Chapter 10: Patient Assessment

Question 1

Altered Mental Status

Answer 1

A change in the way a person thinks & behaves that may signal disease in central nervous system (or elsewhere in body)

Question 2

Orientation

Answer 2

The mental status of a patient as measured by memory of:
- person
- place
- time
- event

Question 3

Guarding

Answer 3

Involuntary muscle contractions (spasm) of abdominal wall to minimize pain of abdominal movement (sign of peritonitis)

Question 4

Crepitus

Answer 4

A grating/grinding sensation or sound caused by fractured bone ends/joints rubbing together

Question 5

Bradycardia

Answer 5

A slow heart rate, less than 60 bpm

Question 6

Subcutaneous Emphysema

Answer 6

A characteristic crackling sensation felt on palpation of skin, caused by air in soft tissues

Question 6

Distracting Injury

Answer 6

Any injury that prevents the patient from noticing other injuries they may have

Question 7

Systolic Pressure

Answer 7

The increased pressure in an artery w/ each contraction of the ventricles (systole)

Question 8

Standard Precautions

Answer 8

Protective measures that have been developed by the CDDC for use in dealing w/ objects, blood, body fluids, & other potential exposure risks of communicable disease

Question 9

Retractions

Answer 9

Movements in which the skin pulls in around the ribs during inspiration

Question 10

Pulse Oximeter

Answer 10

An assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in capillary beds

Question 11

OPQRST (Onset, Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region, Severity, Timing)

Answer 11

A mnemonic used in evaluating a patient’s pain

Question 12

Mechanism of Injury (MOI)

Answer 12

The forces, or energy transmission, applied to the body that cause injury