Component 2: Patient Assessment Flashcards
This deck will review history taking, assessment, vital signs, growth/development, anatomical terms.
What is the term used when addressing newborns and what is their age grouping?
Newborns are commonly called neonates until they’ve aged to one month.
What is the term used when addressing children aging from 1 month to 1 year or 12 months of age?
infant(s)
What is the age grouping for toddlers?
1 to 3 years of age
What do we call children within the age group of 3 to 6 years?
preschool age
The adolescent age group is considered to be from the ages 12 to 18 years. What is the age group preceding adolescents?
school-age (6 to 12 years old)
What is the term used when identifying with the age group of 41 to 60?
middle adult
At what age group do the individual vital signs start to compare to adults?
adolescent(s) (12 to 18 years old)
What age group has basic language skills?
3 to 4-year-old
They will be talking and comprehending sentences and structure.
True or false.
School-age children are most susceptible to peer pressure.
False
Adolescents are more susceptible, although they may be more susceptible at a younger age depending on the socialization of the child.
True or false.
Adolescents will always provide truthful answers when being interviewed with their parents present.
False
Differentiate pre-conventional reasoning, conventional reasoning, and post-conventional reasoning in school-age children.
- Pre-conventional reasoning: the school-age child will act to prevent punishment or receive a reward.
- Conventional reasoning: the school-age child will look to approval from their peers and surroundings.
- Post-conventional reasoning: the school-age child will make choices based on their conscience.
In which age group does the psychosocial need to “settle down” set in?
early adults (19 to 40 years)
In what age group do the effects of menopause begin?
middle adults (41 to 60)
How often should vital signs be assessed for the unstable patient?
5 minutes (and document them)
What is the term used for the first set of vital signs assessed?
baseline vitals
What are we evaluating after taking multiple sets of vital signs?
patient trending
When calculating a patient’s respiratory rate, what should be done?
A. Count the respirations for a minute.
B. Count the respirations for 30 seconds and multiple by two. (RR X 2 = RR per minute)
C. Count the respirations for 15 seconds and multiple by four. (RR X 4 = RR per minute)
D. All of the above.
D. All of the above.
List six signs we evaluate when assessing breathing.
- Presence of breathing
- Respiratory rate
- Rhythm, regular or irregular
- Quality (difficulty/effort)
- Depth of breathing
- Lung sounds
What is bradypnea in adults?
It is a respiratory rate below 12 breaths per minute in adults, often due to neurological issues, medication effects, or metabolic disturbances.
What is the average pulse range for adults?
60 to 100 beats per minute
What are the pulse points?
- Carotid
- Radial
- Femoral
- Dorsal pedal/posterior tibial
- Popliteal
- Apical
- Brachial
List palpating pulse characteristics.
- The presence of a pulse
- Rate (slow, normal, fast)
- Regularity (regular or irregular)
- Quality (strong, weak, thready)
Fill in the blank.
Upon auscultating the patient’s lung sounds, you hear a low, course, rattle. This lung sound is known as ___________.
rhonchi
Differentiate systolic and diastolic.
- Systolic: the pressure exerted against the vasculature during contraction.
- Diastolic: the pressure exerted against the vasculature during relaxation.
Define:
blood pressure
It is the presence of pressure exerted against the vasculature during cardiac cycles.
What is the name for a blood pressure cuff?
sphygmomanometer
True or false.
An inappropriate-sized, or inaccurately placed blood pressure cuff will cause an inaccurate blood pressure reading.
True
What decisions should be made after you have evaluated the patient’s level of consciousness, airway, breathing, circulation, and vital signs?
Stating a field impression of the patient and transport decision.
When providing care for a patient suffering from multiple systems trauma, what type of history should we attempt to obtain?
SAMPLE history
What does the acronym SAMPLE mean?
Signs/symptoms
Allergies
Medications
Past pertinent medical history
Last intake of food/drink. When appropriate, last menstrual cycle
Events leading up to the current situation/complaint
When performing a physical assessment, what does the mnemonic DCAP - BTLS mean?
Deformity
Contusion(s)
Abrasion(s)
Puncture(s)/penitration(s)
Burn(s)
Tenderness
Laceration(s)
Swelling
When assessing a patient’s pupils, what does the mnemonic PEARRL mean?
Pupils
Equal
And
Round
Regular in size
React to Light
Define:
Anisocoria
It means unequal pupils.
Differentiate sign(s) and symptom(s).
- Signs are something seen (diaphoresis, angulated fractures, etc…)
- Symptoms are patient complaints (“I have chest pain.” “My belly hurts.” etc…)
What does the mnemonic AVPU stand for and when is it used?
Alert
Verbal
Pain
Unresponsive/unconscious
This is applied when assessing the patient’s level of consciousness.
- Patient replies and appears alert.
- If not, we attempt a loud verbal stimulus.
- If no reply or patient does not awake, we apply a painful stimuli.
- If there is still no response, the patient is considered unresponsive/unconscious.
List five steps included in the scene size-up?
- Determines scene/situation is safe.
- Determines the mechanism of injury/nature of illness.
- Determines the number of patients.
- Requests additional EMS assistance if necessary.
- Considers stabilization of the cervical spine.
What does the letter “R” stand for in the OPQRST mnemonic?
radiation
“Does your pain/discomfort move or go anywhere?”
What question is frequently asked when assessing the patient’s severity of pain or discomfort?
“On a scale of 1 to 10, one being no or very little pain and ten being the worst pain or discomfort you have ever experienced, what number would you rate your pain at?”
(OPQRST)
True or false.
After providing medication or treatment for your patient, it is imperative to reassess.
True
Fill in the blank.
According to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), a score of _______ or less indicates the patient’s body is severely dysfunctional.
8
List the four common assessments for assessing a patient’s neurovascular system.
- distal pulse
- capillary refill
- sensation
- motor function
Describe:
Subcutaneous Emphysema
It is when air leaks underneath the skin and upon palpation, feels like “rice crispies” crackling.
True or false.
The patient is complaining of abdominal pain. Upon palpation of the abdomen, we should start over the quadrant that the patient’s complaint is in.
False
What do the following abbreviations stand for?
- LUQ
- RUQ
- LLQ
- RLQ
- LUQ - Left Upper Quadrant
- RUQ - Right Upper Quadrant
- LLQ - Left Lower Quadrant
- RLQ - Right Lower Quadrant
List signs of dyspnea/difficulty breathing.
- Cyanosis
- Tripod position
- Accessory muscle use/retractions
- Altered mentation
- Diaphoresis
- Altered respiratory patterns/rate
- Decrease tidal volume
At what angle should the patient be seated when assessing for jugular venous distention?
(JVD)
450 (Semi-Fowlers)
What is the term for the position this body is in?
prone
What is the term for the position the image of the body is in?
Left lateral recumbent, also called the recovery position.
What gaseous waste or bi-product is exhaled during expiration?
carbon dioxide
(CO2)
Define:
cyanosis
It is the bluish-gray skin discoloration that results from too little oxygen (O2) circulating in the blood. It can be seen on nail beds, circumoral, and the conjunctiva.
Describe:
diaphoresis
It is when the patient presents with excessive sweating.
What is an injury called that prevents a patient from feeling or noticing any other injuries, possibly ones that are more critical?
distracting injury
What is being assessed when we are performing a focused assessment?
It is when we focus our attention on the patient’s chief complaint, single body part, or system.
Differentiate Hypothermia against Hyperthermia.
- Hypothermia occurs when the body is exposed to cold and you lose more heat than the body can produce. Typically a core body temperature below 950 F. (350 C).
- Hyperthermia occurs when the body is exposed to heat and starts to lose its cooling mechanisms. Typically a core body temperature above 1040F (400C).
Describe:
Jaundice and what is the cause?
It is yellow skin and/or sclera discoloration caused by decreased or damaged liver function.
During your General Impression of the patient, you note that they are seated in a tripod position and using accessory muscles. What information can you take away from this patient presentation?
The patient is having difficulty and/or labored breathing.
Define:
palpate
It is to perform a physical assessment by touch (hands-on).
What do the acronyms MOI and NOI stand for?
- MOI: Mechanism of Injury
- NOI: Nature of Illness
What are negative findings that require no interventions or treatment called?
pertinent negatives
Example: Asking a patient complaining of chest pain if they are nauseous.
What is an assessment tool we use to measure the oxygen (O2) of hemoglobin called?
pulse oximetry
What action is to be done before performing a scene size-up?
Consider or don the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment precautions.
(PPE)
True or false.
Performing a physical or secondary assessment on a patient before accessing their airway, breathing, and circulation (ABC’s Primary Assessment) is medically acceptable.
False
The primary assessment (ABCs) is considered as critical assessment in providing patient care.
True or false.
Every trauma patient is a medical patient, and every medical patient is a trauma patient until determined otherwise.
True
