diagnostic tests Flashcards
which do you schedule first?
contrast or non-contrast studies
non-contrast
which do you schedule first?
iodine contrast or barium studies
iodine contrast
which do you schedule first?
upper GI or lower GI
lower GI
do you collect stool specimens before or after barium tests?
before
why may gender affect test results?
muscle mass
nursing responsibilities during tests
know what supplies are needed, help alleviate pt anxiety, immediately transport specimen
nursing responsibilities after tests
after care orders, treat complications, report results to MD, follow-up education
which type of blood study is most common?
venous
Allen test
pt makes fist; nurse holds radial and ulnar arteries; pt releases fist (palm is now white); nurse releases ulnar artery; look for pt to regain color in hand
how long do you hold pressure on site after ABG?
5 minutes
what type of syringe do you use for ABG?
heparinized
what do you use for a skin puncture?
heel, fingers, and a capillary tube
what does a plain tube indicate for venous blood studies?
no preservative added
proper order of blood draw tubes?
blood cultures, nonadditive tubes, additive tubes
the pt should stop use of what substance prior to electrodiagnostic tests?
caffiene
what does an ECG/EKG evaluate?
cardiac rhythm, conduction, and damage
what is an EEG used for?
dx seizures, tumors, infarctions, and monitor activity of brain during surgery
what does an EMG do?
indicates muscle disease from neurologic disease
what are endoscopic studies used for?
inspection of internal organs/cavities via a rigid/flexible scope
what do invasive endoscopic studies require?
pt consent, NPO 8-12hr, conscious sedation
colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy show which part of the body?
portions of large intestine
cystoscopy shows which part of the body?
urethra, bladder, ureters, and prostate
esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) shows which part of the body?
esophagus, stomach, and duodenum
laparoscopy shows which part of the body?
abdominal and pelvic organs
what do you do prior to EGD?
must be NPO, remove dentures, check gag reflex
what is the abdomen filled with during laparoscopy and what is a side effect?
CO2, abdominal gas pain
what are fluid analysis studies used for?
to diagnose brain/SC diseases;
aspirate effusions to decrease swelling, improve breathing, and improve cardiac function
is a lumbar puncture a clean or sterile technique?
sterile
what is the purpose of a lumbar puncture?
detects brain or spinal cord cancer, hemorrhage, meningitis, and MS
post-lumbar puncture care instructions
prone, force fluids, flat for 12hr, send specimen to lab ASAP
what is the purpose of paracentesis?
decrease abdominal pressure in pts with ascites
what does nuclear scanning do?
allows anatomic and functional analysis of tissues; creates a color picture with hot and cold spots
why is it important to force fluids after nuclear scanning?
to eliminate contrast material
how does ultrasonography work?
it uses sound waves to differentiate between solid and fluid structures
M-mode (motion-mode) ultrasound
evaluates cardiac wall motion
doppler ultrasound
vascular study, records sound of blood flow
duplex
vascular study, records sound of blood flow AND creates an image
GB (gallbladder) ultrasound
evaluates GB, must be NPO prior to reduce gas for better visualization
pelvic ultrasound
some procedures may require a full bladder, also a frequently used procedure to evaluate fetal development
what does an x-ray show?
pictures of body structure with denser objects appearing white, less dense gray, and air spaces black
plain film x-ray
such as for fractures; done AP, lateral, and oblique
fluorscopy
senses organs in motion (ie: barium swallow)
tomography
computer aided 360 degree view in sections: CT scan
what medication should be stopped prior to tomography? how long before?
metformin/glucophage
48 hours
barium studies
barium swallow, barium enema, never done if perforation suspected, give laxative after to combat constipation
KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder)
done prior to barium studies
bone density
used to dx osteoporosis, remove metal, not done w/in 10days of barium
mammography
dx breast disorders
myelography
used to detect disorders of spinal cord, nerve roots
