EMT Ch 12 Medical Overview Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Which of the following assessment findings is MOST indicative of a cardiovascular problem?

Jugular venous distention (correct)

Rapid pulse

High blood pressure

Chest pain

When performing a secondary assessment on a conscious patient with non-traumatic abdominal pain and stable vital signs, what should you focus on?

His or her chief complaint.

Which of the following will MOST reliably allow you to determine the nature of a patient's illness?

Asking questions related to the chief complaint (correct)

Conducting a physical examination

Checking vital signs

Reviewing the patient's medical history

In addition to looking for severe bleeding, assessment of circulation in the conscious patient should involve what?

Checking the radial pulse and noting the color, temperature, and condition of his or her skin. Signup and view all the answers

When forming your general impression of a patient with a medical complaint, what is important to remember?

The conditions of many medical patients may not appear serious at first. Signup and view all the answers

Early signs and symptoms of viral hepatitis include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Cough Signup and view all the answers

Before assisting a patient with prescribed nitroglycerin tablets, what should you ask if he takes medication to treat erectile dysfunction?

Ask him what he takes, how much, and when he last took it. Signup and view all the answers

Factors that increase the risk for developing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) include:

Prolonged hospitalization, especially in an intensive care unit. Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following situations would it be MOST appropriate to utilize an air medical transportation service?

61-year-old man with signs and symptoms of a stroke and your ground transport time is 50 minutes Signup and view all the answers

Syphilis is a:

Bloodborne disease that can successfully be treated with penicillin. Signup and view all the answers

Upon initial contact with a patient who appears to be unconscious, what should you do?

Attempt to elicit a verbal response by talking to the patient. Signup and view all the answers

In contrast to the assessment of a trauma patient, assessment of a medical patient is focused on:

The nature of illness, the patient's chief complaint, and his or her symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

The secondary assessment of a medical patient is:

Not practical if the patient is critically ill or your transport time is short. Signup and view all the answers

A patient who was bitten by a mosquito and presents with signs and symptoms of illness should be suspected of having:

West Nile virus. Signup and view all the answers

End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitoring is clearly indicated for patients who present with:

Respiratory distress. Signup and view all the answers

The primary prehospital treatment for most medical emergencies should address:

The patient's symptoms more than the actual disease process. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions is NOT categorized as a psychiatric condition?

Substance abuse Signup and view all the answers

In addition to obtaining a SAMPLE history and asking questions related to the chief complaint, what else should you inquire about when assessing a patient with a potentially infectious disease?

Recent travel. Signup and view all the answers

You and your EMT partner arrive at the residence of a critically ill 50-year-old man. What should you do?

Manage all threats to airway, breathing, and circulation and consider requesting an ALS unit. Signup and view all the answers

It is especially important to assess pulse, sensation, and movement in all extremities as well as pupillary reactions in patients with a suspected _________ problem.

neurologic. Signup and view all the answers

After sizing up the scene of a patient with a possible infectious disease, what should your next priority be?

Take standard precautions. Signup and view all the answers

Ten days after treating a patient with tuberculosis, your tuberculin skin test yields a positive result. This MOST likely indicates that:

You were exposed to another infected person prior to treating the 34-year-old patient. Signup and view all the answers

A 33-year-old female presents with lower abdominal quadrant pain and you cannot locate her radial pulse. What should you do?

Assess the rate, regularity, and quality of her carotid pulse. Signup and view all the answers

In contrast to viral hepatitis, toxin-induced hepatitis is:

Not a communicable disease. Signup and view all the answers

A patient who presents with a headache, fever, confusion, and red blotches on his or her skin should be suspected of having:

Meningitis. Signup and view all the answers

Typical chief complaints in patients with an infectious disease include:

Fever, rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding the H1N1 virus is correct?

It is only one type of influenza among the many other strains of influenza that exist and infect humans. Signup and view all the answers

Patients with tuberculosis pose the greatest risk for transmitting the disease when they:

Cough. Signup and view all the answers

The determination of whether a medical patient is a high-priority or low-priority transport is typically made:

After the primary assessment has been completed. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is correct?

The risk of HIV infection is greatest when deposited on a mucous membrane or directly into the bloodstream. Signup and view all the answers

What is the greatest danger in displaying a personal bias or 'labeling' a patient who frequently calls EMS?

Overlooking a potentially serious medical condition. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions often requires transport to a hospital with specialized capabilities that may not be available at the closest hospital?

Stroke and heart attack Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is correct?

SARS is caused by a virus and usually starts with flulike symptoms that deteriorate to pneumonia and respiratory failure. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following medications would the EMT LEAST likely administer to a patient with a medical complaint?

Naloxone (Narcan) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding hepatitis A is correct?

Hepatitis A can only be transmitted by a patient who has an acute infection. Signup and view all the answers

Reassessment of a patient with a medical complaint should begin by:

Repeating the primary assessment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is correct?

MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections and is resistant to most antibiotics. Signup and view all the answers

When assessing a patient with a medical complaint, which of the following would MOST likely reveal the cause of his or her problem?

History taking. Signup and view all the answers

An infectious disease is MOST accurately defined as:

A medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small harmful organisms within the body. Signup and view all the answers

In the primary assessment of an elderly woman experiencing difficulty breathing, what should you direct your partner to do?

Administer oxygen with the appropriate device. Signup and view all the answers

After completing the primary assessment of a 48-year-old man with crushing chest pain, and noting bradycardia, what should you do?

Prepare the patient for immediate transport. Signup and view all the answers

An index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:

Your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying and unseen injuries or illness. Signup and view all the answers

When caring for a patient with an altered mental status and signs of circulatory compromise, how should you handle your time at the scene?

Limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible. Signup and view all the answers

Hepatitis B is more virulent than hepatitis C, which means that it:

Has a greater ability to produce disease. Signup and view all the answers

When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, what is the best practice?

Take all of the patient's medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient care report. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cardiovascular Problems

Jugular venous distention is a key indicator of cardiovascular issues.

Secondary Assessment

Focus on the chief complaint when assessing a conscious patient with non-traumatic abdominal pain and stable vital signs.

Determining Illness Nature

Questions related to the chief complaint provide the best insight into a patient's condition.

Circulation Assessment

Assess circulation in conscious patients by checking the radial pulse and evaluating skin's color, temperature, and condition.

General Impression of Medical Patients

Many medical conditions may not appear serious initially; awareness and thorough assessments are crucial.

Signs of Viral Hepatitis

Early signs include abdominal pain, but jaundice is not among the earliest indicators.

Chest Discomfort and Medication Safety

Before administering nitroglycerin, inquire about any recent erectile dysfunction medications.

MRSA Risk Factors

Prolonged hospitalization, particularly in intensive care units, increases the risk for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Air Medical Transport Situations

Air medical transportation is suitable for time-sensitive cases like a stroke with significant ground transport delays.

Syphilis Treatment

Syphilis is a bloodborne disease effectively treated with penicillin.

Initial Patient Contact

Elicit a verbal response from an unconscious patient to assess responsiveness.

Medical vs. Trauma Patient Assessment

Assessment of medical patients emphasizes understanding the illness and documenting symptoms more than examining for injury.

Secondary Assessment Limitations

A secondary assessment is not feasible for critically ill patients or when transport time is limited.

Potential Infectious Diseases

A mosquito bite presenting with illness signs may indicate West Nile virus.

ETCO2 Monitoring

End-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring is indicated for patients experiencing respiratory distress.

Prehospital Treatment Focus

Initial treatment in medical emergencies typically addresses symptoms rather than the underlying disease.

Psychiatric Conditions

Substance abuse is not classified as a psychiatric condition.

Infectious Disease Assessment

Recent travel history is significant in assessing infectious diseases, in addition to SAMPLE history.

Critical Patient Management

Manage airway, breathing, and circulation first for critically ill patients, especially during long transport times.

Neurologic Assessments

Assess pulse, sensation, movement of extremities, and pupillary reactions in suspected neurologic problems.

Standard Precautions

After assessing a scene with potential infectious disease, prioritize taking standard precautions.

Tuberculosis Exposure

A positive skin test follows exposure to tuberculosis before treating the recent patient.

Vital Signs Assessment

When unable to locate a patient's radial pulse, assess the carotid pulse for critical indicators.

Toxin-Induced Hepatitis

Unlike viral hepatitis, toxin-induced hepatitis is non-communicable.

Meningitis Indicators

Symptoms such as headache, fever, confusion, and skin blotches suggest meningitis presence.

Infectious Disease Complaints

Typical chief complaints include fever, rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing.

H1N1 Virus Facts

H1N1 is a single strain of influenza among many that infect humans.

Tuberculosis Transmission Risk

Patients with tuberculosis pose the highest transmission risk when they cough.

Patient Transport Prioritization

Determining transport priority (high vs. low) occurs post-primary assessment.

HIV Infection Risks

The highest risk for HIV infection arises from contact with mucous membranes or direct blood exposure.

Patient Bias Risks

Displaying bias toward frequent EMS callers could result in neglecting serious medical conditions.

Specialized Hospital Transport

Conditions like strokes and heart attacks often necessitate transportation to hospitals with advanced capabilities.

SARS Characteristics

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) starts with flu-like symptoms, leading to pneumonia and respiratory failure.

Naloxone Administration

Naloxone (Narcan) is least likely to be administered for medical complaints, typically linked to opioid overdose.

Hepatitis A Transmission

Hepatitis A can only be transmitted by individuals with an acute infection.

Reassessment Procedures

Begin patient reassessment by repeating the primary assessment to ensure continuous monitoring.

MRSA Bacterium

MRSA is resistant to most antibiotics and can cause significant infections.

Medical Complaint Investigation

History-taking is pivotal in uncovering the cause of a medical complaint.

Infectious Disease Definition

An infectious disease results from harmful organism growth and spread within the body.

Elderly Patient Circulatory Status

For an elderly patient with breathing difficulty, direct your partner to administer appropriate oxygen.

Patient's Deteriorating Condition

If a patient presents with worsening status post-treatment (mental state changes, bradycardia), prioritize immediate transport.

Index of Suspicion

Awareness of potential unseen injuries or illnesses characterizes an index of suspicion.

Scene Time Limit

Spend no more than 10 minutes at the scene for patients with altered mental status and circulatory compromise.

Hepatitis Virulence

Hepatitis B is more virulent than Hepatitis C, indicating a higher disease transmission potential.

Medication Management

When multiple medications are involved, transport all medications to the hospital and document them accordingly.

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Description

Test your knowledge of cardiovascular and abdominal assessment techniques with these targeted flashcards from EMT Chapter 12. Each question focuses on key indicators and appropriate assessment strategies for medical emergencies. Perfect for both new and experienced EMTs preparing for their roles.