North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

What constitutes the second step in assessing a patient following the initial evaluation?

1. Complete assessment

2. Ongoing assessment

3. Focused assessment

4. Initial assessment

The correct answer is: Focused assessment

The second step in assessing a patient following the initial evaluation is a focused assessment. This is a critical part of the assessment process, where the EMT zeroes in on specific issues that have been identified during the initial assessment or that the patient may report themselves. During the focused assessment, the EMT gathers detailed information about the patient's presenting complaints, concentrating on relevant body systems and signs that correlate with the issues at hand. This step helps in identifying specific medical problems and allows the EMT to prioritize treatment based on the patient's needs. On the other hand, a complete assessment would usually follow after the focused assessment and include a comprehensive review of the patient from head to toe. An ongoing assessment refers to continual monitoring of the patient's condition throughout the care process, ensuring that any changes in the patient's status are identified and addressed. The initial assessment is the very first evaluation performed upon arrival, where general life threats are identified, but it precedes the focused assessment.