NREMT Patient Assessment & Decision-Making 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first step in patient assessment?
- Taking vital signs.
- Scene size-up (Correct answer)
- Detailed physical exam.
- Transport decision.
Correct answer: Scene size-up
The first step is to perform a scene size-up to ensure safety and determine the mechanism of injury or illness.
Question 2: What does SAMPLE stand for?
- Signs, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events (Correct answer)
- Signs, Actions, Medications, Physical exam, Last visit, Events.
- Symptoms, Allergies, Mechanism, Physical, Last entry, Examination.
- Signs, Allergies, Measurements, Physical, Last report, Evaluation.
Correct answer: Signs, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events
SAMPLE stands for Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, and Events leading up.
Question 3: What does AVPU stand for?
- Alert, Vocal, Painful, Unresponsive.
- Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive (Correct answer)
- Alert, Visual, Pulse, Unresponsive.
- Alert, Verbal, Pulse, Urgency.
Correct answer: Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive
AVPU describes the patient’s level of responsiveness: Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive.
Question 4: What is a key sign of inadequate perfusion?
- Normal skin and strong pulses.
- Altered mental status and weak pulses (Correct answer)
- Warm, flushed skin.
- Normal blood pressure.
Correct answer: Altered mental status and weak pulses
Signs include altered mental status, pale or cool skin, and weak pulses.
Question 5: What does the primary assessment focus on?
- Gathering detailed history.
- Stabilizing life threats (Correct answer)
- Transport decisions only.
- Completing paperwork.
Correct answer: Stabilizing life threats
The primary assessment focuses on identifying life threats and stabilizing the patient.
Question 6: What is a reassessment?
- One-time check of vital signs.
- Repeated evaluation of patient and interventions (Correct answer)
- Only during hospital transfer.
- Only used in trauma cases.
Correct answer: Repeated evaluation of patient and interventions
A reassessment is a repeated evaluation of the patient’s condition and interventions.
Question 7: Which pulse is commonly checked in an unconscious adult?
- Radial pulse.
- Carotid pulse (Correct answer)
- Brachial pulse.
- Pedal pulse.
Correct answer: Carotid pulse
The carotid pulse is checked in an unconscious adult.
Question 8: What does capillary refill assess?
- Respiratory rate.
- Peripheral perfusion (Correct answer)
- Blood pressure.
- Core body temperature.
Correct answer: Peripheral perfusion
Capillary refill assesses peripheral perfusion, especially in children.
Question 9: What is the main goal of decision-making in patient care?
- Delay care until hospital arrival.
- Prioritize life threats and provide interventions (Correct answer)
- Perform only minor treatments.
- Focus only on transport speed.
Correct answer: Prioritize life threats and provide interventions
The goal is to prioritize life threats, provide necessary interventions, and ensure safe transport.
NREMT Patient Assessment & Decision-Making 1
What is the first step in patient assessment?