Fundamentals Final Exam Part 1

What is the purpose of the nursing Code of Ethics?

It gives the values, obligations, and ideals of the nursing profession and helps nurses handle difficult ethical situations.

What does the Nurse Practice Act do?

It gives state rules and regulations that guide nursing care delivery and explains nursing responsibilities.

What does “scope of nursing practice” tell the nurse?

It tells the nurse what they can legally do.

What do standards of practice describe?

They describe what competent nursing care looks like and help compare nursing practice to expected standards.

What do standards of professional performance help nurses do?

Evaluate their own nursing work and professional behavior.

ANA vs NPA: what is the difference?

ANA sets nursing standards and professional conduct. NPA gives state laws/regulations for nursing practice.

BON vs QSEN: what is the difference?

BON determines what nurses should be studying/practice requirements. QSEN gives nursing competencies for knowledge, skills, and attitudes before practice.

What is the role of NCSBN?

Protects public health and welfare by ensuring nurses are competent through nursing regulation recommendations.

What is the role of the National League for Nursing?

Helps ensure nurses have the same fundamental nursing knowledge.

What is the IOM/NAM connected to in nursing?

IOM/NAM is connected to the Future of Nursing and provides objective data to improve society’s health.

What is the role of the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion?

It creates Healthy People.

What organization advocates for whistleblower protection and defines nursing competencies?

ANA.

What should a nurse remember about social media?

It can educate patients, but the nurse must maintain professional boundaries and use social media responsibly.

What is health literacy?

The ability to obtain, communicate, and understand basic health information and explain it in one’s own words.

Why should nurses avoid using the telephone to transmit information?

It is not the preferred way to transmit information, even between professional teams.

Benner stages of nursing development in order

Novice → advanced beginner → competent → proficient → expert.

How does an advanced beginner nurse usually practice?

Needs support from other nurses.

How does a competent nurse usually prioritize?

Prioritizes based on previous experience.

How does a proficient nurse practice?

Can adjust care based on changing situations.

What does AAPIE stand for?

Assess → Analyze → Plan → Intervene → Evaluate.

Priority setting: what type of problem gets highest priority?

The problem that can cause the greatest harm the fastest.

Why can fall risk be higher priority than circulation in some questions?

A fall can cause serious harm quickly, such as a brain bleed.

In priority questions, what does safety/risk reduction focus on?

Choosing the action that prevents the greatest harm.

Why is abdominal pain considered urgent?

Because it has an acute onset and could signal a serious condition.

What is the purpose of “exposure” during assessment?

To check for temperature, bruising, infection risk, and hidden safety risks.

Least invasive vs most invasive: what should the nurse choose first?

Start with the least invasive action that can safely address the patient’s problem.

Maslow order from basic to highest

Physiological → Safety → Love/belonging → Self-esteem → Self-actualization.

What belongs under physiological needs?

Air, water, food, housing/environment, sex, and sleep.

What is pain considered in vital signs?

The fifth vital sign.

What pain scale is used for children 2 months to 7 years old?

FLACC.

What does FLACC stand for?

Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability.

What does PQRST assess in pain?

Provocation, Quality, Region, Severity, Timing.

What factors affect pain perception?

Stress, culture, social support, disease severity, and physical/biological/social factors.

Does elevated temperature change how pain is registered?

No. Elevated temperature does not affect how pain is registered.

How long does oral oxycodone take for full effect?

About 60 to 90 minutes.

What is ice an example of for pain relief?

Cutaneous stimulation.

Capnography measures what?

The amount of carbon dioxide, CO₂.

What is the grief “NURSE” communication focus from the notes?

“U” is more about support; “E” is more about exploring.

What complementary therapy can be used for comfort/pain?

Massage therapy.

What is ginseng used for?

Energy.

What is orange used for?

Nausea.

What is kava used for?

Anxiety.

What is niacin used for?

Cholesterol.

What does homeopathy mean?

A substance that caused the disease can also be used to solve/treat it.

What does Ayurveda include?

Fire, water, earth, sky, and air.

What does naturopathy include?

Exercise, diet, homeopathy, supplements, and Chinese medicine.

What part of the brain is responsible for transmission of REM/dreams?

Thalamus.

What sleep stage do adults spend most time in?

Stage 2.

What happens in light sleep?

Respirations and muscle tone stay about the same.

What happens in slightly deeper sleep?

Heart rate and temperature decrease.

What sleep stage is hard to wake from and restorative?

Stage 3.

What is REM sleep associated with?

Dreams.

What causes central sleep apnea?

The brain does not send signals to the respiratory muscles.

What is the recommendation for naps?

Do not sleep more than 20 minutes, and avoid napping within 3 hours before bed.

What does leptin do?

Reduces hunger.

What can nonbenzodiazepines cause?

Hallucinations.

What starts the stress response?

Hypothalamus.

What is episodic stress?

Multiple episodes of acute stress.

What is adventitious stress?

Stress caused by something catastrophic.

What condition is often triggered by stress?

IBS.

Sensory processing problems can make the patient feel what?

Hypersensitive to stimuli.

Glaucoma causes what type of problem?

Decreased vision/visual impairment.

What can cause conductive hearing loss?

Trauma, earwax, otitis media, or inflammation.

Why can the ICU cause sensory overload?

Too much light, noise, and personnel.

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can cause loss of what sense?

Smell.

What tastes can patients lose over time?

Salty, bitter, and sour.

What helps a patient with macular degeneration?

More light and large-print materials.

In sensory questions, what should the recommendation match?

The specific sensory issue in the question.

What happens in the orientation phase of communication?

The nurse and patient meet for the first time.

What happens in the exploitation phase of communication?

Active coaching occurs.

What is the goal of client education?

Improve health, provide knowledge about health, and promote health.

Who determines how documentation works in a facility?

Each facility determines its own documentation process.

Who advocated for electronic health records?

Institute of Medicine.

What does problem-oriented charting use?

SOAP notes and progress notes.

What are complications of fecal diversions?

Hernias, electrolyte imbalance, prolapse, diarrhea, and infection.

What can an enlarged prostate cause?

Urinary retention.

Why might a paraplegic patient need intermittent catheterization and bladder training?

Because they can have impaired bladder control/emptying.

What can too much dairy cause according to the notes?

Infections.

What does the large intestine release?

Vitamin K.

What is ileostomy stool usually like?

Watery stool.

What is stool from the large intestine usually like?

Harder stool.

Gabapentin: what is the main safety concern in older adults?

Dizziness and fall risk.

Acetaminophen: what is the antidote?

Acetylcysteine.

Aspirin: what are major safety concerns?

Gastric bleeding, caution with anticoagulants, and risk for Reye syndrome.

Morphine: what should the nurse monitor?

Respiratory rate, level of consciousness, sedation, and fall risk.

Naloxone: what is important after giving it?

It has a short half-life, so monitor for sedation returning.

Prednisone: what are major safety concerns?

Infection risk and hyperglycemia.

Ibuprofen: what are major safety concerns?

GI bleeding, renal failure, and tinnitus.

Sumatriptan: what is it used for and when should it be taken?

Used for migraines; take ASAP.