An 82-year-old female has nausea and vomiting and reports a recent transient ischemic attack (TIA). What should the EMT expect to find?

In the context of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), it is essential to understand the nature of this condition. A TIA is often referred to as a "mini-stroke" and typically results in temporary neurological deficits that resolve within a short period, often minutes to hours. Unlike a full stroke, which may leave permanent neurological impairments, a TIA does not usually manifest lasting symptoms.

In this case, the patient is 82 years old and has experienced nausea and vomiting, which can be related to many causes, including but not limited to the TIA itself. However, because TIAs are characterized by the temporary nature of their symptoms, one would expect that after the event has resolved, the patient would not exhibit any visible neurological deficits at the time of assessment, leading to the conclusion that the absence of any neurological deficits is the expected finding.

Thus, it is critical to consider the transient, self-limiting aspects of a TIA when evaluating the patient, particularly when assessing neurological status. The other choices would imply chronic effects of a stroke or an ongoing acute process, which would not align with the transient and resolving nature of the deficits associated with a TIA.