Physical Assessment Techniques (Ch. 6) Flashcards
What are the 4 techniques for assessment?
- inspection
- palpation
- auscultation
- percussion
T or F: you should watch for emotional and mental status at the beginning of the encounter
False. You should watch through the history and physical assessment
What 3 elements does inspection depend on?
- good lighting
- adequate time
- curiosity for looking beyond the obvious
T of F: the pads of your fingers are more sensitive than the tips
True
Which area of your hand is better for sensing vibrations?
The palm
Which area of your hand is better for evaluating temperature?
The back of the hand
How deep is light palpation?
1cm
How deep is deep palpation?
4cm
How deep does percussion produce sound waves?
4-6cm deep
Where should your fingers lie when percussing the chest?
Between the ribs, and parallel to them
Where should the earpieces of your stethoscope point when in use?
Anteriorly
T of F: In the abdomen, you should auscultation first, then palpate
True
What are the 4 main vital signs?
- Heart Rate
- Blood Pressure
- Respiration
- Temperature
Another word for circulatory
Hemodynamic
What are the 9 places you can find a pulse?
- temporal
- carotid
- brachial
- radial
- ulnar
- femoral
- popliteal
- dorsalis pedis
- posterior tibial
What is the formula for BP?
Cardiac Output x Systemic Vascular Resistance = Blood Pressure
How long should you wait to take BP if you r patient has recently been smoking, exercising or eating?
5-10 minutes
When is a tilt test considered positive?
- When pulse rate increases by 10-20BPM
- When systolic BP decreases by 10-20mmHg
When is a rectal thermometer preferred?
- when the pt. is 6y/o or younger
- when a patient has an altered L.O.C.
Which is the least accurate place to measure temperature?
Axillary
How long is ideal stethoscope tubing?
30-40cm (short tubing)
True or False: aneroid sphygmomanometers are more accurate than mercury sphygmomanometers
False. Mercury Sphyaofijasiofj’s (fuck the spelling) are more accurate
T or F: Glass thermometers break easily and cannot record temps below 36*C
True
What is Broselow Tape?
A measuring tape for infants that provides important information regarding airway equipment and medication doses based on your patients length
What is the major disadvantage of the cardiac monitor?
It cannot tell you if the heart is pumping efficiently, effectively, or at all
Where does jaundice first present?
In the sclera of the eye
What kind of skin would you most likely find eczema or psoriasis?
Thick skin
What does poor turgor result from?
Dehydration
What does a mass that pulsates in all directions suggest?
An aneurysm
How far away should a pt. be from a visual acuity wall chart?
6m
How far away should you hold a visual acuity card from a pt.?
35cm from face
In the score 20/20, what does the first and second number mean?
- First number = distance away from chart
- Second number = distance a normal eye can read the line
What is proptosis?
A protruding eye
What is ptosis?
A drooping eye
What percentage of people have Anisocoria? (unequal pupils)
20%
T or F: Nystagmus is defined as a fine jerking of the eyes
True
What colour should the tympanic membrane be?
A pearly, translucent grey
If erosion of the nasal septum occurs, what drug is suspected to cause this?
Cocaine
What is epistaxis
A nose bleed
What part of the tongue are malignancies more likely to occur on?
The bottom and sides of the tongue
What are 3 chest wall abnormalities?
- Funnel chest
- Pigeon chest
- Barrel chest
What are 2 signs of chronic lung disease?
- Calloused elbows from tripodding
- Finger clubbing
Where should you listen to the heart sounds “lub” vs. “dub”
- “Lub” is sound 1 and can be heard at the apex of the heart
- “Dub” is sound 2 and can be heard at the base of the heart
What is normal venous pressure?
1-2cm
What are two examples of late signs of intra abdominal bleeding?
- Cullen’s sign
- Grey-Turner sign
T of F: The lower the edema, the more severe the problem
False. The higher the edema, the more severe the problem
What are 4 ways to test memory and attention?
- Digit span
- Serial events
- Spelling backwards
- Memory
What is the Romberg test?
Ask your patient to stand with feet together and her eyes open. Have her close eyes for 20-30seconds. Observe ability to remain upright with final swaying and no support
