Ch. 18 Flashcards
Which one of the following descriptions of patient information contains only vital signs?
A) Chief complaint of dizziness, blood pressure 110/76 mmHg, breath sounds clear and equal
B) Heart rate 88, respiratory rate 14, blood glucose level 98 mg/dL
C) Blood pressure 114/76, heart rate 74, respiratory rate 18
D) Chief complaint of dizziness, skin cool and clammy, respiratory rate 16
C) Blood pressure 114/76, heart rate 74, respiratory rate 18
Page Ref: 450
Objective: 18.1 Define key terms introduced in this chapter.
You are dispatched to a residence where a three-year-old boy presents with a fever. His parents state that he has had diarrhea and vomiting for two days. The patient has not eaten in 24 hours. To BEST assess his peripheral perfusion status, you should evaluate:
A) fingertip sensation.
B) respiratory rate.
C) blood pressure.
D) capillary refill.
D) capillary refill.
Page Ref: 458
Objective: 18.2 Discuss the importance of accurate assessment and documentation of vital signs over the course of contact with the patient to identify problems and changes in the patient’s condition; 18.25 Relate the methods, techniques, and equipment for obtaining a blood pressure measurement to differences in findings and potential errors in blood pressure measurement.
Skin color is BEST evaluated at the:
A) wrists and neck.
B) limbs and torso.
C) cheeks and nose.
D) nail beds and eyes.
D) nail beds and eyes.
Page Ref: 462
Objective: 18.3 Perform the steps required to assess the patient’s respiration, pulse, skin, pupils, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation; 18.16 Recognize normal and abnormal findings in the assessment of skin and mucous membrane color, skin temperature and condition, and capillary refill time; 18.17 Associate abnormal findings in skin color, temperature, and condition with potential underlying causes.
The AEMT is correctly calculating a patient’s breathing rate when he:
A) asks the patient to describe how he feels when he breathes.
B) counts breaths for 15 seconds and multiplies by four.
C) obtains a heart rate and divides it by three.
D) assesses the patient for any sign of breathing difficulty.
B) counts breaths for 15 seconds and multiplies by four.
Page Ref: 460
Objective: 18.3 Perform the steps required to assess the patient’s respiration, pulse, skin, pupils, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
Which one of the following pieces of equipment would the EMT need to obtain a patient’s vital signs?
A) Oxygen
B) Glucometer
C) Automated defibrillator
D) Stethoscope
D) Stethoscope
Page Ref: 450
Objective: 18.3 Perform the steps required to assess the patient’s respiration, pulse, skin, pupils, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
While auscultating the chest, you hear sounds that sound like the initial “fizzing” sounds after a can of soda is opened. This is indicative of:
A) normal lung sounds.
B) atelectasis.
C) a hypoinflated lung.
D) crackles.
D) crackles.
Page Ref: 461
Objective: 18.8 Auscultate breath sounds to determine the presence and equality of breath sounds and to detect abnormal breath sounds; 18.9 Associate abnormal breath sounds with their likely underlying causes.
You are examining a patient who complains of difficulty breathing. Upon auscultation of the lung fields, you notice a light, popping, nonmusical sound. This is known as:
A) crackles.
B) rhonchi.
C) wheezing.
D) stridor.
A) crackles.
Page Ref: 461
Objective: 18.8 Auscultate breath sounds to determine the presence and equality of breath sounds and to detect abnormal breath sounds; 18.9 Associate abnormal breath sounds with their likely underlying causes.
Stridor is a high-pitched sound indicating:
A) pneumothorax.
B) normal air movement.
C) bronchoconstriction.
D) partial airway obstruction.
D) partial airway obstruction.
Page Ref: 461
Objective: 18.8 Auscultate breath sounds to determine the presence and equality of breath sounds and to detect abnormal breath sounds; 18.9 Associate abnormal breath sounds with their likely underlying causes.
An AEMT is correctly assessing a patient’s radial pulse when she:
A) uses her thumb to feel for the pulse on the patient’s lower arm.
B) simultaneously checks for a heart rate on both sides of the neck.
C) uses her fingertips to feel for a pulse at the patient’s wrist.
D) uses the palm of his hand to feel the pulse on the upper arm.
C) uses her fingertips to feel for a pulse at the patient’s wrist.
Page Ref: 451
Objective: 18.10 Assess the pulse at each of the following pulse points: carotid, femoral, radial, brachial, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis.
Which one of the pulses listed below is palpated in the groin?
A) Pedal
B) Inguinal
C) Carotid
D) Femoral
D) Femoral
Page Ref: 451
Objective: 18.10 Assess the pulse at each of the following pulse points: carotid, femoral, radial, brachial, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis.
Which one of the following is the location of the popliteal pulse?
A) Behind the knee
B) Top of foot
C) Posterior ankle
D) Upper arm
A) Behind the knee
Page Ref: 451
Objective: 18.10 Assess the pulse at each of the following pulse points: carotid, femoral, radial, brachial, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis.
You have been called to assess a conscious infant whose chief complaint is vomiting for the past two hours. When assessing his pulse, you should FIRST check which pulse?
A) Brachial
B) Carotid
C) Radial
D) Pedal
A) Brachial
Page Ref: 451
Objective: 18.10 Assess the pulse at each of the following pulse points: carotid, femoral, radial, brachial, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis; 18.11 Consider the patient’s age and level of responsiveness when selecting a site to palpate the pulse.
Pulse quality refers to:
A) strength.
B) rate.
C) rhythm.
D) output.
A) strength.
Page Ref: 454
Objective: 18.12 Differentiate between normal and abnormal findings when assessing a patient’s pulse to include the pulse rate, quality of the pulse, and rhythm of the pulse.
You determine a pulse is readily palpable at the radial artery but has uneven intervals between beats. This should BEST be documented on the prehospital care report as:
A) strong and irregular.
B) thready and regular.
C) prominent and bounding.
D) bounding and regular.
A) strong and irregular.
Page Ref: 453-454
Objective: 18.12 Differentiate between normal and abnormal findings when assessing a patient’s pulse to include the pulse rate, quality of the pulse, and rhythm of the pulse.
When assessing a patient’s pulse, you note that it is irregular. To get an accurate heart rate, the AEMT should:
A) feel the carotid pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
B) count the number of beats that occur in one minute.
C) listen to the pulse with a stethoscope.
D) double the number of beats obtained in 30 seconds.
B) count the number of beats that occur in one minute.
Page Ref: 452
Objective: 18.12 Differentiate between normal and abnormal findings when assessing a patient’s pulse to include the pulse rate, quality of the pulse, and rhythm of the pulse.
You determine an adult patient’s heart rate to be 48 beats per minute. That heart rate would be categorized as:
A) bradycardic.
B) normal.
C) tachypneic.
D) tachycardic.
A) bradycardic.
Page Ref: 452
Objective: 18.13 Differentiate among normal heart rates for adults, children, infants, and newborns.
You are assessing a 34-year-old woman who appears to be in hypovolemic shock. You would expect her pulse to be:
A) bradycardic and irregular.
B) tachycardic and weak.
C) tachycardic and bounding.
D) bradycardic and strong.
B) tachycardic and weak.
Page Ref: 452, 454
Objective: 18.14 Associate abnormalities in the assessment of pulses with possible underlying causes.
A drop in the systolic pressure of greater than 10 mmHg during inspiration is called:
A) pulsus alternans.
B) paradoxical movement.
C) pulsus paradoxus.
D) mean arterial pressure.
C) pulsus paradoxus.
Page Ref: 455
Objective: 18.15 Describe pulsus alternans and pulsus paradoxus.
You suspect that a patient is dehydrated. When checking for skin turgor, you should:
A) palpate the skin for dryness.
B) press the nail beds, then release and observe for blanching.
C) use the backs of the fingers to determine temperature.
D) pick up a fold of skin and then release it, looking for tenting.
D) pick up a fold of skin and then release it, looking for tenting.
Page Ref: 463
Objective: 18.17 Associate abnormal findings in skin color, temperature, and condition with potential underlying causes.
Assessment of a patient’s skin color reveals a bluish discoloration. As a knowledgeable AEMT, you should identify:
A) cyanosis caused by inadequate oxygenation of the tissues.
B) pallor caused by a decrease in blood flow to the tissues.
C) pallor caused by a decrease in body temperature.
D) jaundice caused by an increase in blood flow to the extremities.
A) cyanosis caused by inadequate oxygenation of the tissues.
Page Ref: 463
Objective: 18.16 Recognize normal and abnormal findings in the assessment of skin and mucous membrane color, skin temperature and condition, and capillary refill time.
