Heartbreak Hotel
This medication should be administered to most patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome unless they have an allergy or active bleeding.
What is aspirin?
A 2-year-old is crying loudly after falling from a playground. According to the Pediatric Assessment Triangle, this finding tells you this body system is functioning adequately.
What is the airway?
A trauma patient has jugular venous distention, absent breath sounds on the left, severe respiratory distress, and hypotension. These findings are most consistent with this life-threatening injury.
What is a tension pneumothorax?
During a secondary assessment, your patient's mental status suddenly declines from alert to responding only to verbal stimuli. According to NREMT priorities, this is the assessment you should immediately repeat
What is the primary assessment (ABCs)?
An unresponsive patient has no gag reflex and is breathing adequately with an open airway. This airway adjunct is most appropriate.
What is an oropharyngeal airway (OPA)?
This medication should be withheld from a patient with chest pain who has a systolic blood pressure below 100 mmHg or has recently taken medication for erectile dysfunction.
What is nitroglycerin?
A child with severe respiratory distress suddenly becomes quiet, has minimal chest movement, and you can no longer hear wheezing. This finding suggests this life-threatening condition.
What is impending respiratory failure (or respiratory arrest)?
A patient involved in a rollover MVC is alert and complains only of knee pain. According to NREMT guidelines, this is the type of assessment you should perform because of the significant mechanism of injury.
What is a rapid trauma assessment (rapid head-to-toe exam)?
This peripheral pulse finding often disappears before the carotid pulse as a patient progresses into shock
What is the radial pulse?
This life-threatening condition should be suspected when a patient has sudden chest pain, severe shortness of breath, clear lung sounds, and recent surgery or prolonged immobilization
What is a pulmonary embolism?
A patient with chest pain tells you the pain has completely resolved after one dose of nitroglycerin. According to the NREMT, this is what you should continue to do.
What is continue reassessment and transport for further evaluation?
A 5-year-old has delayed capillary refill, cool extremities, tachycardia, and a normal blood pressure. These findings are most consistent with this stage of shock.
What is compensated shock?
A patient who fell 20 feet has a shortened, externally rotated leg and unstable pelvis. This injury is especially concerning because it can cause this life-threatening complication.
What is massive internal hemorrhage (hemorrhagic shock)?
An 18-month-old with a fever suddenly develops a generalized seizure that lasts two minutes. The seizure has stopped, and the child is now sleepy but breathing adequately. According to NREMT priorities, your next focus should be this.
What is reassessing and supporting the airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs)
A child has a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and hoarseness after several days of cold-like symptoms. This upper airway illness should be suspected.
What is croup?
A patient with crushing chest pain suddenly becomes less responsive. His radial pulse is absent, but a slow carotid pulse is still present. According to the NREMT, this assessment finding indicates this type of shock.
What is cardiogenic shock?
A 9-month-old suddenly develops wheezing after eating peanuts. One-sided diminished breath sounds make you suspect this condition rather than asthma.
What is a foreign body airway obstruction (foreign body aspiration)?
This type of injury occurs when internal organs continue moving after the body suddenly stops, such as during a high-speed motor vehicle collision.
What is a deceleration injury?
A trauma patient has a respiratory rate of 24, strong radial pulses, and a blood pressure of 128/82 mmHg. During your assessment, you notice they repeatedly ask, "What happened?" This assessment finding should make you suspect this injury despite otherwise normal vital signs.
What is a traumatic brain injury (or concussion)?
A patient with facial burns from a house fire is speaking normally but has singed nasal hairs, soot around the mouth, and a hoarse voice. Even though the airway is currently open, these findings should make you anticipate this life-threatening complication.
What is progressive airway swelling leading to airway obstruction?
A 72-year-old diabetic complains only of weakness, nausea, and sweating. He denies chest pain. This life-threatening condition should remain high on your differential diagnosis.
What is an acute coronary syndrome (heart attack/myocardial infarction)?
A 4-year-old involved in a motor vehicle collision is alert and crying. During your assessment, you notice abdominal bruising from the seat belt. Even though the child denies pain, this finding should make you suspect this life-threatening injury.
What is internal abdominal bleeding (or significant intra-abdominal injury)?
During your rapid trauma assessment, you palpate instability of the pelvis. According to NREMT guidelines, after identifying the instability, this is what you should avoid doing.
What is repeatedly compressing or manipulating the pelvis?
An adult trauma patient's blood pressure decreases from 136/84 mmHg to 102/70 mmHg over 10 minutes. Although the blood pressure is still technically "normal," the NREMT expects you to recognize this.
What is a worsening trend suggesting decompensating shock?
This sound is produced by swelling of the upper airway and is considered a late, life-threatening finding.
What is stridor?