Acronyms
Assesses level of consciousness during an emergency.
What is AVPU (alert/oriented, respond to verbal stimuli only, respond to painful stimuli only, unresponsive) or GCS (Glasow Coma Scale)?
Includes swollen lips and tongue, difficulty swallowing, and dyspnea.
What is anaphylactic shock?
Side of stethoscope used to auscultate S1 and S2 heart sounds.
What is the diaphragm?
Is known as the 5th vital sign.
What is pain?
Lead nurse on the psychiatric ward in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Who is Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher)?
Includes the warning signs for stroke.
What is BEFAST (balance, eyes, facial drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, time to call 911)?
Includes difficulty waking, slow shallow breathing, gurgling/gasping sounds, and constricted pupils?
What is a suspected opioid overdose?
Proper order the nurse will follow to perform a comprehensive abdominal examination.
What is inspection, auscultation, and palpation?
A high-pitched crowing sound heard with upper airway obstruction.
What is stridor?
Head nurse who stars in M.A.S.H.
Who is Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit)?
Mnemonic used to obtain patient history.
What is SAMPLE (symptoms, allergies, medications, past medical history, last oral intake, and events)?
Includes fever, confusion, chills, warm flushed skin, extreme drowsiness, and a recent tattoo that is painful, red, and oozing pus.
What is sepsis?
Measure from this to this to fit an oropharyngeal airway.
What is the corner of the mouth to the tip of the earlobe?
Bubbling/gurgling occurs in abdomen once every 5-15 seconds.
What are normal bowel sounds?
Ben Stiller starred in this movie as a male nurse.
What is Meet the Parents/Meet the Fockers?
Mnemonic used as a pain assessment tool.
What is OPRST (onset, provocation, quality, radiation/region, severity, and time) or COLDSPA (character, onset, location, duration, severity, pattern, and associated factors)?
Patient complaint of headache, dizziness, and temporary loss of consciousness after falling hitting his head.
What is a concussion?
Physical position that may indicate difficulty breathing.
What is Tripod position?
A systolic BP > 210 and a diastolic BP > 120.
What is a hypertensive crisis?
True crime book and Netflix movie (2022) about a serial killer and nurse.
What is The Good Nurse?
Rapid head-to-toe assessment used during an emergency to determine any potential patient injuries.
What is DCAP-BTLS (deformities, contusions, abrasions, punctures/penetrations, burns, tenderness, lacerations, and swelling)?
Patient was repeatedly kicked in the abdomen and complains of severe left upper abdominal pain, left shoulder pain, confusion, and dizziness.
What is a ruptured spleen?
The first step of a head-to-toe assessment includes the overall impression/general appearance of the patient including observed S&S, behavior, mood, mobility, and overall nutritional and fluid status.
What is passive observation?
Refers to findings that are normal but are specifically noted because they help to rule out certain conditions.
What is a pertinent normal?
British period TV drama about nurse midwives living in a convent and working in the east end of London.
What is Call the Midwife?