Question 1

An unconscious trauma patient should always be assumed to have which of the following types of injury?

Accepted Answer

An unconscious trauma patient should always be assumed to have a spine injury until proven otherwise, as any movement or manipulation of the spine could potentially worsen the injury and cause paralysis or death. Therefore, it is important to immobilize the spine until a proper evaluation can be done. While it is also important to consider and manage other potential injuries such as skull, cardiac, or abdominal trauma, the initial priority should be to protect the spine.

Question 2

Mr.Green is complaining of severe difficulty breathing after being stung by a bee.His wife states he has had reactions to bee stings before,but not quite this severe.Which medications should you specifically ask him about?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Green's severe difficulty breathing after being stung by a bee indicates an acute anaphylactic reaction. The most effective treatment for anaphylaxis is epinephrine, which is administered via an auto-injector. It is crucial to ask him about the availability and proper use of an epinephrine auto-injector. Antihistamines and inhalers may be used in milder cases of allergic reactions but are not adequate for treating anaphylaxis. Nitroglycerine tablets are used for chest pain related to heart conditions and are not relevant to Mr. Green's symptoms.

Question 3

Which of the following is another term for trauma?

Accepted Answer

Trauma is a term that is often used to describe physical injury or damage to the body caused by an external force. While suffering, medical problems, and illnesses can all be associated with trauma, they do not necessarily refer specifically to physical injury.

Question 4

You are assessing a 21-year-old female who was assaulted by an unknown person.She is complaining of abdominal pain.As you perform a rapid assessment of her abdomen,you should check for all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

During a rapid assessment, especially in a trauma or assault scenario, the priority is to identify signs of internal injury or bleeding, which can be indicated by firmness (possible internal bleeding), distention (possible internal bleeding or organ damage), and contusions (bruises from the assault). Bowel sounds are not typically assessed in a rapid assessment as they require more time and are less indicative of immediate, life-threatening conditions that need to be addressed in the acute phase of trauma care.

Question 5

Your patient is a 14-year-old male who was run over by a tractor and is now unresponsive.During the rapid assessment,you should look for clear drainage coming from the patient's ________ indicating a serious injury.

Accepted Answer

Clear drainage from the ears may indicate a basilar skull fracture, which is a serious injury and potentially life-threatening. It is important to note any such drainage during the rapid assessment and report it to the appropriate medical personnel. Clear drainage from the eyes, mouth or rectum may also indicate injuries, but are not specific to head trauma and would not necessarily be indicative of a more serious injury.

Question 6

Your patient is a 45-year-old female who complains of "twisting her ankle" when she slipped on a patch of ice.Which of the following is NOT appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A detailed physical exam is not appropriate for this patient at this stage. A focused physical exam should be performed to assess the injured ankle, but a detailed physical exam is not necessary unless the primary assessment reveals other concerning findings.

Question 7

Your patient is an unresponsive 40-year-old woman.Which of the following should you do first?

Accepted Answer

The first step in managing an unresponsive patient is to perform a rapid physical exam to assess and identify any life-threatening conditions, such as airway obstruction or respiratory arrest, that require immediate intervention. Once these conditions have been identified, appropriate interventions can be initiated, including requesting advanced life support if necessary. In this scenario, taking the patient's blood pressure or asking about allergies can wait until the immediate life-threatening conditions have been addressed.

Question 8

You respond to the scene of a motor vehicle crash to find a middle-aged man on a long spine board being cared for by first responding firefighters.He appears to be bleeding from his head and he is unconscious.You should check the car for:

Accepted Answer

A bent steering wheel or starred windshield can indicate that the patient experienced significant force during the crash, which may help assess the severity of potential injuries.

Question 9

When assessing a patient's pertinent past history,you should ask which of the following questions?

Accepted Answer

When assessing a patient's pertinent past history, asking about any medical problems they have had is crucial to understanding their health background.

Question 10

You are on the scene of a patient who is the victim of an assault.The scene is safe.You find a 22-year-old male patient responsive to painful stimuli only.His blood pressure is 180/80,pulse is 60,respirations are 12,and his oxygen saturation is 95% on room air.How would you classify this patient?

Accepted Answer

The patient's unresponsiveness to verbal stimuli and responsive only to painful stimuli indicates neurological impairment or possible traumatic brain injury. This, along with his hypertensive blood pressure, classifies him as unstable and requiring immediate medical attention.

Question 11

You are called for a patient who was discovered unconscious in his bed this morning.You immediately complete a primary assessment and determine that he is breathing and has a good pulse.What should you do next?

Accepted Answer

Completing a rapid physical exam is the next step after ensuring the patient is breathing and has a good pulse, to identify any immediate life-threatening conditions or injuries.

Question 12

Immediately following a rapid physical exam on an unresponsive medical patient,which of the following should you do next?

Accepted Answer

Obtaining baseline vital signs is crucial in evaluating the patient's current condition and providing necessary interventions. This can help determine if the patient is stable or unstable and guide the next steps in patient management. Checking for medications and finding out the patient's doctor can be done later, and a focused physical exam may not be necessary until more information is gathered.

Question 13

You have responded for a patient with shortness of breath.He reports that his breathing problems began this morning and have gotten worse over the last few hours.You ask if he has taken anything to help his symptoms and he tells you that he has used his inhaler several times in the last hour.The information you have just gathered can be classified as:

Accepted Answer

The information gathered about the onset and progression of the patient's shortness of breath, as well as any attempts at symptom relief, is considered part of the history of present illness.

Question 14

You have performed a rapid trauma assessment on a patient with multiple long-bone injuries.Your next assessment step should be which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Obtaining baseline vital signs and past medical history is crucial after a rapid trauma assessment, especially in a patient with multiple injuries, to monitor the patient's condition and tailor the treatment plan accordingly.

Question 15

In medical terms,bruises are known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

"Contusion" is the medical term for a bruise. "Abrasion" refers to a scrape or scratch on the skin, "discoloration" and "blemish" are more general terms that can refer to a variety of skin conditions.

Question 16

Your patient was struck in the chest with a baseball bat during a bar fight.A crackling or crunching sensation that is felt when air escapes from its normal passageways and is trapped under the skin is called:

Accepted Answer

The crackling or crunching sensation felt when air escapes from its normal passageways and is trapped under the skin is known as subcutaneous emphysema. This can be a result of trauma or injury to the chest, causing air to leak from the lungs or airways and become trapped under the skin. This is a serious condition that requires medical attention. Choices A, B, and C are not applicable to this scenario.

Question 17

While assessing the past medical history of a 68-year-old male patient involved in a fall from a 4-foot stepladder,you use the acronym SAMPLE.What does the A refer to?

Accepted Answer

In the acronym SAMPLE, A stands for allergies. When taking a patient's medical history, it is important to inquire about any allergies they may have to medications or substances that may impact treatment decisions in the future.

Question 18

You are called for a patient who reports a headache for several days.He tells you that he has started a new blood pressure medication and is finishing an antibiotic for a skin infection.During your history taking,you should:

Accepted Answer

Writing down the pertinent facts is essential for the evaluation and management of the patient's symptoms. This includes the medication history and current use of antibiotics, which can have side effects such as headaches.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a purpose of a rapid trauma assessment?

Accepted Answer

A rapid trauma assessment aims to quickly identify life-threatening injuries, establish a basis for care during transport, and assess the extent of injuries. It is not designed to focus care on specific injuries, which is more aligned with the detailed secondary assessment.

Question 20

Your patient is the 18-year-old male driver of a vehicle that struck a tree.He is conscious and complaining of neck pain.The passenger is obviously dead.You have performed your primary assessment.Which of the following is the next step?

Accepted Answer

A rapid trauma assessment is the next step to quickly identify any life-threatening injuries and prioritize treatment.

Quiz 14: The Secondary Assessment