Skills pack Q&A

Question 1

Why be cautious of seizure-like activity before a suspected cardiac arrest?

Answer 1

At the onset of cardiac arrest, cerebral blood flow is reduced to almost zero and this can cause seizure-like activity and can therefore be mistaken for epilepsy.

Cardiac arrest should be something always suspected when someone appears to be seizing, even if they have a diagnosis of epilepsy.

Question 2

Where do you position your hands for CPR?

Answer 2

Centre of the chest, one hand on top of the other, heel of the hand on the breastbone.

Question 3

Adult CPR notes

Answer 3

Rate; 100-120bpm

Depth; 5-6cm

Question 4

Children CPR points

Answer 4

Rate; 100-120bpm

Depth;

• 5cm for children above 1years old
• 4cm for children under 1year old (infant)

Hands;

• children over 1 years old, the heel of one hand
• children under 1 years old (infants), two fingers

Question 5

Groups of people vulnerable to infection

Answer 5

• the children
• the elderly
• immunocomprimised (e.g. cancer patients receiving chemo)
• those with long-term conditions
• those with wounds
• those with invasive devices, e.g. catheters in situ, IVs, etc.

Question 6

10 infection control precautions

Answer 6

1- Hand hygiene
2- PPE
3- Respiratory & Cough hygiene
4- safe management of blood and body fluids
5- occupational exposure management 
6- safe environment of care environment
7- safe management of care equipment
8- patient placement; assessing risk & potential requirement for separation of infected
9- safe management of linen
10- safe management of waste

Question 7

Groups who present a greater risk of cross-contamination

Answer 7

• those with diarrhoea
• those with vomiting
• those with an unexplained rash
• those with fever
• those with respiratory symptoms
• previously have been positive with a multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO), e.g. MRSA
• those hospitalised outside the Uk in the last 12 months

Question 8

5 moments of hand hygiene (according to WHO)

Answer 8

1- before touching patient
2- before clean/aseptic procedure
3- after body fluid exposure
4- after touching a patient
5- after touching patient's surroundings

Question 9

Moments when hand sanitiser is inappropriate

Answer 9

• Working with patients/dealing with C-diff
• when hands are visibly dirty, e.g. blood, dirt, etc.
• before a sterile procedure, e.g. wearing sterile gloves
• when soap & water is available

Question 10

What is the rationale for taking someone’s temperature?

Answer 10

• risk of infection, as fever can indicate infection
• general observations can prevent a deteriorating patient
• knowledge of someone’s response to medication, treatment, etc.
• obtaining a baseline measurement

Question 11

Temperature terms;

Answer 11

A typical temperature of a healthy adult; 36-37.5*

Pyrexia; a temperature 37.5*C or above, continuously

Hyperthermia; a CBT above 40*C

Hypothermia; a CBT below 35*C

Question 12

Sites used to obtain a body temperature;

Answer 12

CBT;

• Tympanic membrane (inner ear)
• Sublingual; below the tongue
• Rectum

Peripheral temp;

• Axilla; under the armpit
• Skin
• Forehead

Question 13

Equipment used for obtaining temp

Answer 13

Electronic; digital probes
Tympanic
Chemical (e.g. tempadots for sublingual location)

Question 14

Rational for measuring someone’s pulse

Answer 14

*identify strength, rate an depth of ventricular contraction

Question 15

pulse terms

Answer 15

Typical heart rate in a health adult; 60-100BPM

Tachycardia; excessively fast pulse above 100bpm

Bradycardia; excessively slow pulse below 60bpm

Question 16

Four factors to consider when taking someone’s pulse

Answer 16

• Rate
• Rhythm
• Regularity/irregularity
• Volume

Question 17

9 common sites for obtaining a pulse

Answer 17

Temporal (temples)

Apical (left centre of the chest; heart)

Carotid arteries (either side of the neck)

Brachial (mid-arm)

Radial (wrist)

Femoral (groin/inner upper thigh)

Popliteal (behind the knee)

Dorsalis pedis (top of the foot)

Posterior tibial (ankle)

Question 18

Duration a pulse should be palpated for?

Answer 18

60 seconds - 1minute

Question 19

Rational for recording someone’s repsirations

Answer 19

• irregular breathing

Question 20

Respiration terms

Answer 20

Dyspnoea; difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)

Apnoea; temporary cessation of breathing (no breathing/its stopped)

Bradypnoea; abnormally slow breathing

Tachypnoea; rapid rate of breathing

Question 21

Factors to be considered when measuring respirations

Answer 21

• rate
• regularity/irregularity
• sound
• rhythm
• effort requiered
• skin colour