Medical Surgical Nursing I - Comprehensive Practice Flashcards

This flashcard set covers key terminology and concepts from the Medical Surgical Nursing I course, including the nursing process, edema, acid-base balance, GI disorders, cardiovascular health, and musculoskeletal conditions.

Nursing Process

A systematic problem-solving approach toward giving individualized nursing care consisting of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Subjective Data

Information gathered from the client's point of view, often referred to as symptoms (e.g., "I have a headache").

Objective Data

Observable and measurable facts obtained through physical examination or diagnostic tests, often referred to as signs (e.g., blood pressure of $130/80$).

NANDA

The North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, which provides a standardized list of nursing diagnostic labels based on a client's response to actual or potential problems.

SMART Goals

A mnemonic for setting patient-centered outcomes: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Related to scope of practice, and projected Time frame.

Edema

A localized or generalized condition involving an accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space that occurs as capillary filtration exceeds the limits of lymphatic drainage.

Anasarca

Severe, generalized edema involving all aspects of the body including the upper and lower extremities and the face.

Lipedema

Edema caused by fluid retained in the interstitial space by lipids in the dermis.

Pretibial Myxedema

A swelling on the anterior shins due to the coalescing of subcutaneous plaques infiltration from Graves disease antibodies, not technically fluid-based edema.

Pitting Edema Grade 4

An indentation of $6-8\,mm$ that is very deep, lasts for $2-5$ minutes, and makes the dependent extremity look grossly distorted.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone that regulates the amount of water the kidney tubules absorb, released in response to low blood volume or increased sodium concentration.

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

Body fluid located outside cells, mostly appearing as interstitial tissue fluid and intravascular fluid.

pH

Symbol referring to the potential or power of hydrogen ion concentration within a solution; values below $7$ are acidic and above $7$ are basic.

Bicarbonate Buffer System

The body's major chemical buffer system composed of sodium bicarbonate and carbonic acid used to resist changes in hydrogen ion levels.

Respiratory Acidosis

An imbalance occurring when breathing is inadequate and $PaCO_2$ builds up ($pH < 7.35$ and $PaCO_2 > 45\,mmHg$).

Metabolic Acidosis

A condition where metabolism is impaired, causing a decrease in bicarbonates ($< 22\,mEq/L$) and a build-up of lactic acid with a $pH < 7.35$.

Hyponatremia

A serum sodium level that is less than $135\,mEq/L$.

Hyperkalemia

A serum potassium level greater than $5.0\,mEq/L$, which can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrest.

Amylase

A digestive enzyme in saliva and pancreatic juice that converts starch to maltose.

Intrinsic Factor

A substance contained in gastric juice that aids in the absorption of vitamin $B_{12}$.

Chyme

A thick liquid formed in the stomach via mechanical digestion involving three layers of smooth muscle.

Hepatic Portal Circulation

A special pathway where blood from the abdominal digestive organs and spleen is brought to the liver before returning to the heart.

Kupffer Cells

Fixed macrophages of the liver that phagocytize worn blood cells and pathogens brought in through portal circulation.

Jaundice (Icterus)

A yellowing of the skin and sclerae that occurs when the liver is unable to conjugate bilirubin or when bile drainage is obstructed.

Barium Swallow (Upper GI Series)

An x-ray examination of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and jejunum using an oral radiopaque contrast medium.

ERCP

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography; a procedure used to visualize the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas by injecting dye into the pancreatic and bile ducts.

Arthocentesis

A joint puncture used to collect synovial fluid for analysis to identify the cause of pain, swelling, or infection.

GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; the backward flow of gastric content into the esophagus due to transient relaxation or incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Barrett’s Esophagus

Changes in the cells lining the esophagus due to chronic GERD, which increases the risk for esophageal cancer.

Peptic Ulcer

An erosion formed in the mucosal wall of the stomach, pylorus, duodenum, or esophagus, frequently associated with H. pylori infection.

Dumping Syndrome

A complication of gastric surgery occurring when food and juices move from the stomach to the small intestine in an uncontrolled, abnormally fast manner.

Intussusception

A type of mechanical intestinal obstruction involving the telescoping of the intestinal wall into itself.

Volvulus

A cause of mechanical intestinal obstruction where a loop of intestine becomes twisted.

Anal Fistula

A tiny, fibrous tract that extends into the anal canal from an opening located beside the anus.

McBurney’s Point

A location in the right lower quadrant midway between the umbilicus and the right iliac crest where appendicitis pain often localizes.

Rovsing’s Sign

The occurrence of pain in the right lower quadrant when the left lower quadrant is palpated, indicating appendicitis.

Peritonitis

A serious, life-threatening inflammation of the peritoneum often caused by a ruptured appendix or perforated peptic ulcer.

Incarcerated Hernia

An irreducible hernia where adhesions or edema prevent the intestinal mass from returning to the abdominal cavity.

Cholelithiasis

The formation of gallstones in the gallbladder, usually composed primarily of cholesterol.

Murphy’s Sign

Inability to take a deep breath when an examiner’s fingers are pressed below the liver margin, indicating cholecystitis.

Cardiac Output (CO)

The amount of blood pumped by each ventricle in $1$ minute, calculated as $CO = SV \times HR$.

Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)

The peak pressure exerted against the arteries when the heart contracts.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

The perfusion pressure felt by organs, where a value greater than $60$ is necessary to sustain vital organs.

Angina Pectoris

A clinical syndrome characterized by paroxysms of chest pain or pressure caused by insufficient coronary blood flow.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

A life-threatening condition characterized by the formation of localized necrotic area within the myocardium due to prolonged ischemia.

D-dimer

A substance found in the blood that is often increased in people with blood clots, used as a diagnostic tool for DVT.

Embolus

A blood clot that breaks free from a deep vein and travels through the circulatory system.

Hematopoiesis

The physiologic function of bones to produce red blood cells ($RBCs$) in the bone marrow.

Kyphosis

An increased forward curvature of the thoracic spine, frequently seen in elderly patients with osteoporosis.

Osteomyelitis

An infection of the bone that results from invasion of bacteria into bone and surrounding soft tissues.

Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)

A non-invasive screening tool currently used to measure bone mineral content and density to diagnose osteoporosis.