CH 11: The Primary Assessment - Concepts Flashcards
What are other terms for the primary assessment?
Primary survey or initial assessment
When you approach a patient, what is the first step of your primary assessment?
Forming a general impression
What are the six steps of your primary assessment?
Forming general impression Assessing mental status Airway Breathing Circulation Determining priority
When would you interrupt your primary assessment?
If you discover any life-threatening conditions that require intervention.
What is a general impression?
Impression of the patient’s condition that is formed on first approaching the patient, based on the patient’s environment, chief complaint and appearance.
Formed by looking, listening and smelling.
What are indications of a CRITICAL patient?
Appear lifeless Altered mental status Unusually anxious / pale, sweaty Obvious trauma to head, chest, abdomen, pelvis Position (tripod, Levine's sign)
What is clinical judgment?
Judgment based on experience in observing and treating patients.
What does AVPU stand for?
Alert (anything below considered high priority) Verbal response Physical response Unresponsive
How do you document orientation?
Person, place, time
What are the two purposes of the primary assessment?
To identify and correct threats with ABC’s
To gather information
What are the four situations that call for assistance with breathing?
Respiratory arrest - perform rescue breathing
Not alert, breathing inadequate - PPV with 100% O2
Alert, breathing inadequate - assist ventilations with 100% O2
Adequate breathing but signs of respiratory distress - provide O2
How do you evaluate circulation?
Assess pulse, skin and bleeding
What are high priority conditions?
Poor general impression Unresponsive Responsive but not following commands Difficulty breathing Shock Complicated childbirth Chest pain consistent with cardiac problems Uncontrolled bleeding Severe pain anywhere
