SHS Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which three components are assessed?
- Pupillary response, motor response, verbal response
- Eye opening, verbal response, motor response (Correct answer)
- Pulse, respirations, blood pressure
- Airway, breathing, circulation
Correct answer: Eye opening, verbal response, motor response
The GCS evaluates Eye opening (E), Verbal response (V), and Motor response (M), with a maximum score of 15 and minimum of 3.
Question 2: A GCS score of 8 or below in a trauma patient typically indicates the need for which intervention?
- Supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
- Definitive airway management (intubation) (Correct answer)
- Oral airway adjunct only
- Observation without intervention
Correct answer: Definitive airway management (intubation)
A GCS ≤8 is internationally recognized as the threshold indicating inability to protect the airway and the need for endotracheal intubation.
Question 3: During a focused physical exam of an industrial worker exposed to chemical fumes, you notice mucous membrane irritation and stridor. These findings MOST suggest injury to which area?
- Lower respiratory tract
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Upper airway (Correct answer)
- Peripheral nervous system
Correct answer: Upper airway
Mucous membrane irritation and stridor (high-pitched inspiratory noise) indicate upper airway injury from inhaled irritants.
Question 4: In occupational health assessment, a 'functional capacity evaluation' (FCE) is PRIMARILY used to:
- Diagnose the cause of a workplace injury
- Determine a worker's ability to perform specific job demands (Correct answer)
- Screen for drug use after an incident
- Identify latent infectious disease exposure
Correct answer: Determine a worker's ability to perform specific job demands
An FCE objectively measures a worker's physical capabilities to determine whether they can safely perform the physical demands of their job.
Question 5: Which auscultation finding is MOST characteristic of a tension pneumothorax during patient assessment?
- Bilateral crackles (rales)
- Absent breath sounds on the affected side with tracheal deviation (Correct answer)
- Expiratory wheezing bilaterally
- Pleural friction rub
Correct answer: Absent breath sounds on the affected side with tracheal deviation
Tension pneumothorax classically presents with absent breath sounds on the affected side, tracheal deviation away from the affected side, and hemodynamic compromise.
Question 6: When assessing capillary refill time (CRT) in a trauma patient, a CRT greater than how many seconds indicates poor peripheral perfusion in adults?
- 1 second
- 2 seconds (Correct answer)
- 4 seconds
- 6 seconds
Correct answer: 2 seconds
In adults, a capillary refill time greater than 2 seconds is considered delayed and indicates impaired peripheral perfusion or shock.
Question 7: A warehouse worker is found confused and diaphoretic with cool, clammy skin after a forklift accident. These signs are MOST consistent with which type of shock?
- Neurogenic shock
- Septic shock
- Hypovolemic (hemorrhagic) shock (Correct answer)
- Anaphylactic shock
Correct answer: Hypovolemic (hemorrhagic) shock
Cool, clammy skin, diaphoresis, and altered mental status after trauma are classic signs of hypovolemic (hemorrhagic) shock from blood loss.
SHS Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation 3
When using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which three components are assessed?