Archive for the ‘NCLEX exam tips and Nursing Board tips’ Category
Nursing exams
Since the first graduating class in 2002, the Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions has consistently scored above average on the National Council Licensure Examination, according to a press release The NCLEX is a state licensing examination for nurses developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
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- Extubation- Hyper oxygenate and suction ET and oral cavity
- Chest tube- Air drainage- upper lung; Bloody drainage- lower part
- removal of NGT- take and hold a deep breath
- Removal of chest tube- valsalva manuever
- Chadwick’s sign- bluish discoloration of the vagina
- Goodell’s sign- Softening of the cervix
- Hagar’s sign- Softening of uterus
- Gynecoid- normal female pelvis
- Android- seen in males.
- Amniotic Fluid- 800-1200 ml
- Ductus Arteriosus- pulmonary artery to the aorta by passing the lungs
- Ductus Venosus- Umbilical vein and the inferior vena cava by passing the liver
- Foramen Ovale- opening right and left atria of the heart bypassing the lungs
- Umbilical cord- 2 arteries- unoxygenated blood
1 vein- oxygenated blood
15. Usual Schedule to the doctor- pregnant
- For the first 1-3 months- every month
- 4-7 months- every 2 weeks
- 8-9 months- every week or depends on the doctors advice
16. Fern Test- to check the presence of amniotic fluid leak by instructing the patient to cough
17. Nitrazine Test- to check if amniotic fluid in vaginal secretion
- pH of secretion- 4.5-5.5
-pH of amniotic- 7.0-7.5 or change to color Blue
18. Normal weight gain during pregnancy- 25-35 lbs
19. Insulin-Increases during pregnancy and decreases after pregnancy
1mg= 1000mcg
1g= 1000mg
1kg= 1000g
1kg= 2.2lbs
1oz= 30ml
1tbsp= 15 ml or 3 tspn
1tspn= 5ml
1cup= 8 oz or 240ml
1 lb= 16 oz
Farenheit to Celcius (F-32)/ 1.8
Celcius to Farenheit (1.8xC)+32
NPO General Surgery 6-8 hours; Local Surgery 3 hours to avoid Aspiration
Drops/Min= Total Volume x Drop Factor / Time in Minutes
Infusion Time= Total Volume to Infuse / Ml/hr being infused
Number of ml/hr= Total Volume in ml / Number of hours
POSITIONING
1. Burn of the face and neck- elevate the head of the bed
2. Masectomy- Semi-fowlers then one hand up above the head
3. Hypophysectomy- Elevate the head of the bed
4. Thyroidectomy- Semi-fowlers
5. Hemorrhoidectomy- Side Lying
6. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease- Reverse Trendelenburg
7. Liver Biopsy- During- Supine with Right side upper abdomen exposed, Right Arm raised
After- right side lying and out pillow below to avoid bleeding
8. NGT insertion: high fowlers, head tilted forward
9. Rectal Enema and Irrigation- left Sims position
10. COPD- sitting position; lean on table ( orthopnic position)
11. Laryngectomy- Semi-fowlers, fowlers
12. Bronchoscopy POST- semi-fowlers
13. Postural Drainage- different position
14. Thoracentesis- During- sitting, lean on the table or lying in bed on unaffected area with 45 degree elevation
After- any comfortable position
15. Abdominal Aneurysm Resection- Limit elevation of the head to 45 degrees
16. Amputation of lower Extremity- During 24hours- elevate foot of the bed then after 24 hours FLAT
17. Catheterization femoral- 3-4 hours bed rest, Extremity should be straight with sandbag
18. CHF and pulmonary edema- Upright
19. Cataract Surgery- Elevate head of the bed
20. Retinal Detachment- Bed rest, Bilateral eye patch
21. Autonomic Dysreflexia- Elevate head of the bed high fowlers
22. Cerebral Angiography- 12-14 hours bed rest; extremity straight
23. Stroke- hemorrhagic- elevate 30 degrees; ischemic- flat
24. Laminectomy- log roll the client
25. Increase Intracranial Pressure 30-45 degrees head of the bed, midline and in neutral position
26. Lumbar Puncture- during- side lying and fetal position
After- Supine Position 4-12 hours
27. Myelogram- oil- flat; water- elevated ; air- trendelenburg
- UP- loss of acid, vomiting can lead to alkalosis
- DOWN- loss of alkaline, diarrhea can lead to acidosis
- Hypokalemia- Oral potassium should not be taken on empty stomach
- Liquid potassium should be taken with juice or another liquid
- Potassium- never give IV push, IM or SQ… IV solution only and make sure it’s evenly distributed. Never exceed 20mEq/hr (only 5-10)
- Hypomagnesemia- magnesium sulphate- monitor deep tendon reflex
- Hypermagnesemia- calcium gluconate- reverse high magnesium
- normal CVP 4-11 cm H20
- Cholesterol, Triglycerides and LDL- high risk for coronary artery disease
- HDL- or good cholesterol should be high to prevent coronary artery disease
- Uric Acid result can be affected by aminophylline, caffeine and vitamin c
- Creatinine- specific of renal function
- Iron Deficiency Anemia should eat dark green leafy vegetable which is rich in iron. Iron is best with orange juice for maximum absorption
- Fruits and Vegetable is both low in sodium
- Gestational Hypertension signs
- Pre-eclampsia- hypertension, edema,proteinuria
- Eclampsia- coma and convulsions
- Severe Pre-eclampsia- give magnesium sulphate to control seizure and the antidote is calcium gluconate
- Rubella Vaccine- give SQ, don’t give if immunocompromised and avoid to get pregnant for 1-3 months after immunization
- Stop Oxytocin if the contraction is every 2 mins and last up to 90 secs
- after lumbar laminectomy- do log rolling and avoid twisting
- Primary goal of Play therapy- look for the word Communication
- Situation sample: Uncooperative patient, he wants to have cigarette and he doesn’t want to take a bath.—tell the patient that he may have cigarette when her bath is complete
Rationale: Ideal: if Important- compromise except if the patient is antisocial or manipulative.
- CVA or stroke patient- put the his clothes from side to side
- Magnesium SO4- anti convulsant; antidote: Calcium Gluconate. Monitor RR, deep tendon reflex and Urine output
- Morphine SO4- Antidote: Naloxone HCL (narcan)
- Pancreatin- with meals or snack
- Penicillin- empty stomach with full glass of water, antidote: Epinephrine
- Bells palsy- keep face warm
- Cleft lip- supine post-op
- Cleft palate- prone post-op
- Celiac disease- avoid BROW (Barley,Rye,Oat,Wheat)
- Chicken Pox- viral infection-never give Aspirin to avoid Reye’s Syndrome
- Diet of DM- 50-60 CHO, 20-30 FATS, 10-20 CHON
- DiverticuLITIS- get the I for HIGH means opposite of High which is LOW…So it should be LOW IN FIBER
- DiverticuLOSIS- get the O for LOW means opposite so it should be HIGH IN FIBER
- Propanolol causes bronchospasm- avoid it with COPD
- Metronidazole should be taken with meals, AVOID ALCOHOL
- Morphine sulfate and Atropine- everything is DOWN except Heart rate (tachycardia)
- Omeprazole- hepatotoxic, need to check liver enzymes
- Ginkgo biloba- risk for bleeding
- Need to check before surgery- Anticoagulant and Antihypertension
- Wet to dry- look for the word DEBRIDE
- Consider TEACH as a PSYCHOSOCIAL
- IV medication can be given only by a registered nurse=UDPATE
- Solutions: ml/hr round off to whole number
- Solution: mg can be in decimal
- Colonoscopy-entire colon
- Sigmoidoscopy- only lower third
- Phototherapy- put eye cover
- Heroin intoxication- remember the words pinpoint pupils and respiratory depression
- Cocaine- remember the word dilated pupils
- Changing bag in ileostomy-weekly
- Changing bag in colostomy- daily
- Alzheimer’s Disease- frequently orient patient to his surroundings
- Bike should be with helmet
- Digoxin loading dose-0.5-1mg, maintenance 0.125-0.25 mg
- Normal PTT 24-45 or x2, therapeutic 48-90 seconds
- Organ rejection- look for the word REJECTION and DULL PAIN
- Medication error-do medication report
- Incident report- only if harm happens
- Only reason for clamming test tube is to check for leaks and changing apparatus
- Normal CVP 5-10 cm H20
- Who will most benefit from continous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) look for hemodynamically Unstable
- pH=Respiratory secretion –above 7.45
- pH=Gastric- less than 4
- pH= Intestinal secretion- 6
- SIADH or Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone means excess Anti-diuretic hormone or ADH-urine retention- increase urine sp.gravity- concentrated urine
- Diabetis Insipidus-polyuria-diuresis-decrease urine sp.gravity-diluted urine
- Before Amniocentesis do ultrasound to see the position of the placenta and baby to avoid complications and accidental puncture
- Colostomies- ascending and transverse- no bowel training –more liquid
- Colostomies- Descending and sigmoid- stomap cap- bowel training- more formed stool
- Autotransfusion means own blood is transfused. Blood aspirated is recycled then transfused again to the patient. Blood aspirated will increase blood volume.
- Nitroglycerin Sublingual tablets can only be stored only for 3months or 90 days and should be kept on a dark container
- For head injury avoid suction- can lead to Increase intracranial pressure
- Insulin MIXING
- AIR- if introducing air in a vial- NPH then REGULAR
- Aspirating Insulin –REGULAR then NPH
- Indomethacin,terbutaline,magnesium sulfate,Ritodrine= save preterm labor
- Methergine,oxytocin,prostaglandin E2= contracts uterus to stop bleeding
- Manifestation of Jaundice
- Pruritus-early
- Anorexia- late sign
- Deep Tendon reflex grade
0- Absent but not normal
1- Diminished
2- Normal
3- Brisker than Normal
4- Hyperactive (clonus)- tremors