Abnormal Breathing Patterns & Oxygenation
A resting respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute in an adult client.
What is tachypnea?
When administering opioids, this clinical finding usually occurs before severe respiratory depression develops.
What is excessive sedation / drowsiness?
The minimum required repositioning frequency for an immobile client to prevent tissue ischemia and pressure injuries.
What is at least every 2 hours?
The continuous 4-step nursing sequence required for safe clinical practice and legal documentation.
What is Assessment → Intervention → Reassessment → Documentation?
Metric conversion values: 1 gram equals this many milligrams, and 1 milligram equals this many micrograms.
What are 1,000 milligrams and 1,000 micrograms?
An abnormal respiratory pattern characterized by repeating cycles of shallow-to-deep breathing followed by periods of apnea, often seen in heart failure or stroke.
What are Cheyne-Stokes respirations?
Systemic adverse effects of opioid analgesics that nurses must monitor besides sedation and bradypnea.
What are constipation, nausea, itching, and orthostatic hypotension?
A nonpharmacologic cutaneous stimulation therapy that uses mild electrical currents to relieve localized pain.
What is TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)?
The fundamental rule for writing narrative documentation in a client's medical record.
What is recording objective, factual data without opinions, assumptions, or vague fluff?
The mathematical calculation used to convert a client's weight from pounds (lbs) to kilograms (kg).
What is dividing the weight in pounds by 2.2?
Deep, rapid respirations commonly associated with severe metabolic acidosis or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
What are Kussmaul respirations?
Noninvasive monitoring that tracks exhaled carbon dioxide (EtCO2) to detect early opioid-induced ventilatory impairment.
What is capnography?
Cognitive strategies that help reduce pain perception by shifting the client's focus away from painful stimuli.
What are distraction, relaxation, music, or guided imagery?
The letters in the ISBARR handoff communication tool stand for these components.
What are Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, and Read-Back?
Using the formula (Desired ÷ Have) × Volume, calculate the volume in mL to administer if the doctor prescribes 500 mg and the liquid medication is supplied as 250 mg / 5 mL.
What is 10 mL? [(500 ÷ 250) × 5 = 10 mL]
Visible sucking in of skin around the ribs and sternum during inhalation, indicating severe work of breathing.
What are retractions (or accessory muscle use)?
The initial approach a nurse should take when administering a medication prescribed with a range order (e.g., Morphine 2–4 mg IV).
What is starting conservatively with the lower dose and evaluating client response?
Environmental nursing interventions that promote restful sleep for hospitalized clients.
What are dimming lights, reducing noise, consolidating nighttime care, and offering a warm blanket?
The mandatory step a nurse must complete immediately after receiving a telephone or verbal prescription from a healthcare provider.
What is reading back the complete order to the provider for confirmation?
The proper technique for measuring liquid oral medications in a graduated cup or syringe.
What is measuring at eye level at the bottom of the meniscus (using an oral syringe for small doses)?
Factors that can cause false or inaccurate pulse oximetry (SpO2) readings on a client's finger.
What are hypothermia/cold hands, poor peripheral perfusion, dark nail polish, or movement?
The recommended timeframe for reassessing a client's pain level after administering an oral pain medication vs. an IV pain medication.
Answer: What is 45–60 minutes for oral (PO) and 15–30 minutes for intravenous (IV)?
The healthcare approach focused on optimizing quality of life and relieving suffering for clients with serious illnesses.
What is palliative care?
Actions that violate HIPAA compliance when accessing electronic health records.
What are looking at charts of clients not assigned to you, sharing passwords, or discussing client info in public areas?
If a medication is prescribed at 10 mg/kg for a child who weighs 44 lbs, calculate the total dose required in milligrams.
What is 200 mg? [44 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg; 20 kg × 10 mg/kg = 200 mg]