Fundamentals & Ethics
What are the 6 QSEN competencies?
Patient-Centered Care, Teamwork & Collaboration, Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement, Safety, Informatics
What type of insulin should be drawn first: NPH or Regular?
Regular insulin ("Clear before cloudy")
Normal range for WBC?
4,500–11,000/mm³ OR 5,000 - 10,000 (TEXTBOOK)
What is polypharmacy?
Use of 5 or more medications, often seen in older adults
Which PPE precaution is used for C. diff?
Contact precautions (gloves, gown; wash with soap and water)
Give 2 examples of unprofessional nurse behavior.
Gossiping, arguing with coworkers, charting ahead of time, lateness, neglecting patient needs
Which anticoagulant should you NOT expel the air bubble from?
Lovenox (enoxaparin)
What does a GFR < 60 for 3+ months indicate?
Chronic kidney disease
Name a medication that may cause hepatotoxicity in older adults.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
What should you do if a medication or syringe is dropped?
Discard it—“If it hits the floor, it’s not yours anymore.”
What does the Nurse Practice Act define?
The legal scope of nursing practice per state; what a nurse can and cannot do
What lab should be monitored for Heparin therapy?
aPTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time)
What is the normal capillary refill time?
Less than 2 seconds
What is the most common sign of UTI in the elderly?
Confusion
Name 3 alternatives to physical restraints.
Bed alarms, chair alarms, frequent rounding, distraction activities
Explain the difference between subjective and objective data.
Subjective: patient-reported symptoms (e.g., pain); Objective: observable or measurable signs (e.g., BP, bruising)
What is the correct angle for an IM injection?
90 degrees
What does a CBC test assess? (Name 3 components)
WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets
Differentiate between dementia, delirium, and depression.
Dementia: gradual & irreversible; Delirium: sudden & reversible; Depression: treatable & can mimic dementia
What do you assess when using the Morse Fall Scale?
History of falls, gait, medications, mental status
What are the 8 rights of medication administration?
Right patient, drug, dose, route, time, documentation, reason, response
Name two key adverse effects of furosemide.
Hypokalemia, ototoxicity, dizziness, dehydration
What are the “6 Ps” of compartment syndrome?
Pain, Pallor, Paresthesia, Paralysis, Pulselessness, Poikilothermia
What communication techniques are helpful for aphasia?
Use gestures, pictures, whiteboards, speak slowly, one idea at a time, face the patient
What does “clean to dirty” mean in perineal care?
Always clean from least contaminated (clean) to most contaminated (dirty) area