Pain & Comfort
According to the "Golden Rule" of nursing assessment, pain is defined as whatever the [_______] says it is
What is the patient?
This action is the single most effective way to break the chain of infection.
What is Hand Hygiene?
These specific white blood cells are responsible for producing antibodies (immunoglobulins).
What are B-Cell Lymphocytes (or Plasma Cells)?
In older adults, this mental change is often the first sign of infection, even if no fever is present.
What is Confusion (or Change in Mental Status)?
Due to the risk of toxicity, the starting opioid dose for an older adult should be reduced to this amount of the usual adult dose.
What is one-half to two-thirds?
This specific type of pain arises from internal organs (like the heart or intestines) and causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and hypotension.
What is Visceral Pain?
Because alcohol sanitizers cannot kill its spores, you must use soap and water when caring for a patient with this gastrointestinal infection.
What is C. diff (Clostridium difficile)?
This is the "Gold Standard" medication administered first during an anaphylactic reaction.
What is Epinephrine? (Or"Epi")
If a patient on opioids becomes difficult to arouse, the nurse should suspect this condition.
What is Opioid Toxicity?
Older adults taking NSAIDs are at high risk for renal toxicity and this gastrointestinal complication.
What is Gastric Ulceration (or GI Bleeding)?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture is used to balance Yin and Yang in order to maintain this "life energy.
What is Qi (or Chi)?
A patient with Tuberculosis (TB) requires this specific type of isolation precaution, which includes a negative pressure room.
What are Airborne Precautions?
Infants receive this type of temporary immunity from their mothers via the placenta or breast milk.
What is Passive Immunity?
This home safety hazard is a major cause of falls in the elderly and should be removed from hallways and living rooms.
What are Throw Rugs?
This route of medication administration should be avoided in older adults due to diminished muscle mass.
What is Intramuscular (IM)?
Often described as "burning" or "electric," this type of pain is caused by the neurotransmitter glutamate activating NMDA receptors.
What is Neuropathic Pain?
In the chain of infection, an individual with diabetes, burns, or advanced age is classified as this.
What is a Susceptible Host?
In HIV pathology, the virus specifically attacks and destroys this type of T-cell.
What is the Helper T-Cell (or CD4 cell)?
Applying heat over a fentanyl patch can cause death because it leads to this.
What is increased absorption/overdose?
While waiting for confirmatory testing after a needle stick exposure, a nurse must follow these precautions immediately.
What are sexual precautions (same as someone diagnosed with AIDS)?
In clients with advanced dementia who cannot verbalize pain, a nurse should assess for these specific behavioral indicators.
What are agitation, aggression, withdrawal, or changes in sleep?
To be diagnosed with Sepsis, a patient must meet at least two criteria: a high WBC count, a high heart rate, abnormal temperature, or a respiratory rate higher than _____
What is 20?
A patient with AIDS presenting with a non-productive cough and shortness of breath should be immediately suspected of having this opportunistic infection.
What is Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP)?
f a student nurse contaminates a sterile catheter, this is the ethical and safety priority action they must take.
What is admit the error and start over?
This evidence-based non-pharmacologic therapy is specifically recommended for patients with osteoarthritis.
What is Massage Therapy?