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Paramedic Class > Vocabulary 11-12 > Flashcards

Vocabulary 11-12 Flashcards

1
Q

Affect

A

The patient’s emotional state as reflected in the patient’s physical behavior

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2
Q

Comorbidity

A

The existence of two or more chronic diseases or conditions in a patient

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3
Q

Concept formation

A

Pattern of understanding based on initially obtained information; the first stage of the critical thinking process in prehospital care

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4
Q

Cookbook medicine

A

Blindly following a protocol or algorithm without thinking about what is being done and whether or not it is working

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5
Q

Data interpretation

A

The process of reaching conclusions based on comparing the patient’s presentation with information from your training, education, and past experiences; the second stage of the critical thinking process in prehospital care

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6
Q

Medical ambiguity

A

Vague or unclear aspects of medicine

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7
Q

Tunnel vision

A

Focusing on or considering only one aspect of a situation without first taking into account all possibilities

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8
Q

Adventitious breath sounds

A

Abnormal breath sounds, such as wheezing, rhonchi, crackles, stridor, and pleural friction rubs

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9
Q

A x O

A

Alert and oriented

A determination made when assessing mental status by looking at whether the patient is oriented in four areas: person, place, time, and the event itself; each element provides information about different aspects of the patient’s memory

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10
Q

Anisocoria

A

Unequal pupils with a greater than 1-mm difference

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11
Q

Aphasia

A

The language impairment that affects the production or understanding of speech and the ability to read or write

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12
Q

ALTE

A

Apparent life-threatening event

An episode characterized by some combination of apnea (central or obstructive), color change (cyanotic, pallid, erythematous, or plethoric), change in muscle tone (usually diminished), and choking or gagging

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13
Q

Ascites

A

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity; typically signals liver failure

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14
Q

Aspiration

A

The entry of fluids or solids into the trachea, bronchi, and lungs; the act of drawing material in or out by suction

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15
Q

Auscultation

A

The act of using a stethoscope to listen to sounds within the body

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16
Q

AVPU

A

A method of assessing mental status by determining whether a patient is Awake and alert, responsive to Verbal stimuli or Pain, or Unresponsive; used principally in the primary survey

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17
Q

Battle sign

A

Bruising over the mastoid process, which may indicate a basilar skull fracture; also known as retroauricular ecchymosis or raccoon eyes

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18
Q

Beck triad

A

The combination of a narrowed pulse pressure, muffled heart tones, and jugular venous distention associated with cardiac tamponade; usually caused by penetrating chest trauma

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19
Q

Blood pressure (BP)

A

The measurement of the force exerted against the walls of the blood vessels as the heart contracts and relaxes; it is calculated as the product of cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance

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20
Q

Bronchial sounds

A

Hollow, tubular, lower-pitched sounds heard over the trachea

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21
Q

Bronchophony

A

A test of decreased breath sounds performed by placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the area in question while the patient says “ninety-nine”; a loud, clear sound indicates lung consolidation

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22
Q

Bronchovesicular sounds

A

A combination of the tracheal and vesicular breath sounds; heard where airways and alveoli are found, in the upper part of the sternum and between the scapulae

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23
Q

Bruit

A

An abnormal whooshing sound of turbulent blood flow moving through a narrowed artery; usually heard in the carotid arteries

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24
Q

Capnography

A

The use of a noninvasive diagnostic tool that can quickly and efficiently provide information on a patient’s ventilatory and circulatory status with a graphic and digital depiction similar to an electrocardiogram

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25
Capnometry
The use of a capnometer, which is a monitoring device used to measure the amount of expired carbon dioxide; the reading is usually given as a digital reading
26
Cerumen
Ear wax
27
Chief complaint
The reason the patient is seeking help
28
Crackles
Wet rattling, bubbling, or crackling lung sounds indicative of fluid in the small airways; also known as rales
29
Crepitus
A crackling, grating, or grinding sound often heard when fragments of broken bones rub together
30
Current health status
A composite picture of a number of factors in a patient’s life, such as dietary habits, current medications, allergies, exercise, alcohol or tobacco use, recreational drug use, sleep patterns and disorders, and immunizations
31
Cushing reflex
The combination of a slowing pulse, rising blood pressure, and an erratic respiratory pattern; a grave sign for patients with head trauma or cerebrovascular accident
32
Cyanosis
A blue-gray skin color that is caused by inadequate levels of oxygen in the blood
33
Delirium
An acute confusional state characterized by global impairment of thinking, perception, judgment, and memory
34
Dementia
The gradual and pervasive deterioration or loss of cognitive cortical functions
35
Diaphoresis
Excessive sweating; it is often associated with shock
36
Diastolic pressure
The result of residual pressure in the circulatory system while the left ventricle is relaxing (ie, in diastole)
37
Differential diagnosis
The process of weighing the probability of one disease versus other diseases by comparing clinical findings that could account for a patient’s illness; also refers to the list of possible conditions considered based on the patient’s signs and symptoms
38
Diplopia
Double vision
39
Ecchymosis
Localized bruising or collection of blood within or under the skin
40
Egophony
A test of decreased breath sounds performed by placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the area in question while the patient says a drawn-out “eee”; an “A” sound indicates lung consolidation
41
Field impression
A field conclusion of the patient’s problem based on the clinical presentation and the exclusion of other possible causes through considering the differential diagnoses
42
Focused exam
A type of physical exam that is typically performed on responsive patients who have sustained an isolated injury; this type of exam is based on the chief complaint and focuses on one body system or part
43
Full-body exam
A systematic head-to-toe exam performed during the secondary assessment of a patient who has sustained a significant mechanism of injury, is unresponsive, or is in critical condition
44
General impression
The overall initial impression that determines the priority of patient care; based on the patient’s surroundings, the mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms, and the chief complaint
45
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
An evaluation tool used to determine level of consciousness by evaluating and assigning point values (scores) for eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, which are then totaled; effective in helping predict patient outcomes
46
Guarding
Contraction of the abdominal muscles indicating peritoneal irritation
47
Heave
The perception that the heart is beating very strongly; felt upon palpation of the chest wall, this finding suggests hypertrophy; also called a lift
48
History of the present illness
A narrative detail of the symptoms that a patient is experiencing, usually obtained using the OPQRST mnemonic
49
Iatrogenic
Related to a side effect or complication of medications or other medical treatment
50
Inspection
Looking at the patient, either in general or at a specific area (ie, a patient’s overall appearance from the doorway, versus looking specifically at the chest wall for abnormalities/deformities)
51
JVD
Jugular venous distention The visible bulging of the jugular veins when a patient is in semi-Fowler or full-Fowler position; indicates inadequate blood movement through the heart and/or lungs
52
Korotkoff sounds
Sounds related to blood pressure measurement that are heard by stethoscope
53
Kyphosis
Outward curve of the thoracic spine
54
Lesions
Localized areas of the skin that do not resemble the area surrounding it
55
Lift
A sensation felt upon palpation of the chest wall, in which the heart beats extremely strongly; suggests hypertrophy; also called a heave
56
Lordosis
Inward curve of the lumbar spine just above the buttocks; an exaggerated form results in the condition known as swayback
57
MOI
Mechanism of injury The series of events that result in traumatic injuries; the forces that act on the body to cause injury
58
Mottling
A blotchy pattern on the skin; a typical finding in states of severe protracted hypoperfusion and shock
59
Murmur
An abnormal whooshing sound heard over the heart that indicates turbulent blood flow around a cardiac valve
60
NOI
Nature of illness The general type of illness a patient is apparently experiencing
61
Ophthalmoscope
An instrument used to examine a patient’s eyes and view the retina and aqueous fluid; consists of a concave mirror and a battery-powered light that is usually contained in the handle
62
Orthostatic vital signs
Multiple sets of vital signs taken from the patient in different positions (for example, in the supine and sitting or standing positions) to determine the degree of hypovolemia; also called a tilt test
63
Otoscope
An instrument used to examine the ears of a patient; consists of a head and a handle; the head contains an electric light source and a low-power magnifying lens
64
Pallor
Paleness
65
Palpation
Physical touching for the purpose of obtaining information (ie, to detect tenderness)
66
Paresthesias
Tingling feeling or sensory change
67
Past medical history
Information obtained during the history-taking process, such as the patient’s general state of health, childhood and adult diseases, surgeries and hospitalizations, psychiatric and mental illnesses, or traumatic injuries, which may relate to the patient’s current condition
68
Pathologic fracture
A fracture that occurs when normal forces are applied to abnormal bone structures
69
Patient history
Information about the patient’s chief complaint, present symptoms, and previous illnesses
70
Percussion
Gently striking the surface of the body, typically overlying various body cavities, to detect changes in the densities of the underlying structures
71
Perfusion
The circulation of oxygenated blood through the body tissues and vessels
72
Pertinent negatives
The absence of certain signs and symptoms normally expected of specific illnesses or conditions; these findings warrant no medical care or intervention, but demonstrate the thoroughness of the patient exam and history
73
Pleural friction rubs
Squeaking or grating sounds that occur when the pleural linings rub together, which may be heard on inspiration, expiration, or both; commonly caused by inflammation of the pleura
74
Primary survey
The part of the assessment process that focuses on identifying immediate or potential life-threatening conditions so you can initiate lifesaving care
75
Primitive reflexes
Reflex reactions such as Babinski, grasping, and sucking signs normally found in infants
76
Pronator drift
The drifting of one arm downward toward a patient’s feet while he or she holds out his or her arms, palm side up, with his or her eyes shut; can be a sign of a stroke
77
Proprioception
The perception of the position and movement of the body or limbs
78
Pulse
The wave of pressure created as the heart contracts and forces blood out the left ventricle and into the major arteries; palpated at a point where an artery passes close to a bone
79
Pulse oximetry
An assessment tool used to measure oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the capillary beds
80
Rapid full-body scan
A 60- to 90-second nonsystematic review and palpation of the patient’s body to identify injuries that must be managed or protected immediately; also called the rapid full-body sweep
81
Reassessment
The portion of the assessment process in which a patient’s condition is reevaluated and response to treatment is assessed
82
Reflexes
Involuntary motor responses to specific sensory stimuli, such as a tap on the knee or stroking the eyelash
83
Rhonchi
Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways
84
Rigidity
A clinically important sign characterized by marked peritoneal irritation and guarding, indicating an injury or illness for which urgent surgical intervention may be required
85
Rubor
Redness; one of the classic signs of inflammation
86
Scene size-up
A step in the patient assessment process involving a quick assessment of the scene and its surroundings to gather information about the overall safety and stability of the scene and the mechanism of injury or nature of illness; this process is carried out before you enter and begin patient care
87
Scoliosis
Sideways curvature of the spine
88
Secondary assessment
The process by which more detailed, quantifiable, objective information is obtained from the patient about his or her overall state of health
89
Signs
Objective observations that can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, or measured
90
Social history
A subsection of the patient history that provides valuable information regarding the patient’s overall health status and helps to identify risk factors for various disease processes; includes items such as tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, sexual behavior, diet, travel history, living environment, and occupation
91
Sphygmomanometer
A blood pressure cuff
92
Splitting
In the context of heart sounds, a situation in which events on the right side of the heart occur slightly later than those on the left side, and create two discernible sounds rather than one heart sound
93
Stridor
A harsh, high-pitched respiratory sound produced as air moves past an obstruction within or immediately above the glottic opening; associated with severe upper airway obstruction
94
Symptoms
Subjective information the patient feels, such as pain, discomfort, or other abnormality
95
Systolic blood pressure
Blood pressure created by the left ventricle as it contracts (that is, in systole)
96
Tenting
A condition in which the skin slowly retracts after being pinched and pulled away slightly from the body; a sign of dehydration
97
Thrill
A humming vibration that can be palpated through the chest wall, suggesting an underlying bruit or murmur
98
Traumatic fracture
A fracture that occurs when abnormal forces are applied to normal bone structures
99
Turgor
Loss of skin elasticity
100
Vasoconstriction
Narrowing of the diameter of a blood vessel
101
Vasodilation
Widening of the diameter of a blood vessel
102
Vesicular sounds
Normal breath sounds made by air moving in and out of the alveoli
103
Visual acuity
Determined by the ability or inability to see, and by how far
104
Wheezing
A high-pitched whistling sound that may be heard on inspiration, expiration, or both, indicating air movement through a constricted lower airway, as in asthma
105
Whispered pectoriloquy
A test of decreased breath sounds performed by placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the area in question as the patient whispers “ninety-nine”; a loud, clear sound indicates lung consolidation
106
Working diagnosis
The one diagnosis from a differential list used to base the patient’s treatment plan

Paramedic Class (12 decks)

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