Ch 10 Patient Assessment

Question 1

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

Answer 1

accessory muscles

Question 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

Answer 2

altered mental status

Question 3

To listen to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope

Answer 3

auscultate

Question 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 assessment process

Answer 4

AVPU scale

Question 5

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

Answer 5

blood pressure

Question 6

A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min

Answer 6

bradycardia

Question 7

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

Answer 7

breath sounds

Question 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

Answer 8

capillary refill

Question 9

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

Answer 9

capnography

Question 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

Answer 10

carbon dioxide

Question 11

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

Answer 11

chief complaint

Question 12

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

Answer 12

conjunctiva

Question 13

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

Answer 13

crackles

Question 14

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

Answer 14

crepitus

Question 15

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

Answer 15

cyanosis

Question 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

Answer 16

DCAP-BTLS

Question 17

Characterized by light or profuse sweating

Answer 17

Diaphoretic

Question 18

The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart’s cycle when the left ventricle is a rest

Answer 18

diastolic pressure

Question 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 fracture

Answer 19

distracting injury

Question 20

The conclusion about the cause of the patient’s condition after considering the situation, history, and examination findings

Answer 20

field impression

Question 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 on one body system or part

Answer 21

focused assessment

Question 22

Damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold

Answer 22

frostbite

Question 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

Answer 23

general impression

Question 24

The time from injury to definitive care, during which treatment of shock and traumatic injuries should occur because survival potential is best

Answer 24

Golden Hour/ Period

Question 25

Involuntary muscle contractions (spasm) of the abdominal wall; an effort to protect the inflamed abdomen

Answer 25

guarding

Question 26

A step within the patient assessment process that provides detail about the patient's chief complaint and an account of the patient's signs and symptoms

Answer 26

history taking

Question 27

blood pressure that is higher than the normal range

Answer 27

hypertension

Question 28

Blood pressure that is lower than the normal range

Answer 28

hypotension

Question 29

A condition in which the internal body temperature falls below 95º F (35º C)

Answer 29

hypothermia

Question 30

A system implemented to manage disasters and mass- and multiple-casualty incidents in which section chiefs, including finance, logistics, operations, and planning, report to the incident commander

Answer 30

incident command system

Question 31

Yellow skin or sclera that is caused by liver disease or dysfunction

Answer 31

jaundice

Question 32

Breathing that requires greater than normal effort; may be slower or faster than normal and characterized by grunting, stridor, and use of accessory muscles

Answer 32

labored breathing

Question 33

The average pressure in the circulatory system during one cardiac cycle

Answer 33

mean arterial pressure (MAP)

Question 34

The forces, or energy transmission, applied to the body that causes injury

Answer 34

mechanism of injury (MOI)

Question 35

The biochemical processes that result in production of energy from nutrients within the cells

Answer 35

metabolism

Question 36

Widening of the nostrils, indicating that there is an airway obstruction

Answer 36

nasal flaring

Question 37

The general type of illness a patient is experiencing

Answer 37

nature of illness (NOI)

Question 38

A mnemonic used in evaluating a patient's pain: Onset, Provocation/palliation, Quality, Region/radiation, Severity, and Timing

Answer 38

OPQRST

Question 39

The mental status of a patient as measured by memory of person (name), place (current location), time (current, year, month, and approximate date) and event (what happened)

Answer 39

orientation

Question 40

To examine by touch

Answer 40

palpate

Question 41

The motion of the portion of the chest wall that is detached in a flail chest; the motion- in during inhalation, out during exhalation- is exactly the opposite of normal chest wall motion during breathing

Answer 41

paradoxical motion

Question 42

the flow of blood through body tissues and vessels

Answer 42

perfusion

Question 43

Protective equipment that block exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material

Answer 43

personal protective equipment (PPE)

Question 44

negative findings that warrant no care or intervention

Answer 44

pertinent negatives

Question 45

A step within the patient assessment process that identifies and initiates treatment of immediate and potential life threats

Answer 45

primary assessment

Question 46

The wave of pressure created as the heart contracts and forces blood out the left ventricle and into the major arteries

Answer 46

pulse

Question 47

An assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the capillary beds

Answer 47

pulse oximetry

Question 48

A step within the patient assessment process performed at regular intervals during the assessment process to identify and treat changes in a patient's condition. A patient in unstable condition should have this done every 5 minutes, whereas a patient in stable condition should have this done every 15 minutes

Answer 48

reassessment

Question 49

The way in which a patient responds to external stimuli, including verbal stimuli (sound), tactile stimuli (touch), and painful stimuli

Answer 49

responsiveness

Question 50

Movements in which the skin pulls in around the ribs during inspiration

Answer 50

retractions

Question 51

Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in upper airways

Answer 51

rhonchi

Question 52

A brief history of a patient's condition to determine signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to the injury or illness

Answer 52

SAMPLE history

Question 53

A step within the patient assessment process that involves a quick assessment of the scene and the surroundings to provide information about scene safety and the mechanism of injury or nature of illness before you enter and begin patient care

Answer 53

scene size-up

Question 54

A tough, fibrous, white portion of the eye that protects the more delicate inner structures

Answer 54

sclera

Question 55

A step within the patient assessment process in which a systematic physical examination of the patient is performed. The examination may be a systematic exam or an assessment that focuses on a certain area or region of the body, often determined through the chief complaint

Answer 55

secondary assessment

Question 56

Respirations characterized by little movement of the chest wall (reduced tidal volume) or poor chest excursion

Answer 56

shallow respirations

Question 57

Objective finding that can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, or measured

Answer 57

sign

Question 58

Knowledge and understanding of one's surroundings and the ability to recognize potential risks to the safety of the patient or EMS team

Answer 58

situational awareness

Question 59

An upright position in which the patient's head and chin are thrust slightly forward to keep the airway open

Answer 59

sniffing position

Question 60

Breathing that occurs without assistance

Answer 60

spontaneous respirations

Question 61

Protective measures that have traditionally been developed by the CDC for use in dealing with objects, blood, body fluids, and other potential exposure risks of communicable disease

Answer 61

standard precautions

Question 62

A harsh, high-pitched, respiratory sound, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may be audible without stethoscope

Answer 62

stridor

Question 63

A characteristic crackling sensation felt on palpation of the skin, caused by the presence of air in soft tissue

Answer 63

subcutaneous emphysema

Question 64

Subjective findings that the patient feels but that can be identified only by the patient

Answer 64

symptoms

Question 65

The increased pressure in an artery with each contraction of the ventricles

Answer 65

systolic pressure

Question 66

A rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min

Answer 66

tachycardia

Question 67

The amount of air (in milliliters) that is moved into or out of the lungs during one breath

Answer 67

tidal volume

Question 68

TO SORT. The process of establishing treatment and transportation priorities according to severity of injury and medical need

Answer 68

triage

Question 69

An upright position in which the patient leans forward onto two arms stretched forward and thrusts the head and chin forward

Answer 69

tripod position

Question 70

A severe breathing problem in which a patient can speak only two to three words at a time without pausing to take a breath

Answer 70

two- to three- word dyspnea

Question 71

Narrowing of a blood vessel

Answer 71

vasoconstriction

Question 72

The key signs that are used to evaluate the patient's overall condition, including respirations, pulse, blood pressure, level of consciousness, and skin characteristics

Answer 72

vital signs

Question 73

A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on expiration, and which suggests an obstruction or narrowing of the lower airways; occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis

Answer 73

wheezing