PaEasy Emergency Medicine, Emergency
Medicine EOR Practice, Emergency
Medicine EOR Exam, ER Final, ER3 WGU
Academic Success Hub: OA Preparation, PA
Writing Strategies, Competency-Based
Learning Support & Advanced Study
Framework
Description
The WGU Academic Success Hub is a
comprehensive and strategically designed
study resource created specifically for
students at Western Governors University
(WGU) who want to improve academic
performance, strengthen competency
mastery, and approach assessments with
greater confidence and efficiency. Built
around WGU’s unique competency-based
education model, this guide focuses on
,helping students understand exactly how to
prepare for both Objective Assessments (OA)
and Performance Assessments (PA) while
developing stronger study habits, analytical
thinking skills, and long-term academic
strategies.
Unlike traditional study guides that focus
only on memorization or generic review
content, this resource is designed to help
students actively engage with material, apply
concepts in assessment-based scenarios, and
develop a more organized and effective
approach to learning. It combines practice-
based revision, competency-focused learning
techniques, structured study methods, and
detailed guidance to create a complete
academic support system that can be applied
across multiple WGU courses and programs.
,This guide is especially valuable for students
navigating WGU’s self-paced learning
environment, where success depends heavily
on organization, consistency, critical
thinking, and the ability to demonstrate
understanding effectively.
A 59-year-old woman presents to the accident and emergency department by ambulance with
second- and third-degree burns to her head and neck, and the anterior surfaces of her upper
extremities, right leg, and trunk including her genital area.
Question
Which of the following represents a reasonable estimation of the extent of her burns?
Answer Choices
1 36%
2 37%
3 46%
4 45%
5 55% - ANSWER The correct answer is 55%. This estimation is based on the "rule of 9s".
Body surface area is estimated at 9% for each arm, the head and neck, anterior surface of upper
torso, anterior surface of lower torso, posterior surface of upper torso, posterior surface of
lower torso, anterior surfaces of each leg, posterior surfaces of each leg and an additional 1%
for the groin area for a total of 100%. In this case, 9% for her head and neck, 9% for the anterior
surface of each arm, 9% for the anterior surface of her right leg, 9% for her anterior upper torso,
9% for her anterior lower torso, and 1% for the genital area for a total of 55%.
, The other answers are incorrect using the estimation by the "rule of 9s".
A 45-year-old man presents with hematemesis. He has had 2 episodes of vomiting 'coffee-
ground'-appearing material; the vomiting began 45 minutes prior to presentation. Additionally,
he reports passing black, sticky stools for the past 3 or 4 days. Past medical history is positive for
occasional headaches; they have been coming more frequenly lately. Social history reveals
alcohol use (1 case of beer each weekend) and tobacco (1 pack per day). Medications include
ibuprofen as needed for headaches; he has been taking 800 mg 3 times a day for the past week.
You place a nasogastric tube and find bright red blood that fails to clear with saline irrigation.
Hemoglobin is 8.9 g/dL. Evaluation of his blood pressure and pulse reveals orthostatic changes
that resolve with an intravenous fluid bolus of 500 cc of Lactated Ringer's solution. What should
you do next?
Answer Choices
1 Transfuse 2 units of packed red blood cells an - ANSWER refer for emergency endoscopy
He should be referred for an emergency upper endoscopy.
This patient is most likely bleeding from a gastric ulcer. His recent NSAID use, as well as his
alcohol and tobacco habits, make him at risk for peptic ulcer disease. His symptoms of melena
and hematemesis, along with his anemia, make the diagnosis quite straightforward.
It appears that this patient is still actively bleeding based on the results of the nasogastric tube
irrigation; therefore, the priority should be getting the ulcer to stop bleeding. Upper endoscopy
should be performed so that the bleeding site can be identified and treated with electrocautery,
coagulation, or injection of epinephrine or a sclerosing agent. If the bleeding cannot be stopped
with endoscopic interventions, angiographic embolization should also be tried. If these
interventions do not succeed, the patient has rapid deterioration, or if he requires more than 6
units of blood in a 24-hour period, then emergency surgery may be indicated.
Medicine EOR Practice, Emergency
Medicine EOR Exam, ER Final, ER3 WGU
Academic Success Hub: OA Preparation, PA
Writing Strategies, Competency-Based
Learning Support & Advanced Study
Framework
Description
The WGU Academic Success Hub is a
comprehensive and strategically designed
study resource created specifically for
students at Western Governors University
(WGU) who want to improve academic
performance, strengthen competency
mastery, and approach assessments with
greater confidence and efficiency. Built
around WGU’s unique competency-based
education model, this guide focuses on
,helping students understand exactly how to
prepare for both Objective Assessments (OA)
and Performance Assessments (PA) while
developing stronger study habits, analytical
thinking skills, and long-term academic
strategies.
Unlike traditional study guides that focus
only on memorization or generic review
content, this resource is designed to help
students actively engage with material, apply
concepts in assessment-based scenarios, and
develop a more organized and effective
approach to learning. It combines practice-
based revision, competency-focused learning
techniques, structured study methods, and
detailed guidance to create a complete
academic support system that can be applied
across multiple WGU courses and programs.
,This guide is especially valuable for students
navigating WGU’s self-paced learning
environment, where success depends heavily
on organization, consistency, critical
thinking, and the ability to demonstrate
understanding effectively.
A 59-year-old woman presents to the accident and emergency department by ambulance with
second- and third-degree burns to her head and neck, and the anterior surfaces of her upper
extremities, right leg, and trunk including her genital area.
Question
Which of the following represents a reasonable estimation of the extent of her burns?
Answer Choices
1 36%
2 37%
3 46%
4 45%
5 55% - ANSWER The correct answer is 55%. This estimation is based on the "rule of 9s".
Body surface area is estimated at 9% for each arm, the head and neck, anterior surface of upper
torso, anterior surface of lower torso, posterior surface of upper torso, posterior surface of
lower torso, anterior surfaces of each leg, posterior surfaces of each leg and an additional 1%
for the groin area for a total of 100%. In this case, 9% for her head and neck, 9% for the anterior
surface of each arm, 9% for the anterior surface of her right leg, 9% for her anterior upper torso,
9% for her anterior lower torso, and 1% for the genital area for a total of 55%.
, The other answers are incorrect using the estimation by the "rule of 9s".
A 45-year-old man presents with hematemesis. He has had 2 episodes of vomiting 'coffee-
ground'-appearing material; the vomiting began 45 minutes prior to presentation. Additionally,
he reports passing black, sticky stools for the past 3 or 4 days. Past medical history is positive for
occasional headaches; they have been coming more frequenly lately. Social history reveals
alcohol use (1 case of beer each weekend) and tobacco (1 pack per day). Medications include
ibuprofen as needed for headaches; he has been taking 800 mg 3 times a day for the past week.
You place a nasogastric tube and find bright red blood that fails to clear with saline irrigation.
Hemoglobin is 8.9 g/dL. Evaluation of his blood pressure and pulse reveals orthostatic changes
that resolve with an intravenous fluid bolus of 500 cc of Lactated Ringer's solution. What should
you do next?
Answer Choices
1 Transfuse 2 units of packed red blood cells an - ANSWER refer for emergency endoscopy
He should be referred for an emergency upper endoscopy.
This patient is most likely bleeding from a gastric ulcer. His recent NSAID use, as well as his
alcohol and tobacco habits, make him at risk for peptic ulcer disease. His symptoms of melena
and hematemesis, along with his anemia, make the diagnosis quite straightforward.
It appears that this patient is still actively bleeding based on the results of the nasogastric tube
irrigation; therefore, the priority should be getting the ulcer to stop bleeding. Upper endoscopy
should be performed so that the bleeding site can be identified and treated with electrocautery,
coagulation, or injection of epinephrine or a sclerosing agent. If the bleeding cannot be stopped
with endoscopic interventions, angiographic embolization should also be tried. If these
interventions do not succeed, the patient has rapid deterioration, or if he requires more than 6
units of blood in a 24-hour period, then emergency surgery may be indicated.
