Patient Assessment Focus Qs And Mnemonics Flashcards
What is AVPU?
Alert (Oriented to person, place, day)
Verbal (Responds to verbal stimuli)
Pain (Responds to painful stimuli)
Unresponsive
What is the OPQRST pain assessment?
Onset (When and how did the pain start?)
Provocation (What makes the pain better or worse?)
Quality (What does the pain feel like?)
Region (Where do you feel the pain? Does it Radiate?)
Severity (Rate the pain from 1-10)
Time (How many days? Does it come and go?)
What is DCAP-BTLS
Types of Injury
Deformities Burns
Contusions Tenderness
Abrasions Lacerations
Punctures Swelling
What’s included in the AEIOU-TIPS assessment?
Alcohol, Acidosis, Ammonia
Endocrine, Electrolytes, Encephalopathy Trauma, Temp., Thiamine
Infection Insulin
Oxygen, Opiates, Overdose Poisoning, Psychiatric
Uremia Stroke, Seizure, Syncope
What are the 4 levels of EYE response for GCS?
4 Spontaneous eye opening
3 Opens eyes to verbal commands
2 Opens eyes in response to pain
1 No response
What are the 5 levels of VERBAL response for GCS?
5 Oriented to time, person, place
4 Disoriented
3 Nonsensical/ Inappropriate words
2 Unintelligible speech
1 No response
What are the 6 levels of MOTOR response for GCS?
6 Follows Commands
5 Localizes pain
4 Withdraws from pain
3 Abnormal flexion
2 Abnormal extension
1 No response
What is the SAMPLE mnemonic?
Signs/ Symptoms (symptoms of chief complaint and and other injuries)
Allergies
Medications (Do you take any? Have you taken them? How often do you take them?)
Past Medical History (Have you felt this pain before? Any recent hospitalizations?)
Last Oral Intake
Events Leading to the Problem
What is the CAGE alcohol assessment mnemonic?
Cut Down (Have you ever felt you should cut down your drinking?)
Annoyed (Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?)
Guilty (Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?)
Ever (Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning?)
What is assessed with the CWCMS Trauma mnemonic?
(Best for extremities)
Colour
Warmth
Circulation
Movement
Sensation
Give 5 examples of Focused CNS Question
Do you have any Paralysis or Tingling?
Do you have blurry or double vision? (Pupil size/ PEARL?)
Do you feel and dizziness or trouble with balance?
Can you please squeeze my fingers equally? (Check strength symmetry)
Are you experiencing Tinnitus?
Give 5 examples of Focused CVS Questions
Have you made any recent changes in your diet or exercise habits?
Are you experiencing and swelling in your arms or legs? (Edema)
Have you taken any substances or medications?
Do you have a history or family history of heart problems?
Have you experienced any fainting? (Syncope)
Give 5 examples of Focused RESP Questions?
Are you a smoker? How often?
Do you have a family history of respiratory problems?
Have you recently been experiencing severe anxiety?
Have you been coughing? Has it been a productive cough?
Have you made any significant changes in physical activity?
Give 5 examples of Focused GI Questions
Do you have very dark or bloody stool? (Dark = Upper GI bleed, Bloody = Lower GI bleed)
Have you had any recent surgeries?
When was your last bowel movement? Was it loose or solid?
Do you have any recent dietary changes?
Does it hurt when you go to the bathroom?
Give 5 examples of Focused GU Questions?
Is a change in the cloud or smell of your urine?
Is the urine clear or cloudy? Does it have any blood in it?
Is there a noticeable change in your urination frequency?
Are you getting complete relief when you urinate?
Approximately how much fluids have you drank in the last 24 hours?
Give 5 examples of Focused GYN Questions?
Are you on any contraceptives?
Have you taken any ED medications?
Have you suffered any genital trauma?
Is it possible that you are pregnant? Have you ever been pregnant before?
When was your last sexual encounter? Have you ever been diagnosed with an STD?
What does the COASTMAP nervous system assessment include?
Consciousness
Orientation
Activity
Speech
Thought
Memory
Affect
Perception
What is the SBAR technique for reporting patient information?
Situation (Identify yourself, identify patient, identify chief complaint)
Background (Past medical history, medications, allergies)
Assessment (clinical impressions, vital signs, physical exams, treatments)
Recommendations (recommended immediate actions when applicable)
What is the dispatchers tasks when taking a call?
Answer the phone promptly
Identify themself and the agency
Speak directly into the mouthpiece
Observe phone courtesy
Take charge of the conversation
What are 4 common errors in history taking?
Overconfidence in a diagnosis
Anchoring bias when a specific diagnosis becomes a focus
Ascertainment bias is seeing only what you expect to see
Confirmation bias is when the paramedic seeks information to confirm the working diagnosis
What are the 2 most important pieces of a patient history?
Patient’s name
Chief complaint
Why is reflection an important communication technique?
Repeating a word or phrase back to a patient may help a patient stay focused, may encourage more detail, and confirms that you heard them properly.
What are the 5 steps of clinical thinking?
Concept formation
Data interpretation
Application of principles
Reflection in action
Reflection on action
What is a symptom that should always prompt you to check blood glucose?
A patient with an altered mental status
What are the 2 elements of a physical examination?
Obtaining vital signs
Performing a head to toe survey that evaluates specific body systems
What are the 4 examination techniques?
Inspection
Palpation
Percussion
Auscultation
What are the sakes for your first set of vitals and then follow up sets of vitals?
Baseline vitals (first set)
Serial vitals (additional sets)
What are the effects of using the wrong size blood pressure cuff?
Too big = too low result
Too tight = too high result
Explain an apnea/bradypnea/dyspnea respiratory pattern?
Apnea - breathing that stops for any reason
Bradypnea - slowed breathing
Dyspnea - Laboured or difficult breathing
Explain an Ataxic (biot) respiratory pattern?
Irregular breathing pattern rate and depth with periods of intermittent apnea
Explain a Cheyne-stokes respiratory pattern?
A gradual increase in respiratory rate and depth followed by a gradual decrease in rate and depth with periods of apnea
Explain a Kussmaul respiratory pattern?
Deep gasping respirations (common in diabetic ketoacidosis)
Explain a Tachypnea respiratory pattern?
Excessively rapid and shallow breathing (common with lung disease, anxiety, asthma)
When should C-Spine be reassessed?
Only when you have dealt with serious or distracting injuries
What membrane separates the 2 Atrias?
The Interatrial septum
What membrane separated the 2 Ventricles?
The Interventricular septum
What should the abdomen be assessed for?
Tenderness
Rigidity
Swelling
Guarding
Distension
How should an abdominal assessment be done?
Auscultate the quadrants
Palpate the quadrants from area of least pain to most pain
What is a pathological fracture?
Normal forces being applied to abnormal bone structures that produce a fracture
What is a physiologic fracture?
Abnormal forces are applied to are applied to normal bone structures producing a fracture
How should an assessment of children be done differently than an adult?
Children do better being examined from toe to head rather than the reverse method used on adults
What are some risks you might encounter at a collision or rescue scene?
Unstable vehicles, moving traffic, jagged metal, broken glass, fire or explosive hazards, downed power lines, hazardous materials
What 2 questions assess patient airway?
Is the airway open/patent?
Is it likely to remain so?
Approach airway management think from most simple to most complex
From a clinical decision making perspective, what are the 4 cornerstones of paramedic practice?
Ability to gather, evaluate, and synthesize information
Development and implement a patient care plan
Judgement and independent decision making
Ability to think and work under pressure
Six R’s of Critical Thinking
Read the scene
Read the patient
React
Re-evaluate
Revise the plan
Review your performance
What are Hertz (Hz)?
Hertz is the unit of measurement for radio frequency designated by cycles per second
A B C D E
Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
F G H I J
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliette
K L M N O
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
P Q R S T
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
U V W X Y Z
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-ray
Yankee
Zulu
What are the 8 most important times to be documented?
Time of call
Time of dispatch
Time of arrival
Time with patient
Time of medication administration
Time of departure from scene
Time of arrival at medical facility
Time back in service
