closed-ended questions
a question requiring only a "yes" or "no" answer.
crepitation
the grating sound or feeling of broken bones rubbing together.
detailed physical exam
an assessment of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, extremities, and posterior of the body to detect signs and symptoms of injury. It differs from the rapid trauma assessment only in that it also includes examination of the face, ears, eyes, nose, an
diagnosis
a description or label for the patient's condition that assists a clinician in further evaluation and treatment.
differential diagnosis
a list of potential diagnoses compiled early in the assessment of the patient.
distention
a condition of being stretched, inflated, or larger than normal.
history of the present illness (HPI)
information gathered regarding the symptoms and nature of the patient's current concern.
jugular vein distention (JVD)
bulging out of the neck veins.
medical patient
a patient with one or more medical diseases or conditions.
open-ended question
a question requiring more than just a "yes" or "no" answer.
OPQRST
a memory aid in which the letters stand for questions asked to get a description of the present illness: onset, provocation, quality, radiation, severity, and time.
paradoxical motion
movement of a part of the chest in the opposite direction to the rest of the chest during respiration.
past medical history (PMI)
information gathered regarding the patient's health problems in the past.
priapism
persistent erection of the penis that may result from spinal injury and some medical problems.
rapid trauma assessment
a rapid assessment of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, extremities, and posterior of the body to detect signs and symptoms of injury.
reassessment
a procedure for detecting changes in a patient's condition. It involves four steps: repeating the primary assessment, repeating and recording vital signs, repeating the physical exam, and checking interventions.
SAMPLE
a memory aid in which the letters stand for elements of the past medical history, signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to the injury or illness.
sign
something regarding the patient's condition that you can see.
stoma
a permanent surgical opening in the neck through which the patient breathes.
symptom
something regarding the patient's condition that the patient tells you.
tracheostomy
a surgical incision held open by a metal or plastic tube.
trauma patient
a patient suffering from one or more physical injuries.
trending
changes in a patient's condition over time, such as slowing respirations or rising pulse rate, that may show improvement.