AC 2 Final Exam Flashcards
What are the ABCDEs of skin cancer?
Asymmetry
Border irregularity
Color
Diameter at least 1/4 in.
Evolution
What is an actinic keratoses?
Premalignant lesions
More common in men
What is a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)?
Cancer of epidermis
Metastasis common
Can be related to chronic skin damage
Most common in people with darker skin
Looks scaly, slightly red
What is a basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?
Basal cell layer of epidermis
Metastasis rare
Genetic, chronic irritation
Starts as small fleshy bumps
Looks shiny, red, elevated
What’s a melanoma?
Pigmented cancer arising in melanin producing epidermal cells
Highly metastatic
Genetic, excessive UV exposure
What are the 4 types of skin cancer?
Actinic keratoses
Squamous cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma
Melanoma
How is skin cancer/lesion treated?
Electrodesiccation and curettage (dig out)
Surgical excision (margins of 5 cm are best)
Mohs (for high risk or large BCC)
Cryosurgery (freezing area)
What kind of diagnostic study is done for scabies?
Scraping
How is contact dermatitis managed?
Obtain hx to identify causative agent
Avoidance therapy (once cause identified)
Steroid to suppress inflammation
Cool/moist dressings over topical steroids and increase absorption
No occlusive dressing with steroid
What is psoriasis?
A scaling disorder related to dermal inflammation
Abnormal growth of epidermal cells in the outer skin layers
Autoimmune rx, lifelong with exacerbation & remissions
What are the physical cues of scabies?
Shows up in folds, warm, moist areas
Pruritic
Blisters (small, red)
Can mimic contact dermatitis
Why is herpes zoster (singles) in eye a medical emergency?
It can lead to blindness
What are the characteristics of stage 1 pressure ulcer?
Redness that does not blanche when pressed
Reversible damage with the removal of pressure and shear force
Irregular erythema
Induration
Boggy or firm
What are the characteristics of stage 2 pressure ulcer?
Damage that includes epidermis, dermis, or both
Shallow ulcer, blister or abrasion
What are the characteristics of stage 3 pressure ulcer?
Injury to SubQ tissue
Goes to the underlying fascia, but not through
May have undermining
Deeper crater
What are the characteristics of stage 4 pressure ulcer?
Injury to the tissue that goes through the fascia
Includes structural visibility involvement: muscle, bone, tendon/ligament
May have osteomyelitis or septic arthritis
When is a pressure ulcer unstageable?
When unable to determine the depth of tissue damage due to necrotic tissue covering wound bed
How can you prevent pressure ulcers?
Frequent repositioning, avoid over sedation
Barrier cream if incontinent
Pressure reduction with mattresses/cushion
Assessment
Adequate nutrition & hydration (30-35kcal/kg, 1-1.5g/kg protein, 1mL/kcal fluid)
The Norton scale is used to
Identify risk of pressure ulcer
Less the number, higher the risk
Scale of 5 to 20
How is pressure ulcer treated?
Pain control
Keep what is wet wet and what is dry dry
What prophylactic treatment should be given to a patient who is on continuous opioid analgesic?
Treat constipation
Why can pain assessment in older adults be difficult?
Due to multiple chronic conditions
High incidence of cognitive impairment
How can you assess pain in cognitive impaired patients?
Baseline information (VS, agitation, ability to walk, stand, move, eating pattern, appetite, sleep pattern, elimination habits, etc.)
Talk with family or caregivers
What are some behavioral symptoms that indicates pain?
Tense body language
Sad facial expression
Fidgeting
Persistent verbalizations
Verbal outbursts
Wandering, tearful, delusions, hallucination
What kind of pain is easily controlled with short acting analgesics?
Acute pain
What kind of pain is associated with post-op, procedural, traumatic injuries?
Acute pain
PCA pump is used for this type of pain
Acute pain
What is the characteristic of chronic pain?
Persists at fluctuating intensity
What are some manifestations of chronic pain?
Depression
Eating, sleep disturbances
Impaired function
What kind of pain is opioids, NSAIDs less effective?
Neuropathic pain
How is chronic pain treated?
Basal pain meds + different therapies for pain spikes
Predictable spikes: short acting agent prior to event
Unpredictable spikes: have short acting readily available
According to the WHO analgesic ladder, what kind of pain meds can you give for mild pain (1-3/10)?
Aspirin
Acetaminophen
NSAIDs
Coanalgesics
According to the WHO analgesic ladder, what kind of pain meds can you give for moderate pain (4-6/10)?
Codeine
Hydrocodone
Oxycodone
Nonopioid analgesic
Coanalgesics
According to the WHO analgesic ladder, what kind of pain meds can you give for severe pain (7-10/10)?
Morphine
Oxycodone
Hydromorphone
Fentanyl
Nonopioid analgesics
Coanalgesics
What is the maximum mg of acetaminophen per day?
4000mg
Demerol (meperidine) can cause ____ in older adults
Tremors and seizures
What are some non-pharmacologic pain treatment?
Massage
Yoga
Music
Aromatherapy
Acupuncture
Hypnosis
Hot/cold packs
What are some examples of coanalgesics?
Antidepressants
Anticonvulsants
Corticosteroids
Etc
What are the 5 important elements of the WHO 3-step model of analgesic dosing?
By mouth
By the clock
By the ladder
For the individual
With attention to detail
What does hospice care do?
Management of pain and control of symptoms
At home or free standing hospice facility
Hospice pays for meds for comfort measures
Individualized plan of care
What is the eligibility for hospice care?
Prognosis of 6 months or less (however benefit is not limited to 6 months)
Hospice services include
Physician, nursing care
Medical appliances and supplies
Drugs for management and comfort
Homemaker and home health aide services
Short term inpatient and respite care
Counseling
Bereavement services
Can palliative care be part of hospice?
Yes
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Similar; both focuses on comfort and symptom management.
Hospice is more of individual, while palliative cares patient and family as unit
Quality of life, not quantity
What are the 5 stages of dying according to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross?
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
What are the common symptoms at the end of life?
Dyspnea
Constipation
Fatigue
Anorexia and cachexia
Cough
N/V
Anxiety
Delirium
What medications are used to manage EOL dyspnea?
Opioids
Bronchodilators
Diuretics
What non-pharmacologic treatments are used to treat EOL dyspnea?
Humidified O2
Counseling
Pursed lip breathing
Energy conservation
Fans, HOB elevation
Music/massage
How is anorexia & cachexia treated during EOL?
Dietary consultation
Medications (appetite stimulant?)
Parenteral/enteral nutrition
Odor control
Counseling
How is stomatitis/dysphagia treated during EOL?
Social activity of eating
Treat infections, obstructions and reflux
Diet modifications
Benefit vs. burden of feeding tubes
Oral hygiene
Oral lubricants
How is EOL fatigue treated?
Meds (steroids, antidepressants, EPO, blood transfusion)
Nonpharm (rest, conserve energy, PT/OT)
How is EOL N/V managed?
Anticholinergics
Steroids
Benzodiazepines
Antinausea drugs (zofran, granisetron)
When should antinausea meds administered when managing EOL N/V?
Before symptoms occurs
How is EOL cough treated?
Chest PT
Humidification
Elevate HOB
Suction
Cough suppressants
How is EOL anxiety managed?
Antidepressants
Benzodiazepines
What are some s/s of death?
Dehydration
Decreased urine output
Cold & mottled extremities
VS changes
Respiratory congestion including respiratory bubbling
Changes in breathing patterns
Confusion
Decreased/lack of swallowing reflex
What are some psychological/spiritual symptoms of death?
Fear of abandonment, dying process, unknown
Nearing death awareness
Withdrawal from family, friends, cargivers
What is the nurses’ role in EOL?
Know your own feeling about death and EOL issues
Start discussion early
Make sure patient and family is communicating
Listen
What are some nursing cares at the end of life?
Pain/symptom relief
Skin integrity
Bowel/bladder care
Oral care, ice chips, eye care
What does possible melanoma look like?
Asymmetrical
Well-defined border
Color can be dark with fleck of other colors
Diameter more than 6-7mm
Can be elevated
How is Mohs done?
Local anesthesia
Cut some out, look in the microscope. If more cancer cells in the area, cut more. Repeat until cancer cell gone
What is the palliative care priority?
Pain management