Paramedic Crash Course with Online Practice Test

Christopher Coughlin

• Publisher: Research & Education Association
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9780738688763
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Medical Theory, Practice & Reference

REA’s  Paramedic Crash Course®

Everything You Need for the Exam – in a Fast Review Format!

From the Author of REA’s Best-selling EMT Crash Course®

REA’s Paramedic Crash Course® is the only book of its kind for the last-minute studier or any prospective Paramedic who wants a quick refresher before taking the National Registry Paramedic (NRP) Exam.

Targeted, Focused Review – Study Only What You Need to Know 
Written by Dr. Christopher Coughlin, an EMS Program Director and paramedic with 27 years of experience, Paramedic Crash Course® relies on the author’s careful analysis of the exam’s content and actual test questions. It covers only the information tested on the exam, so you can make the most of your valuable study time. 

Our fully indexed targeted review covers all the official test categories including airway and breathing, medical emergencies, trauma, special patients, and EMS operations.

Expert Test-taking Strategies 
Our experienced author explains the structure of the exam, so you know what to expect on test day. He also shares detailed question-level strategies and shows you the best way to answer questions. By following our expert tips and advice, you can score higher on every section of the exam.

Full-length Online Practice Exam 
The book comes with a true-to-format online practice test with diagnostic feedback, topic-level scoring, and detailed answer explanations to help students gauge their test-readiness.

No matter how or when you prepare for the Paramedic Exam, REA’s  Paramedic Crash Course® will show you how to study efficiently and strategically, so you can get a great score!

PART I

PHARMACOLOGY

Chapter 1

Medication Administration/ Drug Calculations

I.TERMS TO KNOW

A.Bioavailability—the amount of a drug that enters central circulation and is able to cause an effect

B.Bolus—administration of medication in single dose (as opposed to an infusion)

C.Concentration—for calculation purposes, this is the total amount of medication available as packaged, e.g., total amount of drug (mcg, mg, g) in the syringe, ampule, etc.

D.Dose—the drug amount intended for administration

E.Enteral—delivery of medication through the GI tract (oral, sublingual, rectal)

F.Half-life—period of time required for concentration of drug in the body to be reduced by one-half

G.LD50—Lethal dose (LD50) is the amount of an ingested substance (in mg/kg) that kills 50% of a test sample

H.Parenteral—delivery of medication outside of the GI tract, e.g., IV, IO, IM, SQ, intranasal

I.Pharmacokinetics—movement of a drug through the body, includes absorption, bioavailability, distribution, metabolism, and excretion

J.Pharmacodynamics—the mechanism of action of a medication

K.Therapeutic index—the range between minimum effective dose of a medication and the maximum safe dose. The narrower the therapeutic index, the more risk associated with the medication.

L.Volume—for calculation purposes, this is the total amount of fluid available as packaged, e.g., total amount of fluid (mL) in the syringe, ampule, etc.

II.MEDICATION LEGISLATION

1.Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)—Prevents the manufacture, sale, or transportation of misbranded or poisonous medications.

2.Harrison Narcotic Act (1914)—Regulates production, importation, and distribution of opiates.

3.Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938)—Gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics.

4.Controlled Substances Act (1970)—Categorizes controlled substances based on their potential for abuse and potential medical benefits.

5.Schedules

i.Schedule I

high potential for abuse. No accepted medical use.

Examples: heroin, LSD, ecstasy, pe...