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WorksheetsChapter 18: General Pharmacology Introduction
Total questions: 31
Worksheet time: 16mins
Which term best describes the study of drugs, their sources, characteristics, and effects?
Toxicology, studying poisons and exposures
Pathology, studying disease causes and effects
Pharmacology, studying drug sources and effects
Physiology, studying body systems functions
Match each EMT-carried or assisted medication with its primary clinical purpose.
Aspirin
Suspected cardiac chest discomfort
Oral glucose
Symptomatic hypoglycemia in a diabetic
Epinephrine auto-injector
Anaphylaxis with airway involvement
Naloxone
Opioid overdose with respiratory depression
An EMT is preparing to administer a medication. Which action demonstrates adherence to the Five Rights of medication administration?
Ask partner to choose route based on habit
Confirm right patient, drug, dose, route, time
Open medication, then verify with medical control
Estimate weight, calculate dose, document later
You arrive to find a wheezing asthma patient with a prescribed bronchodilator inhaler. Medical direction authorizes assistance. Plan the steps to safely assist the patient using concepts from this chapter.
List the correct sequence as an MCQ: Which plan best reflects proper assistance with a prescribed inhaler under standing orders?
Verify medication, check expiration, shake inhaler, instruct full exhalation, seal lips, press and inhale slowly, hold breath, reassess effects
Hand inhaler immediately, let patient self-dose, document later, reassess only if symptoms worsen
Shake inhaler, press and spray into air, give to patient, skip instructions, move to transport quickly
Call dispatch for advice, avoid reassessment, postpone documentation until end of shift
Match each EMT-administered medication with its best use or key consideration.
Aspirin
Antiplatelet for suspected cardiac-origin chest pain
Oral glucose
Buccal administration for awake patient with low blood sugar
Oxygen
Give when hypoxic; withhold when no good reason
Activated charcoal
Adsorbs certain poisons in the GI tract
A conscious diabetic patient presents with altered mental status and low blood sugar. Which EMT action is most appropriate?
Withhold glucose until patient becomes unresponsive
Insert oral glucose between cheek and gum
Administer intramuscular insulin immediately
Provide nitroglycerin for cerebral perfusion
You are five minutes from the hospital with a 68-year-old woman with sudden chest tightness and nausea. You have assessed her and started high-concentration oxygen. Local protocols allow EMT-administered aspirin. What factor should guide your decision to give aspirin now?
Aspirin works only when given with nitroglycerin
Time to hospital is very short today
Aspirin primarily treats nausea from chest pain
A good indication exists and no contraindications
Which statement best explains why intranasal naloxone can reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression in the field?
Nasal mucosa rapidly absorbs small droplets into circulation
It bypasses metabolism to permanently block opioid receptors
The spray cools nasal passages to stimulate spontaneous breathing
It acts only if the patient has no narcotic exposure at baseline
Match each item with the correct description.
Spacer
Device that holds aerosol to ease coordinated inhalation
Albuterol inhaler
Short-acting bronchodilator for obstructed airflow relief
Naloxone (Narcan)
Antidote that reverses narcotic effects quickly
A patient with asthma presents with wheezing and dyspnea and has their own prescribed metered-dose inhaler. Which action is most appropriate for an EMT prior to assisting with administration?
Verify the inhaler belongs to the patient and obtain medical direction
Shake the inhaler and deliver multiple puffs without coaching
Request family permission even if offline protocols allow
Withhold use because inhalers cause dangerous tachycardia
Which patient presentation is a contraindication for assisting with nitroglycerin?
History of hypertension on beta-blocker
Systolic pressure 88 mmHg with chest pain
Recent meal with stable vital signs
Mild headache after exertional chest pain
Match each condition with the primary pathophysiology described.
Asthma
Small airway reactivity with expiratory air trapping
Anaphylaxis
Immune-mediated vasodilation and airway edema
Both conditions
Bronchoconstriction responsive to beta-agonists
You find an adult with facial swelling, hives, wheezing, and hypotension after a bee sting. Which action provides the most immediate benefit?
Give nitroglycerin for chest tightness
Place in Fowler position and give water
Administer intramuscular epinephrine promptly
Apply cold packs and observe closely
Which statement best distinguishes anaphylaxis from isolated asthma exacerbation?
Asthma primarily causes severe hypotension
Asthma always presents with skin hives
Anaphylaxis only causes expiratory wheezes
Anaphylaxis adds systemic signs like hypotension
Drug name types often encountered in EMS include chemical, generic, and trade. Which option correctly pairs form and example style?
Generic name equals company marketing
Chemical name short and brand-like
Trade name lowercase, e.g., ventolin hfa
Generic name not capitalized, e.g., albuterol
Which statement best distinguishes indications from contraindications for a medication?
Indications list doses; contraindications list administration routes
Indications are drug side effects; contraindications are intended actions
Indications are when use is appropriate; contraindications are when it is not
Indications are physician orders; contraindications are EMT protocols
Match each effect type to its description.
Side effect
Predictable but undesired action
Untoward effect
Harmful effect beyond desired action
Intended effect
Therapeutic action sought
Indication
Reason to administer a drug
An EMT is unsure about a medication order received via radio. What is the best immediate action?
Use the echo technique and ask for verbal confirmation
Wait silently for ALS to arrive on scene
Proceed if the dose seems familiar to you
Administer half the dose to be safe
You are preparing to administer nitroglycerin. The patient has chest pain, systolic blood pressure of 86 mmHg, and took sildenafil earlier today. What should you do next?
Withhold the drug due to multiple contraindications
Give one dose because chest pain is an indication
Administer oxygen and give nitroglycerin immediately
Contact pharmacy for dosing clarification first
Which item is NOT part of the Five Rights to verify before giving a medication?
Right patient
Right expiration date
Right dose
Right route of administration
Off-line medical direction primarily involves which of the following?
Standing orders and written protocols
Physician presence at the scene
Hospital-based dosing calculators
Real-time verbal physician orders
Match each route of administration to the most accurate characteristic.
Sublingual
Absorbed via oral mucosa; faster than swallowing
Intranasal with atomizer
Fine droplets sprayed; requires intact mucosa
Subcutaneous
Into fatty tissue; slower than IM
Endotracheal
Into tracheal tube; variable lung absorption
A 64-year-old with chronic asthma carries an Advair Diskus inhaler but is in severe respiratory distress now. What is the most appropriate immediate action regarding that device?
Use it for acute relief during the attack now
Add ipratropium to the device for faster action
Avoid it for acute relief and provide other therapy
Double the dose to achieve rapid bronchodilation
Match each herbal agent to its commonly reported use.
St. John’s wort
Depression support
Ginkgo biloba
Poor circulation or memory issues
Ginger root
Nausea and vomiting
Valerian root
Insomnia relief
Which part of an IV administration set is used to control the rate of fluid entering the patient?
The drip chamber below the bag
The injection port near the clamp
The flow regulator on the tubing
The spike inserted into the bag
You open a new IV set and are about to spike the bag. Which action best maintains sterility and prevents contamination?
Remove both caps and lay them on a tray
Twist the spike into the port without touching tips
Open the roller clamp to flush air first
Squeeze the drip chamber before inserting spike
An IV that was flowing well has slowed to a drip. What is the FIRST problem you should check and correct?
The patient’s blood pressure trend
A constricting band left on the arm
If the IV is a microdrip set
Whether the solution has expired
Match each issue with the most appropriate immediate corrective action.
Drip chamber overfilled
Invert chamber and pump fluid back
Air remaining in tubing
Open regulator to flush air through
Tubing kink under equipment
Reposition patient or move equipment
Flow stopped by closed clamp
Release or open the clamp
Which medication is an antidote for narcotic overdoses that an EMT may administer under protocol?
Naloxone via intranasal route
Epinephrine auto-injector
Oral glucose gel packet
Nitroglycerin sublingual spray
What does BOAS stand for?
Brachycardia Oppressive Airway Syndrome
Broncho-Obstructive Affective Syndrome
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome
Breathing Obstructive Airway Syndrome
In airway assessment, what does the "Mallampati score" evaluate?
Neck circumference
Tongue size relative to the oropharynx
Jaw mobility
Nasal patency
