Fundamentals
This is the normal range for an adult patient’s respiratory rate at rest.
What is 12–20 breaths per minute?
Metoprolol belongs to this medication class, commonly used to treat hypertension and heart disease.
What are beta-blockers?
This organ system is primarily damaged in chronic kidney disease and is responsible for filtration and fluid balance.
What are the kidneys?
Between a patient reporting severe pain and one with oxygen saturation at 88%, this patient should be assessed first.
Who is the patient with impaired oxygenation?
Failing to finish antibiotics can lead to this major public health concern.
What is antibiotic resistance?
This position is used to quickly improve lung expansion and ease breathing in a patient experiencing shortness of breath.
What is High Fowler’s position?
This medication rapidly reverses respiratory depression caused by opioid overdose.
What is naloxone (Narcan)?
Polydipsia, polyuria, fatigue, and elevated fasting glucose are classic signs of this condition.
What is diabetes mellitus?
A heart rate of 42 bpm is more urgent than mild hypertension because of this risk.
What is decreased cardiac output?
Daily weights are taught to patients on diuretics to monitor for this complication.
What are fluid shifts or fluid retention?
This vital sign is most important to reassess after administering an antihypertensive medication to evaluate effectiveness and safety.
What is blood pressure?
This electrolyte must be closely monitored because abnormal levels increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.
What is potassium?
Imbalances in this electrolyte pose the highest risk for life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias.
What is potassium?
Among four patients, a COPD patient with increasing wheezing requires immediate assessment because of this priority principle.
What is airway and breathing?
This dietary modification is most important for patients managing hypertension.
What is a low-sodium diet?
According to the ABCs, this assessment takes priority when admitting a patient who appears weak and is struggling to breathe.
What is airway patency?
Heparin, warfarin, and apixaban all fall into this medication category that increases bleeding risk.
What are anticoagulants?
Crackles, dyspnea, and pulmonary edema in left-sided heart failure occur because of this underlying problem.
What is fluid backing up into the lungs?
Obtaining routine vital signs on a stable patient is appropriate to assign to this team member.
Who is the UAP?
Rotating insulin injection sites prevents this complication.
What is lipodystrophy?
This nursing action best reflects patient-centered care by respecting patient preferences, values, and goals during planning.
What is involving the patient in creating their plan of care?
With an INR of 5.2 and active nosebleeds, this is the nurse’s most appropriate immediate action for a patient taking warfarin.
What is holding the medication and notifying the provider?
Patients with advanced liver disease are prone to bleeding because this function is impaired.
What is clotting factor production?
Following IV morphine administration, this assessment is the nurse’s highest priority.
What is respiratory rate?
Asking a patient to explain instructions in their own words evaluates learning using this method.
What is teach-back?