Exam 1 Flashcard CSV - ALL
What is subjective data in healthcare?
what pt tells you
- signs, symptoms
- reasons for seeking healthcare
- pain location
* pain intensity
* descriptions
ex: “I feel nauseated” or “I can’t see out of my left eye”.
How is subjective data typically documented?
quoting the actual words said by the client or family member
What does subjective data reveal?
perspective of the person giving the data
* thoughts
* feelings
* beliefs
* sensations
How can subjective data be used in relation to objective data?
used to clarify objective data
ex: asking “How did you get the scar?”
What is objective data in healthcare?
factual, measurable clinical findings
- quality of breath sounds
- vital signs
- observed pain behaviors
what the nurse sees, hears, feels, and smells
How is objective data gathered?
- physical assessment
- laboratory results
- diagnostic tests
How can objective data be used with subjective data?
validate or verify subjective data
ex: high pulse rate with description of pain
What is primary data in healthcare?
subjective or objective
obtained directly from the client
* their words: “I’m in pain”
* your own observations: vitals, body cues…
What is secondary data in healthcare?
- obtained secondhand
- the medical record: lab results
- or from another caregiver
What are methods to obtain subjective data during a patient interview?
- interviewing
- open and closed questions
What are methods to obtain objective data during a physical exam?
6 types of assessing
Objective data can be obtained through
* inspection: sight
* palpation: touch
* percussion: tapping
* olfaction: smell
* direct auscultation (just ears)
* indirect auscultation (with a stethoscope)
What is the purpose of a comprehensive health assessment?
provides holistic information about the client’s overall health
- physiological
- psychological
- socio-cultural
- developmental
- spirituality
- chief complaint
- current medications
- health history: immunizations, conditions, surgeries
What does a comprehensive exam include?
- observation
- physical exam
- interviewing
- extensive health history
What and when is a focused assessment?
- targets a specific issue
- is performed when a particular problem is identified or suspected.
- PRN
- following up during treatment
What is a special needs assessment?
A focused assessment
in-depth information about a particular area
- functional ability: PT, ST, RT
- withdrawal (CIWA)
- nutrition
- pain
- cultural/spiritual health
What is the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale?
a person’s ability to perform sophisticated everyday tasks independently
* shopping
* meal preparation
What is the Katz Index of ADL scale used for?
patient’s independence in basic activities
* bathing
* dressing
* toileting
* transferring
* continence
* feeding
How should nursing assessments be individualized based on lifespan considerations?
4 points
consider
* developmental stages
* physical abilities
* cognitive abilities
* sensory changes
What are the five senses and their role in sensory perception across the lifespan?
- sight
- hearing
- taste
- smell
- touch
all of which can decline with age, impacting
* balance
* communication
* safety.
How can sensory overload occur, and what are interventions for it?
- too much sensory input (e.g., noise, light)
Interventions include
* reducing stimuli
* providing rest
* organizing care to limit disturbance
How can sensory deprivation occur, and what are interventions for it?
lack of stimulation (e.g., isolation)
Interventions include
* increasing stimuli
* engaging the patient
* providing meaningful interactions
What are common manifestations of altered mental sensory function, and what are their causes?
Manifestations include
* confusion
* disorientation
* hallucinations
often caused by
* sensory deficits
* medications
* environmental factors
What are the key components of cognition and communication?
- perception
- memory
- reasoning
- judgment
- problem-solving abilities
- clear thinking
- awareness
- effective communication skills
What influences cognitive function across the lifespan?
- age
- health status
- education
- environment
- lifestyle factors: diet and exercise…
What factors can affect cognitive processes?
- illness
- medication side effects
- age-related changes
- stress
- neurological disorders.
What are the normal functions of the musculoskeletal system?
3 points
- supports movement
- posture
- protection of organs.
What are the characteristics of normal movement?
3 points
- smooth, coordinated, voluntary movements
- full ROM
- muscle strength
What factors can affect or alter mobility?
- age
- injury
- disease
- medications
- lifestyle habits: exercise and nutrition.
How does immobility impact physiological functioning?
- muscle atrophy
- joint stiffness
- pressure ulcers
- constipation
- respiratory complications
- decreased circulation: causing blood clots.
How does immobility impact psychological functioning?
- depression
- anxiety
- social isolation
- decreased self-esteem due to loss of independence.
What is the purpose of logrolling in nursing interventions?
- Maintain spinal alignment
- prevent injury
- particularly for patients with spinal or back injuries.
How does ambulation support patient recovery?
- Ambulation improves circulation, muscle strength
- prevents complications such as blood clots and pneumonia.
Why is range of motion (ROM) important in patient care?
- maintain joint flexibility
- muscle strength
- circulation
- prevent contractures
What subjective data should be collected to assess mobility status?
includes the patient’s
* pain level
* ability to move
* past injuries
* current limitations
What objective data should be collected to assess mobility status?
- range of motion
- muscle strength
- gait
- posture
- balance
What are the principles of correct body mechanics?
- using legs instead of the back for lifting
- keeping the spine aligned
- maintaining a wide base of support
How does the HIPAA Privacy Rule protect health information?
- regulating the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI)
- ensuring individuals’ privacy rights.
What are the methods for measuring body temperature?
6 points
- oral: 97.7-99.5 normal
- rectal: 98.7-100.5 can cause injuries/complications/discomfort
- axillary: lower than oral
- tympanic: 98.2-100 normal
- temporal: 98.7-100.5
- dermal
what technique is used for tympanic temperatures?
- Adults: pull top of ear up and back
- Ped: pull bottom of ear down and back
what is the dermal route for temperature?
- strip on forehead
- used during surgery
- not as accurate
When is oral temp contraindicated?
- not useful is patient is eating/drinking
- contraindicated in patients with mouth injuries
What can affect rectal temp?
- presence of stool
- not as accurate as oral
How to take a rectal temperature?
- Sims position: left side, legs stacked
- red probe
- protective sheath and lube
- adult: insert 1-1.5”
- ped: 1”
how does axillary temp differ from oral reading?
axillary temp is lower than oral
What can affect a tympanic temp?
- presence of earwax
What is the least accurate temp location?
tympanic
What affects body temperature?
- exertion
- bathing
- location/route
- eating/drinking
- wait 10-15 minutes for body to settle
Define rigors
- shaking
- used to create fever
- could be indication of sepsis
- fever will present within an hour of onset.
febrile / afebrile
fever / no fever
hyperthermia / hypothermia
high body temp / low body temp
What is the radial pulse and where is it located?
- wrist, below the thumb
- routine pulse measurements
Where is the apical pulse and how is it measured?
- fifth intercostal space near the left midclavicular line
- measured using a stethoscope
- must count for full minute
What characteristics are assessed in pulse and how long do you count?
RRS
- rate, rhythm, and strength
- even: 15 sec and multiply by 4 for minute
- irregular: count whole minute
What is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure?
- Systolic pressure is the force during heart contraction
- diastolic pressure is the force when the heart is at rest
How is orthostatic hypotension assessed?
Measure blood pressure in
* supine
* sitting
* standing positions
check for a drop in BP upon standing
What is the physiology and purpose of pulse oximetry?
- measures arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2)
- detecting light absorption differences
- oxygenated vs. deoxygenated hemoglobin
Tips for obtaining accurate pulse oximetry readings
- keep arm straight
- keep extremities warm: vasoconstriction May limit circulation
- can use the earlobe or nose for poor perfusion in extremities
- dim lights or cover the probe with covers or a towel
- May need to remove nail polish
What are the characteristics of pain used for assessment?
- location
- intensity
- quality
- duration
- aggravating/relieving factors
What are the steps for inspecting the skin?
Inspect for
* color
* vascularity
* edema
* lesions
What are the steps for palpating the skin?
Palpate for
* temperature
* moisture
* texture
* thickness
* turgor
How are the eyes assessed during a physical exam?
- pupil size
- PERRLA
vision changes due to aging
* cataracts
* presbyopia: gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects
What is PERRLA
pupils are
equal
round and
reactive to
light and
accommodation
What is SBAR communication, and why is it important in healthcare?
SBAR
Situation
Background
Assessment
Recommendation
- a standardized method for effective communication between healthcare professionals.
What factors can influence pain perception in adults and geriatrics?
- age
- cognitive function
- medication use
- underlying chronic illnesses: that may alter pain tolerance or expression
When is a rectal temperature measurement contraindicated?
- rectal surgery
- hemorrhoids
- low white blood cell count: to avoid risk of infection or injury
What factors can influence vital signs?
- age
- activity level
- emotions
- medications
- illness
What are normal vital signs for adults?
Temperature: 97.7-99.5°F - Oral
Pulse: 60-100 bpm, athletes 40-60
Respiration: 12-20 breaths per minute
BP: <120/80 mmHg
SpO2: 95-100%.
What is the significance of pulse oximetry readings?
less than 94% can indicate hypoxemia
What is orthostatic hypotension?
- Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure when moving from a lying to standing position
- must assess before first time getting a new pt out of bed
What interventions prevent complications of immobility?
- position changes
- ROM exercises
- compression devices
- proper hydration
What are the safety precautions when assisting patients to ambulate?
- proper footwear
- use assistive devices: (walker, cane, gait belt)
- assess for dizziness or weakness to prevent falls
What is the purpose of HIPAA?
HIPAA ensures
- continuity of healthcare coverage when changing jobs
- simplifies health insurance administration
- manages health information
- protects personal health information (PHI)
What rights does HIPAA give patients regarding their health information?
Patients have the right
- to access their health records
- to control over the use and disclosure of their protected health information (PHI)
- to keep their information private.
What is considered confidential information under HIPAA?
- Any personally identifiable information (PII)
- protected health information (PHI)
- name
- social security number
- date of birth
- medical records
What are the permitted uses of PHI under HIPAA?
can be used for
* healthcare treatment
* payment
* healthcare operations
* quality assessment
* legal cases
* compliance audits
What is the difference between privacy and confidentiality?
- Privacy refers to the individual’s right to keep personal information private
- confidentiality is the duty to protect that information from being disclosed.
What are some safeguards to maintain HIPAA privacy?
Safeguards include
* speaking quietly
* not using names
* not sharing passwords
* disposing of PHI properly
* avoid photocopying or faxing PHI
What are the penalties for violating HIPAA?
Civil penalties
* range from $100-$50,000 per violation
* annual maximum of $1.5 million
Criminal penalties
* include fines up to $250,000 and imprisonment.
What are the social media restrictions under HIPAA?
must not
* post patient information
* take pictures of patients
* establish social relationships with patients
* make offensive comments about coworkers or employers online.
What should you do if there is a breach of PHI?
Report the breach immediately to the appropriate authorities, as required by the HITECH Act for breaches affecting more than 500 individuals.
What are the consequences of academic HIPAA violations?
Consequences include
* academic suspension
* course failure
* dismissal from nursing school
* disciplinary action by the Board of Registered Nursing.
How can language barriers be addressed in communication?
Use
* interpreters
* visual aids
* simple language
ensure patients understand their care.
How can you promote understanding in patient interactions?
- clear language
- explain carefully
check for understanding
* asking the patient to clarify or repeat
How do you assess coping and stress tolerance?
Listen for cues about
* recent stressors
* coping mechanisms
* thoughts of harming self or others: must report
* using open-ended questions.
How does being under the influence of substances affect communication?
- impaired judgment
- confusion
- incoherence
requiring
* simple, direct, and nonjudgmental communication.
How does personal space affect communication?
- ensures comfort
- reduces feelings of vulnerability or threat during interactions
What are nonverbal cues in communication?
- facial expressions
- body language
- eye contact
- tone of voice
- gestures
convey emotions or attitudes.
What are the key components of a physical assessment?
- general appearance
- vital signs
- pain assessment
- gathering subjective and objective data from the patient
What are the key elements to ensure during patient interaction?
- privacy
- sit at eye level
- face the patient
- reduce distractions
- use therapeutic communication
- ensure the patient understands
What aspects are assessed under cognition and perception?
- Awareness
- thought processes
- memory
- language
- judgment
- attention span
- sensory impairments
- trust: assess if they will physically strike out. be on guard.
What communication strategies are used with hostile or anxious patients?
- remain calm
- use non-confrontational language
- provide reassurance to defuse tension and build trust.
What does it mean to facilitate communication?
ex: patient says they fell, you facilitate specificity.
what caused the fall? passing out? tripping? how often?
What effect does asking ‘Why’ questions have on communication?
Asking “Why” can
* make patients feel defensive or blamed, hindering open communication.
* seem confrontational
What is a physical assessment?
- comprehensive head-to-toe or systems assessment
- done each shift and as needed (PRN).
What is active listening in therapeutic communication?
- giving full attention to the speaker
- using verbal and nonverbal cues (e.g., nodding)
show understanding and encourage further sharing.
What is self-perception and self-concept?
Self-perception refers to how a person views themselves
self-concept includes their self-esteem and body image.
What is the difference between a physical assessment and a focused assessment?
- A physical assessment is comprehensive and done head-to-toe or system-wide
- a focused assessment is abbreviated and targets a specific system or issue.
What is the difference between closed and open-ended questions?
Closed-ended questions elicit short answers (e.g., yes/no)
open-ended questions encourage more detailed responses and discussion.
What is the difference between nursing history and medical history?
Medical history focuses on the patient’s diagnosis and condition
nursing history focuses on the patient’s responses to health problems.
What is the purpose of making observations during communication?
- helps you note and reflect on the patient’s behavior or appearance
- encouraging them to share more about their feelings or condition.
What is therapeutic communication?
8 points
- Silence
- Active empathetic listening
- Restatement
- Reflection
- Summarizing
- Clarifying
- Validating
- Touch
What role does silence play in therapeutic communication?
Silence allows patients time to process thoughts, reflect, and feel comfortable sharing more information.
What should you assess regarding a patient’s roles and relationships?
4 points
- family roles
- work status (e.g., employed, retired)
- financial concerns
- patient’s support system.
What should you avoid in patient communication?
- using authority
- creating distance
- using medical jargon
- interrupting
- stereotyping
- appearing rushed
- asking “why” questions.
What types of history are collected during an admission assessment?
- Health history
- family health history
- medical conditions
- infectious diseases
- childhood illnesses
- immunization history
Why is it important not to appear rushed during patient interactions?
Appearing rushed can
* make patients feel unimportant or unheard
* affects trust and rapport.
Why is it important to assess a patient’s roles and relationships?
- help guide care plans
- address potential social or financial stressors
Why is it important to assess cognition and perception in healthcare?
Cognitive and perceptual functions affect a patient’s ability to
* communicate
* follow instructions
* participate in their care.
Why is it important to assess self-perception and self-concept?
It gives insight into the patient’s
* emotional health
* confidence
* concerns about their well-being and body image.
Why is it important to assess spirituality in patients?
- Spirituality can affect the mind, body, and spirit
- distress in one area can impact the patient’s overall health.
Why is it important to reduce distractions during patient interactions?
- helps the patient feel heard
- ensures effective communication.
Why should healthcare providers be aware of their own values and beliefs?
- avoid letting personal biases affect patient care
- focus on the patient’s beliefs
- staying neutral on topics like politics or other sensitive matters
Why should medical jargon be avoided in patient communication?
Medical jargon can confuse patients, leading to misunderstandings and reduced comprehension of their condition.
What vital signs are included in a physical assessment?
7 points
- Temperature
- pulse
- BP
- respirations
- pain
- pulse oximetry
- consciousness
“5 vitals”
What is the most cost-effective way to prevent infection?
Hand hygiene
By how much can handwashing reduce deaths from diarrheal disease?
Up to 50%
What are the two main methods of hand hygiene?
Soap and water or antiseptic hand rub
When should soap and water be used instead of hand rub?
- hands are visibly soiled
- before eating
- after restroom use
- at the beginning of the shift
How long should you wash your hands with soap and water?
For at least 20 seconds
What is the procedure for washing hands with soap and water?
- Remove watch
- clean under jewelry
- keep clothing away from water
- fingertips below wrists
- use liquid soap
- rub in circular motion
- clean between fingers and under nails
When should hand hygiene be performed before an activity?
- Before eating
- before patient contact
- before putting on gloves
When should hand hygiene be performed after an activity?
- After using the restroom
- removing gloves
- contact with intact skin, body fluids
- contact with objects in the patient’s room
Why should hand rub and soap not be used simultaneously?
It is ineffective to use both methods at the same time
What should be done if C. diff is confirmed or suspected?
- Use soap and water
- alcohol-based hand rubs are ineffective against C. diff
What is the recommended procedure for alcohol-based hand rubs?
- Apply at least 3 mL
- rub hands vigorously for 20 seconds
- covering all surfaces until dry