Chapter 8C - Diagnostic Signs

Question 0

Chronic

Answer 0

Of long duration, such as a chronic disease like hypertension

Question 1

Acute

Answer 1

Having rapid onset of severe symptoms

Question 2

Agitation

Answer 2

Being upset, or hyper, very concerned

Question 3

Aggravation

Answer 3

Being angry and probably agitated

Question 4

Alleviate

Answer 4

To relieve or make go away, as in splinting helps alleviate the pain

Question 5

Amnesia

Answer 5

Loss of memory

Question 6

Anisocoria

Answer 6

Unequal pupils

Question 7

Artifact

Answer 7

Artificial action – something extra that should not be there

Question 8

Asymmetrical

Answer 8

Not symmetrical

Question 9

Crepitus

Answer 9

The grating or grinding of broken bone ends

Question 10

diaphoresis

Answer 10

Excessive sweating

Question 11

Distention

Answer 11

To stretch out

Question 12

Nasal flaring

Answer 12

A sign of respiratory compromise

Question 13

Nystagmus

Answer 13

The horizontal or vertical jerking of the eyeball when they look away from the center – often observed with drug abuse

Question 14

Photophobia

Answer 14

hypersensitivity to bright light – wishing to avoid it – commonly seen with hangovers and meningitis

Question 15

Ventilation

Answer 15

Moving air – to move air into and out of the lungs

Question 16

Respiration

Answer 16

To utilize the oxygen we breathe through gas exchanges both in the lungs, and at the cellular level

Question 17

What are the 12 diagnostic signs?

Answer 17

1. pulse
2. respirations
3. Blood-pressure
4. Skin color
5. Skin moisture
6. Skin temperature
7. Pupils
8. Level of consciousness
9. Reaction to pain
10. Ability to move
11. Breath sounds
12. Respiratory patterns

Question 18

Pulse - fast & weak (causes)

Answer 18

Shock, heat exhaustion, diabetic coma

Question 19

Pulse – fast and strong (causes)

Answer 19

Freight, stress, fever, hypertension, heat stroke, stimulant drugs (amphetamines, cocaine)

Question 20

Pulse – slow and weak (causes)

Answer 20

Downer drug overdose (sedative – hypnotics, tranquilizers, opiates), impending doom

Question 21

Pulse - slow and strong (causes)

Answer 21

Stroke, head injury

Question 22

Respirations – rapid and shallow (causes)

Answer 22

Airway obstruction (partial), heart failure, chest or abdominal injury or pain

Question 23

Respiration – rapid and deep (causes)

Answer 23

Diabetic coma, head injury, stress

Question 24

Respirations – slow and shallow (causes)

Answer 24

Downer drug overdose (sedative – hypnotics, tranquilizers, opiates), impending doom

Question 25

respirations – labored (causes)

Answer 25

Airway obstruction

Question 26

Blood pressure – high (causes)

Answer 26

Fright, stress, heading injury, central nervous system problems, poisoning (black widow, scorpion), some medical problems

Question 27

Blood pressure – low (causes)

Answer 27

Shock, internal bleeding, (could be normal for this patient)

Question 28

Blood pressure – rising (causes)

Answer 28

Could indicate rising intracranial pressure Monitor it – elevate head

Question 29

Blood pressure – falling (causes)

Answer 29

Cardiogenic shock, septic shock, G.I. bleeding, ectopic pregnancy, bleeding related to pregnancy, ruptured aorta Monitor it – elevate legs, give oxygen

Question 30

Erythema (causes)

Answer 30

Fever, diabetic coma, (possibly) heat stroke, hypertension

Question 31

Palor/pale (causes)

Answer 31

Stress, shock, hypoglycemia, heat exhaustion, heart attack sometimes

Question 32

Cyanosis (causes)

Answer 32

Airway obstruction, respiratory insufficiency, pump failure, shock, dramatic asphyxia indicates poor tissue oxygenation

Question 33

Ashen (causes)

Answer 33

Gray heart attack, or extremely poor tissue perfusion

Question 34

Blotchy, mottled (causes)

Answer 34

Shock, poor perfusion

Question 35

List 4 places other than the skin generally where you can check skin color if the patient is not why (Caucasian) or does not have pale skin

Answer 35

1. Thenar prominence (base of thumb) 2. Nailbeds (Cannot be relied upon too affected by environment) 3. Inside lower eyelids 4. Lips

Question 36

Skin moisture – dry (causes)

Answer 36

Normal

Question 37

Skin moisture – damp (causes)

Answer 37

Shock, fright, stress (if warm, may be hot and sweaty) (if cool, may be in shock)

Question 38

Skin moisture – very sweaty (causes)

Answer 38

Heart attack, insulin shock, shock

Question 39

Skin temperature

Answer 39

Hot, cold, or normal if the patient is sick and with a low-grade fever or slight temperature, you would describe it to the nurse as hot, because to a nurse, warm is normal

Question 40

Pupils – perl

Answer 40

Pupils are equal and reactive to light

Question 41

Pupils – normal size

Answer 41

Pupils are normally from 1.5 mm - 6 mm

Question 42

Pupils – constricted (or pinpointed) (causes)

Answer 42

Bright light, opiates/heroin overdose, or some poisonings (organophosphates)

Question 43

Pupils – midpoint (causes)

Answer 43

Dead

Question 44

Pupils – dilated (causes)

Answer 44

Stress, Fright, coma, shock, amphetamine or stimulant overdose, head injury, dead (early stage)

Question 45

Pupils - reaction to light

Answer 45

Should be very fast

Question 46

Pupils – rapid reaction to light (causes)

Answer 46

Saying this means that they react to light a very rapidly = normal

Question 47

Pupils - sluggish (causes)

Answer 47

Means that they do react, but not as fast as normal = sedative drugs, cerebral hypoxia, head injuries, cerebral edema

Question 48

Pupils – fixed (causes)

Answer 48

Means that they do not react = dead, blind, glass eye, sedative drugs

Question 49

When checking pupils what are the 3 things you check for?

Answer 49

Size, symmetry, reaction to light

Question 50

Pupils – symmetry

Answer 50

They should be equal. But, 10% of all people have slightly unequal pupils normally (but usually only 1mm different)

Question 51

Pupils – equal

Answer 51

Normal

Question 52

Pupils – unequal (causes)

Answer 52

Head injury, stroke, glass eye Presume that we mean "significantly unequal". And remember that people with cataracts often have unequal pupils all the time

Question 53

Oval pupil significance?

Answer 53

An oval pupil may be an early sign of increasing intracranial pressure

Question 54

Pie shaped wedge cut out pupil?

Answer 54

A pupil with the pie shaped wedge cut out of it indicates that the person has had cataract surgery

Question 55

Pupil - consensually

Answer 55

Pupils should we consensually – meaning if you shin light in one, both should constrict together