Ch. 13: Patient Assessment

When can you use self-restriction as part of spine motion restriction?

Patient is alert, not altered, and can understand/obey instructions

How do you assess airway if patient is prone?

You can’t. You need to logroll the patient into a supine position.

When do you do a rapid head-to-toe vs modified focused exam?

Modified when you have time, rapid when you don’t.

What tests can you perform to determine if leaking fluid contains cerebral spinal fluid?

Glucose testing

How to assess sensation and motor responses in an unconscious patient?

Palpating and pinching

What patient should receive a blood glucose test (d-stick)?

Any patient with altered mental status

When should you call ALS?

Anytime patient’s condition is about to be worse than what BLS can handle

How long does a rapid 2nd assessment take?

About 2 minutes.

How do you assess JVD?

Position patient at 45 degree angle, inspect neck veins.

Paradoxical movement

injured section sinks inwards on inhalation and expands on exhalation

Markle test

rise on balls of feet, suddenly drop down, and if you feel pain then there’s something up

Heel jar test

markle test for a supine patient; EMT strikes bottom of heel. If pain something’s up

Priapism

persistent and painful erection that occurs without sexual stimulation

JVD

jugular venous distention