Chapter 8: Patient Assessment

Question 1

list the 5 main parts of patient assessment

Answer 1

1. scene size up
2. primary assessment
3. history taking
4. secondary assessment
5. reassessment

Question 2

a ______ is subjective, what the patient feels and tells you

Answer 2

symptom

Question 3

a _______ is objective, it is what you observe about the patient

Answer 3

sign

Question 4

list the 5 main parts of scene size up

Answer 4

1. ensure scene safety
2. MOI/NOI
3. standard precautions/BSI
4. determine the number of patients
5. consider additional/specialized resources

Question 5

_______ is when the skin is unbroken, underlying body systems may be damaged

Answer 5

blunt trauma

Question 6

_____ is when the force of injury impales the body

Answer 6

penetrating trauma

Question 7

NOI is for ______

Answer 7

medical patients

Question 8

standard precautions/BSI should be

Answer 8

equal to the task at hand

Question 9

determining the number of patients is critical in determining

Answer 9

the need for additional resources

Question 10

______ is the process of sorting patients based on the severity of each patient’s condition

Answer 10

triage

Question 11

the goal of primary assessment is to

Answer 11

identify and initiate treatment of the immediate or potential life threats to the patients airway, breathing, circulation

Question 12

in forming a general impression we use CUPS. what does this stand for

Answer 12

C- critical (cardiac or respiratory arrest)
U - unstable
P - potentially unstable
S - stable

Question 13

for consciousness level we use AVPU. what does this stand for

Answer 13

A - awake and alert (who, where, time, what happened)
V - responsive to verbal stimuli
P - responsive to painful stimuli
U - unresponsive

Question 14

GCS looks at _____, _____, _____

Answer 14

eyes, motor, verbal skills

Question 15

looking at the pupils we use PEARRL. what does this stand for

Answer 15

P - pupils
E - equal
A - and
R - round
R - regular size 
L - react to light

Question 16

5 main steps in primary assessment

Answer 16

1. form a general impression
2. level of consciousness
3. assess the airway
4. assess breathing
5. assess circulation

Question 17

to assess adequacy of breathing we use IAP. what does this stand for

Answer 17

I - inspect
A - ausculate
P - palpate

Question 18

______ breaths per minute is too fast

Answer 18

24 or more

Question 19

_____ breaths per minute is too slow

Answer 19

8

Question 20

the ______ is the time from injury to definitive care

Answer 20

golden period

Question 21

the ______ is the time it should take to begin transport

Answer 21

the platinum 10

Question 22

in history taking we obtain SAMPLE. what does this stand for

Answer 22

S - signs and symptoms
A - allergies
M - medications
P - pertinent past medical history
L - last oral intake
E - events leading up to the injury/illness

Question 23

to assess pain in history taking we use OPQRSTU. what does this stand for

Answer 23

O - onset (what brought this on)
P - provocation (what makes it better or worse)
Q - quality (tell me what this feels like)
R - region/radiation (show me where)
S - severity (on a scale from one to ten)
T - timing
U - what have YOU done to intervene

Question 24

the _____ is the force or energy that has resulted in a temporary injury, permanent damage, even death

Answer 24

MOI

Question 25

what is the significance of stridor

Answer 25

signifies obstruction of the airway

Question 26

what does DCAP-BTLS stand for

Answer 26

D - deformities 
C - contusions
A - abrasions
P - punctures/penetrations
B - burns
T - tenderness
L - lacerations
S - swelling

Question 27

three conditions that may be indicated by low blood pressure

Answer 27

loss of blood or its fluid components, loss of vascular tone, and a cardiac pumping problem

Question 28

You are working a night shift on an ambulance and arrive on the scene of an assault at a residence. The house is dark and the front screen door has been knocked off its hinges. No law enforcement is on scene yet and the street is quiet. Which of the following is your best course of action

Answer 28

park your ambulance several houses away and wait for police

Question 29

As you approach the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you observe that the vehicle appears to have struck a telephone pole on a rural road at high speed. The windshield is cracked near the driver’s seat and the hood has been bent up significantly. You have observed the

Answer 29

MOI

Question 30

The general impression of the patient should be formed

Answer 30

while observing the patient during your approach and initial conversation

Question 31

During your primary assessment, you observe that the patient can only answer questions in two- to three-word sentences. Based on this finding, you should:

Answer 31

give him oxygen at 15L/min by non-rebreathing mask

Question 32

Your decision regarding whether the patient is a high priority should be made at which step in the assessment

Answer 32

after the initial assessment is performed

Question 33

Abnormal skin characteristics such as paleness, coolness, or moistness may indicate

Answer 33

hypoperfusion

Question 34

The “T” in DCAP-BTLS stands for

Answer 34

tenderness

Question 35

During your assessment of the patient’s breath sounds, when possible you should auscultate the chest from the patients ____

Answer 35

back

Question 36

During your physical exam, you find that the patient has good pulse in his feet, but has trouble moving them or feeling your touch. You should

Answer 36

ensure proper spinal mobilization steps have been taken

Question 37

Following your physical exam for an unstable medical patient, you should begin transport, then repeat the primary assessment and vital signs at least every

Answer 37

5 minutes

Question 38

______ is used to assess a patients pulse

Answer 38

palpation

Question 39

Which of the following terms would not be used to describe the pulse quality?

• bounding
• weak
• thready
• irregular

Answer 39

irregular

Question 40

The skin of a light-skinned individual with adequate perfusion should appear

Answer 40

pink

Question 41

You should suspect poor peripheral circulation when capillary refill takes longer than ________ seconds

Answer 41

2 seconds