Medical Nursing Flashcards
Signalment
Physical identity of patient
Age
Gender (reproductive status)
Species
Breed (if known)
Physical Exam (in order)
-Far Exam
-General Close Exam
-Specific Close Exam related to presenting complaint
-Attitude
-Often assessed as “BAR” (Bright Alert Responsive), “QAR”
-Depressed
-Unresponsive vs Unconscious
-Comatose
-Awareness of surroundings
Awareness of Surroundings
-Curious and sniffing about?
-Looks at you, willing to greet you?
-Fearful?
-Wants to say hi, but not able to move?
-Not interested, dull, depressed?
-Limping, dragging one or more limbs, non-weight bearing on a limb, holding it up?
-Purring? Strolling about the room or on the exam table?
-Hissing, growling?
Vital Signs (TPR)
T = Temperature
P = Pulse
R = Respiration
Normal Rectal Temp for:
Dog
Cat
Dog: 99.5 to 102.5 F
Cat: 100.5 to 102.5 F
Normal Heart Rate:
Dog
Cat
Dog normal = 60 to 180 bpm
Cat normal = 140 to 220 bpm
How to take a pulse rate?
(without stethoscope)
-Feel for the femoral artery on the inside of the thigh with the pads of your fingers (gently)
-Count the # of pulses in 15 seconds and multiply by either 4 to get the number of beats per minute (bpm)
What you can hear with a stethoscope
Listening to the heart with your stethoscope, you can also take a heart rate, as well as listen for heart murmurs. In healthy animals, pulse rate and heart rate are the same. If pulse rate is lower than heart rate, pet should be evaluated for serious heart disease.
Respiratory Rate (# of breaths per min)
Dog
Cat
Dog: 10 to 30 per minute
Cat: 24 to 42 per minute
What to look for when counting a respiratory rate
-Watch the chest rise and fall
-Watch the abdomen for in and out movements
-Listen to the breaths with your stethoscope
-Gently feel the rise and fall of chest or abdomen
-Assess the character of the breaths, shallow, rapid, slow and deep, normal
-Is there noise associated with the breaths?
gurgling, inspiratory stridor*, wheezing?
Mucous Membranes (mm)
Tissue that secretes (produces) mucus
Where is the mm?
Lining or covering of nose, tongue, mouth, vagina, prepuce
Auscultation is listening to..?
-Lungs
-Heart
-Abdominal organs
Normal mucus membrane should be…
-Pinkish
-Moist
Capillary Refill Time (CRT)
How to access?
- Lift lips and press on gums above the teeth
-This will push the blood out of the capillaries - Lift finger
- Count the seconds it takes for the blood to come back
-Refill time is the CRT
What is a normal CRT?
Normal time range is 1 to 2 seconds.
What does a prolonged CRT show us?
Animal could be in shock or dehydrated
Parts of a stethoscope
-Ear pieces
-Metal tubes
-Rubber tube
-Bell/diaphragm
Lung Sounds
Normal
Quiet “sighing” indicating the passage of air
Lung Sounds
Crackles
-Short popping noises
-Describe location and expiration and/or inspiration
Lung Sounds
Wheezing
Describe location and expiration and/or inspiration
Lung Sounds
Decreased and Absent sounds
Describe the area
Auscult the heart
-Listen for and count the heart rate
-Listen for 15 seconds – multiply x 4
Number 1 thing to remember for medications is…
STOP & READ THE LABEL!!
Six patient rights
- Correct patient
- Correct medication
- Correct dose
- Correct route of administration
- Correct time
- Correctly documented
BID
2x daily
CC
1mL
gm
Gram
IM
Inter Muscular
IV
Intravenous
L
Liter
mg
Milligram
mL
Milliliter
PO
Per os (by mouth)
q
Per
SQ
Sub Cuntaneous
Tb
Tablespoon (15mL)
tsp
Teaspoon (5mL)
TID
3x daily
gr
Grain
EoD
Every other day
2.2 lb = 1 kg
lb x 0.454 = kg
lb/2.2 = kg
kg to g
l to ml
Move decimal three places to the right
g to kg
ml to l
Move decimal three places to the left
