Module 5 Comprehensive Flashcards
The nurse understands that knowledge of appropriate laboratory values is important. The nurse asks a group of nursing students to state the appropriate ranges for potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, pH, CO2, and HCO3.
- Potassium: 3.5 - 5.0
- Magnesium: 1.8 - 3.0
- Calcium: 8.5 - 10.5
- Sodium: 135 - 145
- Phosphorus: 2.5 4.5
- pH: 7.35 - 7.45
- CO2: 35 - 45
- HCO3: 22 - 26
Compare and contrast hyperkalemia and hypokalemia symptoms.
Hypokalemia symptoms include confusion, EKG changes, cardiac dysrhythmias, muscle cramps, shallow respirations, polyuria, and polydipsia. Whereas, hyperkalemia symptoms include EKG changes, cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, muscle cramps, stomach cramps, and diarhea.
Compare and contrast hyponatremia vs. hypernatremia symptoms.
Hyponatremia symptoms include stupor, coma, confusion, headache, edema, apprehension, and feeling of impending doom. In contrast, hypernatremia symptoms include seizures, coma, fever, tachycardia, hypotension, dry mucous membranes, polydipsia, and headache.
Compare and contrast hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia symptoms.
Hypocalcemia symptoms include bone pain, osteomalacia, positive Chvostek sign, positive Trousseau sign, numbness and tingling, muscle cramps, hyperactive reflexes, and tetany. In contrast, hypercalcemia produces symptoms of renal calculi, renal insufficiency, osteoporosis, stupor, coma, loss of muscle tone, shortened QT, and AV blocks.
The nurse understands that hypocalcemia can have serious adverse effects. When caring for a client with suspected hypocalcemia the nurse understands that these two non-invasive tests can assist in identifying a client with hypocalcemia?
Positive Chvostek and Trousseau signs are indicative of hypocalcemia.
The nurse understands that signs of fluid volume excess in patients include:
- Rapid weight gain
- Edema in the arms, legs, and face
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Cramping, headache, and stomach bloating
- Shortness of breath
- Hypertension
- CHF
The nurse understands that signs of fluid volume deficit include:
- Altered mental status
- Weakness
- Thirst
- Weight loss (depending on the severity of fluid volume deficit)
- Concentrated urine
- Decreased urine output
- Dry mucous membranes
- Sunken appearance of the eyes
- Sunken fontanels in infants
- Weak pulse
- Tachycardia
A pediatric client age 7 years old presents to the ED with a suspected fracture. The nursing assessing the client in triage understands that the most likely fracture type that this client is experiencing is a:
A greenstick fracture which is due to the fact that a child’s bones at this age have some degree of flex due to the cartilage ossification process that is occurring and the bone salts that have not fully impregnanted the tissue yet. Therefore the bone will bend and crack rather than fully breaking. Think of a green tree branch.
The nurse understands that the fracture identified in this image is called a
Comminuted fracture
The nurse understands that the fracture identified in this image is known as a
Transverse fracture
The nurse understands that the fracture identified in the image below is described as a
Spiral fracture
The nurse understands that the facture identified in the image below is described as a
Segmental fracture
Atrophy is a
decrease in cell size
Hypertrophy is a
increase in cell size
Hyperplasia is a
increase in the number of cells
Metaplasia is a
replacement of adult cells
Dysplasia is a
deranged cell growth of a specific tissue
How does blood flow through the heart?
Blood flows through the heart in the following pathway:
- Superior/ inferior vena cava
- right atrium
- Tricuspid valve
- right ventricle
- pulmonary semilunar valve
- pulmonary artery
- lungs for oxygenation
- pulmonary vein
- left atrium
- mitral valve (aka bicuspid valve)
- left ventricle
- aortic valve
- aorta
- systemic circulation
The nurse understands that when a client reports hypotension as a side effect from his recent increase in blood pressure medication dosage this would mean the blood pressure is:
Hypotension means the blood pressure is low. This can result in fainting, fatigue, and falls. BP readings are typically less than 90/60 to be classified as hypotension.
A client in the hospital who has been on bed rest for the last 4 days rises from a lying position to standing. Upon standing the client experiences a syncopal episode (passes out) and falls to the floor. The nurse understands that what has most likely happened to this client?
The client has orthostatic hypotension. To assist in confirmation of this the client should have their blood pressure checked in the lying, sitting, and standing positions. The client should be advised to not get out of the bed or chair without assistance.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension is a sustained elevation in blood pressure that will result in end organ damage and vessel changes. Normal systolic blood pressure (top number) should be less than 120 and normal diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) should be less than 80.
What is a cardiac tamponade?
A rapid filling of the pericardial sac which compresses the heart
What symptoms would the nurse anticipate in a client with a suspected cardiac tamponade?
Anxiety, chest pain, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, JVD, low SBP (systolic blood pressure), and muffled heart sounds.
What treatment is preformed for a cardiac tamponade and what would occur if treatment is delayed or not completed?
Pericardiocentesis is performed for treatment and if not completed the patient will progress to circulatory shock and impending death