Fundamentals of Patient Assessment for Paramedics

Justin Honey-Jones is a Specialist Lecturer Practitioner (Paramedic) at East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, a Forensic Paramedic with Essex Police, and an Associate Lecturer in Paramedic Science at Anglia Ruskin University. His clinical career begun as a combat medical technician with the British Army Reserves, and he qualified as a paramedic in 2014 with the London Ambulance Service NHS.

• List of Contributors xiiiPreface xvAcknowledgments xviiContributors xixChapter 1 The principles of paramedic patient assessment 1Justin Honey-Jones, Jonathan Todd, and Sharmila FrancisIntroduction 1Consent 2Primary survey 4Red flags 27Conclusion 28Glossary 28References 29Further reading 30Chapter 2 Critical thinking and clinical decision-making 33Dawn Ball and James WilkinsonIntroduction 34Application of critical thinking to patient assessment 34Theoretical models of critical thinking 34Using evidence-based practice to enhance critical thinking 35Evaluating and improving critical thinking and decision-making skills 37Human factors and barriers to clinical decision-making 38Conclusion 40Multiple choice questions 41References 42Further reading 42Chapter 3 Respiratory assessment 43Christine Findlay and Kylie KendrickIntroduction 43Anatomy and physiology 44Patient assessment 50Respiratory assessment 50Family/social history 54Medications 54Palpation 55Percussion 55Auscultation 56Clinical decision-making tools 57Conclusion 63Multiple choice questions 63Glossary 64References 64Further reading 65Chapter 4 Respiratory conditions 67Kylie Kendrick and Christine FindlayIntroduction 67Common respiratory conditions 68Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 70Acute pulmonary oedema 73Pulmonary embolism 75Foreign body airway obstruction 78Spontaneous Pneumothorax 79Conclusion 81Multiple choice questions 81Glossary 82References 83Further reading 84Chapter 5 Cardiovascular assessment 85Samantha SweetIntroduction 85Conclusion 96Multiple choice questions 96Glossary 97References 97Further reading 98Chapter 6 Cardiovascular conditions 99Samantha SweetIntroduction 99Specific conditions 100Conclusion 107Multiple choice questions 107Glossary 108References 108Further reading 109Chapter 7 Gastrointestinal/genitourinary conditions 111Anthony KitchenerIntroduction 111Acute cholecystitis 113Acute pancreatitis 114Appendicitis 115Constipation 116Diverticular disease 117Gastritis 117Hepatitis 118Inflammatory bowel disease 119Ischaemic bowel and intestinal obstruction 120Torsion (Testes or ovaries) 121Renal or ureteric colic 122Multiple choice questions 123Glossary 124References 124Further reading 125Chapter 8 The gastrointestinal assessment 127Andrew PreeceIntroduction 127Patient assessment 128Case studies 139Conclusion 140Multiple choice questions 140Glossary 141References 141Further reading 142Chapter 9 The neurological assessment 143James Wilkinson and Samantha DaltonIntroduction 143Patient assessment 146History taking for the neurological system 150Discharge on scene advice 156Conclusion 157Multiple choice questions 158Glossary 158References 159Further reading 159Chapter 10 Neurological conditions 161Barry Murphy -JonesIntroduction 161Stroke 162Epidemiology 162Pathophysiology 163Epidemiology 166Pathophysiology 166Pathophysiology 167Treatment 168Headaches 168Epidemiology 168Pathophysiology 168Pathophysiology 169Acute Behavioural Disturbances 170Pathophysiology 170Learning events 171Conclusion 172Multiple choice questions 172Glossary 173References 173Further reading 174Chapter 11 Musculoskeletal assessment 175Patrick MoloneyIntroduction 175Patient assessment 176History 178Conclusion 186Multiple choice questions 186Glossary 187References 187Further reading 188Chapter 12 Musculoskeletal conditions 189Patrick MoloneyIntroduction 189Specific conditions 192Management 195Colles’ fracture 195Septic arthritis 196Lumbar radiculopathy (lower back nerve pain) 199Conclusion 201Multiple choice questions 202Glossary 203References 203Further reading 204Chapter 13 Trauma assessment 205Joseph SteerIntroduction 205Patient assessment 207Primary survey 210Catastrophic haemorrhage 212Conclusion 223Multiple choice questions 223Glossary 224References 224Further reading 225Chapter 14 Traumatic injuries and conditions 227Thomas StrudwickIntroduction 227Head trauma 228Spinal injury 230Thoracic trauma 234Abdominal trauma 237Pelvic trauma 240Limb trauma 241Traumatic cardiac arrest 246Conclusion 249Multiple choice questions 249Glossary 250References 250Further reading 253Chapter 15 The paediatric assessment 255Will BroughtonIntroduction 255Paediatric specific primary survey (DRCABCDE) 256Summary 257Summary 260Summary and plan 264Conclusion 268Multiple choice questions 268Glossary 269References 269Further reading 269Multiple choice questions 268Glossary 269References 269Further reading 269Chapter 16 Paediatric conditions 271Keith BromwichIntroduction 271Ears and throat 272Sore throat 273Cough (General) 277Management additional specific 283Conclusion 285Multiple choice questions 285Glossary 286References 286Chapter 17 Obstetric assessment 289Fiona ScarlettIntroduction 289Physiological changes in pregnancy 290The structured approach to patient assessment 291Position 292Fundus 295Clinical decision-making tools 298Case studies 301Conclusion 304Multiple choice questions 305Glossary 305References 306Further reading 307Chapter 18 Maternal conditions 309Helen McAdamIntroduction 309Maternal conditions (including obstetric emergencies) 310Placental abruption 315Placental praevia 317General management of pregnancy loss 321Conclusion 324Multiple choice questions 324Glossary 325References 326Further reading 326Chapter 19 Newborn assessment 327Helen McAdamIntroduction 327Neonatal assessment 328Pre-hospitalnewborn assessment 330Newborn pathophysiology 331Clinical decision-makingtools 337Conclusion 340Multiple choice questions 340Glossary 341References 341Further reading 342Chapter 20 The older person assessment 343Kieran RobinsonIntroduction 343Primary survey 343History taking 345Advanced care planning 347Conclusion 352Multiple choice questions 353Glossary 354References 355Further reading 356Chapter 21 Older Person Conditions 357Cole TideswellIntroduction 357Multiple choice questions 374References 375Chapter 22 End of Life Care and Palliative Assessment 377Graham Turner and Caroline PhillipsIntroduction 378The pill box 382Clinical decision-making tools 383The Sepsis Screening Tool 383Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) 383Conclusion 384Multiple choice questions 384Glossary 385References 386Further reading 386Chapter 23 Palliative Emergencies and Conditions 387Andrew Hichisson and James RobertsIntroduction 387Specific conditions 388Spinal cord compression 389Gastrointestinal complaints 392Pain 393Agitation 396Haemorrhage 397End of life 398Family/Carer distress 399Conclusion 399Multiple choice questions 399Glossary 400References 401Further reading 402Chapter 24 Assessment of mental health in paramedic practice 403Katie PavoniIntroduction 404Take note 415Conclusion 415Glossary 417Multiple choice questions 417References 418Further reading 419Chapter 25 Mental health and neurodivergent conditions 421Justin Honey-JonesIntroduction 422Neurodivergent conditions 423Mental health conditions 424Anxiety disorders 424Depression 427Bipolar disorder 428Post-traumaticstress disorder (PTSD) 429Schizophrenia 430Eating disorders 430Binge eating disorder 431Reasonable adjustments 433Conclusion 434Glossary 435References 436Further reading 437Index 000