BCEN Emergency Assessment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 70-year-old patient presents confused with cool, clammy skin, BP 88/60, HR 120. Which shock classification does this presentation most likely represent?
- Neurogenic shock
- Distributive shock
- Hypovolemic shock (Correct answer)
- Obstructive shock
Correct answer: Hypovolemic shock
Cool, clammy skin with tachycardia and hypotension indicates hypovolemic shock with compensatory peripheral vasoconstriction.
Question 2: When using the SAMPLE history during emergency assessment, what does the 'E' stand for?
- Etiology
- Events preceding the illness or injury (Correct answer)
- Exposure history
- Examination findings
Correct answer: Events preceding the illness or injury
In the SAMPLE mnemonic, 'E' stands for Events preceding the illness or injury, helping identify precipitating factors.
Question 3: During auscultation of breath sounds, you hear a high-pitched inspiratory sound over the trachea. This finding is called:
- Rhonchi
- Crackles
- Stridor (Correct answer)
- Wheezing
Correct answer: Stridor
Stridor is a high-pitched inspiratory sound caused by upper airway obstruction, indicating a potentially life-threatening emergency.
Question 4: A patient presents after a fall from height. Which area of the spine is most commonly injured in this mechanism?
- Cervical spine (Correct answer)
- Thoracic spine
- Lumbar spine
- Sacral spine
Correct answer: Cervical spine
The cervical spine is most commonly injured in falls and motor vehicle accidents due to its mobility and lack of bony protection.
Question 5: Which assessment finding is MOST consistent with cardiac tamponade?
- Unilateral absent breath sounds, tracheal deviation
- Hypotension, muffled heart sounds, distended neck veins (Correct answer)
- Stridor, accessory muscle use, cyanosis
- Bradycardia, hypertension, irregular respirations
Correct answer: Hypotension, muffled heart sounds, distended neck veins
Beck's triad of cardiac tamponade includes hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and jugular venous distension (JVD).
Question 6: When assessing abdominal pain, which quadrant location is associated with McBurney's point tenderness?
- Left upper quadrant
- Right upper quadrant
- Left lower quadrant
- Right lower quadrant (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Right lower quadrant
McBurney's point, located two-thirds of the way from the umbilicus to the right anterior superior iliac spine, is in the right lower quadrant and indicates appendicitis.
Question 7: A patient arrives via EMS in full cardiac arrest. Which assessment action should occur simultaneously with CPR initiation?
- Obtain a 12-lead ECG
- Place IV access
- Attach cardiac monitor/defibrillator (Correct answer)
- Obtain blood glucose level
Correct answer: Attach cardiac monitor/defibrillator
Cardiac monitor/defibrillator attachment occurs simultaneously with CPR to identify shockable rhythms (VF/pVT) requiring immediate defibrillation.
BCEN Emergency Assessment 3
A 70-year-old patient presents confused with cool, clammy skin, BP 88/60, HR 120.
Which shock classification does this presentation most likely represent?