Nursing 2700 Fundamentals: Exam Two Flashcards
What are some aspects of nursing that require critical thinking skills?
Complex situations
Unique clients
Need for holistic care
Medication administration
Definition: reasoned thinking, openness to alternatives, ability to reflect, and desire to seek truth
Critical thinking
Critical thinking skills are a _____ process
Cognitive
Critical thinking attitudes are a ____ trait
Feelings
What are some critical thinking attitudes?
Independent thinking Intellectual curiosity Humility Empathy Courage Perseverance Fair-mindedness
What are the phases of the nursing process?
Assessment Diagnosis Planning outcomes Planning interventions Implementation Evaluation
What is a comprehensive assessment?
Holistic information about the overall health status
What is a focused assessment?
Obtaining data about a suspected or identified problem or potential problem
What is meant by subjective data?
Anything the patient says
Anything you gather from family or community statements
Emotion based statements
What is meant by objective data? Give examples
Gathered through assessment or tests, things that can be measured or observed
Examples: vital signs, blood work, x-rays
What is primary data?
Subjective or objective data that you got directly from the patient
What is secondary data?
Data from a non patient source, like family members or the medical chart/record
What is a nursing diagnosis?
A statement of health that the nurse can identify, prevent, or treat independently
A nursing diagnosis is stated in terms of…
Human response to disease, injury, or stressors
What is included in a nursing diagnosis?
Problem, etiology, and intervention
What is a medical diagnosis?
Assignment of disease, illness, or injury
What is a collaborative problem?
Physiological complications (recognized by doctors) that nurses monitor to detect onset or change in status
What are the five types of nursing diagnosis?
Actual Risk/potential Possible Syndrome Wellness
Define etiology
Factors causing or contributing to problem
What are some different types of etiologies?
Pathophysiological, treatment related, situational, social, spiritual, maturational, environmental
What are the four parts of a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis?
Diagnostic label
Definition/defining characteristics (S&S)
Related to/risk factors (etiology)
Associated conditions
How does the PES format for writing nursing diagnoses work?
Problem
Etiology
Signs/Symptoms
What is a patient goal as pertains to the nursing diagnosis?
A broad statement based on the nursing diagnosis that is realistic for the patient
What are some defining characteristics of patient outcome statements?
Has steps Short term/within defined time frame Measurable Realistic Patient centered (“patient will...”)
How is a nursing intervention defined?
Evidence based actions rooted in clinical knowledge and nursing judgement to achieve client outcomes
What is an independent nursing action?
Something the RN can prescribe/perform/delegate based on knowledge and skills without a doctors order
What is a dependent nursing intervention?
Action prescribed by physician/APN but carried out by the nurse
What is a collaborative intervention?
Intervention carried out with multiple health care team members
What are some characteristics of written nursing interventions?
Nurse focused (“Nurse will...”) Realistic Relates to diagnosis and desired outcome Action statement Says how and when Rationale
What is included in evaluating a nursing care plan?
Reassessment of patient Comparison to previous data Progress made? Documentation Decision about continuing care plan
What developmental factors should be considered when looking at the environmental safety of a preschool child?
Lack of balance = falls
Unable to swim = drowning
Lack of coordination = injury
Like to put things in mouth = choking hazard
What is the number one overall cause of death in the US?
Poisoning
What is the main cause of injury in the adolescent period?
Motor vehicle accidents
What things make older adults more injury prone?
Reduced strength and flexibility
Sensory losses
Slower reflexes
What are some potential poisons that could be ingested by children?
Chemicals
Medicines
Vitamins
Cosmetics
KEEP MEDICATIONS AND FIREARMS LOCKED UP
…
What are some sources of carbon monoxide?
Gas ranges and ovens
Running cars in closed spaces
What are major contributing factors to injuries in motor vehicle accidents?
Failure to use seatbelts Failure to use correct car seats Speed Alcohol Distraction Having children in the front seat (airbags)
What are some steps to avoid food poisoning?
Make sure meat is fully cooked
Cool cooked food properly
Throw away leftovers after 3-5 days
Watch older/homeless patients for food hoarding
What are typical causes of fire in a healthcare setting?
Anesthesia
Improperly grounded or malfunctioning medical equipment
What measures should be taken, in what order, if a fire occurs?
Move patient to safety
Sound alarm
Try to confine fire
What is the RACE acronym in case of a fire?
Rescue
Alarm
Confine
Extinguish and/or evacuate
What are some things healthcare workers can do to reduce exposure to radiation?
Follow correct standards for time, distance, and shielding when it comes to radiation exposure
How can one reduce equipment related injuries in the healthcare facility?
Make sure you know how to use it
Inspect before using
Pay attention to signage
Follow policy
What assessment tool looks at ability to live alone and perform ADLs safely?
Safety assessment scale
What are the risk factors identified by the Morse Fall Scale?
History of falls Multiple medical diagnoses Ambulatory aids IV line or saline lock Change in gait Mental status
What are some assessment tools to see if an older adult needs a comprehensive falls evaluation?
Safety assessment scale
Get up and go test
What are some risk factors for burns in children?
Pot handles turned towards front of stove
Improperly heated bottles
Cooking while holding children
Improper bath temperatures
What are some ways to reduce possibilities of fire in the home?
Smoke detector
Inspect electrical cords for damage
No open flame near oxygen
The best thing to do when working in an environment with toxins is…
Shower and change before leaving work or remove work clothes before entering the house
What are the guidelines for using restraints?
Must be removed every 2 hours
Nurse must assess patient every two hours when restraints removed
Patient should be given fluid and allowed to use bathroom every 2 hours
Range of motion every 2 hours
Get patient comfortable before putting restraints back on
What specifically must the nurse assess when restraints are removed?
Presence of edema Capillary refill Sensation Function Skin integrity Erythema Pain Readiness to come out of restraints
DOCUMENT ON PATIENTS WITH RESTRAINTS AT LEAST EVERY TWO HOURS
DO NOT FORGET THIS
Are mittens considered restraints?
Yes
What are medical restraints and in what situations would they be used?
Soft limb restraints for clients pulling at IV tubes and lines
How often must medical restraints be removed and documented?
Every two hours
If a patient is incredibly strong but only needs medical restraints, what can be done?
Violent restraints can be used
Is an isolation room a proper substitute for a patient who needs restraints?
Yes, if they are non violent, but the camera looking at the room must be continually monitored
When are pelvic restraints used?
When the client is at risk for falls due to poor safety judgement
How often must pelvic restraints be documented, assessed, and removed?
Every two hours
When are violent restraints used?
When patients are combative and might cause harm to self or others and all other options have already been tried
What are guidelines for assessing and documenting with violent restraints?
They must be documented and assessed every fifteen minutes, and someone must be with the patient continually for the first hour after putting restraints on
What are guidelines for removing violent restraints?
Always approach the patient with at least two healthcare workers
Take them off one at a time
LPN or CNA can remove the restraints if the RN is present
Healthcare workers must be certified to handle these patients
What is the role of the joint commission?
Set standards to promote patient safety and help identify risks
What is the role of the Institute of Medicine as pertains to safety?
Assess healthcare related deaths/incidents
What are some examples of “never events”?
Artificial insemination with wrong donor sperm or egg
Death or disability due to error (medication, blood transfusion, falls, contaminated equipment, etc)
Death or injury to staff d/t assault
Sexual assault
What percentage of nurses report chronic back pain?
52%
What are some other common safety issues/injuries faced by nurses?
Needlestick injury
Radiation injury
Ebola/highly contagious diseases
How is Ebola transmitted?
Direct contact with body fluids
Exposure to objects contaminated with body fluids
What is to be done with suspected/confirmed hemorrhagic fever cases?
ISOLATE
And keep suspected and confirmed separate
The fifth leading cause of death in the US is…
Unintentional injuries
What are the top causes of unintentional death?
Motor vehicle accidents
Poisoning
Falls
When do most fatal home fires occur?
When people are asleep
What percentage of falls occur in the home?
More than half
What percentage of falls involve people older than 65?
About 80%
How often must medical prescriptions for restraints be renewed?
Every 24 hours
What might early identification of patient anxiety do?
Prevent the patient from becoming aggressive
How does the Heimlich differ from the American Red Cross choking rescue?
Red Cross includes back blows, heimlich does not
Decreased sensation puts elderly patients at risk for…
Burns and sunburns
If a patient verbalizes a suicide plan, the nurse should…
Not leave the room until someone else comes to assess and help
Pay attention to everything in the surroundings and how the patient could use it
A handoff report is also called…
Change of shift report
What is the purpose of a handoff report?
To promote continuity of care
When it comes to interdisciplinary communication, what has been proven to improve patient outcomes?
Nurses having input on patient care
What was found to be the root cause in 65 to 70 percent of patient care errors?
Communication issues
What information is given during the handoff report?
Patient name, doctor, and condition(s) Changes in status or condition Upcoming activities/procedures Current medications and last doses Concerns and things that need follow up
What is the drawback of a face to face oral report?
Patient is not directly observed
What is the disadvantage of an audio-recorded report?
Time consuming
No ability to ask questions of the nurse
Things may have changed since it was recorded
What are the benefits of a bedside report?
Nurse can meet patient and start assessment
Patient is included in the process and can ask questions
With each handoff, there is a risk for…
Error
What does PACE stand for and what is it used for?
It is a standardized format for reporting Stands for.. Patient/Problem Assessment/Actions Continuing/Changes Evaluation
Why is SBAR so useful?
It’s a standardized way to communicate what’s most important, especially in critical/emergency situations
When is a transfer report given?
When a patient is transferred from one unit to another or one facility to another
Who is especially vulnerable to risks/errors when transferring facilities?
Older adults
What does MBAR stand for and when is it used?
Used during transfer reports Stands for... Medication Background Assessment Recommendation
What does SBAR-R stand for and when is it used?
It’s SBAR with a read-back component and its used when taking verbal or telephone orders from a physician
In what situations would a telephone order be acceptable?
Sudden change in patient condition
Emergency
Primary doctor not at hospital
Doctor doesn’t have access to internet to put in order
What should the nurse include when recording a verbal order?
Date, time, written text or electronic entry of the order. Indicate “VO” with the physicians name and your name
What are the legal and ethical responsibilities of the nurse as pertains to physicians orders?
If you believe it is inappropriate or unsafe, you are legally/ethically required to question it.
you are allowed to refuse orders if uncomfortable — just report up the chain of command
What are some key elements to teamwork?
Clearly defined roles Respect for one another Good communication Decision-making procedures are clear Non-punitive environment
Nurses feeling free to speak and voice concerns has been proven to lead to…
Better patient outcomes
What are some barriers to effective interdisciplinary communication?
Personalities Differing values Hierarchy Cultural differences Generational differences Gender differences
What are the benefits of nurses participating in patient rounding?
Nurse can provide input
Improves nurse/doctor relationships and professional satisfaction
What is CUBAN used for?
Used as a guideline for how report should be given
What does CUBAN stand for?
Confidential Uninterrupted Brief Accurate Named nurse
How should the nurse always end an oral report?
Ask if receiving nurse has any questions
What are some guidelines for receiving telephone orders?
Have another nurse listen to verify accuracy
Only do it if you heard it firsthand
Spell back medications and say numbers as individual digits
Repeat back the order
What does “TO” stand for?
Telephone order
What does “VO” stand for?
Verbal order
How quickly must a telephone or verbal order be signed by practitioner?
Within 24 hours
What is the difference between a handoff report and a transfer report?
Transfer report is more detailed
What should be included in a transfer report?
Patient name, demographics, diagnoses, reason for transfer
Family contacts
Summary of care
Current status (medications, treatments, tubes, times for meds)
Wounds/open areas
Special directives
Code status, intensity of care, isolation
Your contact information
What are morals?
Beliefs or convictions of an individual or a group that are learned and developed across the lifespan
What are ethics?
A formal process for deciding right and wrong conduct in situations where issues of values/morals arise. Process for making consistent moral decisions
What does nursing ethics refer to?
Ethical questions that arise out of nursing practice
What is ethical agency?
Ability to make ethical choices and be responsible for one’s ethical actions. Being able to follow through on ethical decisions
What is moral distress?
The inability to carry out moral decisions. Difficulty choosing between options because of morals
Identifying incompetent, unethical, or illegal factors in a work situation and bringing it to the attention of someone who may have the power to stop it is called…
Whistleblowing
What are four factors that contribute to the frequency of nurses ethical problems?
Technological advances
Multicultural population
Cost containment in healthcare
Increasing consumer awareness
What are some factors that affect someone’s ethical decision making?
Developmental stage
Values
Ethical framework/principles
Professional guidelines
Mental dispositions towards a person, object, or idea are…
Attitudes
Something that one accepts as true is a…
Belief
A belief about the worth of something is a…
Value
How are values transmitted?
Social interaction
What is meant by value neutrality?
We know our own values regarding issues and know when to put them aside to become non-judgmental
What are six important ethical principles?
Autonomy Nonmaleficence Beneficence Fidelity Veracity Justice
Autonomy
A person’s right to choose and act on that choice
Non-maleficence
Doing no harm
Beneficence
Doing good
Fidelity
Duty to keep promises
Veracity
Duty to tell truth
Justice
Obligation or duty to be fair
What do consequentialist theories state?
The rightness or wrongness of an action depends on the consequences of that action
What does the principle of utility state about “good”?
Good acts produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people
What is believed under deontological theory?
An action is objectively right or wrong, regardless of the outcome
What is focused on by feminist ethics?
Individual stories
Social issues
Virtues like love and caring
What is the focus of an ethics-of-care?
Patients specific needs in a specific situation
Feelings emphasized, but not at the expense of ethical principles
What are some trustworthy standards for nursing ethical guidance?
Professional codes of ethics
Standards of practice
Patient care partnership
Which ethical principle underlies informed consent?
Autonomy
What is values clarification?
Becoming conscious of and naming ones values
What is an ethical dilemma?
A moral problem in which a decision must be made between two equally undesirable outcomes with no clear right or wrong choices
What is the MORAL acronym used for?
Working through an ethical dilemma
What does MORAL stand for?
Massage the dilemma Outline the options Resolve the dilemma Act on chosen option Look back and evaluate
What will a good compromise do in an ethical situation?
Preserve the integrity of all parties
What are four reasons of why nurses should be patient advocates?
- The role requires it
- They have special knowledge that the patient doesnt have
- They have a special relationship with patients
- They have an obligation to defend patients autonomous decisions
How is bioethics defined?
The application of ethics to healthcare
Altruism
Concern for the well-being of others
Human dignity
The worth, uniqueness, and value of people
Integrity
Acting within a code of ethics
Social justice
Upholding moral, legal, and humanistic principles for the greater interest of groups and populations
What are the ethical principles involved in a given ethical situation?
Autonomy Non-maleficence Beneficence Fidelity Veracity Justice
What are the nurses obligations in an ethical decision?
Be sensitive to the issue Take responsibility for moral actions Work as a team member Support patient Support decisions ADVOCATE
What is moral outrage?
Belief that others are acting immorally and feeling powerless to do anything about it
Before whistleblowing, one should…
Have the facts
Go up the chain of command
Think about possible consequences
A binding practice, rule, or code of conduct that guides a community or society and is enforced by authority is…
Law
Where does the right of privacy come from?
The Bill of Rights
What is a durable power of attorney?
A person who will make decisions for a patient if the patient becomes unable to do so
What are some state laws that affect nursing practice?
Mandatory reporting laws
Good Samaritan laws
Safe harbor laws
Nurse practice acts
What is outlined by the ANA code of ethics?
Standards of professional responsibility for nurses
What ethical and acceptable behavior looks like
What is outlined in the ANA Bill of Rights?
Rights nurses should expect from their workplace and work environment in order to practice as a professional
What is a primary thing that encourages competence and adherence to standards of practice in healthcare providers?
Medical malpractice system
What do standards of practice say?
What a reasonable and prudent nurse would do in the same or similar situations
What is established by state boards of nursing to govern nursing practice?
Nurse practice acts
What are nurses mandated to report?
Suspected or actual abuse
Impaired health professionals
Communicable diseases
What are state boards of nursing allowed to do?
Approve pre-licensure nursing education programs
Set licensure criteria
Define nursing practice
Establish grounds for disciplinary actions
What does HIPAA do for patients?
Ensure privacy and confidentiality of medical records
Protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions
Establish privacy standards
Which act established the guidelines for living wills and durable power of attorney?
Patient Self-Determination Act
What else does the Patient Self-Determination Act allow patients to do?
Make their own medical decisions after being fully informed about benefits and risks
When acting under Good Samaritan laws, what should a nurse do?
Don’t leave the patient
Call 911
Give patient to EMS as soon as they arrive
Can a nurse be punished for violating ANA Standards of Care?
Yes
What is an intentional tort?
Action with intent to harm
What is an unintentional tort?
Action that causes harm but was not meant to do so
What are some common malpractice claims?
Failure to assess and diagnose
Failure to implement plan of care
Failure to evaluate
What are some strategies to minimize liability in nursing practice?
CHART EVERYTHING Report errors quickly Assess/diagnose properly Delegate properly Evaluate Check meds
What is fraud?
False representation of facts
Laws made by judges or courts
Common law
Laws dealing with wrongs or offenses against society
Criminal law
Felony
Crime punishable by more than one year in jail
Law involving disputes between two entities
Civil law
What is assault?
Patient placed in fear of immediate harm (words of intent included)
What is battery?
Harmful physical contact or unauthorized touching
Is doing a procedure without consent assault or battery?
It is both
Restraining someone without legal authority is…
False imprisonment
What is spoken or verbal defamation of character?
Slander
What is written defamation of character?
Libel
What is defamation?
False communication about someone to a third person
What kind of torts are slander and libel?
Quasi-intentional torts
What is negligence?
Failure to provide orderly and reasonable care
What is malpractice?
Negligence in a professional setting
Can a nurse back out of a staffing assignment once she has received report?
No
If the situation is unreasonable or unsafe, she cannot accept it and then back out/leave
What elements are necessary to collect damages?
Existence of duty
Breach of duty
Causation
Damages
What are the three basic functions of the neurological system?
Sensory
Integration
Motor
What are the reflexes that are present at birth but disappear during infancy?
Rooting Sucking Palmar grasp Tonic neck reflex Moro Stepping reflex
What would it indicate if the reflexes present at birth Either doesnt disappear or does reappear in a later developmental stage?
Stroke
Trauma
Severe neurological problems
What is the normal neurological screening test used on young children?
The Denver Developmental Screening Tool (Denver II)
What does the Denver II examine?
Motor, language, and coordination skills in young children
What ages is the Denver II designed for?
Ages 0-6
What does the Denver II consist of and how does it generally work?
125 tasks in four developmental areas
Children are only tested on tasks pertinent to their age and previous ages
What are commonly observed neurological changes in older adults?
Slower reaction time
Slower problem solving
Slower voluntary movement
What changes are not associated with normal aging?
Decreased intelligence, memory, and discrimination
What are the usual causes of neurological deficits in older adults?
Medication Poor nutrition Cardiovascular changes Diabetes Degenerative neurological conditions
What is the first sign of neurological deterioration?
Decreased LOC
What are the two assessment tools associated with level of consciousness?
Glasgow Coma Scale
Full Outline of UnResponsiveness
What three things are monitored with the GCS?
Eye, motor, and verbal responses
The GCS helps to monitor…
Neurological decline
What are the drawbacks of the GCS?
Cannot be used on patients with an endotrachial tube because it requires verbal response
What GCS score is considered good?
15 and above
What GCS scores indicate a serious problem/need for intervention?
8 or below
How does the FOUR differ from the GCS?
It is more comprehensive and looks at eye response, motor response, brainstem reflexes, and respiration’s
What is the main advantage of the FOUR over the GCS?
Can be used on patients with an endotrach tube because it does not rely on verbal responses
A decreasing FOUR score indicates…
Worsening neuro function
What are the aspects of assessing orientation?
Person, place, and time
What items are assessed when looking at mental status and cognitive function?
Behavior Appearance Response to stimuli Speech Memory Communication Judgment
When assessing cognitive function, the nurse wants to know…
The patient’s baseline
What are deep tendon reflexes?
Automatic responses that don’t require brain input
What is the grading scale for deep tendon reflexes?
0-4+
What further assessment should nurse do if patient has altered sensation in an area?
Systematically assess the area to determine the border of the changed area
What does the cerebellum do?
Coordinate muscle movement
Regulate muscle tone
Maintain posture and equilibrium
Proprioception
How would a disorder of motor and cerebellar function manifest?
Pain and problems with movement, gait, and posture
When is a Romberg test most often used practically?
By police to look for intoxication
In the medical field, what does a Romberg test look for?
Cerebellar or vestibular disorder
How is a Romberg test done?
Patient stands with feet together and eyes closed and provider checks for excessive swaying
What characterizes a positive Romberg?
Swaying and moving