Heart
What tool do nurses use to listen to the heart?
Stethoscope
What are nurses listening for when they listen to lungs?
Air movement or abnormal sounds
Why do nurses listen to the abdomen?
They are listening for bowel sounds - it means yours intestines are functioning properly.
Where can you feel a pulse on the wrist?
Radial pulse
What should a nurse do before touching a patient?
Introduce themselves and explain what they are doing.
What does the heart pump?
Blood
What is another word for breathing?
Respirations
What symptom means feeling sick to your stomach?
Nausea
What does a pulse help measure?
Heart rate
Why should nurses ask patients questions?
To understand symptoms and needs.
What is the name for the number of times the heart beats in one minute?
Heart rate
What is a normal respiration rate per minute?
12-18 breaths per minute
What causes bowel sounds?
Movement of air and fluid through the intestines.
What pulse is commonly checked on the top of the foot?
Dorsalis pedis, commonly known as the pedal pulse
What is one way a nurse can show they are listening to a patient?
Actively listen, make eye contact, do not appear rushed for time, nod, ask questions, and repeat back patient statements.
What is the range for the average beats per minute?
60-100 bpm
How many lobes are in your lungs?
2 in the left, 3 in the right
What should a nurse ask if a patient says their stomach hurts?
Where the pain is, how bad it is, when it started, and what it feels like.
Compressing these two pulse sites at the same time should never be done, as it can cause someone to lose blood supply to their brain.
Carotid pulses (one on each side of the neck)
What are some ways that nurses communicate with other members of the healthcare team?
Going into the patient rooms together, talking in person at the nurses' station or other private areas, phone calls, or texting over secure chat.
What might a nurse check if a patient says, “My chest feels tight”?
Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, pain level, and symptoms.
What sound might a nurse hear if a patient is having trouble moving air through the lungs?
Wheezing - commonly heard in an asthma exacerbation.
What other organs may be hurting when a patient says, "my stomach hurts"?
They are usually referring to "abdominal pain" and not necessarily stomach pain. Organs may include: appendix, pancreas, liver, spleen, small intestine, large intestine, gallbladder, kidneys, or bladder. A pain assessment should include location.
What are some reasons that a patient might have a weak pulse?
Swelling (edema), low blood pressure, dehydration, shock, cold extremities, poor circulation, or improper technique of checking pulse (pulses should be checked using pointer and middle finger gently pressed onto site - pressing too hard compresses vessel, missing the vessel, or using thumb because it has its own pulse).
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy?
Empathy means you try to understand what someone is feeling and respond with support. Sympathy means you feel sorry for someone or acknowledge that they are going through something hard. In patient care, empathy is usually more therapeutic because it helps the patient feel heard, respected, and supported without making the conversation about the nurse’s feelings.