Question

While you are performing the focused physical examination of a patient who had a minor injury from an insignificant mechanism, you find yourself becoming more and more uncertain about whether the patient is more critical than he is presenting currently. What should you do?

1) Abandon the focused secondary assessment and quickly perform a complete secondary assessment.
2) Apply a higher concentration of oxygen.
3) Obtain the patient's blood glucose level.
4) Contact medical control.

Answer 1

The most appropriate action to take when uncertain about a patient's condition during a focused physical examination is to contact medical control for guidance and further instructions.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a situation where you are uncertain about a patient's condition, it is important to prioritize their safety and well-being. One option would be to contact medical control, which refers to seeking guidance from a physician or medical professional. They can provide further instructions or recommend additional tests or treatments based on the patient's symptoms and presentation.

Applying a higher concentration of oxygen, as mentioned in option 2, could be considered if the patient is showing signs of respiratory distress or decreased oxygen saturation. However, it should be done in consultation with medical control to ensure appropriate management.

Obtaining the patient's blood glucose level, as mentioned in option 3, may be relevant if there are concerns about altered mental status or if the patient has a history of diabetes. However, in this scenario, where the primary concern is uncertainty about the patient's condition, contacting medical control would be the most appropriate course of action.