Acid/Base
A patient with a pH of 7.25, a PaCO2 of 55 mmHg, and a HCO3 of 25 is experiencing this specific acid-base imbalance.
What is Respiratory Acidosis?
This is the "3 P's"—the classic triad of symptoms used to recognize a new onset of hyperglycemia.
What are Polyuria, Polydipsia, and Polyphagia?
This calculation, using height and weight, is the primary screening tool used to classify a patient as overweight or obese.
This condition is characterized by weight gain, bradycardia, cold intolerance, and constipation.
What is Hypothyroidism?
This phase of the nurse-patient relationship is where the nurse and patient meet, set the "contract" for the relationship, and establish trust.
What is the Orientation Phase?
A patient presenting with shallow respirations, a history of COPD, and an ABG showing a pH of 7.32 and a PaCO2 of 48 mmHg is exhibiting cues for this imbalance.
What is Respiratory Acidosis?
This type of insulin, such as Lispro (Humalog) or Aspart (Novolog), should be administered only when the patient's meal is sitting right in front of them.
What is Rapid-Acting insulin?
This post-operative complication of bariatric surgery occurs when food moves too quickly into the small intestine, causing tachycardia, dizziness, and diarrhea.
What is Dumping Syndrome?
This life-threatening emergency is an extreme state of hyperthyroidism characterized by high fever, severe tachycardia, and delirium.
What is Thyroid Storm?
This therapeutic technique involves repeating the main idea of what the patient said back to them to let them know they were heard.
What is Restating (or Reflecting)?
Excessive vomiting or prolonged gastric suctioning leads to this imbalance because the body is losing too much hydrochloric acid.
What is Metabolic Alkalosis?
This laboratory test provides an average of a patient's blood glucose levels over the previous 2 to 3 months.
What is Hemoglobin A1C?
This classification of fat, stored deep within the abdominal cavity around the organs, carries a higher risk for cardiovascular disease than subcutaneous fat.
What is Visceral Fat?
This is the priority nursing assessment following a thyroidectomy to ensure the patient does not have an obstructed airway.
What is monitoring for stridor (or respiratory distress)?
Asking "Why did you do that?" or giving "Automatic Responses" are examples of this type of communication that should be avoided.
What is Non-therapeutic Communication (or Blocking)?
This clinical phenomenon occurs when the pH is within the normal range (7.35-7.45), but both the PaCO2 and HCO3 are abnormal and moving in opposite directions.
What is Full Compensation?
To treat "The Somogyi Effect," a nurse would expect to take this action regarding the patient’s nighttime insulin or snack.
What is decrease the evening insulin dose or provide a larger bedtime snack?
This cluster of conditions—including increased waist circumference, high triglycerides, low HDL, and hypertension—greatly increases a patient's risk for diabetes and heart disease.
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Which electrolyte does the parathyroid glands regulate?
What is Calcium?
During the Working Phase of the relationship, the nurse uses this therapeutic technique to help the patient identify and explore the consistency or lack thereof in their feelings or behaviors.
What is Confrontation?
When analyzing an ABG, if the pH is 7.48 (alkalotic), the PaCO2 is 40 (normal), and the HCO3 is 32 (high), this is the correct clinical interpretation.
What is Uncompensated Metabolic Alkalosis?
This phenomenon, often confused with the Somogyi effect, is a natural morning rise in blood sugar caused by the release of growth hormones, requiring an increase in evening insulin.
What is the Dawn Phenomenon?
Nurses should encourage patients post-bariatric surgery to follow this specific eating pattern to prevent complications and ensure nutrition.
What is six small, high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals per day?
This medication is the "Gold Standard" for treating hypothyroidism and must be taken on an empty stomach in the morning for life.
What is Levothyroxine (Synthroid)?
This specific written tool is used by nursing students to reflect on and analyze a segment of a nurse-patient session to identify communication patterns.
What is a Process Recording?