Show:
Death & Dying
Legal/Ethical
Gastrointestinal (GI)
Genitourinary (GU)
Misc.
100

What is the purpose of palliative care?

To focus on comfort and symptom management for patients with serious illnesses.

100

Difference between DNR, DPOA, and living will?

Living Will: A document stating what medical treatments a person wants or doesn’t want if they can’t communicate, like in terminal illness or unconsciousness.

Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare: A document naming someone to make healthcare decisions if the person can’t make them.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A medical order saying not to perform CPR if the person’s heart or breathing stops.

100

What is the correct order of a GI assessment?

Inspection, auscultation, palpation.

100

What are the definitions of anuria, oliguria, and polyuria?

  • Anuria: No urine output or less than 50 mL/day.
  • Oliguria: Decreased urine output, typically less than 400 mL/day.
  • Polyuria: Excessive urine output, usually more than 2.5 liters/day.
100

Which lab tests are used to assess renal function?

BUN, serum creatinine, GFR, and urinalysis.

200

What physical changes are common during the dying process?

Reduced appetite, increased sleeping, and confusion.

200

What is an example of battery? 

Failure to obtain consent before performing an intervention. 


200

How do you define absent bowel tones?  

No bowel sounds heard for a full 5 minutes  

200

hat are symptoms of urinary retention, and how can it be confirmed?

Symptoms include difficulty starting urination, frequent small voids, a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, and lower abdominal discomfort. It can be confirmed with a bladder scan or post-void residual measurement.

200

What does GFR measure?

The efficiency of the kidneys in filtering blood.

300

How can a nurse support the family of a dying patient?

By explaining normal dying processes and providing emotional support and comfort interventions 

300

5 rights of delegation? 

  • Right Task: The task must be appropriate for delegation.
  • Right Circumstance: The setting and patient condition must support safe delegation.
  • Right Person: The person assigned must have the knowledge and skill to perform the task.
  • Right Direction/Communication: Clear instructions and expectations must be provided.
  • Right Supervision/Evaluation: The nurse must provide appropriate monitoring and feedback.
300

Steps to reduce constipation 

Encourage fiber intake, hydration, and regular physical activity.

300

What is the difference between normal and abnormal urine characteristics?

  • Assess: Color, clarity, odor, volume, and presence of sediment or blood.
  • Normal:
    • Color: Pale yellow to amber.
    • Clarity: Clear.
    • Odor: Mild or faint ammonia smell.
    • Volume: 800-2000 mL/day (varies with fluid intake).
  • Abnormal:
    • Color: Dark amber (dehydration), red or pink (blood), cloudy (infection).
    • Clarity: Cloudy or with visible sediment (infection or crystals).
    • Odor: Strong, foul, or sweet smell (UTI or diabetes).
    • Volume: Oliguria (<400 mL/day), polyuria (>2500 mL/day), or anuria (<50 mL/day).
300

What is a common medication used to treat nausea?

Ondansetron (Zofran) is a commonly prescribed antiemetic that helps manage nausea and vomiting. Other options include promethazine (Phenergan) and metoclopramide (Reglan) depending on the cause of nausea. this is fyi ;-) 

400

What is the difference between hospice care, curative care, and palliative care?

  • Hospice care focuses on comfort for patients with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of 6 months or less, without curative treatments.
  • Curative care aims to treat or cure a disease and improve health outcomes.
  • Palliative care provides symptom relief and quality of life support at any stage of illness and can be given alongside curative treatments.
400

How does a nurse advocate for a patient?

By respecting the patient's autonomy and standing up for their best interests.

400

Diarrhea assessment: What to ask and what to monitor for?

  • Ask: About recent food or fluid intake, frequency and consistency of stools, any recent travel, and symptoms like abdominal pain or fever.
  • Monitor for: Signs of dehydration (e.g., dry mucous membranes, low urine output), electrolyte imbalances, and skin breakdown around the perineal area.
400

What questions should the nurse ask during a urine assessment?

  • How often do you urinate?
  • Do you experience pain, urgency (dysuria), or difficulty when urinating?
  • Have you noticed any changes in the color or smell of your urine?
400

What are c. dif risk factors?

  • Recent antibiotic use, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics.
  • Hospitalization or long-term healthcare facility stays.
  • Weakened immune system.
  • Advanced age (65 years or older).
  • Previous C. diff infection.
  • Use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which reduce stomach acid.
  • Gastrointestinal surgery or procedures.
500

What is the nurse's priority action during postmortem care?

Verify and document the time of death.

But also: 

  • Respect the patient’s cultural and religious practices.
  • Remove medical devices and position the body in natural alignment (if not contraindicated by an autopsy request).
  • Perform hygiene care to prepare the body for viewing or transport.
500

Give an example of negligence. 

  • Administering the wrong medication dose due to failing to check the prescription label.
  • Failing to turn and reposition a bedridden patient, resulting in pressure ulcers.
  • Not documenting or reporting a patient’s change in condition, delaying necessary treatment.
500

What self-care and stoma care instructions should be taught to a patient with an ostomy?

  • Empty the pouch when it’s one-third to one-half full to prevent leaks.
  • Check the skin around the stoma daily for irritation or breakdown.
  • Clean the stoma and surrounding skin gently with warm water; avoid harsh soaps or alcohol-based products.
  • Measure the stoma regularly, especially in the first few weeks, as its size may change.
  • Avoid foods that may cause excessive gas or blockages until cleared by a provider.
  • Stay hydrated, as ileostomy patients are at higher risk for dehydration.
500

What is the difference between normal and abnormal post-void residual (PVR), and what does it indicate?

  • Normal PVR: Less than 50 mL (adequate bladder emptying).
  • Abnormal PVR: More than 100-200 mL (indicates urinary retention, which could be due to bladder dysfunction or obstruction).
500

What are examples of ethical dilemmas a nurse might face?

  • A patient refusing life-saving treatment despite having a good prognosis.
  • A family requesting that a terminally ill patient not be told their diagnosis, conflicting with the patient’s right to know.
  • Deciding whether to honor a DNR order when family members disagree.
  • Balancing resource allocation, such as prioritizing care in an understaffed unit.
  • Reporting a colleague who is suspected of unsafe practice.