Chapter 11

Question 0

Baseline vital signs

Answer 0

The first set of vital sign measurements to which subsequent measurements can be compared

Question 1

Vital signs

Answer 1

The traditional signs of life, assessments related to breathing, pulse, skin, pupils, & blood pressure

Question 2

Sphygmomanometer

Answer 2

Instrument used to measure blood pressure (blood pressure cuff)

Question 3

Stridor

Answer 3

A harsh, high pitched sound heard on inspiration that indicates swelling of the larynx or obstruction of the upper airway

Question 4

Auscultation

Answer 4

Listening for sounds within the body w/ a stethoscope

Question 5

Blood pressure

Answer 5

The force exerted by the blood on the interior walls of the blood vessels

Question 6

Bradycardia

Answer 6

A heart rate less than 60 beats per minute

Question 7

Capillary refill

Answer 7

The amount of time it takes for capillaries that have been compressed to refill with blood

Question 8

Chief complaint

Answer 8

The patient complaint that is the primary reason why the EMS crew was called to the scene

Question 9

Clammy

Answer 9

A moist, or a cool and moist, condition; a skin condition often characteristic of shock

Question 10

Close ended question

Answer 10

A question that requires only a yes or no answer

Question 11

Conjunctiva

Answer 11

The thin covering of the inner eyelids and exposed portion of the sclera of the eye

Question 12

Constricted

Answer 12

Narrow, made small

Question 13

Cyanosis

Answer 13

A bluegray color of the mucous membranes and/or skin, which indicates inadequate oxygenation or poor perfusion

Question 14

Diastolic blood pressure

Answer 14

The pressure exerted against the walls of the arteries when the left ventricle is at rest

Question 15

Dilated

Answer 15

Expanded, made large

Question 16

Flushing

Answer 16

Abnormally red skin color due to vasodilation

Question 17

Jaundice

Answer 17

A condition characterized by yellowness of the skin, sclera of the eyes, mucous membranes, and body fluids. It typically indicates liver failure or disease.

Question 18

Mottling

Answer 18

A skin discoloration similar to cyanosis, but occurring in a blotchy pattern; a possible sign of shock

Question 19

Open ended question

Answer 19

Questions that allow the patient to give a detailed response in his own words

Question 20

OPQRST

Answer 20

A mnemonic for remembering the questions to ask when assessing the patient’s chief complaint or major symptoms, such as pain onset, provocation/palliation, quality, radiation, severity, and time of the complaint

Question 21

Orthostatic vital signs

Answer 21

An increase in heart rate of 10 to 20 BPM any decrease in systolic blood pressure of 10 to 20 mmHg when a patient moves from a supine to an upright or standing position; a positive finding for orthostatic hypertension. Also called a tilt test

Question 22

Pallor

Answer 22

Pale or abnormally white skin color

Question 23

Palpitation

Answer 23

Feeling, as for a Pulse

Question 24

Pulse oximeter

Answer 24

Electronic device used to determine the oxygen concentration in the arterial blood

Question 25

Pulse oximetry

Answer 25

Measurement of blood oxygen saturation

Question 26

Pulse pressure

Answer 26

The difference between the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure

Question 27

Pulse paradoxus

Answer 27

A decrease in Pulse strength during inhalation; a drop in blood pressure of more than 10 mmHg during inhalation resulting from increased pressure within the chest that suppresses the filling of the ventricles of the heart with blood

Question 28

SAMPLE history

Answer 28

A format for taking a patient history sample is an acronym used to remember categories of information necessary to the patient’s history: signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to the injury or illness.

Question 29

Signs

Answer 29

Any objective evidence of medical or trauma conditions that can be seen, heard, felt or smelled in a patient

Question 30

Symptoms

Answer 30

Conditions that must be described by the patient because they cannot be observed by another person

Question 31

Systolic blood pressure

Answer 31

The pressure exerted against the walls of the arteries when the left ventricle contracts

Question 32

Tachycardia

Answer 32

A heart rate greater than 100 bpm

Question 33

Tilt test

Answer 33

Orthostatic vital signs