Patient Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real FISDAP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment flashcards as text
During a focused physical exam of a trauma patient with a mechanism of injury suggesting spinal involvement, which area should be assessed first?
Answer: Cervical spine
The cervical spine is assessed first in trauma patients with a suspicious mechanism to detect tenderness, deformity, or instability before moving the patient.
A patient presents with altered mental status and a blood glucose reading of 38 mg/dL. After administering oral glucose, reassessment reveals no improvement. What is the NEXT appropriate intervention?
Answer: Establish IV access and administer dextrose 50%
When oral glucose fails in a hypoglycemic patient, IV dextrose (D50) is the next step to rapidly correct glucose levels.
Which component of the SAMPLE history is being collected when the EMT asks, 'Have you had this type of chest pain before?'
Answer: Pertinent past history
Asking about prior episodes of the same complaint gathers pertinent past medical history, the 'P' in SAMPLE.
When assessing a patient's pupils with a penlight, you note one pupil is fixed and dilated while the other is reactive. This finding is MOST consistent with:
Answer: Uncal herniation compressing cranial nerve III
Unilateral fixed and dilated pupil indicates compression of cranial nerve III, often from uncal herniation due to elevated intracranial pressure.
A conscious adult patient refuses treatment after a thorough assessment. Which action is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Document the refusal and have the patient sign an AMA form
A competent adult has the right to refuse care; EMTs must document the refusal thoroughly and obtain a signed against medical advice (AMA) form.
During the secondary assessment of a patient complaining of abdominal pain, you note rigidity on palpation of all four quadrants. This finding MOST likely suggests:
Answer: Peritonitis
Diffuse abdominal rigidity is a classic sign of peritonitis, indicating irritation of the peritoneal lining.
A 45-year-old male presents with sudden onset of tearing chest pain radiating to his back. Blood pressure is 190/110 in the right arm and 150/90 in the left arm. You MOST suspect:
Answer: Aortic dissection
Tearing chest pain radiating to the back with unequal bilateral blood pressures is the hallmark presentation of aortic dissection.