Final Flashcards
Liver cirrhosis can lead to?
An increase in ammonia levels
High ammonia levels can cause what complication?
Encephalopathy (hepatic)
What drug should you expect to administer for encephalopathy and what does it do?
Lactulose. Promotes frequent bowel movements to eliminate ammonia
What can happen if a liver cirrhotic pt has constipation
Confusion can be caused.
Ammonia gas sits within the colon which can get reabsorbed by the bowel.
High Potassium level what should the nurse expect to administer?
- Insulin IV
- Dextrose 50% IV
- Blood draw
Insulin drives the K+ back into the cell
Glucose prevents hypoglycemia
check K levels
How do we initially treat small bowel obstruction?
What if upper GI discomfort
Rest the bowel with NPO status.
NGT is inserted to remove UGI contents and gas
What is the nurse most concerned with for Vomiting?
Airway management
increasing risk of aspiration if lethargic
What effect does a right hemisphere stroke have?
visual spatial deficit
affects left side (neglects left side)
hemiopsia vision
Neuro changes in older adults might be?
An evolving stroke
What is highest priority assessment with evolving stroke?
Dysphagia
What do you monitor for with a TBI? and what is it?
Cushing’s triad
BP - widened pulse pressure
HR decrease (may not be brady)
RR - change in pattern (may be fast or slow)
Nuerogenic Shock Symptoms
bradycardia
hypotension
Hypothermia
Trauma Symptoms
tachycardia
hypotension
clammy skin
During Shock what is the first nursing action?
Administer 100% O2 via nonrebreather mask
Head trauma Symptoms
declining neuro status
shown by positive Babinski and low Glasgow
Nurse must monitor for what in a head trauma?
Monitor for signs of increased intracranial pressure Papilledema Cushing's triad Decreases in Glasgow (slurred speech) Decorticate posture
What is a classic sign of autonomic dysreflexia? and what is a nursing action?
Throbbing headache
Nurse should check for bowel or bladder retention
WHat life threatening conditioning mainly affects patients with spinal injuries of T6 or higher?
Autonomic dysreflexia
What does spinal cord injury:C5 and above affects?
Breathing
Spinal cord injuries are classified by?
- Mechanism of injury
- Level of injury
- Degree of injury
What causes stroke patients who have A-fib to be at higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke?
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Chronic Pancreatitis is exacerbated by
ETOH ingestion
Acute renal failure may be identified from which labs?
lab tests with results hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis
GI bleeds Nurse Considerations
Monitor stools for bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR)
monitor for rigid, board-like abdomen (which means large bleeds into abd cavity)
What qualifications are necessary to give pt Altipase (TPA)?
Pt presents within 3-4.5 hrs of symptoms
it must be an ischemic stroke (not hemorrhagic)
must have CT scan (to rule out bleeds in brain)
What can cirrhosis pts sequester? What does that causes?
Albumin which leads to massive ascites.
fluid would be yellow/ gold in color (albumin rich.
Renal failure may reveal which high electrolyte?
What drug considerations must you monitor?
high K+
Let HCP know if pt is on Spirnalactone (K+ sparring meds)
Hold the meds
DIarrhea may cause?
Nurse considerations?
electrolyte depletion
Replace electrolytes as ordered
if C-diff let the body continue to purge in order to lessen amount of C-Diff
No immodium to pt
Vtach Nurse considerations
assess the patient’s level of consciousness
Defibrillate if unconscious w/ pulseless
Fluid volume overload?
Drug management
Nurse considerations
loop diuretic furosemide
Monitor Serum K+ and NA+ levels
Monitor daily weight gain in HF
Monitor for decompensating Heart Failure?
Right Sided HF symptoms
Left Sided HF symptoms
R: JVD, pedal edema
L: pulmonary edema, auscultate for crackles
Heart Failure Maintenance care?
moderate tolerable activity.
Stable Na and K intake
Monitor Heart rate
Monitor Body weight
Beta-blocker use Pt education
Expect some orthostatic hypotension
change positions slowly (from lying to sitting)
Prior to blood transfusion premedicate patient with
Diphenydramine and acetaminophen
Blood Transfusion
Nursing Considerations
stay with the client for the first 15 to 30 minutes of infusion via a large bore venous access ( 20 gauge or larger)
Transfusion hemolytic reaction symptoms
Nurse Considerations
headache
low back pain becomes apparent w/in 15-30 min.
Immediately stop blood transfusion and infusion NS w/ new tubing
Transfusion access ports
PICC and triple lumen catheters have one 20 gauge and one 18 gauge both appropriate for transfusion.
PICC central line can be inserted in the upper extremity.
PICC care includes
flushing both lumens daily w/ 10 mls sterile NS to maintain potency
Sterile occlusive dressing needs to be changed weekly
Never advance a catheter that has been pulled out a couple inches
Diabetes Type I Insulin Pump Care
Change the needle at least every 3 days
Sick day care for DM I
monitor for ketones
monitor serum glucose
continue insulin regimen when sick
DM II Metformin education
No hypoglycemia
weight loss of approximately 8 lbs
best taken with evening meal
Hypothyroid maintenance
Monitor for symptoms associated w/ decreased metabolism, constipation, always cold
Osteoarthritis: OA
affects articulating cartilage
herbeden nodules affect DIPS (distal interphalanges)
Pt joint stiff & has pain on movement but will improve with activity
Multiple sclerosis Presenting symptoms
Numbness, weakness
visual impairment/ sudden loss of vision de to optic neuritis
Normal Hgb and Hct
Hgb: 13.5 - 17.5
Hct: 41 - 53
Severe anemia requires
blood transfusions
Packed red blood cells Considerations
only contain red cells, so if 3-5 units are transfused know that they lack clotting factors
Pt needs fresh frozen plasma or clotting factors
Pre-renal failure
Signs and Symptoms
low or no urine output due to hypotension/shock
must send urine to lab for specific gravity - which should be high
GI Bleed can result in Anemia
Symptoms
Fatigue and/or SOB
low Hgb can decrease oxygen carrying capacity
Why must you monitor Hemoglobin count with anemia?
Asses for oxygen carrying capacity of the blood
Must monitor pt on Heparin infusion for
Nursing Considerations
must be prolonged range (60-80)
electric razor use is suggested for shaving
In pre-op assessment monitor for
medication use and let provider know if use Anticoagulant or NSAID use
Procedures may need to be delayed (w/ anti-coags or NSAIDS use)
Dentist must be aware of which drugs use and what is done?
Anticoagulant or NSAID use in order to administer topical clotting agents in dental procedures
dental procedures are scheduled w/o discontinuing med
Thrombocytopenia (what is it and risk)
low platelet count
Predisposes the client to bleeding tendencies
Normal Platelet Count
150,000 to 400,00
RA :(affects)
synovial joints bilaterally
Initial Rx for RA and nursing considerations
ASA, Steroids
high risk for GI Bleeds so check w/ Guaiac stools
Stronger Rx for RA and nursing considerations
Methotrexate
s/e is decreased WBC (<4000/uL)
Neurologic dysfunction can be expressed as
seizures
Antiseizure med Nursing considerations
Monitor for drowsiness, ataxia, diplopia
Seizure Nurse consideration Teaching
do not restrain limbs
do not stick anything into pt mouth
Educate pt: keep diary of them, can’t drive care, can’t take tub baths
Single most important action to prevent transfusion reactions?
Pt identification by two RNs
Glomerulonephritis can result from
- viruses that cause measles or hepatitis
- accumulation of antibody-antigen complexes & complement
ex. Strep
Common cause of Hemolytic jaundice
is blood transfusion reaction
Common cause of post-hepatic jaundice
gallstone obstructing the common bile duct
Most common cause Hepatic jaundice?
cirrhosis or hepatitis
Support care during tonic clonic seizure
Rescue position, loosen restrictive clothing, prepare to clear airway
seizure inpatient precautions
maintain patent IV access
padded siderails
suction setup
Airborne precautions are used for?
Shingles, Herpes Zoster, Chicken Pox
What to do with two patients with acid fast bacilli? Room situation wise?
They can room together
Systemic Lupus erythematosis, Nurse Considerations
internal organs may be affected as well (Kidneys)
so monitor I&O
SLE Rx and use
Prednisone to stop the autoimmune hyperactivity
Postop stress may result in
Body retaining fluid so urinary output is decreased.
Day 2 stress response decreases and urinary output increases
S&S of a Transfusion reaction
What is the nursing action?
Increased HR, Increased RR, back pain
Stop the transfusion and change to new tubing w/normal saline infusion