TERM 3 HESI REVIEW - Professor Gonzalez, RN, BSN

Practice flashcards covering key terms and concepts for the Term 3 HESI Review, focusing on cardiac, renal, integumentary, and musculoskeletal systems.

Tachycardia

A heart rate greater than $100$ beats per minute.

Bradycardia

A heart rate less than $60$ beats per minute.

Pulse Deficit

A clinical finding where the apical pulse is greater than the radial pulse, indicating that not every heartbeat reaches peripheral circulation; often seen in atrial fibrillation or heart failure.

Capillary Refill

An assessment of peripheral perfusion where normal return of color occurs in $< 2$ seconds.

Bounding Pulse

A pulse with a strength grade of $4+$; often associated with fever, anxiety, hyperthyroidism, or hypertension.

Beck's Triad

A set of three clinical signs indicating cardiac tamponade: hypotension, jugular vein distention (JVD), and muffled heart sounds.

MONA

An acronym used for the immediate treatment of Myocardial Infarction: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, and Aspirin.

Stable Angina

Predictable chest pain triggered by exercise, stress, or cold, which is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.

Unstable Angina

A medical emergency characterized by chest pain that occurs at rest, increases in frequency, and is not relieved by nitroglycerin.

Dressler Syndrome

An autoimmune reaction occurring weeks to months after a myocardial infarction that causes fever, malaise, chest pain, and a pericardial friction rub.

Pericardial Friction Rub

A scratchy, grating sound heard on auscultation, best heard at the left sternal border with the patient leaning forward; a classic sign of pericarditis.

BNP

A laboratory test that is elevated in patients experiencing Heart Failure.

Mitral Valve Stenosis

Narrowing of the mitral valve opening, commonly caused by rheumatic heart disease from untreated Group A strep infection, leading to pulmonary congestion and risk of atrial fibrillation.

Hypertensive Crisis

An emergency condition where blood pressure is above $>180/120$.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A drop in blood pressure when moving positions, defined as a decrease in systolic BP $\ge 20\,mmHg$ or diastolic BP $\ge 10\,mmHg$ within $3$ minutes of standing.

AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm)

A localized dilation of the abdominal aorta that may present as a pulsatile abdominal mass or sudden severe tearing/ripping pain if ruptured.

5 P’s of Circulation

A neurovascular assessment tool consisting of Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, and Paralysis.

Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA)

A surgical procedure to remove plaque from the carotid artery to restore blood flow to the brain and prevent stroke.

Stress Incontinence

Urine leakage occurring during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise due to weak pelvic floor muscles.

Urge Incontinence

Also known as overactive bladder; characterized by a sudden, strong urge to urinate and leakage before reaching the toilet due to bladder spasms.

CVA (Costovertebral Angle) Tenderness

Pain elicited by tapping the back over the kidney area, a hallmark finding in pyelonephritis.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the kidney glomeruli, often occurring after a streptococcal infection, characterized by tea-colored (cola-colored) urine and periorbital edema.

Nephrotic Syndrome

A renal disorder characterized by massive proteinuria, frothy/foamy urine, and severe edema (anasarca) due to low albumin levels.

Urosepsis

A systemic inflammatory response caused by a urinary tract infection spreading into the bloodstream; common in elderly patients with catheters.

TURP Syndrome

A complication of transurethral resection of the prostate occurring when irrigation fluid is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Oliguria

A decrease in urine output of less than $30\,mL/hour$.

AV Fistula

A permanent dialysis access created by connecting an artery and a vein; assessment must include feeling a 'thrill' (vibration) and hearing a 'bruit' (whooshing sound).

Disequilibrium Syndrome

A complication of dialysis occurring when toxins are removed too quickly, causing headache, confusion, nausea, and seizures.

Chvostek Sign

A clinical sign of hypocalcemia consisting of a facial muscle twitch when the facial nerve is tapped.

ABCDE Rule

A mnemonic used to assess suspicious skin lesions for melanoma: Asymmetry, Border irregular, Color variation, Diameter $> 6\,mm$, and Evolving changes.

Heberden’s Nodes

Bony growths found at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints of the fingers in patients with osteoarthritis.

Fat Embolism Syndrome (FES)

A life-threatening complication of long bone fractures (femur, tibia, humerus) occurring within $24-72$ hours, presenting with respiratory distress, confusion, and petechiae.

Priapism

A prolonged erection lasting longer than $4$ hours, considered a urologic emergency that requires immediate medical care to prevent permanent damage.

Plan B (levonorgestrel)

An emergency contraceptive pill that must be taken within $72$ hours of unprotected sex to delay or prevent ovulation.