EMT chapter 39

If an elderly patients condition is unstable, what is the maximum time that should elapse between reassessments?

5 minutes

Treatment of pneumonia should include maintaining a SPO2 of at least:

94%

Cardiac hypertrophy is:

A thickening of the heart walls

Which of these conditions is characterized by signs and symptoms of slurred speech, muscle weakness or paralysis, and headache that are completely reversed within 24 hours or sooner?

A transient ischemic attack

Which age-related respiratory changes should you anticipate in a 72 year old patient?

Calcium deposits where the ribs join the sternum, causing the rib cage to be less pliable

With age, degenerative processes affect the ability of the heart to pump blood. Calcium is deposited in areas of deterioration, fibrous tissue begins to replace muscle tissue, and the heart walls become thicker. What is the medical term for that condition?

Cardiac hypertrophy

Which of these descriptions illustrates an expected age-related change in signs and symptoms associated with illnesses in the elderly?

Complaints of weakness, fatigue, and nausea, rather than of classic chest pain with myocardial infarction

Which of the following is a key in care of a patient with cognitive impairment?

Ensure the patient can care for himself

A 74 year old female patient presents with melena and dyspepsia. You also observe jaundice. You should suspect:

GI bleeding

Which of these complaints is LESS likely in the elderly than in younger patients?

Headache

Reduced muscle mass in geriatric patients predisposes them to:

Hypothermia

Which of the following would you suspect to find with an elderly patient with GI bleeding?

Inability to get comfortable

Which choice occurs in the elderly as a result of age-related changes in physiology?

Increased incidence of pneumonia

Which of the following is accurate in regard to geriatric presentation of shock?

It presents slower than in other age groups

An 84 year old male patient complains of an aching shoulder and trouble breathing. You should suspect that the patient is most likely suffering from a:

Myocardial infarction

Which of the following is a common cause of pulmonary edema?

Myocardial infarction

The EMT is assessing an elderly patient who reports increased difficulty ambulating. The EMT assesses the patients feet, and the patient states that the feet are numb and tingling. Which term should the EMT include when documenting this finding?

Neuropathy

A loss of minerals in bone tissue as a person ages is known as:

Osteoporosis

Which of these statements regarding Alzheimer's disease is CORRECT?

Patients with Alzheimer's disease are prone to depression and suicide

Which of these actions should be taken when immobilizing the spine of an elderly patient?

Place padding under all voids, including between the head, neck, and shoulders, and the backboard

A 72 year old male patient complains of orthopnea and blood-tinged sputum. You should suspect that he is suffering from:

Pulmonary edema

Which condition is characterized as a blockage in an artery of the lungs, often a blood clot that can cause a sudden onset of shortness of breath and non-radiating chest discomfort?

Pulmonary embolism

A 74 year old female patient complains of vomiting blood. Her compensation for shock will likely be:

Short acting

Which of the following tools can be used to identify cognitive impairment?

Six-Item Screener

Why does shock progress quicker in the geriatric population as compared to younger age groups?

Slow arterial response

A 70 year old man complains of a headache that he calls a migraine. The headache began about 4 hours ago and has gotten worse. He has also started to feel nauseated and has "foggy" thinking. Upon questioning, you determine that the patient has NEVER had a history of migraines. He tells you, "No, this is the first one, but its a doozy!" For which of these conditions should you immediately have an increased index of suspicion?

Stroke

Which of the following causes acute altered mental status requiring emergency treatment?

Stroke

A temporary loss of consciousness is also known as:

Syncope

The Six-Item Screener to Identify Cognitive Impairment has three words that the patient must repeat. Which of the following is one of those words?

Table

A 68 year old male patient fell from a ladder. Which of the following indicates serious trauma and the need for rapid transport?

Tachypnea

Which of the following should lead the EMT to consider hypothermia in the elderly patient?

Temperature of 34 C

Which of these statements about accommodations should anticipate is CORRECT in assessing and caring for an elderly patient?

The elderly patients diminished gag reflex makes him vulnerable to aspiration

Which of the following is accurate regarding a myocardial infarction in geriatrics?

The heart attack may be "silent."

Which of the following statements regarding a silent heart attack is CORRECT?

The only symptoms of a silent heart attack may be weakness and fatigue

Which of these guidelines should you keep in mind when assessing elderly patients?

They can be easily fatigued by the exam

Which of these changes occurs in the cardiovascular system as a result of the aging process?

Widespread arteriosclerosis