Geriatric Emergencies A+ Grade
Exam2 with Questions and Correct
Answers
signs and symptoms of left sided heart failure - ✔✔-pulmonary edema
-shortness of breath
-hypoxia
-crackles
-paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea - ✔✔-sudden attack of respiratory distress that wakes the patient
at night when in a reclining position
-caused by fluid in the lungs
-may be a result of chf
orthopnea - ✔✔-when a patient cannot breathe while lying down
how to treat someone in heart failure - ✔✔-airway, ventilatory, and circulatory
support -oxygen
-prepare for deterioration
,signs and symptoms of a stroke - ✔✔-acute altered
loc -numbness
-weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
-slurred speech
-aphasia
-visual disturbances
-headache and dizziness
-incontinence
-seizure
geriatric age range - ✔✔-65+
why are geriatric patients more difficult - ✔✔-classic presentations of illness/ injury are altered
by medications, physiological changes, etc
how to communicate with geriatric patients - ✔✔-use their name, sir, ma'am, mr., mrs.,
etc. -identify yourself
-be outwardly patient
-look at the patient at eye level
-speak slowly and distinctly, in a lower tone
-one person talks at a time
-do not assume they are hard of hearing
-give the patient time to respond
-listen to the patient
-explain what you are going to do
-talk to the patient, not about the patient
changes in the respiratory system - ✔✔-weakening of airway muscles makes breathing more difficult
-alveoli elasticity decreases= harder to expel air
-chemoreceptors that monitor co2 levels slow
, -gag and cough reflexes decrease
-decreased number of cilia in the bronchial tree= higher chance of infection
pneumonia - ✔✔-inflammation of the lung
-increased mucus production, pulmonary secretions, and inflammation make breathing
difficult -keep high index of suspicion for pneumonia
pulmonary embolism - ✔✔-sudden blockage of an artery by a venous clot that developed in the
legs or pelvis
-symptoms are often confused with cardiac, lung, or musculoskeletal problems
-high risk in patients in a nursing home/ who were hospitalized for surgery, especially lower
extremity surgeries
-look for leg pain, redness, and swelling in just one ankle and foot for the source of the clot
signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism - ✔✔-sudden onset shortness of breath
-shoulder, back, or chest pain
-tachycardia
-cough
-sometimes syncope
-anxiety
-possible low grade fever
-hemoptysis
-sometimes redness, leg pain, and swelling in one ankle/
foot -fatigue
how to treat a pulmonary embolism - ✔✔-airway, ventilatory, and circulatory
support -clear any blood in the airway (from hemoptysis)
-supplemental oxygen via nrb (or bvm if necessary)
Exam2 with Questions and Correct
Answers
signs and symptoms of left sided heart failure - ✔✔-pulmonary edema
-shortness of breath
-hypoxia
-crackles
-paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea - ✔✔-sudden attack of respiratory distress that wakes the patient
at night when in a reclining position
-caused by fluid in the lungs
-may be a result of chf
orthopnea - ✔✔-when a patient cannot breathe while lying down
how to treat someone in heart failure - ✔✔-airway, ventilatory, and circulatory
support -oxygen
-prepare for deterioration
,signs and symptoms of a stroke - ✔✔-acute altered
loc -numbness
-weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
-slurred speech
-aphasia
-visual disturbances
-headache and dizziness
-incontinence
-seizure
geriatric age range - ✔✔-65+
why are geriatric patients more difficult - ✔✔-classic presentations of illness/ injury are altered
by medications, physiological changes, etc
how to communicate with geriatric patients - ✔✔-use their name, sir, ma'am, mr., mrs.,
etc. -identify yourself
-be outwardly patient
-look at the patient at eye level
-speak slowly and distinctly, in a lower tone
-one person talks at a time
-do not assume they are hard of hearing
-give the patient time to respond
-listen to the patient
-explain what you are going to do
-talk to the patient, not about the patient
changes in the respiratory system - ✔✔-weakening of airway muscles makes breathing more difficult
-alveoli elasticity decreases= harder to expel air
-chemoreceptors that monitor co2 levels slow
, -gag and cough reflexes decrease
-decreased number of cilia in the bronchial tree= higher chance of infection
pneumonia - ✔✔-inflammation of the lung
-increased mucus production, pulmonary secretions, and inflammation make breathing
difficult -keep high index of suspicion for pneumonia
pulmonary embolism - ✔✔-sudden blockage of an artery by a venous clot that developed in the
legs or pelvis
-symptoms are often confused with cardiac, lung, or musculoskeletal problems
-high risk in patients in a nursing home/ who were hospitalized for surgery, especially lower
extremity surgeries
-look for leg pain, redness, and swelling in just one ankle and foot for the source of the clot
signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism - ✔✔-sudden onset shortness of breath
-shoulder, back, or chest pain
-tachycardia
-cough
-sometimes syncope
-anxiety
-possible low grade fever
-hemoptysis
-sometimes redness, leg pain, and swelling in one ankle/
foot -fatigue
how to treat a pulmonary embolism - ✔✔-airway, ventilatory, and circulatory
support -clear any blood in the airway (from hemoptysis)
-supplemental oxygen via nrb (or bvm if necessary)
