ABCDE and history taking

Question 1

How should you initiate a patient assessment?

Answer 1

• introduce yourself
• ask PT’s name
• ask presenting complaint
• explain the need for an assessment
• GET CONSENT

Question 2

What scale is used to assess a patients response?

Answer 2

AVPU

GCS on disability

Question 3

What information should you gather on approach?

Answer 3

Non-verbal indicators

How does the patient look?

Question 4

What 2 checks indicate a patients airway is clear and patent?

Answer 4

1. They are talking with ease

2. Visually inspect

Question 5

What checks make up a breathing assessment?

Answer 5

RIPPAS (P) 
-RR 
-Inspect 
-Palpate 
-Percuss
-Auscultate
-SP02 
(Peak flow if required)

Question 6

What checks make up a circulatory assessment

Answer 6

BiCEPS

• Blood pressure
• Capillary refill
• ECG
• Pulse
• Skin

Question 7

What checks are included in a Disability assessment?

Answer 7

BFG TP

• Blood Glucose
• FAST (if indicated)
• GCS
• Temperature
• Pupils

Question 8

What are the 3 parts to a GCS assessment?

Answer 8

EVM
Eyes (4)
Voice (5)
Motor (6)

Question 9

What are the parts of a fast test?

Answer 9

Face (puff cheeks and smile)
Arms (raise and squeeze hands)
Speech (slurred - purple hippopotamus)
Time (of onset)

Question 10

What does ‘E’ stand for?

Answer 10

Expose
Examine
Enquire

Question 11

What is the pain assessment pneumonic?

Answer 11

SOCRATES

Question 12

Socrates

Answer 12

Site - where exactly is the pain

Question 13

sOcrates

Answer 13

Onset - What were you doing when this started?

Question 14

soCrates

Answer 14

Character - Aching/burning/With movement etc

Question 15

socRates

Answer 15

Radiates

Question 16

socrAtes

Answer 16

Associated symptoms (fever, chills nausea)

Question 17

socraTes

Answer 17

Time (onset and duration)

Question 18

socratEs

Answer 18

Exacerbating (and relieving) factors

• movement.
• passing stools etc

Question 19

socrateS

Answer 19

Severity - scale and monitor

Question 20

What does the pneumonic SAMPLE stand for?

Answer 20

Signs and Symptoms 
Allergies 
Medications 
Past medical history
Last eaten and drank 
Events prior

Question 21

What are the 4 main points to cover when taking patient history?

Answer 21

• History of the complaint
• AMPLE
• Social history
• Family history

Question 22

What checks make up E?

Answer 22

Expose and Examine
- Limbs 
- Back 
- Skin
- Abdomen 
Enquire 
- bowels, urinary, nausea, been sick? 
- SAMPLE 
- History
     Of complaint
     Family 
     Social
- Pain?