Secondary Assessment Flashcards
Step 1
- Inspect and palpate scalp and ears. Inspect mouth, nose and assess facial area.
“Do I notice any battle signs, raccoon eyes, or fluid draining from the ears?”
“Are my patient’s eyes equal and reactive to light?”
“Do I notice any additional abnormalities to my patients face?”
Step 2
- Inspect neck and palpate cervical spine.
“Do I notice JVD, tracheal deviation, or other abnormalities with my patients neck.
“Upon palpating my patients neck do I notice any other abnormalities”
Step 3
- Inspect and palpate chest
“Does my patient have equal rise and fall of their chest?”
“Do I notice any crepitus or other abnormalities upon palpation?”
“I will now go ahead re-auscultate my patient in all fields”
Step 4
- Inspect and palpate abdomen. Assess pelvis. Verbalize assessment of genitals/perineum.
“Do I notice any discoloration or distention upon inspection of my patients abdomen?”
“Do I notice any abnormalities upon palpation of my patients abdomen?”
“Do I note any abnormalities with palpation to the patients pelvis?”
“At this time I would assess my patients genitals and perineum”
Step 5
- Inspect, palpate and assess motor, sensory, and distal circulatory functions of the lower extremities.
“Do I note any DCAPBTLS to the lower extremities upon palpation and visualization?”
“I will now assess pedal pulses. Are they present?”
Conscious:
“Can you push your feet up against my hands? Can you push your feet down against my hands? (Motor)”
“Can you feel me touching you your left/right foot? (Sensory)”
Unconscious:
“I have identified my patient has pedal pulses but due to their unconscious state, I am unable to asses motor and sensory function.”
Step 6
- Inspect, palpate and assess motor, sensory, and distal circulatory functions of the upper extremities.
“Do I note any DCAPBTLS to the upper extremities upon palpation and visualization?”
“I will now assess radial pulses. What is the quality and rate?”
Conscious:
“Can you wiggle your fingers? (Motor)”
“Can you tell me which finger I’m pressing on (both hands)? (Sensory)”
Unconscious:
“I have identified my patient has radial pulses but due to their unconscious state, I am unable to asses motor and sensory function.”
Step 7
- Inspect and palpate posterior thorax, lumbar, and buttocks.
Spinal injury:
“I will now request the assistance of my partner in holding manual c-spine stabilization in order to conduct a log roll to asses my patients back and buttocks”
No spinal injury
“Given that I do not suspect a spinal injury at this time, I will conduct a log roll in order to assess my patients back and buttocks.”
“Do I notice any DCAPBTLS to my patients back or buttocks upon palpation and visualization?”
Step 8
- Manage secondary injuries and wounds
“I will now apply ________ interventions to manage ____________ secondary injuries.”
