CH. 10 PATIENT ASSESSMENT (CASE
STUDY) EXAM QUESTIONS &
DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS
PART 1: Why is patient assessment a very important skill for an EMT to develop? -
CORRECT ANSWER Patient assessment can provide clues as to the cause of the
patient's problem, as well as how serious or how stable the patient's condition is. It
helps to guide potential treatment and provides clues for the hospital staff decision
making if the patient is transported.
PART 2: What info can be obtained by a quick survey of the scene before greeting your
patient? - CORRECT ANSWER The patient's position next to the road indicates the
possibility of trauma, while the shopping cart and disheveled appearance may indicate
the possibility that the patient is homeless. However, it is important not to conclude that
these are the only possibilities based on just these observations. In addition, the
roadside location is also a potential hazard to the patient and providers due to traffic, so
safety precautions must be taken.
PART 2: Can you identify life-threatening problems by simply asking the patient what
happened? - CORRECT ANSWER Since the patient appears to be nonverbal at the
moment, he is not able to answer questions. Even if he was able to tell you what
happened, he may not be aware of any conditions such as hypoxia, hypoglycemia,
cardiac dysthymias, internal bleeding, shock, or brain injury. Further assessment is
essential to determining any possible life threats.
PART 3: How does the patient's chief complaint guide you in your assessment? Would
you consider this patient a trauma or a medical patient? - CORRECT ANSWER The
chief complaint is not indicated by the patient, but instead is based on his
unresponsiveness. At this point, it is not conclusive as to whether the patient is a
medical or a trauma patient. The decreased mental status could be due to the patient's
possible use of alcohol, he could be hypoxic, or he could be postictal after a seizure.
Each of these conditions would make the patient a medical patient. However, the
patient could also be suffering from a brain injury from a fall or being hit by a car.
Unfortunately in this patient, the clues you would normally gather during assessment
from the SAMPLE history and OPQRST questions are not available, so the only info
you have available to you are the scene survey, physical exam, and vital signs.
PART 3: What are important clues to focus on when assessing your patient? How do
you identify these clues? - CORRECT ANSWER The patient continues to be
unresponsive, which could indicate many possibilities including intoxication, head injury,
or hypoglycemia. His airway and breathing have improved with simple airway
STUDY) EXAM QUESTIONS &
DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS
PART 1: Why is patient assessment a very important skill for an EMT to develop? -
CORRECT ANSWER Patient assessment can provide clues as to the cause of the
patient's problem, as well as how serious or how stable the patient's condition is. It
helps to guide potential treatment and provides clues for the hospital staff decision
making if the patient is transported.
PART 2: What info can be obtained by a quick survey of the scene before greeting your
patient? - CORRECT ANSWER The patient's position next to the road indicates the
possibility of trauma, while the shopping cart and disheveled appearance may indicate
the possibility that the patient is homeless. However, it is important not to conclude that
these are the only possibilities based on just these observations. In addition, the
roadside location is also a potential hazard to the patient and providers due to traffic, so
safety precautions must be taken.
PART 2: Can you identify life-threatening problems by simply asking the patient what
happened? - CORRECT ANSWER Since the patient appears to be nonverbal at the
moment, he is not able to answer questions. Even if he was able to tell you what
happened, he may not be aware of any conditions such as hypoxia, hypoglycemia,
cardiac dysthymias, internal bleeding, shock, or brain injury. Further assessment is
essential to determining any possible life threats.
PART 3: How does the patient's chief complaint guide you in your assessment? Would
you consider this patient a trauma or a medical patient? - CORRECT ANSWER The
chief complaint is not indicated by the patient, but instead is based on his
unresponsiveness. At this point, it is not conclusive as to whether the patient is a
medical or a trauma patient. The decreased mental status could be due to the patient's
possible use of alcohol, he could be hypoxic, or he could be postictal after a seizure.
Each of these conditions would make the patient a medical patient. However, the
patient could also be suffering from a brain injury from a fall or being hit by a car.
Unfortunately in this patient, the clues you would normally gather during assessment
from the SAMPLE history and OPQRST questions are not available, so the only info
you have available to you are the scene survey, physical exam, and vital signs.
PART 3: What are important clues to focus on when assessing your patient? How do
you identify these clues? - CORRECT ANSWER The patient continues to be
unresponsive, which could indicate many possibilities including intoxication, head injury,
or hypoglycemia. His airway and breathing have improved with simple airway
