Urgent Care Urgent Care Triage and Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does OPQRST stand for in urgent care pain assessment?
- Onset, Palliation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time (Correct answer)
- Origin, Position, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time
- Onset, Position, Quantity, Region, Scale, Treatment
- Onset, Pressure, Quality, Relief, Severity, Timeline
Correct answer: Onset, Palliation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time
OPQRST systematically characterizes pain by Onset, Palliation/Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, and Time course.
Question 2: In urgent care triage, which pediatric patient should be seen first?
- A 7-year-old with a sore throat and low-grade fever
- A 3-year-old with a barking cough and mild stridor at rest (Correct answer)
- A 10-year-old with a 2 cm knee laceration actively bleeding
- A 5-year-old with otitis media and 38.8°C fever
Correct answer: A 3-year-old with a barking cough and mild stridor at rest
Stridor at rest in a 3-year-old indicates partial upper airway obstruction (croup or epiglottitis) and requires immediate evaluation.
Question 3: A patient with diabetes mellitus presents with a blood glucose of 48 mg/dL, diaphoresis, and confusion. What is the first intervention?
- Call 911 and wait for EMS
- Administer oral glucose gel or juice if the patient can swallow safely (Correct answer)
- Administer insulin to stabilize the glucose
- Obtain an urgent endocrinology consult
Correct answer: Administer oral glucose gel or juice if the patient can swallow safely
Conscious hypoglycemic patients who can protect their airway should receive oral glucose (15–20g) as first-line treatment per the 15-15 rule.
Question 4: Which finding on a respiratory assessment indicates the need for immediate oxygen supplementation in urgent care?
- SpO2 of 97% on room air
- SpO2 below 94% on room air (Correct answer)
- Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
- Mild expiratory wheeze without hypoxia
Correct answer: SpO2 below 94% on room air
SpO2 below 94% indicates hypoxia and requires supplemental oxygen to prevent tissue hypoxia.
Question 5: What is the most important reason to document the time of last oral intake during urgent care triage?
- To determine appropriate antibiotic dosing
- To assess aspiration risk if procedural sedation or transfer may be needed (Correct answer)
- To calculate the patient's caloric needs
- To rule out gastroenteritis
Correct answer: To assess aspiration risk if procedural sedation or transfer may be needed
Last oral intake is critical for determining aspiration risk before any procedural sedation or potential surgical transfer.
Question 6: A febrile infant 28 days old presents to urgent care. What is the most appropriate action?
- Prescribe oral amoxicillin and schedule follow-up in 48 hours
- Perform a full sepsis workup and transfer to the ED (Correct answer)
- Reassure the parent if the infant appears well-hydrated
- Administer acetaminophen and observe for 2 hours
Correct answer: Perform a full sepsis workup and transfer to the ED
Febrile neonates (≤28 days) are at high risk for serious bacterial infection and require a full sepsis evaluation (blood, urine, CSF cultures) in an ED setting.
Urgent Care Urgent Care Triage and Assessment 2
What does OPQRST stand for in urgent care pain assessment?