Patient Assessment and Evaluation Flashcards
7 cards from real KAPS 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 and Evaluation flashcards as text
A 55-year-old male smoker with a 40-pack-year history presents for medication counseling. He is on aspirin and atorvastatin. Which additional assessment is MOST aligned with preventive care guidelines?
Answer: Calculate his 10-year ASCVD risk using the Pooled Cohort Equations
For patients on cardiovascular preventive medications, calculating the 10-year ASCVD risk guides appropriateness and intensity of therapy.
Which of the following is an example of a subjective assessment finding?
Answer: Patient reports chest tightness and shortness of breath when climbing stairs
Subjective data comes directly from the patient's self-report of symptoms, not from measurable clinical tests.
A patient taking phenytoin for epilepsy has a total phenytoin level of 8 mcg/mL (therapeutic: 10–20 mcg/mL) but no seizures. The patient's albumin is 2.0 g/dL. The BEST pharmacist assessment is:
Answer: Calculate the corrected phenytoin level using the Sheiner-Tozer equation; the free level may be therapeutic
Phenytoin is highly protein-bound; low albumin means more free (active) drug, so the corrected level is needed before adjusting the dose.
When performing a falls risk assessment in an elderly patient, which medication class found on the patient's profile should be flagged as a HIGH contributor to falls risk?
Answer: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines cause sedation, impaired balance, and cognitive effects that substantially increase falls risk in older adults and are listed in the Beers Criteria.
A pharmacist reviewing a diabetic patient's chart notes an HbA1c of 9.8%, fasting glucose of 240 mg/dL, and the patient is on metformin 1000 mg BID. The MOST appropriate assessment conclusion is:
Answer: Current therapy is inadequate; assess for barriers and consider intensification with a second agent
An HbA1c of 9.8% significantly above goal on maximum metformin warrants therapy intensification per ADA standards of care.
Which laboratory value is MOST useful for assessing long-term glycemic control over the past 2–3 months?
Answer: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
HbA1c reflects average blood glucose over approximately 2–3 months by measuring the percentage of glycated hemoglobin.
A patient newly prescribed amiodarone requires baseline assessment. Which monitoring parameters are MOST essential before initiating therapy?
Answer: Thyroid function tests, liver function tests, pulmonary function, and ECG
Amiodarone affects the thyroid, liver, lungs, and cardiac conduction; baseline TFTs, LFTs, PFTs, and ECG are mandatory.