Quiz 18 Flashcards

To minimize distractions and confusion when assessing an older patient, you should:

1 dismiss the family members from the room or area.

2 have only one EMT speak to the patient at a time.

3 elevate your voice and speak directly to the patient.

4 perform a physical exam and then talk to the patient.

The leading cause of death in the geriatric patient is:

2 altered mental status.

4 heart disease.

When caring for a geriatric patient with a traumatic injury, it is important to consider that:

1 geriatric patients usually present with little to no pain.

2 decreased bone density often results in incomplete fractures.

3 the injury may have been preceded by a medical condition.

4 geriatric patients typically present with classic signs of shock.

When transporting a stable older patient to the hospital, the most effective way to reduce his or her anxiety is to:

1 allow at least two family members to accompany the patient.

2 transport him or her to a hospital that he or she is familiar with.

3 avoid the use of a long backboard, even if trauma is suspected.

4 perform frequent detailed assessments to gain the patient’s trust.

The purpose of the GEMS diamond is to:

1 help EMS personnel remember what is different about elderly patients.

2 provide the EMT with a standard format for assessing elderly patients.

3 replace the typical ABC approach to patient care when caring for the elderly.

4 provide clues about an elderly patient’s problem by observing his or her home.

Which of the following statements regarding the aging process is correct?

1 Aging is a linear process despite the variations in physical or mental condition.

2 Because he or she is younger and healthier, a 35-year-old person ages slower than a 75-year-old person.

3 Human growth and development peaks in the late 40s or early 50s, at which point the aging process sets in.

4 The older a person gets, the slower the decline in the function of vital organs, such as the kidneys and liver.

Which of the following patients is at highest risk for a pulmonary embolism?

1 59-year-old male who is actively recovering from pneumonia

2 66-year-old active female with a history of hypertension

3 71-year-old male with recent surgery to a lower extremity

4 78-year-old female who takes blood thinning medications

In contrast to younger patients, older patients are more prone to a decrease in blood pressure upon standing because:

1 their red blood cells are destroyed at a faster than normal rate.

2 the aging process results in an overall increase in blood volume.

3 the baroreceptors have become less sensitive to blood pressure.

4 any change in position causes blood to be shunted to the brain.

When assessing a geriatric patient who has possibly experienced an acute ischemic stroke, it is MOST important to:

1 determine the onset of the patient’s symptoms.

2 ascertain about a history of atrial fibrillation.

3 administer 324 mg of aspirin as soon as possible.

4 determine if the patient has risk factors for a stroke.

The slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function is known as:

Which of the following is not a common causes of syncope in older patients:

1 venous pooling.

3 acute hypotension.

4 blood volume loss.

The stooped posture of some older people, which gives them a humpback appearance, is called:

Which of the following is not a common causes of depression in the elderly:

1 chronic medical conditions.

2 prescription medication use.

3 an acute onset of dementia.

4 alcohol abuse and dependence.

Upon arriving at the residence of an elderly female who apparently fainted, you find the patient lying supine on her living room floor. She is not moving and her eyes are closed. A neighbor tells you that she found the patient this way, but did not move her. When you gently tap the patient, she does not respond. You should:

1 suction her airway, apply a cervical collar, administer high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask, and perform a rapid assessment.

2 open her airway with the head tilt–chin lift maneuver, insert an oral or nasal airway, and assess her blood glucose level to rule out hypoglycemia.

3 direct your partner to manually stabilize her head while you quickly visualize her chest for signs of breathing.

4 begin assisting her ventilations with a bag-mask device while your partner auscultates her lung sounds to ensure adequate positive-pressure ventilation.