Conditions Flashcards
Shock
Description: when organs and tissues in the body don’t receive adequate blood supply
Risk Factors: bleeding, heart attack , severe infection, falling BP
S/S: pale, gray, bluish, discolored skin; staring; increased pulse and RR; low BP; extreme thirst
Treatment: lie pt down, elevate legs 8-12 in, maintain normal body temp
Notes: NPO
Poisoning
Description:
Risk Factors:
S/S: vomiting, heavy difficult breathing, very drowsy, confusion, burns around the mouth
Treatment:
Notes:
1st Degree Burn
Description: burn that affects the 1st layer of skin
Risk Factors:
S/S: discolored, painful, swollen, no blisters
Treatment: clean with cool water, cover w/ a dry clean dressing
Notes:
2nd degree burn
Description: burned that affects the 1st and 2nd layers of skin
Risk Factors:
S/S: discolored, painful, swollen, blisters
Treatment: clean with cool water, cover w/ a dry clean dressing
Notes:
3rd degree burn
Description: burn that affects all 3 layers of skin
Risk factors:
S/S: shiny and hard skin; looks white, deep red, or charred black
Treatment: cover wound w/ sterile gauze or a clean sheet
Notes: NPO
Seizure
Description: involuntary muscle contractions
Risk factors: abnormalities in the brain, children w/ high fever, head injury
S/S:
Treatment: protect head, clear surroundings, turn on left side after seizure
Notes: NPO
Myocardial Infarction
Description: when the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough oxygen b/c blood vessels are blocked
Risk factors:
S/S: sudden chest pain, heartburn, N/V, SOB, discolored skin, perspiration, cold and clammy skin, weak and irregular HR, low BP, anxiety and sense of doom
Treatment: place pt in a comfy position, loosen clothing around neck
Notes: NPO
Multiple Myeloma
Description: cancer of the plasma cells
Risk factors:
S/S: anemia, fatigue, weakness, weight loss, frequent infections
Treatment:
Notes:
Cerebrovascular Accident
Transient ischemic attack
HIV
Hep B
Hep C
Hep D
Hep E
Hypoglycemia
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Alzhiemer’s disease
Chlamydia
Syphilis
Gonorrhea
Genital herpes
Genital HPV infection
Hydrocele
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostate cancer
Testicular cancer
Vaginitis
Uterine fibroids
Endometriosis
Cervical cancer
Placenta previa
Placental abruption
Postpartum depression
Appendicitis
Epstein barr virus
Mononucleosis
Lupus
AIDS
HIV
AIDS dementia complex
Lymphedema
lymphoma
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Glaucoma
Diabetic retinopathy
Age-related macular degeneration
MRSA
VRE
CRE
C. Diff
Constipation
Description: inability to eliminate stool or the infrequent, difficult, and often painful elimination of hard, dry stool
Risk factors: decreased fluid intake, poor diet/lack of fiber, inactivity, meds, aging, ignoring the urge to eliminate
S/S: abd swelling, gas. Irritability, no recent BM
Treatment: increasing amount of fiber and fluids, increasing activity level, meds, enema, rectal suppository
Notes:
Fecal Impaction
Description: a hard stool that is stuck in the rectum and cannot be expelled
Risk factors: unrelieved constipation
S/S: no stool for several days, oozing of liquid stool, cramping, abd swelling, rectal pain
Treatment: insertion of 1 or 2 gloved fingers into the rectum to break the mass into fragments
Notes: prevent through high-fiber diet, plenty of fluids, increased activity level
Hemorrhoids
Description: enlarged veins in the rectum
Risk factors: chronic constipation, obesity, pregnancy, chronic diarrhea, overuse of laxatives and enemas, straining during BM
S/S: rectal itching, burning, pain, bleeding during BM
Treatment: adding more fiber into diet, increasing fluid intake, meds, compresses, sitz baths
Notes: when cleaning the anal area be careful to avoid causing pain and bleeding
Diarrhea
Description: frequent elimination of liquid or semi liquid feces
Risk factors: bacterial and viral infections, microorganisms in food/water, irritating foods, meds
S/S: abd cramps, urgency, N/V
Treatment: meds, increase fluids, temporary change of diet
Notes: diet focuses on soft, low-fiber foods w/ few seasonings
Fecal Incontinence
Description: inability to control the bowels
Risk factors: constipation, muscle and nerve damage, loss of storage capacity in the rectum, diarrhea
S/S:
Treatment: change in diet, med, bowel training, surgery
Notes:
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Description: chronic condition where liquid contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus
Risk factors:
S/S: burning sensation (heartburn), causes bleeding and ulcers
Treatment: meds, serving the evening meal 3 to 4 hours before bedtime, preventing pt from lying flat 2 to 3 hrs after eating
Notes: frequent heartburn can cause ulceration
Peptic Ulcers
Description: raw sores in the stomach
Risk factors: excessive acid secretion, H. pylori (digestive bacterium)
S/S: dull or burning pain 1 to 3 hrs after eating, belching, vomiting, bleeding, black stool
Treatment: antacids, antibiotics, change in diet (bland diet)
Notes:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Description: condition that causes diarrhea and/or constipation on a regular basis
Risk factors: result of problems in communication between the NS and the digestive tract
S/S: bloating, abd pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation
Treatment: meds, diet changes
Notes: stress may worsen symptoms; fried foods, fatty foods, caffeine, and alcohol are common triggers
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Description: term for conditions in which the bowel is chronically inflamed
Risk factors: caused by improper immune system response
S/S:
Treatment:
Notes: forms of IBD = ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Description: chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine
Risk factors:
S/S: cramping, diarrhea, pain occurring on one side of the lower abdomen, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, weight loss
Treatment: colostomy, meds
Notes: can cause intestinal bleeding and death, causes a continuous area of damage that may spread
Crohn’s Disease
Description: chronic inflammatory disease that commonly affects the small intestine
Risk factors:
S/S: symptoms similar to ulcerative colitis
Treatment: ileostomy, meds
Notes: inflammation may occur in patches
Diverticulosis
Description: small pouches called diverticula form in the colon
Risk factors: age
S/S:
Treatment:
Notes: inflamed diverticula causes diverticulitis
Diverticulitis
Description: inflammation of diverticula
Risk factors: diverticulosis
S/S: fever, abd pain and tenderness, N/V, diarrhea
Treatment: oral antibiotics, IV antibiotics, surgery, colostomy
Notes: rupture of an infected pouch into the abd cavity can cause peritonitis. Scarring can cause a bowel obstruction
UTI
Kidney stones
Renovascular hypertension
Chronic renal failure (CRF)
Renal cell cancer
Bladder cancer
Hyperthyroidism
Description: thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone
Risk factors:
S/S: increased metabolism, sped up body processes, weight loss, rapid HR, sweating, nervousness
Treatment: meds, removal of thyroid
Notes:
Graves’ Disease
Description: autoimmune disorder, often causes hyperthyroidism
Risk factors:
S/S: rapid HR, palpitations, dizziness, tremors, weight loss, exophthalmia (bulging eyes)
Treatment:
Notes:
Thyroticix Crisis
Description: life-threatening condition causes by a rapid rise in thyroid hormone levels
Risk factors: untreated hyperthyroidism
S/S: rapid or irregular HR, confusion, difficulty breathing
Treatment: removing thyroid gland, meds to prevent thyroid from producing hormones
Notes:
Hypothryoidism
Description: body lacks thyroid hormone
Risk factors: hashimoto’s thyroiditis
S/S: slow metabolism, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, intolerance to cold, dry skin, hair loss, slow HR, low BP
Treatment: thyroid hormone meds
Notes:
Congenital Hypothyroidism
Description: affects infants and children
Risk factors: iodine deficiency during pregnancy
S/S: stunted growth and development, intellectual deficits
Treatment: hormone replacement
Notes:
Myxedema
Description: complication of untreated hypothyroidism that can affect teenagers and adults
Risk factors:
S/S: dry skin, hair loss, intolerance to cold, fatigue, heavy bleeding during menstruation
Treatment: hormone replacement
Notes:
