PCT & Me
This vital sign is referred to by this word, because "number of heartbeats within one minute" is a little too long.
What is Pulse?
Pt presents with congestion, mild cough, and sneezing. All vital signs are normal. Pt states she feels "bad, but not awful."
What is the Common Cold?
A patient requests a drink of water. You check his chart and see that it says "NPO." What should you do?
What is "Don't give him the water." NPO = Nothing to drink or eat
This institutional tradition started as a way to get you all invigorated for a lesson mid-week. It has since become a legitimate budgetary item for me.
What is Trivia?
I spent Sunday with my Grandpa watching this golf tournament. My dad's yard looks pathetic, now.
What is The Masters?
Big Tom is barely mobile, but can stand (kind of). We need to get Big Tom from his bed to a wheelchair. What are we going to use?
What is a Gait Belt?
Pt presents with nausea, a BP of 94/62, and a pulse of 110. His lips are dry and cracked, and he states he has been working on his tractor all day.
What is Dehydration?
As you are leading a patient back to her room, she states that she is feeling a chill. You notice her hands are diaphoretic (sweating) and her gait is abnormal. What should you do next?
What is sit her down on the bed/a chair and call for help?
This American psychologist would definitely be described as the "neediest."
Who is Abraham Maslow?
As a tiny human baby, I finally found a character I can identify with: Jack Jack from this Disney movie.
What is The Incredibles (and Incredibles 2, if you want to be picky about it...)
Your respiratory patient is having trouble breathing (as they do). What position should you put them in to help them out?
What is Fowler's or High Fowler's?
Pt presents for a routine visit, feeling "totally normal." When you take his BP, it shows 168/96.
What is Hypertension?
You check a patient's blood pressure and see it's notably lower than an hour ago. You also notice the patient seems paler than before as well. What should you do?
What is "Retake the BP and inform the nurse immediately if the results are repeated."
The common cold is caused by this pathogen type.
What is a Virus?
Not everyone is lucky to take my dad's full pathway - Name any senior classmate of yours from your Intro to Healthcare class who graduated before Essentials.
Who is (answers will vary)
When collecting urine specimens, this type of sample is least likely to have any contamination.
What is a Mid-Stream or Clean-Catch specimen?
Pt presents with a fever and productive cough. His SP02 is 89%, respirations are 24, and his breaths make a "crackling" sound when stethoscoped up.
What is Pneumonia?
During a bed bath, you note a red spot on a patient's heel that doesn't fade when pressure is applied. What could this be, and what should you do?
What is "A bed sore; reposition the patient and report to a nurse."
What is the National Institute of Health (NIH)?
While Melange, Fremen, and Bene Gesserit sound like terms you all learned last year, they are actually terms found in this fictional universe.
What is Dune?
The NHA exam will have examples of abnormal readings or findings and how you react to them. What secondary instruction will almost always accompany confirming the findings?
What is "Report it to the nurse immediately."
A post-op patient recovering in a hospital suddenly seems confused about where they are. You feel his forehead and it feels warm to the touch.
Vitals: Temp: 103.1, Pulse: 128bpm, BP: 88/56
What is Sepsis?
An endocrinologist sends you into a room to take input and output volumes, and he needs them STAT. As you prepare to take the patient's volumes volumes, he tells you he is having chest pains. What should you do?
What is Abandon the input/output volumes and call in a nurse/provider ASAP. STAT orders fall behind potential medical emergencies in priority.
What ALWAYS initiates stress?
What is Change?
My birthday was on April 25th, 2025. Exactly how many days old am I today?
What is 353 days?