Ch 10 Patient Assessment Flashcards
The secondary muscles of respiration. They include the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectoralis major muscles, and the abdominal muscles
accessory muscles
A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body
altered mental status
To listen to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope
auscultate
A method of assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in assessment process
AVPU scale
the pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them
blood pressure
A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min
bradycardia
An indication of air movement in the lungs, usually assessed with a stethoscope
breath sounds
A test that evaluates distal circulatory system function by squeezing (blanching) blood from an area such as a nail bed and watching the speed of its return
capillary refill
A noninvasive method to quickly and efficiently provide information on a patient’s ventilatory status, circulation, and metabolism; effectively measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired air over time
capnography
A component of air that typically makes up 0.03% of air at sea level; also a waste product exhaled during expiration by the respiratory system
carbon dioxide
The reason a patient called for help; also, the patient’s response to questions such as “What’s wrong?” or “What happened?”
chief complaint
The delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eye
conjunctiva
A crackling, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs
crackles
A grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together
crepitus
A blue skin discoloration that is caused by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood
cyanosis
A mnemonic for assessment in which each area of the body is evaluated for Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures/penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, and Swelling
DCAP-BTLS
Characterized by light or profuse sweating
Diaphoretic
The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart’s cycle when the left ventricle is a rest
diastolic pressure
Any injury that prevents the patient from noticing other injuries he or she may have, even severe injuries; for example, a painful femur or tibia fracture that prevents the patient from noticing back pain associated with a spinal fracture
distracting injury
The conclusion about the cause of the patient’s condition after considering the situation, history, and examination findings
field impression
A type of physical assessment typically performed on patients who have sustained nonsignificant mechanisms of injury or on responsive medical patients. This type of examination is based on the chief complaint and focuses on one body system or part
focused assessment
Damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold
frostbite
The overall initial impression that determines the priority for patient care; based on the patient’s surroundings, the mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms, and the chief complaint
general impression
The time from injury to definitive care, during which treatment of shock and traumatic injuries should occur because survival potential is best
Golden Hour/ Period
Involuntary muscle contractions (spasm) of the abdominal wall; an effort to protect the inflamed abdomen
guarding
A step within the patient assessment process that provides detail about the patient’s chief complaint and an account of the patient’s signs and symptoms
history taking
blood pressure that is higher than the normal range
hypertension
Blood pressure that is lower than the normal range
hypotension
A condition in which the internal body temperature falls below 95º F (35º C)
hypothermia
A system implemented to manage disasters and mass- and multiple-casualty incidents in which section chiefs, including finance, logistics, operations, and planning, report to the incident commander
incident command system
Yellow skin or sclera that is caused by liver disease or dysfunction
jaundice
Breathing that requires greater than normal effort; may be slower or faster than normal and characterized by grunting, stridor, and use of accessory muscles
labored breathing
The average pressure in the circulatory system during one cardiac cycle
mean arterial pressure (MAP)
The forces, or energy transmission, applied to the body that causes injury
mechanism of injury (MOI)
The biochemical processes that result in production of energy from nutrients within the cells
metabolism
Widening of the nostrils, indicating that there is an airway obstruction
nasal flaring
The general type of illness a patient is experiencing
nature of illness (NOI)
A mnemonic used in evaluating a patient’s pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity, and Timing
OPQRST
The mental status of a patient as measured by memory of person (name), place (current location), time (current, year, month, and approximate date) and event (what happened)
orientation
To examine by touch
palpate
The motion of the portion of the chest wall that is detached in a flail chest; the motion- in during inhalation, out during exhalation- is exactly the opposite of normal chest wall motion during breathing
paradoxical motion
the flow of blood through body tissues and vessels
perfusion
Protective equipment that block exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material
personal protective equipment (PPE)
negative findings that warrant no care or intervention
pertinent negatives
A step within the patient assessment process that identifies and initiates treatment of immediate and potential life threats
primary assessment
The wave of pressure created as the heart contracts and forces blood out the left ventricle and into the major arteries
pulse
An assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the capillary beds
pulse oximetry
A step within the patient assessment process performed at regular intervals during the assessment process to identify and treat changes in a patient’s condition. A patient in unstable condition should have this done every 5 minutes, whereas a patient in stable condition should have this done every 15 minutes
reassessment
The way in which a patient responds to external stimuli, including verbal stimuli (sound), tactile stimuli (touch), and painful stimuli
responsiveness
Movements in which the skin pulls in around the ribs during inspiration
retractions
Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in upper airways
rhonchi
A brief history of a patient’s condition to determine signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to the injury or illness
SAMPLE history
A step within the patient assessment process that involves a quick assessment of the scene and the surroundings to provide information about scene safety and the mechanism of injury or nature of illness before you enter and begin patient care
scene size-up
A tough, fibrous, white portion of the eye that protects the more delicate inner structures
sclera
A step within the patient assessment process in which a systematic physical examination of the patient is performed. The examination may be a systematic exam or an assessment that focuses on a certain area or region of the body, often determined through the chief complaint
secondary assessment
Respirations characterized by little movement of the chest wall (reduced tidal volume) or poor chest excursion
shallow respirations
Objective finding that can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, or measured
sign
Knowledge and understanding of one’s surroundings and the ability to recognize potential risks to the safety of the patient or EMS team
situational awareness
An upright position in which the patient’s head and chin are thrust slightly forward to keep the airway open
sniffing position
Breathing that occurs without assistance
spontaneous respirations
Protective measures that have traditionally been developed by the CDC for use in dealing with objects, blood, body fluids, and other potential exposure risks of communicable disease
standard precautions
A harsh, high-pitched, respiratory sound, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may be audible without stethoscope
stridor
A characteristic crackling sensation felt on palpation of the skin, caused by the presence of air in soft tissue
subcutaneous emphysema
Subjective findings that the patient feels but that can be identified only by the patient
symptoms
The increased pressure in an artery with each contraction of the ventricles
systolic pressure
A rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min
tachycardia
The amount of air (in milliliters) that is moved into or out of the lungs during one breath
tidal volume
TO SORT. The process of establishing treatment and transportation priorities according to severity of injury and medical need
triage
An upright position in which the patient leans forward onto two arms stretched forward and thrusts the head and chin forward
tripod position
A severe breathing problem in which a patient can speak only two to three words at a time without pausing to take a breath
two- to three- word dyspnea
Narrowing of a blood vessel
vasoconstriction
The key signs that are used to evaluate the patient’s overall condition, including respirations, pulse, blood pressure, level of consciousness, and skin characteristics
vital signs
A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on expiration, and which suggests an obstruction or narrowing of the lower airways; occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis
wheezing
