Medical Emergencies

Question 1

Define Anaphylaxis

Answer 1

the result of an exaggerated hypersensitivity reaction; an allergic reaction

Question 2

Define Bradycardia

Answer 2

slow heart rate

Question 3

Define Bronchospasm

Answer 3

Contraction of smooth muscles in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles causing narrowing of the lumen

Question 4

Define Diaphoresis

Answer 4

profuse sweating, heavy perspiration

Question 5

Define periorbital

Answer 5

relating to the periosteum of the orbit, usually of the eye

Question 6

Define polydipsia

Answer 6

increased thirst

Question 7

Define polyphagia

Answer 7

increased hunger

Question 8

Define polyuria

Answer 8

increased urination

Question 9

Define psychosis

Answer 9

a state in which a person’s mental capacity to recognize reality, communicate, and relate to others is impaired

Question 10

Define SOB

Answer 10

Shortness of Breath

Question 11

Define syncope

Answer 11

fainting

Question 12

Define Tachycardia

Answer 12

increased heart rate

Question 13

What three things does the Glasgow Coma scale assess?

Answer 13

eyes opening, motor response, and verbal response

Question 14

What does LOC mean?

Answer 14

level of consciousness

Question 15

What does Shock cause?

Answer 15

insufficient blood flow to the body

Question 16

What happens during the compensatory stage of shock?

Answer 16

blood is shunted away from the lungs, skin, kidneys, and GI tract to accommodate the brain and heart

Question 17

What are the symptoms seen during the compensatory stage of shock?

Answer 17

1. cold and clammy skin
2. Nausea and dizziness
3. SOB
4. Increased Anxiety
5. decreased BP with increased pulse

Question 18

What are the symptoms seen during the progressive stage of shock?

Answer 18

1. significantly decreased BP
2. rapid and shallow respirations
3. pulmonary edema (shock lung)
4. Tachycardia
5. Chest pain
6. Change in mental status
7. Renal, hepatic, GI, and hematologic problems

Question 19

What are three classifications of shock?

Answer 19

hypovolemic, cariogenic, and distributive

Question 20

When does hypovolemic shock occur?

Answer 20

when intravascular fluid decreases by 15% to 25%

due to internal or external hemorrhage, burns, prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or medications

Question 21

What does the acronym RACE stand for?

Answer 21

Rescue, Activate Alarm, Confine, Extinguish and Evacuate

Question 22

What are seizures caused by?

Answer 22

neurologic changes in brain function from disturbances in the cerebrum

Question 23

What are the three types of seizures?

Answer 23

Partial (focal), petit mal, Grand mal

Question 24

What occurs during a partial seizure?

Answer 24

seizures usually begin in the hand or foot, last 1-4 minutes, pt alert but unresponsive, confused after

Question 25

Describe a Petit Mal seizure

Answer 25

occurs without warning, “absence” seizure, pt stops all activity, may lose consciousness with blank facial expression, cessation of motor activity, could fall, could last only 10-30 seconds

Question 26

Describe a Grand Mal seizure

Answer 26

preceded by an aura, sudden contraction of thoracic and abdominal muscles causing pt to cry out, pt loses consciousness for several minutes, convulsive movements, tonic-clonic contractions, respirations could cease, jaws clench, last 2-5 minutes, postictal period

Question 27

What should you do during a pt seizure?

Answer 27

rails up, don’t leave, document events before during and after, do not try to restrain, loosen tight clothing esp. around neck, turn pt’s head to avoid aspiration, call physician

Question 28

What causes fainting?

Answer 28

decreased perfusion to the brain

Question 29

What should you do if a pt faints?

Answer 29

gently ease the patient to a chair or the floor, elevate legs, apply cold cloth to forehead, measure vitals, contact physician

Question 30

What causes Insulin Shock?

Answer 30

too much insulin or too little food

Question 31

What causes a Diabetic coma?

Answer 31

too little insulin

Question 32

What are some indicators of Insulin Shock? what should you do?

Answer 32

excessive sweating, HA, hunger, pounding heart, inpaired vision, personality change, inability to waken
Give pt sugar, call doctor, give IV glucose

Question 33

What are some indicators of Diabetic Coma and what should you do?

Answer 33

Flushed skin, Increased thirst and urination, weakness/abdominal pain, loss of appetite, coma
Call doctor immediately, give fluids without sugar

Question 34

Most Diabetic incidents you will encounter are ___________ in nature.

Answer 34

hypoglycemic

Question 35

What should you do with a pt having Chest pain?

Answer 35

take vitals, call doctor, place pt on cart with head elevated

Question 36

What should you do if a pt falls?

Answer 36

ask the patient if they are hurt, if yes then call patient’s floor or doctor, take vitals, offer to send to ER and document if refused, fill out incident report

Question 37

What are the symptoms of PE?

Answer 37

CP, hemoptysis, dyspnea, tachypnea, syncope, tachycardia, weakness, cyanosis

Question 38

What is the acronym FAST used for and what does it stand for?

Answer 38

Stroke assessment

Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911

Question 39

When does Cariogenic Shock occur?

Answer 39

failure of the heart to pump adequate amount of blood to vital organs

Question 40

When does Distributive shock occur?

Answer 40

when pooling of blood in the peripheral blood vessels results in decreased venous return

Question 41

When does neurogenic shock occur?

Answer 41

loss of sympathetic tone causing vasodilatation of peripheral vessels

Question 42

When does septic shock occur?

Answer 42

body becomes infected and immune response causes increased capillary permeability and vasodilatation