Dental Pain

Minor complaint. Huge SLOE points! Step 1: Identify Which Tooth is Causing Pain Bonus points if you number teeth correctly! Number 1-32 Tooth #1 is top right Tooth #32 is bottom right Refer to dental chart for reference Step 2: Correct Terminology When Making Diagnosis Pulpitis Pain in the tooth itself Reversible Triggered by hot/cold […]

Vertigo

Does the patient have CENTRAL vertigo (bad) or PERIPHERAL vertigo? Step 1: How Does Patient Describe the Vertigo? Asking the patient to describe their dizziness has since been disproven… (However, the classic teaching is) Central vertigo Mild Vague Peripheral vertigo Severe Sudden Step 2: What Are the Associated Symptoms? Central vertigo frequently associated with “The […]

Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia = EKG… EKG changes = Calcium… Step 1: Recheck the Potassium Most common cause of hyperkalemia is PSEUDOhyperkalemia Caused by too aggressive/fast of a blood draw Causes RBCs to break open and falsely increase serum potassium Step 2: Get an EKG Earliest EKG change Peaked T waves Late EKG changes Flattened P wave Prolonged […]