NCLEX Tip of the Day 2/9

[SkateBetty]

2/9

Random Tips:

No milk (as well as fresh fruit or veggies) on neutropenic precautions.

Tylenol poisoning - liver failure possible for about 4 days. Close observation required during this time-frame, as well as tx with Mucomyst.

Radioactive iodine - The key word here is flush. Flush substance out of body w/3-4 liters/day for 2 days, and flush the toilet twice after using for 2 days. Limit contact w/patient to 30 minutes/day. No pregnant visitors/nurses, and no kids.

The main hypersensitivity reaction seen with antiplatelet drugs is bronchospasm (anaphylaxis).

Common sites for metastasis include the liver, brain, lung, bone, and lymph.

Orthostasis is verified by a drop in pressure with increasing heart rate.

Bence Jones protein in the urine confirms multiple myeloma.

Don't fall for 'reestablishing a normal bowel pattern' as a priority with small bowel obstruction. Because the patient can't take in oral fluids 'maintaining fluid balance' comes first.

Pernicious anemia s/s include pallor, tachycardia, and sore red tongue.

With flecainide (Tambocor), an antiarrythmic, limit fluids and sodium intake, because sodium increases water retention which could lead to heart failure.

Basophils release histamine during an allergic response.

Adenosine is the treatment of choice for paroxysmal atrial tachycardia.

Iatragenic means it was caused by treatment, procedure, or medication.

Other than initially to test tolerance, G-tube and J-tube feedings are usually given as continuous feedings.

Four side-rails up can be considered a form of restraint. Even in LTC facility when a client is a fall risk, keep lower rails down, and one side of bed against the wall, lowest position, wheels locked.

Your cancer patient is getting radiation. What should you be most concerned about? Skin irritation? No. Infection kills cancer patients most because of the leukopenia caused by radiation.

A breast cancer patient treated with Tamoxifen should report changes in visual acuity, because the adverse effect could be irreversible.

Pneumovax 23 gets administered post splenectomy to prevent pneumococcal sepsis.

Let's say every answer in front of you is an abnormal value. If potassium is there you can bet it is a problem they want you to identify, because values outside of normal can be life threatening. Normal potassium is 3.5-5.0. Even a bun of 50 doesn't override a potassium of 3.0 in a renal patient in priority.

You better be making sure that patient on Dig and Lasix is getting enough potassium, because low potassium potentiates Dig and can cause dysrrhythmias.

You will ask every new admission if he has an advance directive, and if not you will explain it, and he will have the option to sign or not.

An example of when you would implement before going through a bunch of assessments is when someone is experiencing anaphylaxis. Get the ordered epinephrine in them stat, especially if they stem clearly states the s/s (difficulty breathing, increasing anxiety, etc.)

In a disaster you should triage the person who is most likely to not survive last.

That's it for tonight. Happy studying, friends!

[nursemomruns]

2/9

Random Tips:

Pernicious anemia s/s include pallor, tachycardia, and sore red tongue.

You better be making sure that patient on Dig and Lasix is getting enough potassium, because low potassium potentiates Dig and can cause dysrrhythmias.

These were very good things to point out!

[SkateBetty]

:) I hope the tips help the test-takers.

[bigmona]

It sure is helping me!

a little trick regarding potassium:

ALKALOSIS: K is LOW

Acidosis is just the opposite: K is High

[SkateBetty]

It sure is helping me!

a little trick regarding potassium:

ALKALOSIS: K is LOW

Acidosis is just the opposite: K is High

Good one!