EMS 1020 - CHAPTER 14: THE SECONDARY ASSESSMENT
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A++ LATEST UPDATE
[14.1] You are assessing a patient's chest when you detect a crackling or
crunching sensation under the skin. What is this called?
A. Distention
B. Pneumothorax
C. Paradoxical motion
D. Subcutaneous emphysema
D
A crackling or crunching sensation under the skin due to trapped air is called
subcutaneous emphysema. Paradoxical motion is one side moving independently from
the other, as in a flail segment in the chest. Distention is the condition of being
stretched, inflated, or larger than normal. Pneumothorax is a collapsed lung.
[14.1]Which of the following terms BEST describes a list of potential diagnoses
that is compiled early in the assessment of the patient?
A. EMS diagnosis
,B. Differential diagnosis
C. Critical thinking
D. Red flag
B
A differential diagnosis is a list of potential diagnoses that is compiled early in the
assessment of the patient. An EMS diagnosis is a diagnosis that is obtained by
prehospital providers. Red flags are concerning findings that are found typically in the
primary assessment. Critical thinking is the process of using reasoning to arrive at an
appropriate conclusion.
[14.1] Which of the following terms describes an analytical process that helps
someone think through a problem in an organized and efficient manner?
A. Differential diagnosis
B. Diagnosis
C. Critical thinking
D. EMT diagnosis
C
Critical thinking is an analytical process that helps someone think through a problem in
an organized and efficient manner. EMT diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and diagnosis
in general all are processes used to determine the nature of an illness or injury.
,[14.1] Which of the following is a term that means a rapid assessment of the head,
neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, extremities, and posterior of the body to detect
signs and symptoms of injury?
A. Past medical history
B. Rapid trauma assessment
C. SAMPLE
D. History of present illness
B
Rapid trauma assessment means a rapid assessment of the head, neck, chest,
abdomen, pelvis, extremities, and posterior of the body to detect signs and symptoms of
injury. Past medical history reviews the problems a patient has had previous to today.
SAMPLE is a mnemonic that is used to assist in obtaining a history. History of the
present illness describes the situations leading up to the problem of the moment.
[14.2] A 66-year-old male patient has slipped on the ice, fallen, and broken his
ankle. During your assessment, he states that he has diabetes. This statement
would be considered part of the:
A. past medical history.
B. history of the present illness.
C. physical examination.
D. differential diagnosis.
, A
Past illnesses, such as diabetes, would be considered part of the past medical history.
Because the patient's injury is not medical, the diabetes would not be part of the
differential diagnosis or history of the present illness. Because the diabetes is a reported
finding, it would not be part of the physical examination.
[14.2] Which of the choices is TRUE about the difference between a sign and a
symptom?
A. Any objective physical evidence that you can see, hear, feel, or smell is a
symptom.
B. A vague complaint that cannot be specifically described is a sign.
C. A condition that must be described by the patient is a symptom.
D. A piece of information that is obtained during baseline vitals assessment is a
symptom.
C
Symptoms are described by the patient but cannot be determined by the EMT; an
example is the presence of nausea. Signs, by contrast, are measured or observed by
the EMT.
[14.2] During which of the following would the EMT thoroughly examine the
patient's face, ears, nose, eyes, and mouth?
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A++ LATEST UPDATE
[14.1] You are assessing a patient's chest when you detect a crackling or
crunching sensation under the skin. What is this called?
A. Distention
B. Pneumothorax
C. Paradoxical motion
D. Subcutaneous emphysema
D
A crackling or crunching sensation under the skin due to trapped air is called
subcutaneous emphysema. Paradoxical motion is one side moving independently from
the other, as in a flail segment in the chest. Distention is the condition of being
stretched, inflated, or larger than normal. Pneumothorax is a collapsed lung.
[14.1]Which of the following terms BEST describes a list of potential diagnoses
that is compiled early in the assessment of the patient?
A. EMS diagnosis
,B. Differential diagnosis
C. Critical thinking
D. Red flag
B
A differential diagnosis is a list of potential diagnoses that is compiled early in the
assessment of the patient. An EMS diagnosis is a diagnosis that is obtained by
prehospital providers. Red flags are concerning findings that are found typically in the
primary assessment. Critical thinking is the process of using reasoning to arrive at an
appropriate conclusion.
[14.1] Which of the following terms describes an analytical process that helps
someone think through a problem in an organized and efficient manner?
A. Differential diagnosis
B. Diagnosis
C. Critical thinking
D. EMT diagnosis
C
Critical thinking is an analytical process that helps someone think through a problem in
an organized and efficient manner. EMT diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and diagnosis
in general all are processes used to determine the nature of an illness or injury.
,[14.1] Which of the following is a term that means a rapid assessment of the head,
neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, extremities, and posterior of the body to detect
signs and symptoms of injury?
A. Past medical history
B. Rapid trauma assessment
C. SAMPLE
D. History of present illness
B
Rapid trauma assessment means a rapid assessment of the head, neck, chest,
abdomen, pelvis, extremities, and posterior of the body to detect signs and symptoms of
injury. Past medical history reviews the problems a patient has had previous to today.
SAMPLE is a mnemonic that is used to assist in obtaining a history. History of the
present illness describes the situations leading up to the problem of the moment.
[14.2] A 66-year-old male patient has slipped on the ice, fallen, and broken his
ankle. During your assessment, he states that he has diabetes. This statement
would be considered part of the:
A. past medical history.
B. history of the present illness.
C. physical examination.
D. differential diagnosis.
, A
Past illnesses, such as diabetes, would be considered part of the past medical history.
Because the patient's injury is not medical, the diabetes would not be part of the
differential diagnosis or history of the present illness. Because the diabetes is a reported
finding, it would not be part of the physical examination.
[14.2] Which of the choices is TRUE about the difference between a sign and a
symptom?
A. Any objective physical evidence that you can see, hear, feel, or smell is a
symptom.
B. A vague complaint that cannot be specifically described is a sign.
C. A condition that must be described by the patient is a symptom.
D. A piece of information that is obtained during baseline vitals assessment is a
symptom.
C
Symptoms are described by the patient but cannot be determined by the EMT; an
example is the presence of nausea. Signs, by contrast, are measured or observed by
the EMT.
[14.2] During which of the following would the EMT thoroughly examine the
patient's face, ears, nose, eyes, and mouth?
