Question

multiple choice
read each critical - thinking item carefully and then select the one best response.

1. you are called to the residence of a 67 - year - old man who is complaining of chest pain. he is alert and

oriented. during your assessment, the patient tells you he has had two previous heart attacks. he is
taking medication for fluid retention. as you listen to his lungs, you notice that he has fluid in his lungs.
this is known as pulmonary:
a. edema
b. overload
c. cessation
d. failure

1. you are called to a construction site where a 27 - year - old worker has fallen from the second floor. he

landed on his back and is drifting in and out of consciousness. a quick assessment reveals no bleeding
or blood loss. his blood pressure is 90/60 mm hg with a pulse rate of 110 beats/min. his airway is
open, and his breathing is within normal limits. you realize the patient is in shock. based on this
information, the patients shock is most likely due to an injury to the:
a. thoracic vertebrae
b. skull
c. spinal cord
d. peripheral nerves

Explanation:

Question 1:

Pulmonary edema is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. The patient has a history of heart attacks (which can lead to heart failure - a common cause of pulmonary edema) and is on medication for fluid retention. Overload is too general, cessation means stopping (not relevant here), and failure (while heart failure can cause it) is not the specific term for fluid in lungs.

Question 2:

The patient fell on his back (suggesting spinal injury), is in shock. Spinal cord injury can cause neurogenic shock (which can present with low blood pressure as seen here - 90/60 mm Hg). Thoracic vertebrae injury alone (without spinal cord involvement) may not cause this shock. Skull injury would likely have other signs (like head trauma signs not mentioned). Peripheral nerves injury would not typically cause this type of shock.

Answer:

1. A. edema
2. C. spinal cord