Chapter 7 Flashcards
Which of the following lists presents the order in which an OEC Technician should assess a patient in a field setting?
a. Primary assessment, reassessment, secondary assessment
b. Scene size-up, secondary assessment, primary assessment
c. Scene size-up, primary assessment, secondary assessment
d. Scene size-up, history, secondary assessment, primary assessment
a. Primary assessment, reassessment, secondary assessment
b. Scene size-up, secondary assessment, primary assessment
c. Scene size-up, primary assessment, secondary assessment
d. Scene size-up, history, secondary assessment, primary assessment
Answer: c
Objective: 7-1
Reference: 214
You have been dispatched to an 89-year-old female with an unspecified complaint. When assessing this patient, which one of the following will the OEC Technician do as quickly as possible to develop a better understanding of the emergency?
a. Obtain the patient’s vital signs and current medications.
b. Gather a medical history, including information on allergies.
c. Contact medical direction for advice.
d. Determine if the complaint is medical (NOI) or trauma related (MOI).
a. Obtain the patient’s vital signs and current medications.
b. Gather a medical history, including information on allergies.
c. Contact medical direction for advice.
d. Determine if the complaint is medical (NOI) or trauma related (MOI).
Answer: d
Objective: 7-3
Reference: 216
Which of the following statements would indicate that an OEC Technician has appropriately initiated the first phase of a patient assessment?
a. “I have placed an oral airway in the patient.”
b. “The scene appears to be free of hazards.”
c. “Blood pressure is 124/80 mmHg.”
d. “Can you tell me why you called for help?”
a. “I have placed an oral airway in the patient.”
b. “The scene appears to be free of hazards.”
c. “Blood pressure is 124/80 mmHg.”
d. “Can you tell me why you called for help?”
Answer: b
Objective: 7-4
Reference: 215-216
You arrive at the scene of a fall, where a 42-year-old woman fell backward off a stepladder while cleaning windows. She is lying on the ground complaining of pain to her ankle. She tells you, “If I had just been more careful and moved the ladder instead of reaching, this never would have happened!” Based on this information, which of the following can you conclude?
a. She has an open airway, is breathing, and has circulating blood to her brain.
b. Her pulse rate is within normal limits.
c. She does not require rapid transport.
d. She does not have any other injuries.
a. She has an open airway, is breathing, and has circulating blood to her brain.
b. Her pulse rate is within normal limits.
c. She does not require rapid transport.
d. She does not have any other injuries.
Answer: a
Objective: 7-4
Reference: 216–218
You have been dispatched for an elderly male complaining of shortness of breath. When should you start the process of forming a general impression about this patient?
a. While you and your partner are approaching him
b. After completing a primary assessment
c. As soon as you obtain his chief complaint
d. After you have taken his vital signs
a. While you and your partner are approaching him
b. After completing a primary assessment
c. As soon as you obtain his chief complaint
d. After you have taken his vital signs
Answer: a
Objective: 7-1
Reference: 216
You have been called for an adult patient who suffered a seizure. He is sitting on the floor, and he looks at you as you enter the room. When questioned, he responds to his name, but cannot remember the date or where he is. This patient’s mental status is best described as:
a. alert but confused.
b. lethargic and agitated.
c. having an altered response to verbal stimuli.
d. verbally disoriented.
a. alert but confused.
b. lethargic and agitated.
c. having an altered response to verbal stimuli.
d. verbally disoriented.
Answer: c
Objective: 7-4
Reference: 222–224
A 36-year-old patient who has overdosed on an unknown drug, is breathing and will not open his eyes, even when his name is loudly called. Which one of the following should the OEC Technician do first?
a. Check the patient’s vital signs.
b. Perform a shoulder pinch.
c. Assess the patient for a radial pulse.
d. Identify what drug the patient took.
a. Check the patient’s vital signs.
b. Perform a shoulder pinch.
c. Assess the patient for a radial pulse.
d. Identify what drug the patient took.
Answer: b
Objective: 7-4
Reference: 225
Which of the following patients should be classified as unresponsive?
a. A 39-year-old female who is confused
b. A 52-year-old who cannot answer your questions
c. A 70-year-old female who has suffered a stroke
d. A 46-year-old male who does not respond to a shoulder pinch
a. A 39-year-old female who is confused
b. A 52-year-old who cannot answer your questions
c. A 70-year-old female who has suffered a stroke
d. A 46-year-old male who does not respond to a shoulder pinch
Answer: d
Objective: 7-4
Reference: 225
You are assessing a four-year-old patient whose panicked mother states that she cannot wake him. The child is breathing but his eyes are closed. To best determine the child’s mental status, you should first:
a. apply pressure to the child’s nail beds.
b. say loudly, “Open your eyes!”
c. ask the mother how long the child has been asleep.
d. consider the child to be unresponsive.
a. apply pressure to the child’s nail beds.
b. say loudly, “Open your eyes!”
c. ask the mother how long the child has been asleep.
d. consider the child to be unresponsive.
Answer: b
Objective: 7-4
Reference: 222–224
You are by the side of a patient who is unresponsive and has a history of heart failure. When assessing the airway, which one of the following observations best indicates a patent airway?
a. You can hear normal respirations and see the chest rise and fall.
b. She has a pulse of 80 per minute.
c. Her mouth is open and you can hear gurgling sounds.
d. You can see that her tongue has not fallen back where it would block the airway.
a. You can hear normal respirations and see the chest rise and fall.
b. She has a pulse of 80 per minute.
c. Her mouth is open and you can hear gurgling sounds.
d. You can see that her tongue has not fallen back where it would block the airway.
Answer: a
Objective: 7-4
Reference: 218–219
You are instructing an Outdoor Emergency Care course. One of the students asks you how the head tilt-chin lift airway maneuver works to open the airway. Your best response is:
a. “It opens the airway by lifting the tongue from the back of the throat.”
b. “It creates an open airway by separating the lips, thereby allowing air to enter.”
c. “It stimulates the patient to begin taking deeper breaths, thereby moving air into the lungs.”
d. “It opens the airway by relaxing and expanding the size of the throat.”
a. “It opens the airway by lifting the tongue from the back of the throat.”
b. “It creates an open airway by separating the lips, thereby allowing air to enter.”
c. “It stimulates the patient to begin taking deeper breaths, thereby moving air into the lungs.”
d. “It opens the airway by relaxing and expanding the size of the throat.”
Answer: a
Objective: 7-3
Reference: 219
How should an OEC Technician best determine the adequacy of a patient’s breathing during a primary assessment?
a. Determine the patient’s mental status.
b. Compare the patient’s respiration and pulse rates.
c. Assess the patient’s ability to speak.
d. Look for the rise and fall of the patient’s chest.
a. Determine the patient’s mental status.
b. Compare the patient’s respiration and pulse rates.
c. Assess the patient’s ability to speak.
d. Look for the rise and fall of the patient’s chest.
Answer: d
Objective: 7-3
Reference: 219–220
A secondary assessment consists of which of the following three steps?
a. Medical history, physical exam, and vital signs
b. ABCDs, on-going exam, and vital signs
c. Medical history, trauma exam, and vital signs
d. On-going exam, detailed physical exam, and vital signs
a. Medical history, physical exam, and vital signs
b. ABCDs, on-going exam, and vital signs
c. Medical history, trauma exam, and vital signs
d. On-going exam, detailed physical exam, and vital signs
Answer: a
Objective: 5
Reference: 226
An OEC Technician’s assessment of a trauma patient’s circulation status during a primary assessment should include:
a. carotid pulse, capillary refill, blood pressure, and skin color.
b. radial pulse, examination for the presence of external bleeding, and LOR.
c. skin color, pulse rate, blood pressure, and skin temperature.
d. pulse rate, blood pressure, capillary refill, and skin condition.
a. carotid pulse, capillary refill, blood pressure, and skin color.
b. radial pulse, examination for the presence of external bleeding, and LOR.
c. skin color, pulse rate, blood pressure, and skin temperature.
d. pulse rate, blood pressure, capillary refill, and skin condition.
Answer: b
Objective: 7-4
Reference: 220–222
While taking vital signs, you cannot locate a radial pulse in a possible broken arm of a 42-year-old male who is alert and breathing adequately. Which one of the following should you do?
a. Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
b. Attach the automated external defibrillator (AED).
c. Start positive pressure ventilation.
d. Assess the carotid artery for a pulse.
a. Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
b. Attach the automated external defibrillator (AED).
c. Start positive pressure ventilation.
d. Assess the carotid artery for a pulse.
Answer: d
Objective: 7-5
Reference: 220
You are assessing an eight-month-old whose mother states has been vomiting for two days and not eating or drinking. When assessing the pulse, which site should you check?
a. The temporal artery
b. The radial artery
c. The femoral artery
d. The brachial artery
a. The temporal artery
b. The radial artery
c. The femoral artery
d. The brachial artery
Answer: d
Objective: 7-5
Reference: 220
The finding that a patient’s skin is warm, pink, and dry during a primary assessment suggests:
a. possible shock.
b. possible fever.
c. poor oxygenation.
d. normal circulation.
a. possible shock.
b. possible fever.
c. poor oxygenation.
d. normal circulation.
Answer: d
Objective: 7-5
Reference: 221–222
Which of the following statements indicates that an OEC Technician correctly understands capillary refill?
a. “Capillary refill is a reliable sign of perfusion in adults, but not as reliable in infants and children.”
b. “Flushed skin in an adult is a normal finding when assessing capillary refill.”
c. “A capillary refill of four or more seconds in a patient of any age indicates that the patient is well oxygenated.”
d. “For a capillary refill test to be normal for a child, it must be assessed at room temperature and be less than two seconds.”
a. “Capillary refill is a reliable sign of perfusion in adults, but not as reliable in infants and children.”
b. “Flushed skin in an adult is a normal finding when assessing capillary refill.”
c. “A capillary refill of four or more seconds in a patient of any age indicates that the patient is well oxygenated.”
d. “For a capillary refill test to be normal for a child, it must be assessed at room temperature and be less than two seconds.”
Answer: d
Objective: 7-6
Reference: 222
You are interviewing a prospective candidate for the position of OEC Technician with your service. During the interview, you ask the applicant to describe the purpose of the primary assessment. Which of the following best describes that purpose?
a. To establish a chief complaint and gather a medical history
b. To determine if the patient’s vital signs are stable
c. To identify and treat life-threatening conditions
d. To perform an exam focused on the patient’s chief complaint
a. To establish a chief complaint and gather a medical history
b. To determine if the patient’s vital signs are stable
c. To identify and treat life-threatening conditions
d. To perform an exam focused on the patient’s chief complaint
Answer: c
Objective: 7-3
Reference: 217
Forming a general impression is started during which phase of patient assessment?
a. Reassessment
b. Secondary assessment
c. Primary assessment
d. Communication and documentation
a. Reassessment
b. Secondary assessment
c. Primary assessment
d. Communication and documentation
Answer: c
Objective: 7-3
Reference: 216
A 44-year-old male was on a ladder cutting limbs from a tree when he fell. He is found to be unresponsive with normal respirations. His breathing is adequate at a rate of 12 per minute and his carotid pulse is strong at 88 per minute. Following the primary assessment and initial management, which one of the following actions will the OEC Technician complete while performing the secondary assessment?
a. Get a medical history from a family member.
b. Start positive pressure ventilation with a bag-valve mask.
c. Place an oral airway and put a cervical collar on the patient.
d. Perform a jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway.
a. Get a medical history from a family member.
b. Start positive pressure ventilation with a bag-valve mask.
c. Place an oral airway and put a cervical collar on the patient.
d. Perform a jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway.
Answer: a
Objective: 7-7
Reference: 226
