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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Types of Shock Quiz for EMTs

Quick, free EMT shock practice test with instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Spider LeeUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of stethcope heart monitor and EMT symbols for shock response quiz on dark blue background.

This types of shock quiz for EMTs helps you recognize common presentations, set priorities, and choose the first actions in the field. For more review, try the module 4 EMT practice test, reinforce physiology with the emt anatomy and physiology quiz, or drill with emt practice questions.

Which type of shock is primarily caused by a significant loss of circulating blood volume?
Anaphylactic Shock
Neurogenic Shock
Hypovolemic Shock
Cardiogenic Shock
Hypovolemic shock occurs when there is a critical reduction in intravascular volume, often from severe bleeding or dehydration, leading to inadequate tissue perfusion. EMTs recognize signs such as tachycardia and hypotension in this scenario. Rapid fluid resuscitation is the cornerstone of management.
Which shock is characterized by widespread vasodilation and increased capillary permeability due to severe infection?
Hypovolemic Shock
Septic Shock
Cardiogenic Shock
Obstructive Shock
Septic shock is a form of distributive shock caused by a dysregulated immune response to infection, leading to vasodilation and capillary leak. It presents with warm skin initially and hypotension despite normal or elevated cardiac output. Early recognition and management with fluids and antibiotics are vital.
A patient presents after an acute myocardial infarction with hypotension and cool, clammy skin. Which type of shock is most likely?
Hypovolemic Shock
Cardiogenic Shock
Distributive Shock
Neurogenic Shock
Cardiogenic shock results from the heart's inability to pump effectively, often following a myocardial infarction. It leads to decreased cardiac output, hypotension, and cool, clammy extremities due to poor perfusion. Management focuses on improving myocardial function and reducing workload.
What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism in anaphylactic shock?
Loss of vascular tone from spinal injury
Massive histamine release leading to vasodilation
Obstruction of vascular flow
Pump failure of the heart
Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction in which antigen - antibody interaction triggers massive histamine and mediator release, causing widespread vasodilation and increased capillary permeability. This leads to hypotension, bronchospasm, and tissue edema. Rapid epinephrine administration is critical.
Which of the following is an early sign of compensated shock?
Altered mental status
Tachycardia with normal blood pressure
Bradycardia and hypotension
Warm, flushed skin
In compensated shock, the body maintains blood pressure via sympathetic activation, resulting in tachycardia while blood pressure remains normal. Signs like bradycardia and hypotension indicate decompensation. Early recognition allows for prompt intervention.
Which condition is most associated with obstructive shock?
Sepsis
Anaphylaxis
Heart Failure
Tension Pneumothorax
Obstructive shock occurs when blood flow is mechanically impeded, and tension pneumothorax is a classic cause due to mediastinal shift compressing vessels. Rapid needle decompression is lifesaving. Other examples include cardiac tamponade and massive pulmonary embolism.
Which sign is characteristic of neurogenic shock?
Cool, clammy skin
Bradycardia with hypotension
Tachycardia and hypertension
Warm, flushed skin
Neurogenic shock results from spinal cord injury disrupting sympathetic tone, producing unopposed parasympathetic influence. This leads to hypotension and bradycardia along with warm, dry skin due to vasodilation. Management includes fluids and vasopressors.
How does skin presentation differ between hypovolemic and septic shock?
Cool, clammy skin vs warm, flushed skin
Jaundice vs cyanosis
Petechiae vs urticaria
Warm, flushed skin vs cool, clammy skin
In hypovolemic shock, reduced volume causes sympathetic vasoconstriction, resulting in cool, clammy skin. In early septic shock, widespread vasodilation leads to warm, flushed skin. Recognizing these differences aids rapid identification of shock type.
What is the preferred initial management for a patient in septic shock after establishing airway and breathing?
Nitroprusside to reduce afterload
Aggressive IV fluid resuscitation and broad-spectrum antibiotics
Immediate corticosteroid administration
High-dose epinephrine infusion
Early goal-directed therapy in septic shock emphasizes aggressive IV fluids to restore perfusion and prompt broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat the infection. Vasopressors are added if hypotension persists after fluids. Corticosteroids are reserved for refractory cases.
Which laboratory measurement is most useful for assessing adequacy of tissue perfusion in shock?
Serum lactate level
Serum bilirubin
White blood cell count
Serum creatinine
Elevated serum lactate indicates anaerobic metabolism due to poor tissue perfusion and is a key marker in shock assessment. Normalizing lactate correlates with improved outcomes. Other labs may reflect organ dysfunction but are less specific for perfusion.
Which type of distributive shock can occur as a complication of spinal anesthesia?
Septic Shock
Hypovolemic Shock
Cardiogenic Shock
Neurogenic Shock
Spinal anesthesia blocks sympathetic nerve fibers, causing loss of vascular tone and resulting in neurogenic shock. This leads to hypotension and bradycardia. Treatment includes IV fluids and vasopressors to restore tone.
Which clinical triad is most indicative of cardiac tamponade causing obstructive shock?
Bradycardia, hypertension, widened pulse pressure
Jugular venous distension, hypotension, muffled heart sounds
Chest pain, diaphoresis, ST-elevations
Fever, leukocytosis, tachycardia
Beck's triad - jugular venous distension, hypotension, and muffled heart sounds - is classic for cardiac tamponade, an obstructive shock. This accumulation of pericardial fluid impairs ventricular filling. Emergent pericardiocentesis is required.
In acute spinal cord injury leading to neurogenic shock, what target mean arterial pressure (MAP) should be maintained to optimize spinal cord perfusion?
50 - 55 mmHg
65 - 70 mmHg
85 - 90 mmHg
100 - 110 mmHg
To prevent secondary injury after spinal cord trauma, guidelines recommend maintaining MAP between 85 and 90 mmHg for the first week. This supports adequate spinal cord perfusion pressure. Failure to maintain this target can worsen outcomes.
Which pulmonary artery catheter measurement is most diagnostic of cardiogenic shock?
Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure > 18 mmHg
Systemic vascular resistance < 800 dyn·s·cm??
Central venous pressure < 2 mmHg
Mixed venous oxygen saturation > 75%
A pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) above 18 mmHg indicates elevated left atrial pressure and poor left ventricular function, characteristic of cardiogenic shock. In contrast, hypovolemic shock shows low PCWP. This measurement guides advanced hemodynamic management.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Types of Shock -

    Understand the primary types of shock EMT professionals face, such as hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, and obstructive shock.

  2. Recognize Signs of Shock -

    Recognize the key signs of shock EMT responders must detect in the field, including altered vital signs and patient presentation.

  3. Differentiate Shock Categories -

    Distinguish between different types of shock EMT scenarios by analyzing root causes and pathophysiology.

  4. Apply Life-Saving Responses -

    Apply standardized EMT shock protocols and immediate interventions to stabilize patients effectively.

  5. Reinforce EMT Shock Knowledge -

    Reinforce your mastery of emt shock principles through targeted content review and active recall.

  6. Assess Readiness with Quiz -

    Evaluate your understanding and retention with the free shock EMT quizlet - style challenge to test life-saving skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Hypovolemic Shock -

    Hypovolemic shock arises from a critical drop in intravascular volume - often due to bleeding or severe dehydration - leading to tachycardia, hypotension, and cool, clammy skin (American Heart Association). Use the "4 D's" mnemonic (Dehydration, Diarrhea, Diabetes insipidus, Dialysis) to recall common causes (NAEMT). Rapid IV fluid boluses are vital to restore perfusion and are a key concept in any shock EMT quizlet study session.

  2. Cardiogenic Shock -

    Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart fails to pump effectively, commonly after a myocardial infarction, presenting with jugular venous distension, pulmonary edema, and chest pain (UpToDate, ACEP). Remember "COLD" (Cold skin, Orthopnea, Lethargy, Distended neck veins) to identify cardiogenic signs in the field. Management focuses on oxygenation, nitroglycerin (if not hypotensive), and rapid transport to definitive care.

  3. Distributive Shock -

    Distributive shock includes septic, anaphylactic, and neurogenic types, all characterized by vasodilation and relative hypovolemia (CDC, EMS protocols). Mnemonic "S.A.N." (Septic: warm, flushed skin; Anaphylactic: urticaria and bronchospasm; Neurogenic: bradycardia and hypotension) helps recall each subtype. Field treatment ranges from IV antibiotics and fluids for sepsis to epinephrine for anaphylaxis and spinal immobilization for neurogenic cases.

  4. Obstructive Shock -

    Obstructive shock results from physical impediments to cardiac filling or output, such as tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, or massive pulmonary embolism (Journal of Emergency Medicine). Recognize key signs - Beck's triad for tamponade (hypotension, muffled heart sounds, JVD) or tracheal deviation in tension pneumothorax. Immediate interventions like needle decompression or pericardiocentesis are life-saving in the field.

  5. Recognition & Management Algorithm -

    Master the ABCDE approach (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure) combined with SAMPLE and DCAP-BTLS for rapid assessment of any shock type EMT professionals face (EMT Basic Curriculum). Use shock emt quizlet flashcards to drill vital signs thresholds (e.g., SBP < 90 mmHg) and intervention priorities. Early recognition of signs of shock EMT protocols improves outcomes and boosts your confidence on every call.

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