Patient Assessment Chapter 10 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is an example of a symptom? (Select all that apply)

Cyanosis

Headache (correct)

Tachycardia

Hypertension

In the case of an unconscious female pedestrian struck by a car, what should you do first?

Immediately suction her oropharynx (correct)

Quickly insert an oropharyngeal airway

Assess the rate and quality of her pulse

Assist her breathing with a bag-valve mask

Which of the following pupillary changes would indicate depressed brain function?

Both pupils dilate when a bright light is removed

Both pupils dilate with the introduction of a bright light (correct)

Both pupils react briskly to light instead of sluggishly

Both pupils constrict when a bright light is introduced

What can be concluded if a 6-month-old male's capillary refill time is approximately 4 seconds?

Peripheral circulation is decreased. Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal respiratory rate for an adult?

12 to 20 breaths per minute. Signup and view all the answers

What should the EMT determine when gathering medical history for an unconscious patient?

Determine if the patient has a medical alert bracelet or wallet card. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following patients does NOT have signs of altered mental status?

A diabetic who opens his eyes when you ask questions Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of the primary assessment?

Identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first concern when entering a scene?

Scene safety Signup and view all the answers

How do you rate a semiconscious 25-year-old woman who opens her eyes when spoken to?

Responsive to verbal stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes a patient’s pulse rate of 140 beats/min?

Tachycardia Signup and view all the answers

What is a pertinent negative?

A negative finding that requires no further care or intervention Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the primary assessment?

To identify and begin to treat immediate life threats Signup and view all the answers

At what point in the patient assessment process do you investigate the chief complaint?

History taking Signup and view all the answers

When treating a 6-year-old with a brassy crowing sound when she breathes in, what is this indicative of?

Stridor Signup and view all the answers

In what phase of patient assessment do you determine MOI/NOI?

Scene size-up Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of standard precautions?

Infection prevention Signup and view all the answers

Which device measures a patient's ventilation, circulation, and metabolism?

Capnography Signup and view all the answers

During the scene size-up, you should routinely determine all of the following, EXCEPT: the mechanism of injury or nature of illness, the ratio of pediatric patients to adult patients, whether or not additional resources are needed, if there are any hazards that will jeopardize safety.

the ratio of pediatric patients to adult patients. Signup and view all the answers

What should you do upon finding a patient shot in the head?

Retreat to a safe place and wait for law enforcement to arrive. Signup and view all the answers

Where should findings such as inadequate breathing or an altered level of consciousness be identified?

Primary assessment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would you NOT detect while determining your initial general impression of a patient?

Rapid heart rate Signup and view all the answers

What should you do after protecting the spine and administering oxygen to an elderly woman post-fall?

Perform a rapid exam Signup and view all the answers

How should you describe a semiconscious patient who pushes your hand away when you pinch his earlobe?

Responsive to painful stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Assessment of an unconscious patient's breathing begins by:

Manually positioning the head Signup and view all the answers

What serious breathing problem is indicated if a 12-year-old patient can only speak two to three words without pausing?

Two- to three-word dyspnea Signup and view all the answers

How should you determine the pulse in an unresponsive 8-year-old patient?

Palpate the carotid pulse in the neck Signup and view all the answers

In assessing a patient's pain that started in the chest and spread to the legs, what part of the OPQRST mnemonic is this?

Region/radiation Signup and view all the answers

Why is patient assessment an important skill for an EMT?

It helps to identify the cause and seriousness of the patient's condition. Signup and view all the answers

What can be obtained by a quick survey of the scene before greeting a patient?

Indicators of potential trauma or hazards related to the scene. Signup and view all the answers

Can you identify life-threatening problems by simply asking a patient what happened?

No, further assessment is essential in situations where patients are nonverbal. Signup and view all the answers

How does a patient's chief complaint guide you in your assessment?

The chief complaint helps to target assessment questions but may not indicate trauma or medical issues. Signup and view all the answers

What are important clues to focus on when assessing a patient?

Observe signs of unresponsiveness, symptoms of hypoxia, vital signs, and underlying conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Will a patient's injuries and problems always be clear?

No, the origin of symptoms may remain unclear without prior patient history. Signup and view all the answers

If the cause of a patient's unconsciousness is unclear, what would you do?

Ensure safety precautions, maintain airway, and manage oxygen as required. Signup and view all the answers

How would you record a lack of change in a patient's condition and vital signs?

Document the observed vital signs and patient responsiveness to treatment. Signup and view all the answers

How often should you assess vital signs in a patient?

Every 15 minutes, or every 5 minutes if signs start to destabilize. Signup and view all the answers

What additional assessment would you conduct until arrival at a hospital?

Repeat Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and perform a vital signs assessment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first concern when entering a motel room for a patient?

Scene safety Signup and view all the answers

What is this patient responsive to?

Verbal stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is this patient's chief complaint?

Fever and chills Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms describes the patient's pulse rate of 140 beats/min?

Tachycardia Signup and view all the answers

What is a relevant finding for a primary assessment?

A finding requiring no further care Signup and view all the answers

What defines a primary assessment?

Identifying life threats Signup and view all the answers

How would you proceed if you found an unsafe condition on the scene?

Make the scene safe if possible, or retreat and call for resources. Signup and view all the answers

Describe an objective finding for the patient.

Blood pressure 100/60 mm Hg, pulse 140 beats/min, respirations 24 breaths/min. Signup and view all the answers

Describe a subjective finding for the patient.

Fever, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. Signup and view all the answers

How does the mnemonic SAMPLE assist in assessing the patient?

It helps to remember critical questions about the patient's condition. Signup and view all the answers

What should you confirm while en route to the scene of a shooting?

Confirm the perpetrator has fled with law enforcement. Signup and view all the answers

In infants and small children, skin color should be assessed on the?

Palms and soles. Signup and view all the answers

When performing a reassessment of your patient, you should first?

Repeat the primary assessment. Signup and view all the answers

During the primary assessment, circulation is evaluated by assessing?

Pulse quality, external bleeding, and skin condition. Signup and view all the answers

A patient in unstable condition should be reassessed at least every?

5 minutes. Signup and view all the answers

The pulse oximeter is an assessment tool used to evaluate the?

Effectiveness of oxygenation. Signup and view all the answers

When evaluating a patient with multiple complaints, the EMT's responsibility is to?

Determine which complaint poses the greatest threat to the patient's life. Signup and view all the answers

The goal of oxygenation for most patients is an oxygen saturation of?

94% to 99%. Signup and view all the answers

The MOST effective way to determine whether your patient's problem is medical or traumatic in origin is to?

Perform a careful and thorough assessment. Signup and view all the answers

When is it MOST appropriate to consider requesting additional ambulances at an accident scene?

When you determine there are multiple patients. Signup and view all the answers

For which of the following patients is spinal immobilization clearly indicated?

Man who was struck in the head and is now confused with slurred speech Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the secondary assessment is correct?

If your general impression doesn't reveal life threats, proceed to secondary assessment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Patient Assessment Key Concepts

First Concern on Scene: Scene safety must be ensured before any assessment.
AVPU Scale: A semiconscious patient opening eyes to verbal stimuli is rated as "responsive to verbal stimuli."
Pulse Rate Descriptors: A pulse of 140 beats/min is classified as tachycardia, indicating a rapid heart rate.
Pertinent Negatives: A negative finding that does not require further care or intervention is termed a pertinent negative.
Primary Assessment Purpose: The primary assessment aims to identify and treat immediate life threats.
MOI/NOI Assessment: Mechanism of Injury (MOI) or Nature of Illness (NOI) is determined during the scene size-up.
Respiratory Sounds: Stridor is characterized by a brassy crowing sound during inhalation, indicating airway obstruction.
Standard Precautions: Aimed at infection prevention, standard precautions are crucial in patient care.

Assessment of Consciousness and Vital Signs

Signs of Consciousness: An unresponsive patient should be assessed for both verbal and painful stimuli responsiveness.
Breathing Assessment: In an unconscious patient, respiratory assessment starts with manually positioning the head.
Identifying Dyspnea: Two- to three-word dyspnea indicates significant breathing difficulty.
Pulse Assessment: In unresponsive children, the carotid pulse should be palpated for assessment.

Pain and Patient History

OPQRST Mnemonic: Used to assess pain; "region/radiation" refers to the area where pain spreads.
Importance of Patient Assessment: Helps identify causes and severity of conditions, guiding prehospital treatment.

Scene Safety and Objective Findings

Scene Survey Importance: Initial observations can indicate potential trauma or environmental hazards.
Subjective vs Objective Findings: Objective findings include measurable data like vital signs, while subjective findings relate to reported symptoms like fever and chills.

Assessment Frequency and Documentation

Vital Signs Monitoring: Should be repeated every 15 minutes, increasing to every 5 minutes if signs deteriorate.
Reassessment Process: First step in reassessment is to repeat the primary assessment for changes in condition.

Emergency Situations

Handling Unsafe Conditions: If a scene is unsafe, make it safe if possible, or retreat and call for help.
Managing Multiple Patients: Determine the need for additional ambulances when multiple patients are present.

Special Considerations

Spinal Immobilization: Indicated for patients with altered mental status and potential spinal injuries.
Secondary Assessment Process: Conducted if no immediate life threats are present, it involves additional detailed examination.
Signs of Altered Mental Status: Can include changes in pupil reaction indicating changes in brain function or consciousness levels.

Conclusion

Continual assessment and vigilant monitoring of a patient's condition are essential in delivering effective emergency medical care. Employing proven assessment techniques and tools like the SAMPLE and OPQRST mnemonics help ensure comprehensive evaluation and appropriate response to medical emergencies.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key concepts in patient assessment with these flashcards from Chapter 10. Learn about scene safety, the AVPU scale, and important considerations when entering a medical scene. Perfect for students and professionals in the healthcare field.