Clinical Scenarios and Patient Care Review

Vocabulary-style flashcards based on four clinical scenarios involving head injury, anemia, heart failure, and pericarditis.

GCS Score of 14

A Glasgow Coma Scale result calculated from eye opening to voice ($3$), confused but appropriate verbal response ($4$), and following motor commands ($6$).

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Concussion)

A condition characterized by confusion, memory gaps, and normal vitals; priority care includes monitoring for worsening neurological signs like vomiting or unequal pupils.

Iron-deficiency anemia

A blood disorder with hallmark signs of fatigue, pallor (pale conjunctiva), brittle nails, and tachycardia ($HR\,110$) as the body compensates for low oxygen-carrying capacity.

Hemoglobin

The lab value most likely to be low in Scenario 2 because iron is required for its production; low levels lead to anemia.

Syncope

A priority risk for anemic patients involving fainting, caused by the combination of low oxygen delivery, low blood pressure, and tachycardia.

Early congestive heart failure (CHF)

A cardiac condition presenting with dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea, and bilateral edema ($swelling$) in the ankles due to poor cardiac pumping.

Orthopnea

A symptom where a patient must sleep with pillows to breathe comfortably; worsening heart failure is indicated by the need for additional pillows as fluid shifts into the lungs.

High-Fowler’s position

An upright patient-care intervention used for CHF to ease breathing by reducing pressure on the lungs and improving chest expansion.

Pericarditis

Inflammation resulting in sharp, stabbing pleuritic chest pain that worsens when lying flat and improves when leaning forward.

Pericardial friction rub

A hallmark assessment finding for pericarditis described as a scratchy, grating sound heard with a stethoscope.

Cardiac tamponade

A life-threatening complication of pericarditis where fluid accumulates around the heart, compressing it and reducing output; signs include muffled heart sounds and dropping BP.