Acute Care Flashcards
7 cards from real ATC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Acute Care flashcards as text
Which finding is MOST indicative of an open skull fracture?
Answer: CSF leaking from the ear or nose
Cerebrospinal fluid leaking from the ear (otorrhea) or nose (rhinorrhea) is a hallmark sign of a basilar skull fracture with dural tear.
A lacrosse player is struck in the throat and develops rapidly worsening stridor and voice changes. The athletic trainer should:
Answer: Activate EMS immediately for potential laryngeal fracture
Stridor and voice changes after blunt throat trauma suggest laryngeal fracture or airway compromise, which is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate EMS activation.
What does the Ottawa Ankle Rules guide the clinician to determine?
Answer: Whether radiographs are necessary to rule out fracture
The Ottawa Ankle Rules are evidence-based criteria that help clinicians decide if ankle or foot radiographs are necessary to exclude a fracture based on bony tenderness and weight-bearing ability.
Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening emergency differentiated from a simple pneumothorax by:
Answer: Progressive mediastinal shift, severe hypotension, and tracheal deviation
Tension pneumothorax involves progressive accumulation of air under pressure causing mediastinal shift, tracheal deviation away from the injury, hypotension, and cardiovascular collapse.
During a primary survey, 'C' in the ABCDE approach refers to:
Answer: Circulation and hemorrhage control
In the ABCDE primary survey, 'C' stands for Circulation, which includes assessing pulse, controlling severe hemorrhage, and evaluating for shock.
An unconscious athlete in cardiac arrest is wearing a football helmet. The athletic trainer should:
Answer: Leave the helmet on, remove the facemask for airway access, and begin CPR
Current guidelines recommend leaving the helmet and shoulder pads in place (to maintain spinal alignment) while removing the facemask to access the airway and begin CPR.
Which assessment tool is used to quantify the severity of a concussion and track recovery over time?
Answer: Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT)
The SCAT (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool) is a standardized, validated instrument used by healthcare professionals to assess concussion symptoms, cognition, and balance at sideline and follow-up.