Patient Assessment Flashcards
Define life functions?
Getting oxygen from the air to all the cells in the body.
List and describe the four critical life functions?
1.Ventilation- moving air in and out of the lungs
2.Oxygenation- getting oxygen into the blood.
3.Circularion- moving blood through the body.
4.Perfusion- getting oxygen into the tissue.
How to measure the four critical life functions?
1.Ventilation- respiratory rate, tidal volume, chest movement, breath sounds, PaCO2, ETCO2.
2.Oxygenation- heart rate, color, sensorium, PaO2 SPO2.
3.Circulation- heart rate and strength, cardiac output.
4.Perfusion- blood pressure, sensorium, temperature, urine output, hemodynamic
What is the most common problem in an emergency?
Oxygenation
List the priority in an emergency?
- Ventilation
2.Oxygenation
3.Circulation - Perusion
Define signs?
Objective information, those things that you can see or measure
ex: color, pulse, edema, blood pressure, etc.
Define symptom?
Subjective information those things that the patient must tell you.
ex: dyspnea, pain, nausea, muscle weakness.
What is the formula for tobacco use?
Pack year= # of packs/day X #of years smoke
ex: 4 packs/day X 10 years= 40 packs years
What is a recommended therapy for tobacco?
Nicotine therapy
Define advance directives?
A documentation of what treatment a patient would want if he was unable to make a medical decisions.
What is a type of advance directive?
- DNR- The patient does not wish to have cardiopulmonary.
- DNI- The patient does not wish to be intubated.
- Living Will- Describe the treatment patient would want if he becomes terminally ill.
- Durable power of attorney - Legal document that names a health care proxy responsible.
What are the respiratory care orders?
1.Type of treatment
2. Frequency
3. Medication dosage and route of adminstration
4. Physisian signature
List and describe the patient progress notes?
1.Respiratory notes- record date, time, reactions, etc.
2. Nursing notes - check patient status.
3. Admission notes- recording of pertinent patient data. (ex: name, address, date of birth, physician or diagnosis).
4. Physician notes- if changes in patient progress, check for corresponding respiratory orders
5. Maternal history or neonatal data.
What is the normal value for urine output?
40ml/hr or 1 liter/day
Define sensible water loss?
Urine, vomiting
Define insensible water loss?
Lungs and skin
What is the result if urine intake exceed urine output?
1.Weight gain
2.Electrolyte imbalance
3.Increase hemodynamic pressure
4.Decrease lung compliance
What does central venous pressure (CVP) indicate?
Changes in fluid balance
What is the normal CVP?
2-6mm Hg
What is the value of decreased CVP?
what is the indication for decreased CVP?
What is the treatment?
< 2mm Hg
Indicate hypovolemia
treatment recommends fluid therapy
What is the value of increased CVP?
What is the indication for increased CVP?
What is the treatment?
> 6mm Hg
indicate hypervolemia
treatment recommend diuretics
What is medication reconciliation?
how long is it to carry out the process of admission?
The process of ensuring that the patient’s medication list is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.
The process should be carried out with 24 hours of admission to the hospital.
List and describe the different level of consciousness?
Alert and response- normal.
Lethargic, somnolent, sleepy-consider sleep apnea or excessive O2 therapy in patients with COPD.
Stuporous, confused- respond inappropriately, drug overdose, intoxication.
Semicomatose- responds to only painful
stimuli.
Obtunded- drowsy state, may have decreased cough or gag reflex.
Coma- does not respond to painful stimuli.
How check if a patient is orientated?
Time
Place
Person
Define the ADL?
What system is use to evaluate ADL?
The basic task of everyday life.
Katz scoring system
Define orthopnea, general malaise, dyspnea, dysphagia?
Orthopnea- difficulty breathing except in the upright position (CHF).
General malaise- Run down feeling nausea, weakness, fatigue. headache (electrolyte imbalance)
Dyspnea- a feeling of SOB or difficulty in breathing
Dysphagia- (difficulty swallowing) and hoarseness are also common symptoms
List and describe the grade of dyspnea in relation to the activity of daily living ?
Grade I- dyspnea occurs after unusual exertion.
Grade II- breathless after going up the hills or stairs.
Grade III- dyspnea while walking at normal speed.
Grade IV- dyspnea slowly walking a short distance
Grade V- dyspnea at rest, shaving, dressing, etc.
List a few general appearance?
Age, height, weight, nourishment, etc.
- What is peripheral/ pitting edema?
- Where does it primarily occur?
- What can cause congestive heart failure?
1.Presence of excessive fluid in the tissue.
2.Occurs primarily in arms and ankles
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) and renal failure.
1.How is peripheral or pitting edema rated?
- What is the recommended treatment for peripheral/ pitting edema?
- Rated +1, +2,+3, etc. the higher the number the greater the swelling.
- Recommend diuretic therapy.
Define ascites and what is it cause by?
- Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen generally.
- caused by liver failure.
1.What is the clubbing of the finger?
- What is the causing clubbing of the finger?
- The thumb and the first finger are affected. The condition is present when the angle of the nail bed and skin increases.
2.Caused by chronic hypoxemia
- When does increased venous distention occur?
- When is venous distention seen in patients?
- Occurs with congestive heart failure.
- Seen during exhalation in patients with obstructive lung disease and air trapping.
1.What is capillary refill?
2.What is the indication for capillary refill?
- How long should the color return after a capillary refill?
- Blanching the hand and watch for color to return.
2 peripheral circulation
- within three seconds