Exam 1 Blueprint Flashcards
Expected WBC
Normal range: 5,000-10,000 cells/mm^3
Hand hygiene
is most effective measure for preventing the spread of infectious agents
WHO’s 5 moments for hand hygiene:
- before touching a patient
- before a clean or aseptic procedure
- after body fluid exposure risk
- after touching a patient
- after touching patient surroundings
Surgical Asepsis
sterile technique
- aims to eliminate all microorganisms from an area, critical in invasive procedures like surgeries
- strict sterilization techniques and sterile environments to prevent contamination
- ensures objects and areas remain free of microorganisms during procedures
- OR, L&D, sterile dressing changes, preparing and injecting medicine
Medical Asepsis
clean technique
- assumes pathogens are likely present and requires continuous use of aseptic technique; reduce number and transfer of pathogens - hand hygiene, gloves
- cleansing: removal of visible foreign material from objects (soap/water)
- disinfecting: destroying pathogens; use when risk for infection is high
Modes of transmission
- direct contact: close proximity between host and carrier (touching, kissing)
- indirect contact: via vectors (insects) or fomites (contaminated equipment)
- airborne transmission: small particles spread through the air
– TB - N95 mask and negative air pressure room; door remain closed - droplet transmission: larger particles spread through things like coughing
– 3ft or more from patient; flu - vehicle transmission: transmitted through food and water
- vector transmission: transmitted through insect of fomite
Precautions with C. diff (clostridium difficile)
Infection risk
Types of isolation
Nosocomial Infection
Components of the infection cycle
Sterile field
Manifestations of infection
Components of pulse assessment
Apical heart rate
When to take apical HR
Temperature - techniques and types
Respirations
When to take vital signs
Effects of coffee
Orthostatic vital signs
Celsius to Farenheit
sympathetic nervous system - effects on vital signs
Pain - effect on vital signs
PPE
Pregnancy safety
side rails
Fire safety
Admission orientation
Patient safety goals
Safety concerns with altered sensory function
Stress - effect on safety
Mobility - mechanical lift
Mobility - cane usage
Mobility - walker usage
Mobility - patient transfers
Mobility - assessment priority
Mobility - risks of bed rest
Mobility - foot drop
Mobility - repositioning and turning
Mobility - body mechanics
Steps of the nursing process
Health history
Types of assessments
Types of data
Benefits of using the nursing process
Data base - nursing process
Nursing process - priority settings/levels
Nursing vs. medical diagnoses
Patient goal setting
Clinical judgment
Culture - patient individuality
Social Determinants of Health
Cultural competence
Oral Medication Calculation
Intravenous gravity (gtt/min) medication calculation
Leukocytosis - WBC
increased WBC count; often sign of infection or inflammation as WBCs move quickly to the site of infection or injury
Types of WBCs
Neutrophils: normal 60-70%
Lymphocytes: normal 20-40%
Monocytes: normal 2-8%
Eosinophils: normal 1-4%
Basophils: normal 0.5-1%
Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate
RBCs settle more rapidly to the bottom of a tube of whole blood when inflammation is present
Products for hand hygiene
alcohol-based hand rubs: preferred when hands are not visibly soiled; effective in reducing bacterial counts quickly
soap and water: when hands visibly dirty or after contact with C. diff (alcohol-based rubs ineffective against these spores)
Indications for using surgical asepsis
- procedures that require intentional perforation of the skin
- when skin integrity broken due to trauma, surgical incision, or burns
- procedures that involve insertion of catheters or surgical instruments into sterile body cavities
Key practices of medical asepsis
- practice good hand hygiene
- carry soiled items without letting them touch clothing
- avoid placing soiled items on the floor to minimize contamination
- prevent patients from coughing, sneezing, or breathing directly on others
- move equipment away from yourself when cleaning to prevent contamination
- avoid raising dust; use damp or treated cloth
- clean the least soiled areas first
- dispose of soiled items directly into appropriate containers
- pour liquids to be discarded directly into drains to avoid splattering
- sterilize equipment suspected of containing pathogens
- practice personal grooming to limit microorganism spread
- follow guidelines for standard and transmission-based precautions
