Chapter 9 Patient Assessment

Question 1

What does S.A.M.P.L.E. stand for?

Answer 1

S: signs/symptoms
A: allergies
M: medications
P: pertinent past medical history
L: last oral intake
E: events leading up to "key events leading up to this" "what were you doing when illness started or injury occurred"

Question 2

What is the normal pulse rate for an adult?

Answer 2

60-100 bpm

Question 3

What is the normal pulse rate for preschool and school ages (2-10 years)?

Answer 3

60-140 bpm

Question 4

What is the normal pulse rate for infants and toddlers (3 months-2 years)?

Answer 4

100-190 bpm

Question 5

What is the normal pulse rate for infants (new born-3 months)?

Answer 5

85-205 bpm

Question 6

What is the normal respiration rate for adults?

Answer 6

12-20/min

Question 7

What is the normal respiration rate for a child?

Answer 7

18-30/min

Question 8

What is the normal respiration rate for an infant?

Answer 8

30-60/min

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

component of air and typically makes up 0.3% of air at sea level; also a waste products 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 “whats wrong?” or “what happened?”

Answer 11

chief complaint

Question 12

To form a clot to plug and opening in an injured blood vessel and stop bleeding.

Answer 12

coagulate

Question 13

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

Answer 13

conjunctiva

Question 14

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

Answer 14

crackles

Question 15

A grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together; also air bubbles under the skin that produce a crackling sound or crinkly feeling.

Answer 15

crepitus

Question 16

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

Answer 16

cyanosis

Question 17

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 17

DCAP-BTLS

Question 18

Characterized by light or profuse sweating.

Answer 18

diaphoretic

Question 19

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

Answer 19

diastolic pressure

Question 20

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 20

distracting injury

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; frozen or partially frozen body parts

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; also called the Golden Period.

Answer 24

Golden Hour

Question 25

Involuntary muscle contractions of the abdominal wall to minimize the pain of abdominal movement; a sign of peritonitis

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 lower that the normal range.

Answer 27

hypotension

Question 28

Blood pressure that is higher that the normal range.

Answer 28

hypertensions

Question 29

A condition in which the internal body temperature falls below 95 degrees fahrenheit (35 degrees celsius( after exposure to a cold environment.

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. Also referred to as the incident management system.

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 forces, or energy transmission, applied to the body that cause injury.

Answer 33

mechanism of injury (MOI)

Question 34

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

Answer 34

metabolism

Question 35

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

Answer 35

nasal flaring

Question 36

The general type of illness a patient is experiencing.

Answer 36

nature of illness (NOI)

Question 37

OPQRST

Answer 37

``` A mnemonic used in evaluating a patient's pain: O: onset P: provocation/palliation Q: quality R: region/radiation S: severity T: timing ```

Question 38

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 38

orientation

Question 39

To examine by touch.

Answer 39

palpate

Question 40

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 40

paradoxical motion

Question 41

The flow of blood through body tissues and vessels.

Answer 41

perfusion

Question 42

Protective equipment that blocks exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material.

Answer 42

personal protective equipment (PPE)

Question 43

Negative findings that warrant no care or intervention.

Answer 43

pertinent negatives

Question 44

A painful, tender, persistent erection of the penis; can result from spinal cord injury, erectile dysfunction drugs, or sickle cell disease.

Answer 44

priapism

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 pressure wave that occurs as each heartbeat causes a surge in the blood circulating through the 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 be reassessed every 5 minutes, whereas a patient in stable condition should be reassessed 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 skill pulls in around the ribs during respiration.

Answer 50

retractions

Question 51

Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the 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 surrounding to provide information about the 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

The 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 findings that can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, or measured.

Answer 57

sign

Question 58

Knowledge and understanding of your surroundings and situation and the risk they potentially pose to your safety or the safety of the 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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, breath sound, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may be audible without the stethoscope.

Answer 62

stridor

Question 63

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

Answer 63

subcutaneous emphysema

Question 64

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

Answer 64

symptom

Question 65

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

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 in or out of the lungs during one breath.

Answer 67

tidal volume

Question 68

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 only speak two or 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