the total volume (4,500 mL) by the administration set (10 gtts/mL) to find the total number of drops required, which is 45,000 gtts. Finally, we divide the total number of drops by the total time in minutes (480) to get the flow rate in gtts/min, which is approximately 94. Therefore, the correct answer is 94.

A disinfectant is toxic to living tissues and should never be used on a patient because its purpose is to destroy pathogens, not to be applied directly to the body. Disinfectants are typically used to cleanse surfaces, equipment, or non-living objects in order to reduce the risk of infection. However, they can be harmful to living tissues and may cause irritation, damage, or adverse reactions if applied to the skin or mucous membranes. Therefore, they should be used with caution and only as directed, avoiding direct contact with patients.

The correct answer is 0.1 mg because the question states that the girl requires a dose of 0.01 mg/kg. Since the girl weighs about 25 lbs, we need to convert her weight to kilograms by dividing it by 2.2 (since 1 kg is approximately 2.2 lbs). 25 lbs / 2.2 lbs/kg = 11.36 kg. Multiplying her weight by the dose (0.01 mg/kg) gives us 0.01 mg/kg * 11.36 kg = 0.1136 mg. Rounding to the nearest tenth, we get 0.1 mg. Therefore, we would administer 0.1 mg of epinephrine.

The tonicity of a solution is determined by the concentration of sodium in the solution and the movement of water in relation to the sodium level inside and outside the cell. Tonicity refers to the ability of a solution to cause a cell to gain or lose water. If the concentration of sodium is higher outside the cell, water will move out of the cell, causing it to shrink and the solution is hypertonic. If the concentration of sodium is lower outside the cell, water will move into the cell, causing it to swell and the solution is hypotonic. If the concentration of sodium is the same inside and outside the cell, there will be no net movement of water and the solution is isotonic.

When 5% dextrose in water (D5W) is infused into the body, the dextrose is metabolized quickly by the body. As a result, the solution becomes hypotonic, meaning it has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the intracellular fluid. This causes fluid to shift from the intracellular space into the vascular space, leading to an increase in blood volume. The rapid cellular uptake of dextrose also occurs, causing the solution to quickly become isotonic, meaning it has the same concentration of solutes as the intracellular fluid. This rapid expansion of the vascular space effectively increases blood pressure.

When drawing medication from an ampule, it is important to gently tap the ampule if medication is stuck in the neck. This helps to dislodge any medication that may be clinging to the sides of the ampule, ensuring that the full dose is withdrawn. Cleansing the rubber stopper with an alcohol prep is not necessary when drawing medication from an ampule, as the medication is already sterile. Using a 14 or 16 gauge hypodermic needle is not always necessary and may depend on the specific medication and patient's needs. Injecting air into the ampule before withdrawing the medication is not a recommended practice.

The most appropriate IV catheter to use when starting the IV for an elderly man with congestive heart failure and shortness of breath is the 20 gauge 1 1/4" catheter. This size is suitable for most medication administration and is less likely to cause complications such as infiltration or phlebitis. Using a smaller gauge catheter may be more difficult to administer medications quickly, while using a larger gauge catheter may increase the risk of complications. Therefore, the 20 gauge 1 1/4" catheter strikes a balance between ease of administration and minimizing complications.

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. The net effect of osmosis is to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane. This means that water will move from the side with lower solute concentration to the side with higher solute concentration until the concentrations are balanced.

The flat bone of the proximal tibia is the most commonly used site for inserting an intraosseous needle. This is because the proximal tibia provides a large, flat surface that is easily accessible and has a good blood supply. Additionally, the tibia is a weight-bearing bone, which makes it more stable for needle insertion compared to other sites.

When administering a drug via IV bolus, you are giving the drug in one mass. This means that the entire dose of the drug is delivered into the bloodstream all at once, rather than slowly or over time. This method allows for a rapid and immediate effect of the drug, as it quickly reaches therapeutic levels in the body.

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This occurs in order to equalize the solute concentration on both sides of the membrane. The water molecules move in this direction because they are attracted to the higher solute concentration and want to dilute it.

Hypotonic solutions like normal saline and lactated Ringer's solution have a lower concentration of solutes compared to the cells. When these solutions are administered, they draw fluid from the cells and into the vascular space, causing the cells to become hydrated while depleting the vascular compartment. This can be beneficial in certain situations, such as in patients with head trauma, where reducing brain swelling and maintaining cellular hydration is important.