Chapter 10: Patient Assessment

Question 1

Accessory muscles

Answer 1

The secondary muscles of respiration. They include the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectoral is major muscles, and the abdominal muscles.

Question 2

Altered mental status

Answer 2

A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body.

Question 3

Auscultate

Answer 3

To listen to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope.

Question 4

AVPU scale

Answer 4

A method of assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment process.

Question 5

Blood pressure

Answer 5

The pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them.

Question 6

Bradycardia

Answer 6

A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min.

Question 7

Breath sounds

Answer 7

An indication of air movement in the lungs, usually assessed with a stethoscope.

Question 8

Capillary refill

Answer 8

A test that evaluates distal circulatory system function by squeezing (blanching) blood from an area such as a nail bed and watching the speed of its return after releasing the pressure.

Question 9

Capnography

Answer 9

A noninvasive method to quickly and efficiently provide information on a patients ventilators status, circulation, and metabolism; effectively measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired air over time.

Question 10

Carbon dioxide

Answer 10

A component of air that typically makes up 0.03% of air at sea level; also a waste product exhaled during expiration by the respiratory system.

Question 11

Chief complaint

Answer 11

The reason a patient called for help; also, the patients response to questions such as “What’s wrong?” or “What happened?”

Question 12

Conjunctiva

Answer 12

The delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eye.

Question 13

Crackles

Answer 13

A crackling, rattling breath sounds that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs.

Question 14

Crepitus

Answer 14

A grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together.

Question 15

Cyanosis

Answer 15

A blue skin discoloration that is caused by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood.

Question 16

DCAP-BLTS

Answer 16

A mnemonic for assessment in which each area of the body is evaluated for Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures/penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, and Swelling.

Question 17

Diaphoretic

Answer 17

Characterized by light or profuse sweating.

Question 18

Diastolic pressure

Answer 18

The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart’s cycle (diastole) when the left ventricle is at rest.

Question 19

Distracting injury

Answer 19

Any injury that prevents the patient from noticing other injuries he or she may have, even severe injuries; for example, a painful femur or tibia fracture that prevents the patient from noticing back pain associated with a spinal fractured.

Question 20

Field impression

Answer 20

The conclusion about the cause of the patients condition after considering the situation, history, and examination findings.

Question 21

Focused assessment

Answer 21

A type of physical assessment typically performed on patients who have sustained nonsignificant mechanisms of injury or on responsive medical patients. This type of examination is based on the chief complaint and focuses the on one body system or part.

Question 22

Frostbite

Answer 22

Damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen or partially frozen body parts are frost bitten.

Question 23

General impression

Answer 23

The overall initial impression that determines the priority for patient care; based on the patient’s surroundings, the mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms, and the chief complaint.