Comprehensive Nursing Respiratory, Cardiac, and Multisystem Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering major nursing specialties: Respiratory, Cardiology, Neurology, Endocrine, Gastrointestinal, and Renal systems.

Bronchoscopy

A procedure requiring confirmation of gag reflex return before eating or drinking; expected findings include a sore throat and blood-tinged sputum, while monitoring for pneumothorax is essential.

Thoracentesis

A procedure where the patient sits upright with arms on a pillow, must not talk, move, or cough, and targets aspiration of $1L$ or less.

Hypoxemia (Early vs. Late Signs)

Early signs are restlessness and irritability; late signs include decreased $LOC$, increased lactic acid, dysthymiasis, bradycardia, and hypotension.

Oxygen Toxicity

Clinical presentation includes a non-productive cough, nasal congestion, and substernal pain.

Sleep Apnea

Breathing disruption lasting more than $10\,\text{seconds}$ and occurring more than $5\,\text{times per hour}$. It can be obstructive (upper airway blocked) or central (brain failing to send signals).

Status Asthmaticus

A life-threatening asthma state involving extremely labored breathing, gasping, or inability to speak, often associated with pulses paradoxus.

Pulses Paradoxus

A condition characterized by a decrease in $SBP$ during inspiration.

COPD Signs

Clinical indicators include a barrel chest, nail clubbing, hyperresonance, and rapid, shallow respirations.

Cystic Fibrosis

A condition where thick mucus plugs organ ducts, causing steatorrhea (fatty/malodorous stool) and high $NaCl$ content in sweat, saliva, and tears.

Cor Pulmonale

Right ventricular enlargement or failure resulting from pulmonary hypertension ($HTN$).

Mantoux Skin Test

A TB test involving virus injection; a positive result is $\ge 15\,mm$ in healthy individuals, $5\,mm$ for immunocompromised, and $10\,mm$ for high-risk patients.

Tension Pneumothorax

A condition where air enters the pleural space on inspiration, causing tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side and absent breath sounds on the affected side.

Subcutaneous Emphysema

A condition characterized by edema and crepitus, assessed following chest tube insertion.

ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)

Respiratory failure characterized by non-cardiac associated pulmonary edema, often triggered by sepsis, shock, or trauma.

Low Pressure Alarm (Mechanical Ventilation)

An alarm triggered by a disconnection, cuff leak, or tube displacement.

High Pressure Alarm (Mechanical Ventilation)

An alarm triggered by pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, bronchospasm, or a kink in the tubing.

Phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein at an $IV$ site that feels warm and moist.

Infiltration

The leakage of non-vesicant $IV$ fluid into surrounding tissue, managed with warm and cold compresses.

Air Embolism protocol

Intervention involving clamping the line, placing the patient on their left side in Trendelenburg position, and administering oxygen.

Acute Hemolytic Reaction

A blood transfusion complication characterized by low back pain, tachycardia, and hypotension.

Echocardiogram

An ultrasound test used to visualize cardiac structures like valves and calculate Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ($LVEF$), which is normally $55$-$70$.

Cardiac Output ($CO$)

The volume of blood pumped in one minute, with an expected range of $4$-$8\,L$.

Hypercalcemia

High calcium levels often due to prolonged immobility; signs include constipation, bone pain, weakness, and $GI$ upset; treated with calcitonin.

Hypocalcemia Signs

Presence of positive Chvostek and Trousseau signs, often linked to risk factors like acute pancreatitis.

Hypermagnesemia (Hypermagnesium)

High magnesium levels causing decreased deep tendon reflexes ($DTR$) and respiratory depression; reversed with calcium.

Hypomagnesemia

Low magnesium levels characterized by torsades de pointes, tachycardia, $HTN$, and increased $DTRs$.

Respiratory Alkalosis

A condition with high pH and low $CO_2$, caused by hyperventilation from fear or blowing out excess $CO_2$.

Metabolic Acidosis

A condition with low pH and low $HCO_3$, caused by $DKA$ or kidney failure, resulting in Kussmaul respirations.

Atrial Fibrillation ($AFib$)

A cardiac rhythm carrying a high risk of clots, treated with cardioversion and anticoagulants.

Virchow’s Triad

The three factors predisposing to venous thrombosis: endothelial injury, stasis of blood flow ($BF$), and hypercoagulability.

Stable Angina

Chest pain relieved by rest and medication that has been consistent for more than or equal to $2\,\text{months}$.

MONAB

The acronym for $MI$ medications: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin, and Beta blocker.

Aplastic Anemia

Anemia resulting from bone marrow ($BM$) damage due to cancer; treated with epoetin alfa.

Broca's area

The brain system responsible for speech.

Wernicke's area

The brain area responsible for language comprehension and auditory processing.

Kernig’s and Brudzinski’s signs

Positive indicators used to diagnose meningitis.

Huntington’s Disease

A degeneration of $GABA$ and increase in dopamine, characterized by chorea, bradykinesia, dysphagia, and cognitive decline.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

A sympathetic nervous system over-response following $SCI$ causing extreme $HTN$, severe $HA$, and flushing above the level of injury; treated by sitting the patient up and loosening clothing.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome ($GBS$)

An autoimmune disorder causing sudden, symmetrical weakness and paralysis starting at the feet and moving upward.

Cushing’s triad

Three indicators of increased $ICP$: widened pulse pressure, bradycardia, and irregular breathing.

Cataracts

Gradual loss of vision, blurred vision, and halos around light caused by protein clumping and hardening in the lens.

Glaucoma

An increase in $ICP$ causing damage to the optic nerve, presenting as loss of peripheral vision (Open) or severe pain (Closed).

Osteoarthritis signs

Including enlarged joints, crepitus, Heberden’s nodes (distal), and Bouchard’s nodes (proximal).

Sjogren’s syndrome

A condition monitored for in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients characterized by dry eyes, dry mouth, and dry vagina.

Gout

A condition where excess uric acid forms crystals in connective tissue, specifically causing tophi in the great toe; treated with colchicine for attacks and allopurinol for chronic cases.

Compartment Syndrome

Hard, swollen muscles with intense pain during passive movement; managed with cold therapy but without limb elevation.

Buck’s Traction

A type of skin traction used specifically for hip fractures in adults.

Malignant Hyperthermia

A surgical complication involving muscle rigidity, fever, and hypotension; treated with dantrolene and cooling measures.

Hypophysectomy

The removal of the pituitary gland, requiring monitoring for clear, yellow-edged, sweet-tasting $CSF$ nasal drainage ($HA$ signs).

Acromegaly

Adulthood growth hormone excess resulting in enlarged hands and feet, kyphosis, and a deep hollow voice.

Diabetes Insipidus ($DI$)

Insufficient $ADH$ causing large amounts of dilute urine, polydipsia, high serum osmolarity, and increased sodium; treated with vasopressin.

SIADH

Excess $ADH$ leading to small amounts of concentrated urine and fluid volume excess; opposite of symptoms seen in Diabetes Insipidus.

Addison's Disease

Adrenal insufficiency causing bronzed colored skin, salt craving, low sodium/glucose, and high potassium/calcium; diagnosed with the $ACTH$ stimulation test.

Pheochromocytoma

A hypersecretion of catecholamines; the abdomen must not be palpated as it can trigger a sudden hypertension ($HTN$) crisis.

Thyroid Storm

Severe crisis involving $HTN$, chest pain, dysthymiasis, and fever; treated with beta blockers ($BB$) and antithyroid medications.

DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis)

State with blood glucose above $300\,mg/dL$, fruity breath, Kussmaul respirations, and metabolic acidosis.

HHS (Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State)

State with blood glucose above $600\,mg/dL$, dehydration, and no ketones or metabolic acidosis; common in DM2.

Barium Enema

A procedure requiring $8\,\text{hours}$ of NPO and no chewing gum; post-procedure stools may be white for several days.

Ribbon-like stool

A characteristic clinical sign of a large bowel obstruction.

Cullen’s and Turner’s signs

Physical signs of pancreatitis involving ecchymosis (bruising) near the umbilicus and flanks.

Fetor Hepaticus

A sweet, musty breath smell associated with late-stage cirrhosis.

Asterixis

A coarsing flapping tremor of the hands found in late cirrhosis.

Dumping Syndrome

A post-bariatric surgery complication involving abdominal cramping and tachycardia; managed by reclining after meals and avoiding liquids with food.

Disequilibrium Syndrome

A complication of hemodialysis characterized by an increase in $ICP$.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomeruli, often following untreated strep, characterized by oliguria and brown-colored urine.

Nephrotic Syndrome

A kidney disorder resulting in massive protein loss, leading to frothy urine, weight gain, and edema.