Name: _________________________________
Date: _______________________________
Altered Mental Status Quiz - ECA
1.
Your patient is a 75-year old male who is complaining of a headache, is having difficulty
speaking and the
left side of his face is drooping. What problem is the patient suffering from?
2.
How would you treat this patient?
3.
Your next patient is a 22-year old male who suddenly collapsed during class. A patient that has
cool clammy skin, is responsive to verbal stimulation, and is confused. His friends state he has
been trying to lose weight and has not been eating. They now say he takes injections of some
medicine before he eats, but they do not know what medicine. Vital signs are P-86 strong,
regular; BP-128/76; R-18 unlabored, regular. What is the patient’s problem?
4.
How would you treat this patient?
5.
Your patient is a 20-year old college student who “passed out” during track practice. He is
conscious at this time but is still disoriented. His skin is pale and cool and he is perspiring
profusely. His pulse is weak and rapid. The weather is very hot and humid. What problem do
you suspect?
6.
How would you treat this patient?
7.
A 30-year old experienced a sudden onset of severe substernal chest pain while he was sitting at
his desk. The pain radiated to his jaw bilaterally and down the medial aspect of his left arm. His
skin was cool, pale, and diaphoretic. He also complained of nausea and SOB. Vital Signs: P110, weak, regular; R-22, shallow, regular; BP-128/86. What is the patient’s problem?
8.
How would you manage this patient?
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9.
Your patient is a 30-year old male, who has been found by the police unconscious in an alley
following an ice storm. He responds only to painful stimuli and is very cold to the touch. Vital
Signs: P-50 weak, regular; BP-80/40; R-6 shallow, regular. What problem do you suspect?
10.
How would you treat this patient?
11.
Your patient is a 80-yer old male complaining of shortness of breath. He states that the dyspnea
has come on gradually during the past few days following the onset of the “flu”. Physical exam
reveals a barrel chest, clubbed fingers, and pursing of the lips on exhalation. What problem do
you suspect?
12.
How would you treat this patient?
13.
You are called to see a 25-year old male. The patient is unresponsive to painful stimuli and is
incontinent. Bystanders state the patient complained of a metallic taste in his mouth and then
began jerking all of his extremities. What problems is the patient suffering from?
14.
How would you manage this patient?
15.
A 59-year old female complains of severe dyspnea which awakened her 20 minutes ago. She is
sitting upright on the side of her bed. Her respirations are noisy and labored, her nailbeds and
lips are cyanotic, and she is coughing up pink, frothy sputum. Rales and wheezes are present over
both lung fields. She has had increasing syspnea on exertion for six months and has been
awakening in the night short of breath for several weeks. She has an MI one year ago and has a
history of hypertension. Vital signs: BP-140/80; P-100 weak, irregular; R-32 labored. What
problem is the patient suffering from?
16.
How would you treat this patient?
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17.
A 7-year old male is complaining of difficulty breathing. He has nasal flaring, accessory muscle
use, cyanosis around his mouth, and a dry cough. You hear wheezing during expiration. Vital
signs: P-100 regular, strong; BP-90/67; R-24 labored, regular. What is the patient’s problem?
18.
How would you treat the patient?
19.
Your patient is a 50-year old female who lost consciousness gradually over a 4 to 6 hour period.
Her husband tells you she has a history of diabetes and that she has been complaining of a
headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for 2 or 3 days. Her skin is warm and dry. Her
respirations are deep and rapid. Her breath has a fruity odor.
20.
How would you treat this patient?
21.
Your patient is a 67-year old female who was found in her bed this morning. She is responsive to
painful stimuli. During your exam, you notice the patient has unequal pupils. The nursing home
staff state the patient had a seizure prior to your arrival. What problem is the patient suffering
from?
22.
How would you treat this patient?
23.
What are three signs or symptoms of a myocardial infarct?
24.
A disease that prevents you from producing or using enough insulin is:
25.
A patient who is known to have ingested excessive amounts of alcohol appears confused and
restless. He tells you he is pursued by demons and his hands are shaking. You would suspect.
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