Patient Assessment & Monitoring Flashcards
7 cards from real CSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment & Monitoring flashcards as text
A patient receiving fentanyl and midazolam for conscious sedation suddenly develops rigid chest syndrome. Which assessment finding would be noted FIRST?
Answer: Difficulty ventilating with bag-valve mask
Opioid-induced chest wall rigidity (rigid chest syndrome) makes ventilation extremely difficult, manifesting as high resistance when attempting to bag-mask ventilate.
When performing a pre-sedation assessment, which finding would be MOST likely to contraindicate the use of an opioid analgesic?
Answer: Current use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
MAOIs interact dangerously with opioids (especially meperidine), risking serotonin syndrome or severe respiratory and cardiovascular instability.
End-tidal CO2 monitoring during conscious sedation is considered superior to pulse oximetry alone for detecting early respiratory depression because:
Answer: It detects hypoventilation before oxygen saturation falls
Capnography detects rising CO2 and apnea earlier than pulse oximetry, which may lag several minutes behind actual hypoventilation, especially with supplemental oxygen.
Which of the following is an expected physiological response that should be distinguished from over-sedation during a painful procedure?
Answer: Transient tachycardia and hypertension during stimulation
Transient tachycardia and hypertension during painful stimulation are normal sympathetic responses and do not indicate over-sedation.
A patient undergoing a painful procedure under conscious sedation begins moaning and withdrawing from the stimulus. How should this response be interpreted?
Answer: This is an appropriate response indicating conscious sedation is maintained
Purposeful withdrawal and vocalization in response to painful stimulus are hallmarks of conscious sedation, confirming the patient retains protective reflexes.
Which pre-procedure screening question is MOST specific to identifying patients at elevated risk for conscious sedation complications?
Answer: Have you ever had a bad reaction to anesthesia or sedation?
A prior adverse reaction to anesthesia or sedation is the most direct predictor of increased risk and must be documented and investigated before proceeding.
When monitoring a patient during conscious sedation, which change in respiratory pattern warrants IMMEDIATE intervention?
Answer: Respiratory rate of 6 breaths per minute with SpO2 dropping to 89%
A respiratory rate of 6 with falling oxygen saturation indicates clinically significant respiratory depression requiring immediate airway intervention.