Final Flashcards
DM: Describe the impact of illness on a patient with Diabetes Mellitus
Illness, stress, and infection increase the body’s insulin requirement. The patient should increase the frequency of blood glucose testing and urine testing for ketones. Adequate fluid intake should be consumed to prevent dehydration. The patient should take the normal insulin dose and notify the HCP for ketones or continued high blood glucose levels.
DM: Hypoglycemic patients may become lethargic and unarousable. What is the best treatment in this case?
A patient who shows these types of symptoms due to a hypoglycemic event should be given D50 IV. Hypoglycemic patients who are less symptomatic should be given food and drink with sugar and protein.
DM: Diabetes is a common diagnosis across the lifespan. Describe the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Type 1 DM is irreversible, typically occurs in children and young adults and is associated with little to no insulin production. Type 2 diabetes is associated with lifestyle and is reversible.
DM: What is the rationale for measuring a patient’s HgbA1c?
HgbA1c is used to measure the average blood sugar over a period of up to 3 months. Diabetic patients should be instructed that a healthy A1c is below 6.5%.
DM: Describe which type of insulin is best for initial treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis and the rationale
Regular insulin is classified as a short-acting insulin. It can be given intravenously with an onset of action of less than 30 min. This is the insulin that is most appropriate in emergency situations of severe hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis.
DM: Discuss the importance of foot care in patients with diabetes
Patients with diabetes are at high risk of slow healing injuries especially in lower extremities. They should be reminded to do regular inspections of any cuts or bruises on the feet.
DM: Describe the clinical manifestations of hypoglycemia
Manifestations of hypoglycemia include sweating, tachycardia, tremors, palpitations, hunger, and anxiety.
DM: Indicate the components of reversing a DM2 diagnosis
Diet, exercise and weight loss may be sufficient treatment for patients with Type 2 diabetes. For some patients, weight loss & exercise may eliminate the need for medications.
DM: Describe the 3 P’s commonly seen in DM
Polyuria is the medical term for excessive urination, which is one of the classic symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes. Polydipsia refers to excessive thirst. Polyphagia refers to excessive hunger.
When prioritizing care, the nurse knows to consider this patient first.
Hemodynamically unstable
Resp: A pt with thick mucus secretions is educated to increase fluid intake. What is the rationale?
Increasing fluid intake will thin secretions and make them easier to excrete.
Resp: The nursing priority for any assessment, and especially when there is known respiratory compromise is:
Hemodynamics- Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABCs)
Resp: A pt with any disease process or treatment that contributes to immunocompromise is at highest risk for:
acquiring opportunistic infection like pneumonia
Resp: The nurse is admitting a patient with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and determines that their respiratory status is stable. What is the next priority action?
Administer the first dose of IV antibiotic therapy
Resp: List at least 3 nursing interventions that should be used for patients at risk for developing pneumonia
- Turn, cough, deep breath
- Use of an incentive spirometer
- Regular ambulation if possible
- Encourage fluid intake
Resp: Describe hospital (HAP) & ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP)
Pneumonia that develops after at least 48 hrs of hospitalization is considered a HAP. Pneumonia that occurs at least 48 hrs after intubation is a VAP.
Resp: Describe the latent phase of TB
TB is considered latent when the virus lives in the body but is not growing, is not spreadable, and does not cause symptoms
Resp: The type of drug that is most effective in the treatment of persistent asthma
Inhaled corticosteroids are more effective in improving asthma than any other drug and are indicated for all patients with persistent asthma.
Resp: Describe the rationale for teaching patients to rinse their mouths after using an inhaler for asthma.
Inhaled corticosteroids can cause oral candidiasis which leaves white patches on the tongue and cheeks.
Resp: The rationale for recommending pursed lip breathing to patients with COPD.
Pursed lip breathing is a technique that prolongs exhalation and maintains positive airway pressure
Resp: why might a pt with COPD also have peripheral edema?
Right ventricular failure (Cor Pulmonale) causes peripheral edema secondary to pulmonary hypertension
Resp: Why is it so important to provide oral care to patients with artificial airways?
Patients with artificial airways are at an increased risk of acquiring pneumonia. This is called hospital-acquired pneumonia or ventilator-acquired pneumonia.
Resp: Airborne precautions include which specific type of room if one is available?
Negative Pressure Room
Resp: Describe the purpose of using short-acting beta2 agonist like Albuterol
Albuterol is an inhaled short-acting beta2 agonist (beta2-adrenergic agonist) used as a rescue medication to relieve an acute asthma attack. Albuterol dilates the airways, decreases wheezing, and improves oxygenation.
Resp: Which type of respiratory illness changes the appearance of the chest and why?
Clients who have COPD use accessory muscles to assist with respiratory effort. The use of those accessory muscles causes the chest wall to eventually increase in anterior-posterior diameter, making it appear barrel shaped.
Resp: The most effective primary care method of preventing community-acquired pneumonia is?
Pneumococcal vaccine
Resp: Diagnoses such as TB and COVID require which type of isolation?
Airborne precautions are used for patients with airborne diseases like TB and COVID.
Resp: Why Pts should be cautioned about the overuse of albuterol inhalers.
Overuse of albuterol can cause rebound bronchoconstriction
Resp: Describe the relationship of O2 and CO2 in patients with COPD
Pts with severe COPD are considered CO2 retainers, meaning that they are not able to blow off CO2 appropriately and high amounts of supplemental O2 can lead to respiratory acidosis.
Resp: Describe the pathology of cor pulmonale in COPD patients
COPD–>RV enlargement–>pulmonary hypertension–>RV failure
Blood flow through the heart
Start: right atrium > tricuspid valve > right ventricle > pulmonary semilunar valve > pulmonary arteries > lungs > pulmonary veins (right and left) > left atrium > mitral valve > left ventricle > aortic valve > aorta > arteries > capillaries > veins > inferior vena cava/ superior vena cava back to the: right atrium
CV: The nursing priority when starting a patient on a new anti-hypertensive medication
Patient safety. Anti-hypertensives can cause a patient to become hypotensive and require careful observation when initiating the medication.
think through this with hemodynamics as your guide
CV: Describe the use of Troponin as a diagnostic marker
Cardiac troponins start to elevate 4-6 hours after a myocardial injury and are highly specific to the myocardium, therefore it is the preferred diagnostic marker for myocardial infarction.
CV: A pt is experiencing crushing chest pain. Describe why administering Nitroglycerin SL is the nursing priority.
Nitro is a vasodilator and in the event of an MI, the priority action is to relieve the chest pain by promoting vasodilation.
CV: JVD is associated with which cardiac problem
Right sided heart failure
CV: Indicate the importance of strict I&O’s with CHF patients
Patients with congestive heart failure are at risk for fluid volume overload due to the poor pumping mechanism of the heart.
CV: Describe the rationale for obtaining a 12-lead EKG on a patient with elevated potassium
Elevated potassium poses a risk for dysrhythmias as well as cardiac arrest. Therefore, the nurse should obtain a 12-lead ECG to monitor for cardiac changes.
CV: Describe the use of Lisinopril and the side effects
Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor used to treat hypertension.
Side Effects:
Angioedema- swelling of the mouth (this is a priority as swelling of the mouth can compromise airway)
Dry Cough
Nausea
Nasal congestion
CV: Aspirin can be used for many purposes. Describe it’s use for cardiac patients
Aspirin is an antiplatelet aggregate used to decrease the likelihood of blood clotting. It also is used to reduce the risk of a second heart attack or stroke by inhibiting platelet aggregation and reducing thrombus formation in an artery, a vein, or the heart.
CV: What is the rationale for using caution when delivering IV fluids to a patient with heart failure?
Patients in heart failure are at risk for fluid volume overload so IV fluids should be used with caution