Chapter 6 Patient Assessment Flashcards
A decision made when assessing mental status by looking at whether the patient is orientated to four elements: person, place, time, and the event itself. Each element provides information about different aspects of the patient’s memory.
alert and orientated (A&O)
A method of assessing mental status by determining whether a patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain stimuli, or unresponsive; used principally in the primary assessment.
AVPU
The combination of a narrowed pulse pressure, muffled heart sounds, and
jugular venous distension associated with cardiac tamponade; usually resulting from penetrating chest trauma.
beck’s triad
A composite picture of a number of factors in a patient’s life, such as dietary
habits, current medications, allergies, exercise, alcohol or tobacco use,
recreational drug use, sleep patterns and disorders, and immunizations.
current health status
The combination of a slowing pulse, rising blood pressure, and erratic respiratory patterns; a grave sign for patients with head trauma.
Cushing’s triad
The examination done on a responsive medical patient, driven by the information gathered during the primary assessment and the history-taking phase.
focused assessment
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 presenting complaint.
general impression
An evaluation tool used to determine level of consciousness, which evaluates and assigns point values (scores) for eye-opening, verbal response, and motor response, which are then totaled.
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Information about the presenting complaint, obtained using the OPQRST mnemonic.
history of the present illness
Information about the presenting complaint, obtained using the OPQRST mnemonic.
history of the present illness
The part of the assessment process in which the patient’s major complaints or any problems that are immediately evident are further and more specifically evaluated using questioning.
history taking
The way in which traumatic injuries occur; the forces that act on the body to cause damage.
mechanism of injury (MOI)
The part of the assessment process that helps you identify immediately or potentially life-threatening conditions so that you can initiate lifesaving care.
primary assessment
The part of the assessment process in which problems are re-evaluated and responses to treatment are assessed.
reassessment
A quick look of the scene and its surroundings made to provide information about scene safety and the mechanism of injury or nature of illness, before you enter and begin patient care.
scene assessment
