Don't Skip a Beat
This medication is often prescribed in heart failure or hypertension (but also can be seen in cirrhosis). The nurse should monitor for signs of hyperkalemia while the patient is taking it.
What is spironolactone?
This term refers to difficulty with coordination and balance. It's often seen alongside other neurologic symptoms like aphasia (difficulty with language), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and dysarthria (slurred or unclear speech).
What is ataxia?
Conditions like perforated ulcers, ruptured appendicitis, and diverticulitis can all lead to this life-threatening complication, marked by a rigid abdomen, severe pain and signs of sepsis.
What is peritonitis?
This blood product is selected when a patient has thrombocytopenia and is actively bleeding.
What are platelets?
This medication is used to reverse opioid overdose, but after giving it, the nurse must monitor for the return of pain and recurrent respiratory depression.
What is naloxone (Narcan)?
Nursing interventions such as administering oxygen, reducing activity and giving nitrates or beta blockers can help improve this critical aspect of cardiac function, especially in patients with chest pain or ischemia.
What is coronary blood flow?
This neurologic emergency requires immediate intervention with administration of a benzodiazepines to prevent brain damage due to prolonged electrical hyperactivity.
What is status epilepticus (SE)?
In a patient with a suspected GI bleed, priority nursing interventions include starting large-bore IV access, monitoring vital signs, and preparing to administer this type of fluid or blood product.
What are isotonic IV fluids or packed red blood cells (pRBCs)?
This lab test is often elevated in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) due to widespread clot breakdown and is used to detect the presence of fibrin degradation products in the blood. It is often ordered when ruling out conditions like DVT or pulmonary embolism.
What is a D-dimer?
Nurses emphasize deep breathing, coughing and early ambulation during pre-op teaching to help prevent these two serious postoperative complications affecting the lungs and legs.
What are pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Warm extremities, normal mental status, urine output greater than 30 mL/hour and stable vital signs are signs that the heart is effectively doing this. -Hint: it is a two word term that is determined by heart rate (HR) times stroke volume (SV)
What is maintaining adequate cardiac output?
A patient who presents with right-sided weakness, impaired speech, and slow cautious behavior is most likely experiencing a stroke in this part of the brain.
"What is the left hemisphere?"
This chronic inflammatory bowel disease often presents with left lower quadrant pain, low grade fever, frequent bloody diarrhea, urgency to defecate, and weight loss during flare-ups.
What is ulcerative colitis?
Nasocobal (cyanocobalamin) can be administered intranasally or injected to treat this vitamin deficiency and condition. (You have to name the condition and vitamin).
"What is pernicious anemia and vitamin B12?"
Medications in this class, often used to reduce inflammation, can cause complications such as hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, fluid retention, delayed wound healing and increased risk of infection with long-term use.
What are corticosteroids?
Pink, frothy sputum, crackles throughout the lungs, severe dyspnea, hypoxia (anxiety, restlessness) are all hallmark signs of this life-threatening complication. Name the complication and what causes it.
What is pulmonary edema and left-sided heart failure?
This autoimmune disorder is characterized by weakness with activity and improves with rest. Classic signs include ptosis, difficulty swallowing and a risk for respiratory failure during crisis. Managed with anti-cholinesterase medications such as pyridostigmine (Mestinon).
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
A patient with this condition may present with epigastric pain, nausea/vomiting, and elevated lipase and glucose levels. (+5 points if you name electrolyte imbalance complication as well).
What is acute pancreatitis? (+5 = What is hypocalcemia --> tetany, positive Chvostek's sign, numbness around the lips..)
This condition is characterized by an abnormally high red blood cell count, increasing blood viscosity and putting patients at risk for complications like thrombosis, headache and hypertension -- the presence of petechiae, DVT or bleeding should prompt evaluation. (Hint: this condition can be primary or secondary)
What is polycythemia?
Bladder/bowel distention, a kinked catheter, or tight clothing can trigger this condition in patients with spinal cord injuries at or above T6. The nurse should response by elevating the head of the bed and removing the noxious stimulus.
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
Pain with walking that improves with rest (intermittent claudication), cool, pale legs, and diminished pulses suggest this circulatory condition.
What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)? -- this is unlike its venous counterpart which presents with warm skin, edema, aching pain that improves with elevation.
A patient presents with fever, headache, photophobia, pain when lower leg is extended (Kernig's sign), and a positive Brudzinski's sign. These are expected findings in this serious neurologic condition.
What is meningitis?
Postprandial hypoglycemia after gastric surgery occurs when rapid absorption of carbohydrates triggers an exaggerated release of this hormone -- leading to symptoms like shakiness, sweating and confusion 1-3 hours after eating.
What is insulin?
During a blood transfusion, the nurse monitors for 3 potential reaction types.. such as (1) itching and hives from an allergic reaction, (2) fever and chills from a febrile response and (3) flank pain with hypotension, anxiety and dark urine from this most severe type of reaction caused by incompatible blood. (Hint: there's a type of anemia with the same name).
What is a hemolytic transfusion reaction?
While performing CBI after a TURP, the nurse notes bright red urine with multiple clots that continues despite manual irrigation. The patient is increasingly restless and reports lower abdominal pain. The nurse's next best action is to do this.
"What is notify the provider?"