FUNDAMENTALS Flashcards
Suctioning an airway:
- Client should be pre-oxygenated with 100%O2
- Suction should be applied for no more than 10 seconds
- The nurse must wait 1-2 minutes between passes for the client to ventilate
- The suction catheter should be no more than half the width of the artificial airway and inserted WITHOUT suction
- 100-120mmHg pressure for adults
- 50-75mmHg for children
When is it appropriate to use an indwelling catheter?
- Clients with urinary obstruction or retention, or a need for strict I/Os in critically ill patients
- Perioperative use
- Prolonged immobilization/when bed rest is essential
- To improve end of life comfort
- To facilitate healing of an open perineal or sacral wound
An MRI is contraindicated in clients with:
- Aneurysm clips
- Metallic implants: ICDs, pacemakers, electronic devices, hearing aids, shrapnel
Donning PPE:
- Hand hygiene
- Gown
- Mask or respirator
- Goggles or face shield
- Gloves
Droplet precautions:
Used to prevent transmission of respiratory infection; this included the use of a mask and a private room
Caring for patients with cellulitis:
-Typically caused by bacterial infection (Staph) resulting from insect bite, cut, abrasion, etx.
- Apply a warm compress: promotes circulation to the area of infection, alleviates discomfort and helps reduce edema
- Affected extremity is elevated
Extravasation:
Infiltration of a drug into the tissue surrounding the vein
The nurse should implement the following interventions to manage norepinephrine extravasation:
- Stop the infusion immediately and disconnect the IV tubing
- Use a syringe to aspirate the drug from the IV catheter; remove the IV catheter while aspirating
- Elevate the extremity above the heart to reduce edema
- Notify HCP and obtain prescription for antidote phentolamine
* Norepi should be infused through central line when possible
Preparing medication from a glass ampule:
- Flicker the upper stem of the ampule with a fingernail several times to ensure removal of med
- Using sterile gauze to break the ampule away from the nurse’s body
- Setting the ampule on a flat surface or inverting it to withdraw the medication
- Disposing of the ampule in the sharps container
- DONT INJECT AIR into the vial
- Use a filter needle to get med out of ampule
Airborne infections:
TB, measles, chickenpox
-Patients with this must wear surgical mask when transporting around the hospital
What is the most common complication of central venous access?
Catheter occlusion. The nurse should first assess for mechanical, nonthrombotic problems by- repositioning the client, assessing IV tubing for clamps, kinks, and precipitate. The nurse should then attempt to flush the line again
Airborne precaution indications:
- TB
- Varicella zoster (chickenpox)
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Rubeola (measles)
Precautions:
- N95 mask
- negative pressure isolation room
- Only when uncrusted lesions are present; contact precautions are required
- *Only in immunocompromised client; contact precautions are required
Abdominal paracentesis patient positioning:
Patient should be seated in high-fowlers and should void prior to the procedure
In the event of an air embolism, how should the patient be positioned?
head of the bed should be lowered (trendelenburg) and the client should be positioned on the left side; causes the air to rise to the right atrium
Chest tube placement patient position:
Clients arm raised above the head on the affected side. If possible, the head of the bed should be raised 30-60 degrees to reduce risk of injury to the diaphragm.
After a liver biopsy, how should the patient be positioned?
The client should lie on the right side for a minimum of two hours and then supine for an additional 12-14 hours
For a lumbar puncture, how is the client positioned
Side-lying with the head, back, and knees flexed.
When is a chest tube removed?
When drainage is minimal (<200mL/24hr) or absent, an air leak is resolved, and the lung has re-expanded
What are the steps for chest tube removal?
- Premedicate the client with analgesic 30-60 minutes before the procedure
- Provide the HCP with sterile suture removal equipment
- Instruct the client to breathe in, hold it, and bear down while the tube is being removed to decrease the risk for a pneumo
- Apply a sterile airtight occlusive dressing
- Performa chest x-ray within 2-24 hours
- Client should be placed in semi-fowlers position or on the unaffected side
Proper positioning on nasal medication administration:
- Assume a high-fowlers position with head slightly tilted forward
- Insert the nasal spray nozzle into an open nostril, occlude the other one
- Point the nasal spray tip toward the side and away from the center of the nose
- Spray the medication into the nose while inhaling deeply
- Remove the nozzle and breathe through the mouth
- You can blot runny nose with tissue but refrain from blowing nose
Central line dressing changes:
- Use sterile technique; wearing gloves and a mask to prevent contamination
- During injection cap, tubing, and dressing change, client ia instructed to hold the breath to prevent air from entering the line, traveling to the heart and forming an air embolism
- Client is placed in supine position
Isotonic IV fluids:
Expand only the extracellular fluid and are used as fluid replacement for fluid volume deficit
-Ex: NS, lactated ringers
PICC care:
- Dressing changes every 48 hours with a gauze dressing or 7 days with a transparent semipermeable dressing
- scrub the hub for 10-15 seconds
Pertussis:
highly contagious disease that requires droplet precautions
-Paroxysms of rapid coughing that lead to vomiting are key features of the infection
Common causative factors of falsely low SpO2 include:
- Dark fingernail polish or fake nails
- Hypotension and low cardiac output
- Vasoconstriction
- PAD
Muffled heart tones in a client with pericardial effusion can indicate the development of ?
Cardiac tamponade: build-up of fluid in the pericardial sac, which can lead to compression of the heart.
Signs: hypotensions, tachypnea, JVD, narrowed pulse pressure, and the presence of pulsus paradoxus
What is pulsus paradoxus?
Exaggerated fall in systemic BO >10mmHg during inspiration
*The nurse should measure the difference between korotkoff sounds auscultated during expiration and throughout the respiratory cycle
Preferred IM injection site for a newborn and infants (1-12mo)?
Vastus lateralis muscle
- The needle should be 5/8 inch in length for newborns and 5/8-1 inch for infants.
- A 22-25 gauge needle is appropriate for clients age <12mo
Peripheral IV sites should be selected in the hand or forearm to reduce the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections. T/F
true
Preferred site for venipuncture when collecting blood specimens is?
Antecubital fossa’s median cubital vein
1 tbsp = _____ mL?
15
Interventions to prevent abdominal wound dehiscence?
- Administering stool softeners to prevent straining and constipation
- Administering antiemetics as needed for nausea to prevent straining
- Applying an abdominal binder
- Monitor tight glucose control
- Splinting the abdomen by holding a pillow or folded blanket against the wound for support when coughing and moving
To determine the most appropriate method to transfer a client safely for the first time the nurse should assess 2 factors:
- Whether the client can bear weight: neuro deficits, decreased muscle strength, trauma
- Whether the client is cooperative and able to follow instructions: AMS, decreased cognitive ability
The IOM recognizes 4 types of errors:
- Diagnostic: delay in diagnosis, failure to employ indicated tests, failure to act on results of monitoring
- Treatment: error in performance of procedure, treatment, dose; avoidable delay
- Preventive: failure to provide prophylactic treatment, inadequate follow-up/monitoring of treatment
- Other: failure of communication, equipment failure, system failure
Wound culture procedure:
- Perform hand hygiene, remove old dressing, and remove and discard gloves.
- Perform hand hygiene again and apply sterile gloves
- Assess the wound bed. Cleanse the wound and surrounding skin with normal saline
- Apply prescribed topical medication (bacitracin) after obtaining cultures.
- Swab from the wound center toward the outer margin
Steps for ETT suctioning:
- Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves
- Suction the oropharynx and perform oral care
- Ensure that the system is connected to the appropriate wall suction (<120mmHg)
- Hyperoxygenate the lungs (100%FiO2)
- Advance the catheter into the trachea until resistance is met. DONT suction while advancing the catheter
- Gently remove the catheter while suctioning and rotating it. Dont suction for more than 10 seconds
- Evaluate client tolerance. If secretions remain, suctioning can be repeated 1-2 times
Epi injection rules:
- Should always be available for emergency use
- Should be given when the client first notices any anaphylactic symptoms
- The injection should be given in the mid-outer thigh and can be given through clothing
- The client should receive emergency care ASAP
Normal platelet count:
150,000-400,000
-A potential complication of heparin therapy is thrombocytopenia
A nurse is caring for a client on life support who has been declared brain death. What intervention is appropriate at this time?
Call the local organ procurement services rep.
-Cardiac and resp support continue if organ donation is being discussed/performed
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP):
Acquired disorder in which antibodies cause decreased platelet survival and production
- Petechiae, pinpoint lesions on the skin from capillary hemorrhages are a common sign
- Usually resolved quickly without complication