Is the chain of infection: Infectious Agent -> Reservoir -> Portal of Entry -> Mode of Transmission -> Portal of Exit -> Host
If your pt has CDIFF, what precautions do you use?
Contact
Airborne
Droplet
If your pt has Tuberculosis, what precaution do you use?
Determine the medication compatibility before setting up the IV line and/or piggyback.
Should the 2nd IV line or piggyback be hung higher, same height or lower than the primary line?
Higher
Lower
Same height
How do you know if an IV line is not functioning well?
burning sensation
swelling
bleeding
warm to touch
itchy
Why would a pt get TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition)?
They're hungry
Unable to digest or absorb nutrition
Prefer to eat through an IV line instead of through mouth
Refeeding syndrome is when the body is not used to the increase or decrease of nutrition and electrolyte imbalances can occur
What are the 3 top complications of TPN?
Refeeding syndrome
Hypo/hyperglcemia
Fatty Liver
AKI
Dependancy
A pt may experience pain post-op due to surgical manipulation of tissues, treatments, or positioning on the OR table.
Pain is subjective and is what the pt tells you it is
True
False, it's what I say it is
Pain is not that big a deal
Pain will make someone an addict so don't treat it much
A nurse can sign the consent form for a pt before they go for sx if we've chatted about the procedure.
How often should a pt deep breath and cough per hour?
Once
10 times
30 times
What will splinting help with?
Dehiscence prevention
Reduces pulling on incision, reducing pain
Make the pt look cool while coughing
PCA gives the pt control on managing their pain post-op. They can push the button as many times of they want but only receive a safe amount prescribed by the physician based on lockout time, basal rate and dose.
If a pt has PCA hooked up, they are dependant on pushing the button only when they nurse is available
Advantages of PCA:
Patient Controlled
Immediate analgesia
Short term
Constant and steady pain relief
Nurses don't have to be involved
RN can set up
pt will get addicted to a new pain med
Disadvantages of PCA:
Underuse
Fear
Requires peripheral IV
Manages pain inconsistantly
Possibility of incorrect pump programming
An epidural is a when an anesthetic is inserted through a cathetar to the epidural space
In an epidural, local anesthetic diffuses into the spinal canal and temporarily stops the spinal nerves from working so that sensation and movement in the area supplied by the nerves does not occur
Advantages of epidural
Not very invasive
Severe pain relief
Small amount of medication needed
Biggest disadvantage for a pt getting an epidural?
A needle poke into the lumbar
Migration of cathetar
sensory and motor are sometimes affected
A spinal advantages are:
Autonomic. Motor, and Sensory blocks occur
Fast onset
A headache is the only side effect. Its not very bad.
Motor and Sensory bock come back first, then Pain block and last sympathetic block when a spinal is wearing off
What can be done if spinal bandage location is leaking?
sbar doctor for a blood patch
Apply lots of pressure
Sit pt in high fowlers
Ignore it. It'll fix itself in due time. Not a biggie.
A pt can walk before the anesthetic is worn off
A strategy used to help relieve a pt pain during a dressing change is to encourage her to concentrate on a fav vacation spot. What is this non-pharmalogical pain intervention known as?
Recall
Distraction
Imagery
Relaxation exercises
A pt complains of pain in a site that is different from where it originates. How does the nurse document this pain?
Transient pain
Superficial pain
Phantom pain
Referred pain
Which one of the following responses would the nurse expect to assess as a physiological response to moderate pain?
Restlessness
Decreased heart rate
Increased BP
Protection of painful area
Aspiration is a complication of a pt with an NG tube
Aspiration can lead to pneumonia, infection or potential abscess formation
A Salem Sump NG tube is:
Inserted by an RN
Decompresses the GI tract
Set to 40-80 mm/hg suction
PH can be checked to ensure placement is correct
pt able to eat and rink while using NG tube
Pills can be crushed and given through NG tube
pt should be lying flat
HOB at 30 degrees
The suction can be turned back on the NG tube after giving meds in:
0 minutes
15 minutes
30 minutes
120 minutes
The PH level in the stomach is:
1
2-3
7.45
12
The NG tube placement can be measured from nose to earlobe to xyphoid
Assess the pt with an NG:
Air vent not clamped, connected to suction and never used for irrigation
Abdominal distension
Condition of lips, throat, mouth
Amount and characteristics of drainage
Record amounts of drainage only
Don't chart anything, it runs on its own just fine
Tube secured to bridge of nose and pinned to gown
HOB 30 degrees
Suction set to doctors orders
Types of ostomies are Colostony, Ileostomy and Urostomy
Ostomy Drainage looks like this: Ascending: liquid or pasty/mushy Transverse: Semi liquid to pasty Decending: Semi-formed or formed Sigmoid: Formed
If an ostomy is unheathly it will look like:
Pale pink
blanching, dark red to purple
red
brown black
Complications of a stoma:
It's ugly
Skin Damage
Obstruction
Not cute
Inadequate blood flow
Stoma prolapse or protrusion
It's loud at inappropriate times
Fluid and Electrolyte imbalances
Ileostomy care includes 1.5-2 liters of fluid daily and a low residue diet