Urgent Care Urgent Care Triage and Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which triage level under the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) describes a patient who is not in immediate danger but requires two or more resources for evaluation?
- ESI Level 1
- ESI Level 2
- ESI Level 3 (Correct answer)
- ESI Level 4
Correct answer: ESI Level 3
ESI Level 3 patients are stable but require multiple resources such as labs, imaging, and IV fluids for appropriate evaluation.
Question 2: A patient presents to urgent care with a blood pressure of 190/110 mmHg, no end-organ damage symptoms, and no medications. This is classified as:
- Hypertensive emergency requiring IV antihypertensives immediately
- Hypertensive urgency — manage with oral agents and close follow-up (Correct answer)
- Normal reading for an anxious adult
- Hypotensive state requiring fluid resuscitation
Correct answer: Hypertensive urgency — manage with oral agents and close follow-up
Hypertensive urgency is severely elevated BP without acute end-organ damage and is managed with oral antihypertensives and close outpatient follow-up.
Question 3: Which vital sign abnormality in a pediatric patient warrants immediate transfer to an emergency department?
- Heart rate 100 bpm in a 10-year-old with fever
- Respiratory rate 60 in a 2-month-old (Correct answer)
- SpO2 96% on room air
- Temperature 38.5°C rectally in a 2-year-old
Correct answer: Respiratory rate 60 in a 2-month-old
A respiratory rate of 60 in a 2-month-old is significantly elevated and indicates respiratory distress requiring emergency evaluation.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the SAMPLE history mnemonic in urgent care assessment?
- To assess Glasgow Coma Scale
- To systematically gather key patient history including symptoms, allergies, medications, past history, last oral intake, and events (Correct answer)
- To document wound characteristics
- To perform a mental status examination
Correct answer: To systematically gather key patient history including symptoms, allergies, medications, past history, last oral intake, and events
SAMPLE (Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last oral intake, Events) provides a structured framework for rapid patient history collection.
Question 5: A patient presents with sudden onset chest pain radiating to the jaw, diaphoresis, and nausea. What is the most critical first action in urgent care?
- Obtain a chest X-ray
- Administer antacids empirically
- Obtain a 12-lead ECG immediately (Correct answer)
- Order a CBC and CMP
Correct answer: Obtain a 12-lead ECG immediately
Symptoms suggesting acute coronary syndrome require an immediate 12-lead ECG to identify ST changes and guide transfer or intervention.
Question 6: Which patient presentation should be redirected to the emergency department from urgent care?
- Mild ankle sprain with intact neurovascular status
- Suspected stroke with sudden facial droop and aphasia (Correct answer)
- Grade I ankle sprain in a 25-year-old
- Ear infection in an otherwise healthy adult
Correct answer: Suspected stroke with sudden facial droop and aphasia
Suspected stroke requires emergency evaluation and thrombolytic therapy within a strict time window not manageable in urgent care.
Urgent Care Urgent Care Triage and Assessment 1
Which triage level under the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) describes a patient who is not in immediate danger but requires two or more resources for evaluation?