Listen Up Gut
This abdominal quadrant is auscultated first because it is the most active.
What is the right lower quadrant (RLQ)?
This is the normal resting heart rhythm.
What is normal sinus rhythm?
This device measures oxygen saturation.
What is a pulse oximeter?
This medication class reduces blood pressure by removing excess fluid.
What are diuretics?
This is the most important step in preventing infection.
What is hand hygiene?
You should auscultate bowel sounds before performing this other abdominal assessment technique.
What is palpation?
This condition is defined by elevated blood pressure over time
What is hypertension?
Crackles in the lungs often indicate this.
What is fluid in the alveoli (e.g., pulmonary edema/pneumonia)?
This medication class reduces blood pressure by decreasing heart rate and myocardial contractility.
What are beta blockers?
This position reduces aspiration risk during feeding.
This position reduces aspiration risk during feeding.
You should listen for at least this long before determining bowel sounds are absent.
What is 5 minutes in each quadrant (or at least 5 minutes total per area)?
This occurs when the heart cannot pump effectively, leading to fluid buildup.
What is heart failure?
This condition causes chronic airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction that is reversible.
What is asthma?
A patient weighs 70 kg and is prescribed 750 mg of a medication. The supply available is 250 mg tablets. The patient’s last dose was 6 hours ago. This is how many tablets you will administer.
What is 3 tablets?
This condition results from prolonged pressure and tissue ischemia.
What is a pressure injury (ulcer)?
These types of sounds are high-pitched, rush-like, and may indicate early bowel obstruction.
What are hyperactive bowel sounds?
This lab value rises when there is heart muscle damage.
What is troponin?
This emergency condition results from a clot in the lungs.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
An IV order reads: Infuse 1,000 mL over 10 hours. The tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/mL, and the patient has a BP of 110/70. This is the infusion rate in mL/hr.
What is 100 mL/hr?
A nurse exits a patient’s room, performs hand hygiene, and immediately enters another patient’s room. This infection prevention step should be done again before entering the next room.
What is perform hand hygiene again before entering the new patient’s room?
This describes a complete lack of bowel sounds and requires extended listening before confirming.
What is absent bowel sounds (ileus)?
This dysrhythmia is irregularly irregular and increases stroke risk.
What is atrial fibrillation?
This respiratory condition is characterized by chronic hypercapnia and hypoxemia, where patients rely on low oxygen levels—not high CO₂—to drive breathing.
What is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
An order reads: Dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min for a patient weighing 80 kg. The IV bag contains 400 mg in 250 mL. The patient’s heart rate is 92 bpm. This is the infusion rate in mL/hr. (Round to nearest whole number.)
What is 15 mL/hr?
A nurse enters a patient’s room, performs hand hygiene, and dons gloves. She then leaves the room to retrieve supplies before returning. These infection prevention steps should be completed prior to leaving the patient care area.
What are removing gloves and performing hand hygiene before exiting the room?