A thorough patient assessment is vital component of effective paramedic practice. It’s more than just asking questions – it’s about gathering crucial information that can shape effective treatment. This patient assessment question bank is designed to help you build confidence in conducting detailed, systematic evaluations. With questions broken down into head-to-toe assessments, body systems and specific conditions, you’ll be equipped to uncover key clinical details that lead to accurate diagnoses and appropriate care.
Head to Toe
General Questions
- Can you tell me your name and what happened?
- Do you know where you are right now?
- Can you describe the pain or discomfort you are feeling?
- When did the symptoms start?
- Have you experienced this before?
- Are you taking any medications?
- Do you have any allergies?
- Do you have any existing medical conditions?
Head and Neurological System
- Do you have any headache or dizziness?
- Have you had any recent head injuries?
- Do you have any changes in your vision or hearing?
- Are you experiencing any nausea or vomiting?
- Do you feel confused or have any trouble thinking clearly?
- Have you experienced any seizures or loss of consciousness?
Eyes
- Are you experiencing any vision changes or double vision?
- Do you have any pain, redness or discharge from your eyes?
- Are you sensitive to light?
Ears, Nose, and Throat
- Do you have any ear pain or hearing loss?
- Are you experiencing any ringing in your ears (tinnitus)?
- Do you have any nasal congestion, runny nose or nosebleeds?
- Is your throat sore or do you have difficulty swallowing?
- Do you have any hoarseness or voice changes?
Cardiovascular System
- Are you experiencing any chest pain or discomfort?
- Is the pain radiating to your arms, back, neck or jaw?
- Do you feel your heart racing, skipping beats or beating irregularly?
- Do you feel short of breath?
- Have you noticed any swelling in your legs, ankles or feet?
Respiratory System
- Are you having difficulty breathing or feeling short of breath?
- Do you have a cough? If so, is it productive (producing phlegm)?
- Do you feel any chest tightness or wheezing?
- Have you been exposed to any known allergens or irritants recently?
Gastrointestinal System
- Are you experiencing any abdominal pain or discomfort?
- Do you have any nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea?
- Have you noticed any changes in your bowel movements?
- Do you have any loss of appetite or unintended weight loss?
- Are you experiencing any heartburn or acid reflux?
Genitourinary System
- Do you have any pain or burning when you urinate?
- Have you noticed any changes in the frequency or colour of your urine?
- Are you experiencing any pelvic pain?
- Do you have any unusual discharge?
- (F) When was your last menstrual period?
Musculoskeletal System
- Do you have any pain, swelling or bruising in your muscles or joints?
- Have you experienced any recent falls or injuries?
- Do you have any difficulty moving or walking?
- Do you feel any weakness or numbness in your limbs?
Integumentary System (Skin)
- Do you have any rashes, lesions or changes in your skin?
- Are you experiencing any itching or swelling?
- Have you noticed any new moles or changes in existing moles?
- Do you have any wounds, cuts or sores?
Mental Health and Behavioural Questions
- Are you feeling anxious, stressed or depressed?
- Have you had any recent changes in your mood or behaviour?
- Do you have any thoughts of harming yourself or others?
- Are you experiencing any hallucinations or delusions?
Body Systems
Neurological
- Do you have any headache or dizziness?
- Have you had any recent head injuries?
- Do you have any changes in your vision or hearing?
- Are you experiencing any nausea or vomiting?
- Do you feel confused or have any trouble thinking clearly?
- Have you experienced any seizures or loss of consciousness?
Cardiovascular
- Are you experiencing any chest pain or discomfort?
- Is the pain radiating to your arms, back, neck or jaw?
- Do you feel your heart racing, skipping beats or beating irregularly?
- Do you feel short of breath?
- Have you noticed any swelling in your legs, ankles or feet?
Respiratory
- Are you having difficulty breathing or feeling short of breath?
- Do you have a cough? If so, is it productive (producing phlegm)?
- Do you feel any chest tightness or wheezing?
- Have you been exposed to any known allergens or irritants recently?
Gastrointestinal
- Are you experiencing any abdominal pain or discomfort?
- Do you have any nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea?
- Have you noticed any changes in your bowel movements?
- Do you have any loss of appetite or unintended weight loss?
- Are you experiencing any heartburn or acid reflux?
Genitourinary
- Do you have any pain or burning when you urinate?
- Have you noticed any changes in the frequency or colour of your urine?
- Are you experiencing any pelvic pain?
- Do you have any unusual discharge?
Musculoskeletal
- Do you have any pain, swelling, or bruising in your muscles or joints?
- Have you experienced any recent falls or injuries?
- Do you have any difficulty moving or walking?
- Do you feel any weakness or numbness in your limbs?
Integumentary (Skin)
- Do you have any rashes, lesions, or changes in your skin?
- Are you experiencing any itching or swelling?
- Have you noticed any new moles or changes in existing moles?
- Do you have any wounds, cuts, or sores?
Reproductive
- Do you have any pain or discomfort in your genital area?
- Have you noticed any unusual discharge or bleeding?
- (F) When was your last menstrual period? Are you experiencing any abnormal menstrual symptoms?
- (F) Is there a possibility you could be pregnant?
- (M) Do you have any pain or swelling in the testicles?
Neurovascular
- Do you have any numbness or tingling in your extremities?
- Have you noticed any weakness in your arms or legs?
- Do you have any difficulty with coordination or balance?
- Are you experiencing any slurred speech or facial drooping?
- Do you feel any unusual coldness or paleness in your limbs?
Conditions
Urinary Tract Infection
- Have you been going to the toilet more than usual?
- Does your urine have a strong unpleasant odour?
- Is the colour different?
- Have you been incontinent of urine, is that unusual?
- Does it hurt when they urinate?
- Are they confused?
- Do they have flank/groin pain?
Seizures
- How many seizures have they had today?
- How long did they last?
- Are they epileptic? Have they been taking their anti-epileptic medication?
- Was their seizure today different from their normal seizures?
- Did they have an aura?
- Did their whole body convulse, did they lose consciousness completely?
- How did they fall? Did they hit their head?
- Are they incontinent?
- Did they bite their tongue?
- Last seizure?
Overdose
- What substance did they take?
- When did they take it?
- How much did they take?
- What route did they take it?
- Did they mix it with anything?
- Have they had any alcohol today?
- Have they vomited it up?
- Was it intentional?
- Why did they take it?
- History of same?
- Their medications or someone else’s?
Depression/ Suicidal
- Why have you called the ambulance today?
- Is something worse today than usual? ie trigger
- Do you feel upset/depressed?
- Do you want to kill yourself?
- Have you been thinking about or making plans to kill yourself?
- Has your doctor diagnosed you with any mental illnesses?
- Are you on any medication, should you be?
- Have you done anything? ie. taken an overdose, cut arms etc.
Motor Vehicle Accident
- Do you have any head or neck pain?
- Do you remember what happened?
- Do you have any pain anywhere?
- How fast were you traveling?
- Were you wearing a seatbelt? (Car)
- Assess vehicle damage
- Did the airbags deploy? (Car)
- Were you wearing a helmet? (Bike)
- Did you hit your head?
Hyperglycaemia
- Are they diabetic?
- Have you been taking your insulin? How long has it been?
- Last ate and what?
- Have you been going to the toilet more?
- Do you have increasing thirst?
- Have you been unwell over the last couple of days?
- Do they have Kussmaul respirations?
- Do they have poor skin turgor, headache, dry mucosa?
Hypoglycaemia (secondary to sickness)
- Are they diabetic?
- Have they taken their insulin today? When/how much?
- When did they last eat and what?
- Have they been feeling unwell the last couple of days?
- Have they been sick?
- Have they been exercising more so today than usual?
- Have they been able to keep food down?
Exacerbation of COPD/ Chest Infection
- Are you generally short of breath?
- Is it worse today? For how long?
- Are you a smoker/ex-smoker?
- Do you have emphysema? bronchitis?
- Do you have a cough, are you bringing anything up?
- What colour is the sputum?
- Have they seen their doctor recently?
- Are they taking antibiotics?
Nausea & Vomiting (isolated)
- How long have you been vomiting/nauseous for?
- Do you know what likely caused it? (food, medication, alcohol)
- Is anyone else in the house sick?
- Have you been eating and drinking? Have you kept it down?
- What colour is the vomit?
- Do you have diarrhoea?
Abdominal Pain
- Have you had this pain before?
- Where is the pain?
- Does it hurt when you palate the pain?
- Does your urine have a strong smell, strange colour or hurt when you urinate?
- Do they have nausea and/or vomiting?
- Do they have diarrhoea?
- Do they have blood in vomit/stool?
- Have you had regular bowel movements? Are you constipated?
- Last ate and when? And what?
Lower Quadrant abdominal Pain Females
- Do you have any vaginal bleeding?
- Are you currently on your period?
- Is there any chance that you might be pregnant?
Falls
- Do they remember falling?
- Do they know what caused the fall? eg. tripped, lost footing
- Did they hit their head?
- Are they on anti-coagulants?
- Are they diabetic?
- Are they epileptic?
- Do they have a fever?
- Do they have an altered conscious state? Is that normal for them?
- Do they now have a fracture?
- Prone to falls?
- Aids in place?
Chest Pain (DOLOR) Cardiac vs Pleuritic
- Have you had this pain before? Is it similar?
- Can you describe the pain? Tight/sharp/stabbing/pressure
- Does the pain change when you take a deep breath in?
- Does the pain increase when I press against it?
- When did the pain start, what were you doing?
- Can you point to the pain?
- Does the pain move?
- Are they nauseous, vomiting, SOB, pale/clammy?
- Have they taken anything for the pain?
Pulmonary Embolism
- Do they have chest pain increasing on inspiration?
- Do they have leg pain, are they known to have DVTs?
- Are they SOB, de-sating on room air?
- Are they obese, sedentary lifestyle?
- Are they on a contraceptive pill?
- Have they had recent surgery?
- Long haul flights travel?
Asthma
- What triggers the asthma?
- Have they taken their Salbutamol inhaler?
- Are they on corticosteroids?
- Have they ever been in ICU/ intubated or admitted to hospital for their asthma?
- What brings the asthma on?
- Have they been feeling unwell for the last couple of days/ productive cough?
- Chest infection?
- Asthma management plan?
- Previous history of asthma severity?
Chronic Back Pain
- Where is the pain? Does the pain move?
- Have you had this pain before?
- Do you know what caused the back pain?
- Have you done any heavy lifting?
- Is this an old injury?
- Do you have any previous back injuries?
- Altered sensation in limbs?
- Are they able to weight bear?
- Sharp, dull, burning, pinpoint?
Stroke/CVA
- When were they last seen symptom free?
- Do they have any deficits? eg. slurred speech, facial droop, hand grip weakness?
- Do they have a headache?
- Visual disturbances?
- Do they have nausea and vomiting?
- Are they diabetic?
- Have they had a stroke before?
Croup
- How old is the child?
- Have they been feeling unwell over the last couple of days?
- Do they have a fever?
- Do they have a cough? What does it sound like?
- Has it gotten worse this evening?
- Do they have stridor?
- Do they look agitated restless or vague and disinterested?
CCF/APO
- Are you short of breath?
- Do they have peripheral oedema?
- Did they awake during the night?
- How many pillows do you sleep on?
- Have you had any pink frothy sputum?
- Are you on a ‘water pill’?
- Are you on fluid restrictions?
- Do they have chest pain?
- Are they hypertensive?
Cardiac Arrest
- When was the last time you saw them awake?
- How long have they been unconscious for?
- Have they been unwell recently?
- Do you know their medical history?
- CPR in progress and effectiveness??
- Advanced medical directive
Burns
- What caused the burn?
- When did it occur?
- Have you been cooling the burn? How long?
- Airway burns potential?
- Singed airways?
- Burn percentage calculation
Assault
- Where were you hit?
- What were you hit with?
- Did you lose consciousness?
- Do you have any neck/head pain?
- Do you have a headache?
- Do you have any blurred vision?
- Any numbness or tingling in your hands and feet?
Pregnancy
- Gestation?
- Any complications?
- Are you having contractions? When? How often?
- Gravida? Para?
- How many babies?
- Antenatal care? Hospital booked in to?
- Membranes ruptured/discharge/bleeding?
- In labour – which way is the baby facing?
- Time/distance to hospital