OK I know this sounds stupid but I have a friend that gets really freaked out before big tests like finals, HESI, NCLEX, and usually we get together and a few days before I start throwing out random facts at her. On 2 different tests she said the only way she got several questions was from the random facts that I threw at her that she never would have thought of!
SOOOOO..... I thought that if yall wanted to do this we could get a thread going and try to throw out 5 random facts or "things to remember". NCLEX is coming and the more I try to review content the more I realize that I have forgotten so......here are my 5 random facts for ya:
OH and BTW these came from rationales in Kaplan or Saunders no made up stuff:
1️⃣ A kid with Hepatitis A can return to school 1 week within the onset of jaundice.
2️⃣ After a patient has dialysis they may have a slight fever...this is normal due to the fact that the dialysis solution is warmed by the machine.
3️⃣ Hyperkalemia presents on an EKG as tall peaked T-waves
4️⃣ The antidote for Mag Sulfate toxicity is ---Calcium Gluconate
5️⃣ Impetigo is a CONTAGEOUS skin disorder and the person needs to wash ALL linens and dishes seperate from the family. They also need to wash their hands frequently and avoid contact.
Oh, ohh, one more...
? Vasopressin is also known as antidiuretic hormone
i would like to thank everyone who shared so much tot his thread. i have been following and reading this thread almost two weeks now and has helped me a lot with my review. i will be taking my nclex-rn on july 17. can't express how much i appreciate all the posts here especially the mnemonics and the websites. thanks to everyone!!!:redpinkhe
allergic- you will see rash, fever, anaphalyxis reaction as well. treatment: oxygen, benadryl, monitor patent airway (abcs)
hemolytic- it means blood incompatibility. you will see pain in lower back, hypotension, decrease urinary output. treatment: o2, benadryl, vasopressors, maintain patent airway
febrile- most common type of reaction, especially for patients who receive a lot of blood. the blood given has antibodies that reacts with the patient's own. you will see fever, chill, nausea , tachy. treatment: antibiotics
bacteria- gave contaminated blood. you will see hypotension, shock, fever. treatment: iv fluids, vasopressors, steroids, antibodies.
some meds..
adrenergics ( levophed, dopamine, adrenalin, dobutrex) for cardiac arrest, copd
antacids ( amphojel, milk of mangnesia, maalox ) for peptic ulcer, indigestion, reflex esophagitis. caution dont give antacids with food because it delays gastric emptying. antiacids interfere with antibodies, inh (tb med), oral contraceptives, iron preparations.
during seizures position patient on his or her side in a lateral position. jaundice is best observe in sclera, nail beds and mucous membranes. if patient is getting enema and has pain= clamp tubing for 30 seconds and restart the flow at slower rate. after completing a tube feeding- patient is placed on right sie to promote emptying of stomach while preventing aspiration. first step in problem solution is to indentify the problem and generate possible solutions ( management of care). iop tends to be higher in the morining, early assessment of glaucoma is good am for that reason. bulge test- confirms presence of fluid in the knee. tpn has a higher glucose content, monitor glucose level. oral anticougulant therapy (coumadin) should be instituted 4 to 5 days before discontinuing heparin therapy.......
good luck.... we almost there..!!
"when you think positive , excellent thoughts, you will propelled toward greatness"
living a life of rememberance in god we trust..
nclex= challenge= opportunity of growth. .. nothing else just confidence to the fullest. making wise choices= rn ..
i'm about to schedule my test any second, and i just came on here to see the new threads and i happened to come across that last line nclex= challenge= opportunity of growth. .. nothing else just confidence to the fullest. making wise choices= rn .. i feel a little bit more at ease now. heres to more studying and having confidence! thank you so much!
Conjunctivitis is redness and swelling of the conjunctiva leading to redness and edema. Since the main cause for the spread of conjunctivitis is poor hand washing use the word SOAP to remember the signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis.
Rheumatic fever is a complication of untreated strep throat, caused by bacteria called Group A Streptococcus. It is potentially life threatening. Since one of the main symptoms of rheumatic fever is pain in the joints, use the word, JOINTS to remember the signs and symptoms.
J- Joints are painful
O- Over a long period it can damage the heart
I- Infection may be too mild to be recognized
N- Nervous system can be affected leading to chorea
Specializes in oncology, palliative care, wound care,.
Thanks silverdragon, looking into it. Notice you are from uk too originally. I have just moved to Ma from Hampshire in England. Apologies for the delay in replying, been reading the thread from the beginning.
cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among americans.
take blood pressures correctly
give client 5 minutes rest.
take blood pressure while client is lying, sitting, and standing.
ask client if he/she has recently smoked, drank a beverage containing caffeine or was emotionally upset. if so, repeat blood pressure in 30 minutes.
[*]rarely, the heart may lie on the right side instead of the left, this is called dextrocardia.
[*]valves control the direction of the blood flow through the heart. flow is unidirectional.
[*]when the atria contract, the atrioventricular valves swing open, allowing the blood to flow down into the ventricles.
[*]when the ventricles contract the valves snap shut preventing blood from flowing back up into the atria. semilunar valves open allowing blood to eject during ventricular contraction.
[*]if the sa node fails to generate an impulse, the av node takes over, generating a slower rate. if the av node fails to generate an impulse, the bundle of his takes over, generating an even slower rate. if the bundle of his fails to generate an impulse, the purkinje fibers take over and generate an even slower rate.
damaged areas of the heart may also stimulate contractions and produce arrhythmias.
rapid, short-term control of blood pressure is achieved by cardiac and vascular reflexes that are initiated by stretch receptors (baroreceptors) in the walls of the carotid sinus and the aortic arch.
many clients with angina or mis benefit from involvement in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program to assist clients to increase their activity level in a monitored environment.
current research suggests that life style and personal habits are closely related to cardiac changes once attributed to aging.
the elderly are less able to physically adapt to stressful physical and emotional conditions, because their hearts do three things less quickly: the myocardium contracts less easily, the left ventricle ejects blood less quickly, and the heart is slower to conduct the impulse for a heartbeat.
because different enzymes are released into the blood at varying periods after a myocardial infarction, it is important to evaluate enzyme levels in relation to the onset of the physical symptoms such as chest pain.
clients who are in postoperative recovery, on bed rest, obese, taking oral contraceptives or had knee or hip surgery should be monitored closely for thrombophlebitis.
respiratory
oxygen is essential for life. so, before all else, keep airways open and ease breathing.
clients with chronic lung disease use more oxygen and energy to breathe; this can create a vicious cycle in which the client works harder, and continually requires more oxygen and more energy.
nursing interventions for clients with lung disease should include pacing of activities, because clients have little reserve for exertion.
quality of life for clients can be significantly improved if you teach clients diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing.
clients with asthma must understand the different types of inhalers and when to use each type. some are rescue inhalers for acute dyspnea; others are maintenance drugs.
a finger oximeter reading is simply one element of an assessment; it's not the whole picture.
cyanosis is determined by oxygenation and hemoglobin content; anemic clients may be severely hypoxemic and never turn blue; polycythemic clients may be cyanotic with adequate tissue oxygenation.
control of pulmonary tb is a serious public health issue.
if a client is in respiratory distress, start out by administering oxygen by non-rebreather mask at 10-15 lpm until the client's condition is clarified or stabilizes.
when caring for a client with a chest tube, you must know whether the client has a leak from the lung. only when you know there is no leak, should you apply an occlusive dressing.
when caring for a client on a ventilator, if an alarm sounds, first, assess the client. see if the alarm resets or if the cause is obvious. if the alarm continues to sound and the client develops distress, disconnect the client from the ventilator, use a manual resuscitation bag and page or call the respiratory therapist immediately.
to maximize therapeutic effect of inhalers, the key is technique. it is critical to teach clients the right technique and test how well they use the inhaler.
smoking cessation is critical to reduce the risk and severity of lung disease. second-hand smoke hurts children most.
best treatment of pulmonary embolus is prevention by using intermittent compression stockings (with anticoagulants in extra-high risk clients) to prevent clots in deep veins.
tb clients need intensive community follow up to ensure that they continue with pharmacological treatment once discharged from the hospital. clients who stop therapy too soon are the source for the more deadly multi-drug resistant forms of tb.
neurological system
in multiple sclerosis, early changes tend to be in vision and motor sensation; late changes tend to be in cognition and bowel control.
peripheral nerves can regenerate, but nerves in the spinal cord cannot regenerate.
during a seizure, do not force anything into the client's mouth.
a major problem often associated with a left cva is an alteration in communication.
clients with cvas are at high risk for aspiration. these clients must be evaluated to determine if dysphagia is present.
the rate, rhythm and depth of a client's respirations are more sensitive indicators of intracranial pressure than blood pressure and pulse.
when caring for a comatose client, remember that the hearing is the last sense to be lost.
a cva can result in a loss of memory, emotional lability and a decreased attention span.
communication difficulties in a cva client usually indicate involvement of the dominant hemisphere, usually left, and is associated with right sided hemiplegia or hemiparesis.
the client with myasthenia gravis will have more severe muscle weakness in the morning due to the fact that muscles weaken with activity and regain strength with rest.
eye
anything that dilates the pupil obstructs the canal of schlemm, increases intraocular pressure.
color blindness is caused by a deficiency in one or more types of cones and is caused by a sex-linked recessive gene.
destruction of either the right or left optic nerve tract results in blindness in the respective side of both eyes
when mydriatics are instilled, caution clients that vision will be blurred for up to two hours
following eye surgery teach client to avoid, for six weeks, activities that can increase iop
stooping
bending from the waist
heavy lifting
excessive fluid intake
emotional upsets
constrictive clothing around neck
straining with bowel movement (or straining at stool)
[*]teach client proper administration of eyedrops
[*]provide sunglasses for photophobia
[*]assist with activities of daily living as required
[*]when clients wear eye patches, they lose depth perception. remember that this loss presents a safety risk.
changes in barometric pressure will affect persons with ear disorders
hearing loss
can be partial or total
can affect one or both ears
can occur in low, medium or high frequencies
[*]ama formula for hearing loss: hearing is impaired 1.5% for every decibel that the pure tone average exceeds 25 decibels (db)
[*]a hearing loss of 22.5% usually affects social functionality and requires a hearing aid
[*]noise exposure is the major cause of hearing loss in the united states
[*]ask client how he/she communicates: lip-reading, sign language, body gestures, or writing
[*]to gain the client's attention, raise your hand or touch the client's arm
[*]when talking with client, speak slowly and face him/her
[*]speak toward the client's good ear
[*]if the client wears a hearing aid, allow him/her to show you how it's inserted
[*]speaking louder to a hearing impaired client does not increase his/her chances of hearing
[*]communicate the client's hearing loss to other staff members
[*]ototoxic drugs include:
aminoglycosides
antimyobacterials
thiazides
loop diuretics
antineoplastics
[*]tell clients taking ototoxic drugs to report any signs of dizziness, loss of balance, tinnitus, or hearing loss
gastro-intestinal
most obstructions occur in the small bowel.
most large bowel obstructions are caused by cancer.
onset of cirrhosis is insidious with symptoms such as anorexia, weight loss, malaise, altered bowel habits, nausea and vomiting.
management of cirrhosis is directed towards avoiding complications. this is achieved by maintaining fluid, electrolyte and nutritional balance.
a client with esophageal varices must be monitored for bleeding (e.g., melena stools, hematemesis, and tachycardia.
the rupture of esophageal varices is life threatening and associated with a high mortality rate.
pancreatitis is often associated with excessive alcohol ingestion.
pancreatic cancer is an insidious disease that often goes undetected until its later stages.
diverticula are most common in the sigmoid colon.
clients with diverticulosis are often asymptomatic.
a deficiency in dietary fiber is associated with diverticulitis.
colostomies: an ascending colostomy drains liquid feces, is difficult to train and requires daily irrigation; a descending colostomy drains solid feces and can be controlled.
frequent liquid stools can be indicative of a fecal impaction or intestinal obstruction.
bowel sounds tend to be hyperactive in the early phases of an intestinal obstruction.
genito-urinary
after a urinary catheter is removed, the client may have some burning on urination, frequency and dribbling. these symptoms should subside.
after a tur (transurethral resection), tell the client that, because the three-way foley catheter has a large diameter, he will continuously feel the urge to void.
after prostatic surgery, it is normal for the client's urine to be blood tinged and for him to pass blood clots and tissue debris.
because the prostate gland receives a rich blood supply, it is important to observe the client undergoing a prostatectomy for bleeding and shock.
breast cancer starts with the alteration of a single cell and takes a minimum of two years to become palpable.
at the time of diagnosis, about 1/2 of clients with breast cancer have regional or distant metastasis.
sodium channel blockers: Lidocaine,quinidine,procainamide-have many adverse reactions given only after other therapies have failed;
Adverse affects;prolonged Qtc or QRS,nausea,vomitting,heart block,confusion,seizures (especially with a lidocaine),rash,sedation,respiratory depression,torsades de pointes,can cause increased bleeding when combine with anticoagulants,should never be taken with potassium channel blockers,increased risk of digoxin toxicity
Potassium channel blockers: Amiodarone,sotalol,can cause hear failure,pulmonary fibrosis,heart block,sinus arrest,liver damage,use suncreen and protect your eyes
anticholinergics : Atropine-for bradycardia associated with increased vagal tone,high-alert drug,can cause flushing of the skin for 20-30 minutes when given by injection,produces anticholigergic effect such as sedation,constipation,dry mouth,urinary retention.
(Can't find the original post for this after I replied...but I saw on one of the earlier pages that a 'skull fx' will cause raccoon's eyes and bruisng about the mastoid process.)
#4 on this post I believe should read 'basilar skull fx' for raccoon's eyes and bruising about the mastoid process. A linear, run-of-the-mill cranial vault fx will not create these S/S. :)
-zosins-alpha1 blockers,they are used for hypertension and benign prostatic hyperthrophy.
-none-phosphodiesterase inhibitors for heart failure when other drugs fail or a pt is awaiting heart transplants,side effects;letal dysrtythmias dangerous drug!
-kinase-thrombolytics-for MI,PE,deep vein thrombosis,for the MI must be given within 4 to 6 hr,contraindicated in brain neoplasm,cerebral hemmorage,recent major trauma or spinal surgery,high potential for bleeding.
One more facts always check K+ when administering digoxin (contraindicated in hypokalemia) and -prils (contraindicated in hyperkalemia)
I just want first at all to thank you for all the wonderful postings. Next I want to announce that I passed the NCLEX. I took it on July 1, 2009, and my license was posted at the California Board of Nurses on July 3, 2009. I thank to God for the support in this particular endeavor, my friends.
I want to recommend you all who are preparing to take the NCLEX, the following books: Prioritization, Delegation & Assignment by Linda A. LaCharity, Candice K. Kumagai and Barbara Bartz, and Strategies for Alternate Item Formats on the NCLEX-RN Exam by Linda Anne Silvestri and Yazmin Mojica. The book on prioritization question is must...I was hit with what I perceived at the time I taking the NCLEX as "a thoudsand questions" on prioritization. I cannot stress enough the importance of the prioritization book. I was so glad I took time to study that book for it paid off: I am a rgistered nurse in the state of California. The book on alternative format is good, too, for I was hit with a lot of questions on alternive format which happened to be an area I felt I was weak, so I made an effort to study it, as well.
A critical aspect of my preparation to pass the NCLEX was to take the Hurst's Review. I absolutely recommend the Husts Review for it uses a different approach to teaching. Go to hurstreview.com and watch Marlene Hurst teaching a lecture on electrolytes. Marlene Hurst is wonderful for she uses the WHY APPROACH to teaching, so once the student understands why things are happening concerning the pathophysiology of a disease, the student does not feel she/he needs to rely so much on memory. Certain values definitely will need to be committed to memory, but it will be a manageable amount.
I learned with Marlene Hurst the meaning of prioritization. The NCLEX exam wants to separate the "safe" future nurses from the "killers". Prioritization questions are testing if the candidate has sufficient knowledge to determine a course of action that would kill a patient, and thereby by reconizing such course of action the student will choose the answer that will keep the patient alive. That is all what the NCLEX is about. Marlene Hurst explains that so well, and I gave so many thanks to God even while taking the NCLEX that I understood that concept! I attribute my success primary to God and then to Marlene Husts review...word to the wise think about what I told you about the meaning of prioritization questions. Best to all of you. feliz3
loisalteza2000
22 Posts
i would like to thank everyone who shared so much tot his thread. i have been following and reading this thread almost two weeks now and has helped me a lot with my review. i will be taking my nclex-rn on july 17. can't express how much i appreciate all the posts here especially the mnemonics and the websites. thanks to everyone!!!:redpinkhe