OSCE Emergency Assessment 2

Question 1

A patient presents with stridor and drooling after a bee sting. Which intervention is the FIRST priority?

Accepted Answer

Administer epinephrine 0.3mg IM into the thigh

Answer

Epinephrine IM is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis with airway compromise, as it rapidly reverses bronchoconstriction and vasodilation.

Question 2

During a trauma assessment, you note paradoxical chest wall movement on the left side. What injury does this most likely indicate?

Accepted Answer

Flail chest

Answer

Flail chest occurs when multiple rib fractures create a free-floating segment that moves paradoxically (inward on inspiration, outward on expiration).

Question 3

A 70-year-old presents with sudden onset severe tearing back pain and BP 180/110. The MOST important immediate diagnostic step is:

Accepted Answer

CT angiography of the chest and abdomen

Answer

CT angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing aortic dissection, which is the most likely diagnosis given tearing pain and hypertension.

Question 4

When assessing a patient's disability (D) in the primary survey, which tool is used for rapid neurological status?

Accepted Answer

Glasgow Coma Scale

Answer

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses eye, verbal, and motor responses and is the standard rapid neurological assessment in the primary survey.

Question 5

A patient with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning has a normal pulse oximetry reading. Why is this unreliable?

Accepted Answer

Carboxyhemoglobin is detected as oxyhemoglobin by standard pulse oximetry

Answer

Standard pulse oximeters cannot distinguish carboxyhemoglobin from oxyhemoglobin, giving a falsely normal SpO2 reading in CO poisoning.

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Emergency Assessment 2