Ch7 Key Terms - Patient Assessment

Question 1

An exaggerated immune response to a substance that does not normally cause a reaction.

Answer 1

Allergy

Question 2

A mnemonic for assessing neurologic function, represents awake and alert, responds to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive.

Answer 2

AVPU scale

Question 3

The pressure of the blood on the interior walls of the arteries.

Answer 3

Blood pressure

Question 4

An indication of air movement in the lungs, usually assessed with a stethoscope.

Answer 4

Breath sounds

Question 5

The symptom or group of symptoms about which the patient is concerned.

Answer 5

Chief complaint

Question 6

A mnemonic for assessing trauma-related injuries; represents deformity; contusions; abrasions and avulsions; punctures and penetrations; burns, bleeding, and bruises; tenderness; lacerations; and swelling

Answer 6

DCAP-BTLS

Question 7

Abnormal extension of the arms and legs, downward pointing of the toes, and arching of the head due to an injury to the brain at the level of the brainstem.

Answer 7

Decerebrate posturing

Question 8

Abnormal flexing of the arms, clenching of the fists, and extending of the legs; due to an injury along the nerve pathway between the brain and spinal cord

Answer 8

Decorticate posturing

Question 9

Initial findings based on the patient’s chief complaint, the scene size-up, the mechanism of injury or nature of illness, and the patient’s initial appearance.

Answer 9

General impression

Question 10

The degree of cognitive function and arousal of the brain, ranges from fully alert to unresponsive.

Answer 10

Level of responsiveness

Question 11

The type of force that acts on the body to cause injury; the method of trauma causing an injury.

Answer 11

Mechanism of injury (MOI)

Question 12

The type of medical illness present.

Answer 12

Nature of illness (NOI)

Question 13

A mnemonic that is used in the assessment of a patient’s chief complaint; represents onset, provocation and palliation, quality, radiation, severity, and time.

Answer 13

OPQRST

Question 14

The act of touching a patient during an examination to feel for any abnormality.

Answer 14

Palpation

Question 15

A sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin, or the feeling of “pins and needles” or a limb being “asleep.”

Answer 15

Paraesthesia

Question 16

The procedure performed to determine a patient’s condition, especially any immediate life-threatening injuries or conditions; forms the basis for decision about emergency medical care and transport

Answer 16

Patient assessment

Question 17

A mnemonic for assessing the eyes; represents pupils equal, round, reactive to light.

Answer 17

PERRL

Question 18

A step within the patient assessment process that identifies and initiates treatment of immediate and potential life threats.

Answer 18

Primary patient assessment

Question 19

A rhythmic throbbing of the artery caused by the movement of blood.

Answer 19

Pulse

Question 20

A medical device that measures oxygen saturation level (the oxygen levels in the blood) noninvasively and painlessly.

Answer 20

Pulse oximeter

Question 21

A mnemonic used to obtain medical history information during the patient assessment process; represents signs/symptoms, allergies, medications, past medical history, last oral intake, and events leading up to the present incident.

Answer 21

SAMPLE

Question 22

The process of identifying any hazards or possible hazards that could harm you or others and mitigating them prior to attending to the patient.

Answer 22

Scene safety

Question 23

A general overview of the incident and its surroundings.

Answer 23

Scene size-up

Question 24

The thorough, systematic physical examination that follows primary patient assessment, any immediate resuscitation, and history taking; includes taking the patient’s vital signs

Answer 24

Secondary patient assessment

Question 25

Any objective finding that can be seen, heard, smelled, or measured (e.g., a bruise, the patient’s blood pressure); typically discovered during a physical exam

Answer 25

Sign

Question 26

A subjective finding or a departure from normal function or feeling that is noticed by a patient (e.g., pain, blurred vision), reflecting the presence of a medical problem

Answer 26

Symptom

Question 27

The key objective findings used to evaluate a patient’s overall condition, includes pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature, and level of responsiveness.

Answer 27

Vital signs

Question 28

What does AVPU stand for?

What is it used for?

Answer 28

A - Awake and Alert
V - Responds to Verbal stimuli
P - Responds to Pain Stimuli
U - Unresponsive

Used for assessing neurologic function and patient responsiveness. Used during primary patient assessment.

Question 29

What does the DCAP-BTLS mnemonic stand for?

What is it used for?

Answer 29

D- Deformity
C- Contusions
A- Abrasions/Avulsions
P- Punctures/Penetrations

B- Bleeding/Bruises
T- Tenderness
L- Lacerations
S- Swelling

Used to assess trauma related injuries and Identify abnormalities, helpful during secondary patient assessment physical exam

Question 30

What does the OPQRST mnemonic stand for?

What is it used for?

Answer 30

O- Onset (when did symptoms begin)
P- Provocation and palliation (does anything make symptoms better or worse)
Q- Quality (nature of symptom, dull, sharp, throbbing)
R- Radiation (Symptoms can move or only one place)
S- Severity (describe pain 0-10 scale)
T- Time (how long has the patient had the problem)

Used to asses the patients pain and other complaints.
Used in history taking part of patient assessment.

Question 31

What Does the SAMPLE mnemonic stand for?

What is it used for

Answer 31

S- Signs and Symptoms
A- Allergies
M- Medications
P- Past Medical History (Illness, surgery, other medial issues)
L- Last Oral Intake (last time patient ate or drank)
E- Events leading up to present medical problem

Used in patient history taking after primary assessment.
Used to investigate chief complaint and gather additional information

Question 32

What does the PERRL mnemonic stand for?

What is it used for?

Answer 32

P- Pupils
E- Equal
R- Round
R- Reactive to...
L-...Light

Used to examine pupils and identify abnormalities in the secondary assessment, physical examination.