Patient Assesment Flashcards
What are five steps of patient assessment for trauma patients?
Scene size up Initial assessment Focused history/physical exam Detailed physical exam Ongoing assessment
What are five objectives of scene size up?
BSI/Scene Safety Mechanism of injury/nature of illness Number of patients Request additional assistance Consider C-spine immobilization
What are three factors to evaluate the mechanism of injury of the patient?
The amount of force applied to the body
The length of time the force was applied
The area of the body involved
What are four objectives of initial assessments?
Form a general impression of the patient
Assess mental status
Assess ABCs
Identify priority patients
What does obtunded mean?
The patient does not perceive the environment fully and responds to stimuli appropriately but slowly
What does stuporous mean?
The patient is aroused by intense stimuli only. Motor response and reflex reactions are usually intact unless the patient is paralyzed
For alert patients, what four things do you check to assess the patient’s orientation?
Memory of: Person (who they are) Place (where they are) Time (day,month,year) Event (what happened)
What three things do you check for when assessing circulation?
Pulse
Bleeding
Skin condition (temp, moisture, color)
What is the lining of the eyelid called?
Conjunctiva
What are the three steps in a focused history/physical exam for trauma patients with a significant mechanism of injury?
Rapid trauma assessment
Baseline vitals/SAMPLE
Transport
What are the three steps of focused history/physical exam for patients with no significant mechanism of injury?
Focused assessment based on chief complaint
Baseline vitals/SAMPLE
Transport
What are three goals of focused history/physical exam?
Identify the patient’s chief complaint
Understand the specific circumstances surrounding the chief complaint
Direct further physical examination
What are occult injuries?
Injuries you can’t see with your eyes
What does DCAP-BTLS stand for?
Deformities Contusions Abrasions Puncture/penetration Burns Tenderness Laceration Swelling
What is subcutaneous emphysema?
Air under the skin
What are retractions?
When the skin pulls around the ribs during inspiration
What is paradoxical motion?
When one section of the chest falls on inspiration while the remainder of the chest rises
What is paradoxical motion associated with?
Flail chest
What causes Rales (crackles)?
Oxygen passing through moisture in the bronchoalveolar system or from closed alveoli opening abruptly
FLUID IN SMALLER AIRWAYS
What two things are Rales associated with?
Congestive heart failure
Bronchitis
What is Rhonchi?
Continuous sounds with a lower pitch and a rattling quality
What four things is Rhonchi associated with?
Congestive heart failure
Pulmonary edema
Bronchitis
Pneumonia
FLUID IN LARGER AIRWAYS
When is Rhonchi usually heard?
During exhalation
What four things cause stridor?
Bacterial epiglottitis
Viral croup
Swelling from upper airway burns
Partial foreign body airway obstruction
What is wheezing?
A high-pitched whistling noise that is usually more prominent during exhalation
What three things is wheezing associated with?
Asthma
Bronchitis
Other processes that cause constriction of the bronchioles (bronchospasm)
When is mild wheezing typically heard?
Expiration
When is moderate wheezing typically heard?
Inspiration and expiration
What is severe wheezing?
Wheezing that is often faint or difficult to hear indicating severe bronchospasm
What is pleural friction rub?
A low pitched, dry, rubbing sound caused by movement of inflamed pleural surfaces as they slide against one another during breathing
What four things is pleural friction rub associated with?
Pleurisy
Viral infection
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary embolism
What five things do you assess the abdomen for?
Tenderness Rigidity Swelling Guarding Distention
What is ecchymosis?
Bruising of the skin
What are two causes of ashen or pale skin?
Hypovolemia
Hypoxia
What are six possible causes of red/flushed skin?
High blood pressure CO poisoning (late) Significant fever Heatstroke Sunburn Allergic reaction
What is a cause of jaundice skin?
Liver disease/dysfunction
What are four possible causes for hot skin?
Significant fever
Sunburn
Hyperthermia
Heavy excercise
What are two causes for cool skin?
Early shock
Heat exhaustion
What are three causes for cold skin?
Profound shock
Hypothermia
Frostbite
What is a possible causes for clammy/moist skin?
Shock
What is a cause for pupils that are fixed with no reaction to light?
Depressed brain function (head injury/stroke)
What is a cause for pupils that are fully dialated and fixed (brown pupil)?
Increased intracranial pressure
What is a cause for constricted pupils?
Drugs (opiates)
What is a cause for dilated pupils?
Drugs (barbiturates)
What is a cause for pupils with a sluggish reaction?
Severe increase in intracranial pressure
What are four causes of unequal pupil size?
Depressed brain function
Medication placed in eye
Injury or condition of the eye
Congenital anisocoria
What is focal pain?
Pain that is only in a single location
What is diffuse pain?
Generalized area of pain
In trauma patients what 2 steps occur during detailed physical exams?
Detailed head to toe looking for DCAP-BTLS
Reassess vitals
What is petechia?
Small red or purple spot on the skin, caused by a minor hemorrhage (broken capillary blood vessels)
What are battle signs?
Bruising behind the ear associated with skull fractures
What is called when blood or foreign objects are in the anterior chamber of the eye?
Hyphema