Ch. 40: H.W.
What should be done first for a patient with an open fracture?
Cover the open wound with a sterile, saline-moistened dressing and place a sterile occlusive dressing over that.
What contains all supplies—such as emergency medications, intubation equipment, and a heart monitor-defibrillator—that may be needed during an emergency and that is instantly accessible to anyone in the medical office?
Crash cart.
What are three signs of respiratory distress?
Nasal flaring, cyanosis, and noisy breathing
The American Heart Association instructs that when performing CPR on an adult, you should "push hard and fast," compressing the chest to what depth?
2 inches
A seated patient in the medical office waiting room is gasping for air and looks very pale. His nares are flaring, and he seems very anxious. What should you do?
Call out for assistance.
What must be done to help a patient with arterial bleeding?
Apply pressure directly over the wound and elevate the injured part higher than the heart.
An adult patient with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is exhibiting signs of an occluded airway. What is one possible treatment that the physician might order?
Oxygen therapy
What are three symptoms of shock?
Pallor, dizziness, and shallow breathing
What should be the check compression rate for the adult, child, and infant?
100-120/minute
Patients who have experienced a seizure may remain unconscious for as long as __________.
15 minutes
Which of the following should be created in order for all workers in a medical office to be prepared for emergencies within the office?
A medical emergency plan.
__________ is a chronic condition associated with episodes of bronchiole constriction and inflammation.
Asthma
__________ is highly effective when provided immediately after or within minutes of cardiac arrest.
Automated external defibrillation
While dining in a restaurant, an older woman stands with her hands crossed at her throat in distress. When her companion asks if she is choking, she says in a hoarse voice, "Yes!" and coughs several times. Why is the woman's companion correct not to perform an abdominal thrust?
Because she is able to speak and cough, the woman may still be able to expel the foreign object.
Which of the following statements about seizures is most accurate>
By themselves, seizures are not life threatening, but the muscle spasms that come with full-body seizures can restrict breathing.
Which type of biological terrorism agent poses the greatest threat?
Category A
What are three emergency situations that should be addressed in medical office policy?
Choking, epistaxis, and seizures.
A patient's finger has been amputated in an accident. What should be done before placing the finger in an ice-filled cooler so that is can be reattached?
Cleanse it with sterile saline, wrap it in moist sterile gauze, seal it in a plastic bag, and place the bag in a cooler with an ice pack.
What type of medical emergencies are typically handled in a medical office?
Conditions that pose no immediate danger to life or limb.
A(n) __________ can provide immediate basic life-saving care while awaiting response from a higher-level EMS practitioner.
Emergency Medical Responder
What is an example of a simulated environment?
Enactment of mass exposure to a biological chemical.
A patient is exhibiting signs of shock. What is the first action that the medical assistant should take?
Ensure that the patient has an open airway and proper circulation.
Which of the following is used to treat anaphylactic shock?
Epinephrine
The vital signs of a patient with a nosebleed are compromised. What positions is recommended?
The patient should lie on the side of the nosebleed.
Which of the following statements is true of an individual experiencing heart stroke?
He or she does not perspire and has a body temperature of 105F or higher.
What symptoms will the patient with heat exhaustion exhibit?
Headache and nausea
What should be done if there is doubt about whether a patient is hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic?
Glucose should be administered.
__________ has a very rapid onset and is a critical emergency because it involves a severe reduction of glucose delivery to the brain cells.
Hypoglycemia
What is the most important first step to take when treating a patient injured by sudden acceleration and deceleration who might have fractures of the spinal column or skull?
Immobilize the cervical spine.
What is a patient who faints at risk for?
Injury from falling.
Why is cool water appropriate only when treating superficial and partial thickness burns that involve less than 10 percent of the body surface?
It may lead to hypothermia over larger suffices.
When doing the primary assessment of a patient, when should you take the patient's vital signs?
Last
When determining a patient's need for intervention, you see the patient's level of consciousness has decreased. How would you categorize the patient's condition?
Not life threatening; in need of immediate intervention.
When are analgesic creams and ointments appropriate for burns?
Only if ordered by the physician
Which of the following statements about the causes of medical shock is most accurate?
Shock can result from extreme emotional upset.
What are the early signs and symptoms of anthrax infection acquired by inhalation?
Symptoms similar to influenza
What should be done for suspected fracture after wrapping bandages around a splint on the limb?
Tie above and below the joints on both sides of the suspected fracture.
What is the primary reason to ask the patient for his or her name?
To assess the patient's neurological function.
During an emergency, what is the best way to gather the past medical history from a patient?
Use a checklist to question the patient.
What are three items that might be included in a medical office's medical emergency kit?
Water, a first aid kit, and a battery-powered radio.
Medical assistant roles in mock environmental exposures may include __________.
assisting in first-aid response for wounded individuals
Pain resulting from overextension of a muscle or tendon by stretching is called a __________.
strain
The medical assistant notices that a patient standing in the waiting room seems short of breath and apprehensive. The patient says she has an achy feeling in her upper chest and throat. The first action the medical assistant takes is to __________.
tell the patient to sit down
It is essential to routinely check the office crash cart for all of the following reasons except:
to allow all office staff a chance to add equipment or supplies of their own choosing to the cart.
Syncope is another word for __________.
fainting
A persistent nosebleed should be of special concern to the medical assistant if the patient ____________.
has a history of nosebleeds causing shock
Taking salt pills and drinking lots of water before, during, and after strenuous activities are preventive techniques to avoid __________.
heat exhaustion
Prolonged exposure to extremely hot temperatures often results in __________.
hyperthermia
Assessing and prioritizing the emergency care needed by patients is known as __________.
triage
If a patient has a 3-inch long nail impaled in his hand, the medical assistant should:
leave the nail in place and stabilize it until trained personnel arrive.
Treatment for a person with hypothermia includes __________.
removing any cold, wet clothing, and wrapping him or her in warm blankets.