Urgent Care Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Urgent Care facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Nylon sutures placed on the face should typically be removed after how many days? → 5–7 days
2. Fosfomycin trometamol is used for uncomplicated cystitis. What is the standard dosing regimen? → 3 g orally once as a single dose
3. Which of the following is a contraindication to using tissue adhesive for wound closure? → A wound with signs of infection
4. Which of the following is the appropriate first-line topical treatment for impetigo in urgent care? → Topical mupirocin (Bactroban) twice daily for 5 days
5. A patient presents after a fall with 'snuffbox' tenderness. Which bone is most likely fractured? → Scaphoid
6. Which fracture pattern in the distal radius is associated with dorsal angulation and is most common in elderly patients after a fall? → Colles fracture
7. What is the most appropriate splint for an acute non-displaced fracture of the second through fourth metacarpal shaft? → Radial gutter splint
8. Which wound characteristic increases the risk of tetanus in a patient with an unknown immunization history? → Deep, contaminated puncture wound
9. Which element of the physical exam is most critical for a patient presenting with acute abdominal pain in urgent care? → Assessment for peritoneal signs (rebound tenderness, guarding, rigidity)
10. Which of the following best describes when to schedule an appointment at an urgent care clinic versus visiting immediately? → Schedule when symptoms are not life-threatening but you want to reduce wait time
11. Which medication is contraindicated in a pregnant patient presenting with a UTI? → Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the third trimester
12. Which screening tool is recommended for identifying depression in urgent care patients? → Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2)
13. Which opioid analgesic is considered most appropriate for short-term acute pain management in urgent care? → Short-acting hydrocodone-acetaminophen for ≤3–5 days
14. What is the purpose of deep absorbable sutures placed in a laceration before skin closure? → To eliminate dead space and reduce tension on skin edges
15. What is the most common reason patients are inappropriately triaged to urgent care instead of the ED? → Patients underestimate symptom severity and urgency of their condition
16. What do I need to bring with me when I visit? → all of the above
17. True or false: A patient with hypertension typically has a normal physical examination. → True
18. If a patient misses their scheduled urgent care appointment, what should they typically do? → Call or go online to reschedule or walk in if the condition persists
19. A chest X-ray shows a right lower lobe opacity with blunting of the costophrenic angle. What complication should be suspected? → Parapneumonic pleural effusion
20. The majority of hypertension sufferers have no symptoms. → True
21. At which anatomical site should epinephrine be injected for anaphylaxis in adults? → Anterolateral aspect of the mid-thigh
22. An EpiPen auto-injector is available in which epinephrine doses? → 0.15 mg (junior) or 0.3 mg (standard) depending on the formulation
23. A patient with CAP has been treated with azithromycin for 3 days with no improvement. Which scenario would best explain treatment failure? → The patient's CAP was caused by influenza virus
24. Which combination of symptoms is classic for anaphylaxis? → Urticaria, angioedema, and bronchospasm
25. What neurovascular structure is most at risk in a displaced supracondylar humerus fracture in a child? → Anterior interosseous nerve and brachial artery
26. Depending on the stage of hypertension, treatment for HTN does not always require medication. → True
27. A patient is diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia. Which PSI/PORT score would support outpatient management? → PSI Class I or II (low risk)
28. A patient on metformin is prescribed a iodinated contrast study for abdominal imaging. What medication guidance applies? → Hold metformin 48 hours before contrast and resume after confirming normal renal function
29. Which assessment tool is commonly used in urgent care to quickly evaluate a patient's level of consciousness? → AVPU scale (Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive)
30. What is the minimum recommended observation period after treating anaphylaxis in urgent care? → 4-6 hours