Patient Assessment
When assessing a geriatric patients airway and breathing, it is important to:
A. take care in moving their tongue as it gets more fragile with age
B. always take out their dentures
C. listen to lung sounds for longer period of time
D. evaluate their anatomy for any changes that happen over time
D. evaluate their anatomy for any changes that happen over time
When interviewing a geriatric patient which technique should NOT be used
A. speaking at a normal volume
B. avoid eye contact
C. speak slowly
D. identify yourself
B. Avoid eye contact.
Always maintain eye contact to maintain rapport with geriatric patients.
A. they cannot swallow as well due to muscular atrophy
B. they cannot see their food size
C. they cannot taste their food as well
D. they have more swollen tongues
A. they cannot swallow as well due to muscular atrophy
At what age is a patient considered a geriatric?
A. 60
B. 75
C. 65
D. 70
C. 65
True/ False: A copy of a DNR is an acceptable form of documentation.
An elderly patient has fallen and hit her head at an assisted living. She is A&Ox2 but does not have any visible signs of trauma and wants to refuse transport. What do you do?
A. obtain baseline vital signs and if they are WNL get a refusal
B. gathering medical history data to find if she is on a blood thinner and transport due to the facilities parameters
C. providing immediate transport without their consent because she is altered
D. check her paperwork for a DNR
B. gathering medical history data to find if she is on a blood thinner and transport due to the facilities parameters
What is the leading cause of death from an infection in American geriatrics?
A. Sepsis
B. Pneumonia
C. Cellulitis
D. Osteomyelitis
B. Pneumonia
Which is NOT an age-related change in the respiratory anatomy?
A. Decreased cough and gag reflexes.
B. Airway musculature becomes stronger.
C. Alveoli in the lung tissue become enlarged and the elasticity decreases.
D. The body’s chemoreceptors slow with age.
B. Airway musculature becomes stronger.
It becomes weaker.
Which of the following are risk factors for pulmonary embolism in geriatrics?
A. residing in a nursing/ assisted living
B. sedentary behavior
C. recent long-distance travel
D. hx of blood clots
E. all of the above
E. all of the above
all of these can lead to pulmonary emboli
What does POLST stand for:
A. Provider Orders for Live Sustaining Treatment
B. Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
C. Physician On-Call for Last Sustainable Treatments
D. Psychiatric Order for Last Superficial Treatments
B. Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
True/ False: Half of all deaths from hypothermia events occur in geriatric patients.
True
What is a leading cause of death in geriatrics is:
A. heart disease
B. stroke
C. trauma
D. sepsis
B. stroke
True or False: Geriatric patients are not at a higher risk for atherosclerosis.
False:
They are at higher risk due to loss buildup of cholesterol in their arterial walls over time.
Signs and symptoms of endocrine disorders in geriatrics include:
A. increased heart rate
B. weight loss
C. fatigue
D. heat intolerance
Who may alter or make transport decisions on a geriatric patient who suffers from Dementia?
A. Paramedic on scene
B. Physician on scene
C. Medical power of attorney
D. DNR signing physician
C. Medical power of attorney
You are dispatched to a residence at 0200hrs for a 75-year-old female who was awakened by shortness of breath and cannot stop coughing while she is laying down. What do you suspect she is suffering from?
A. acute pulmonary edema.
B. right-sided heart failure.
C. acute pulmonary embolism.
D. paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
D. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
True/ False: Depression is a normal part of aging and is to be expected in the geriatric population.
False: Depression is a medical disease.
True/ False: the brain stays the same weight and volume as the patient ages.
False: the brain decreases in age and weight
A stage 3 decubitus ulcer is defined as:
A. Nonblanching redness with damage under the skin
B. Invasion to muscle or bone
C. Blister or ulcer that can affect the dermis and epidermis
D. Invasion of the fat layer through to the fascia
D. Invasion of the fat layer through to the fascia
You have responded to a home of a hospice patient who is pulseless and apneic. The family states they have a DNR- but cannot find it. What do you do?
A. honor the families wished and do not resuscitate
B. tell the family you are legally obligated to start resuscitation without the DNR present
C. call medical control
D. do 5 minutes of CPR and they call it
B. tell the family you are legally obligated to start resuscitation without the DNR present
A 65YOM presents with lower abdominal pain. During part of your assessment you find the Pt has hot and dry skin with poor skin turgor. What type of disease process should you suspect?
A. Sepsis
B. Pneumonia
C. Atrial Fibrillation
D. Urinary Tract Infection
D. Urinary Tract Infection
Challenges when assessing geriatric patients may include:
A. Communication issues
B. Hearing and vision deficits
C. Compounding medication side effects
D. Complicated medical history
E. All of the above
E. All of the above
Vision changes in geriatric patients are due to:
A. better ability to differentiate colors
B. increase in night vision acuity
C. higher instance of cataracts
D.increased tear production
C. higher instance of cataracts
What is the condition that create risk and complicate assessment in geriatrics who experience a trauma?
A. Faster homeostatic compensatory mechanisms
B. Increased physiologic reserves
C. Slower effects of aging on the body
D. Existing medical issues
D. Existing medical issues
True/False: You should contact police prior to transporting a patient to the hospital if you suspect elder abuse.
False: only contact prior to transport if you feel the scene is not safe.