Overview Flashcards
What is one of the most important skills a paramedic will develop?
The ability to assess a patient.
What are the steps involved in patient assessment?
Assessing the scene, obtaining the patient’s chief complaint and medical history, performing a secondary assessment.
What is the chief complaint?
The reason the patient called for help.
Is there a limit to how good patient assessment skills can be?
No, there is no limit.
What additional tools do physicians and nurses have in a hospital setting?
X-rays, ultrasound, and lab work.
What must most paramedics rely on for patient assessment?
Their ability to obtain an accurate patient history and perform a physical exam.
Fill in the blank: One of the steps in patient assessment is performing a _______.
secondary assessment.
True or False: Paramedics have the same resources as hospital physicians and nurses.
False.
What is one of the most important skills a paramedic will develop?
The ability to assess a patient.
What are the steps involved in patient assessment?
Assessing the scene, obtaining the patient’s chief complaint and medical history, performing a secondary assessment.
What is the chief complaint?
The reason the patient called for help.
What tools do physicians and nurses use in a hospital setting that paramedics typically do not have?
X-rays, ultrasound, lab work.
What diagnostic tools can paramedics use?
Cardiac monitor, capnography, glucometry.
What should the assessment process appear like to the patient?
Seamless.
What varies from patient to patient during the assessment?
The number and types of questions asked and the extent of the physical exam.
What is a differential diagnosis?
The list of possible diagnoses based on the patient’s assessment findings.
What is the working diagnosis?
The one diagnosis from the differential list on which you are basing your treatment plan.
Why is it important for paramedics to develop experience in prioritizing patients?
Some patients must be evaluated quickly and transported immediately.
What does the primary survey focus on?
Identifying and correcting life threats.
What should be done after completing the primary survey?
Perform the remaining components of the patient history and secondary assessment.
What is key to making prehospital practice successful?
Developing and cultivating your own assessment style and overall strategy.
What does the acronym SOAP stand for in the context of assessment?
Subjective information (symptoms), Objective information (signs), Assessment (differential diagnosis), Plan (treatment for working diagnosis).
Fill in the blank: The entire patient assessment process should be organized and thorough, yet be _______.
Flexible.
What can paramedics personalize within the parameters of applicable standards of care?
Which gear to take on a call or how to position themselves during patient interviews.
What is the overall job of a paramedic?
Quickly identify the patient’s problem(s), set care priorities, develop a patient care plan, and execute it efficiently.
