Clinical Precautions and Common Medical Conditions Nursing Flashcards

Comprehensive practice questions and answers covering isolation precautions, clinical nutrition support, and high-yield pathophysiology for C. diff, TB, Pneumonia, COPD, and Sepsis.

When are standard precautions applied in a healthcare setting?

Standard precautions apply to the care of ALL patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection.

What are the specific requirements for Droplet Precautions?

Requirements include a private room or cohort and a surgical mask when within $3\,\text{feet}$ of the patient.

Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory for Airborne Precautions?

An $N95$ or higher respirator is required, and the patient must be in an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) with negative pressure.

What is the correct sequence for donning PPE before entering a room?

1. Hand hygiene, 2. Gown, 3. Mask or Respirator, 4. Eye Protection, 5. Gloves.

What are the "3 C's" of infection control?

Clean (hands and equipment), Contain (pathogens using isolation), and Communicate (with patients and the team).

What is the primary difference between Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition (PPN) and Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)?

PPN is delivered into a peripheral vein for short-term support ($\le 7-14\,\text{days}$), while TPN is delivered into a central vein for long-term, complete nutrition.

What are the nursing interventions regarding the Head of Bed (HOB) for enteral feedings?

Maintain HOB at $30-45^{\circ}$ during feeding and for $30-60\,\text{min}$ after.

At what gastric residual volume should the nurse hold enteral feeding and notify the provider?

$\ge 250\,mL$.

For Enteral Nutrition (EN), what does the memory trick "EN" stand for?

Eat through the Gut.

Why is hand hygiene with soap and water mandatory for patients with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)?

C. diff produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers; soap and water are required to physically remove them.

Which medications are considered first-line treatments for C. diff?

Oral Vancomycin and Fidaxomicin (Dificid).

What defines "Severe" C. diff infection based on laboratory markers?

A $WBC \ge 15,000$ OR a Serum Creatinine ($SCr$) $\ge 1.5 \times$ baseline.

In the memory trick "WATER" for C. diff, what do the letters represent?

W: Watery diarrhea, A: Antibiotics (risk), T: Toxins A & B, E: Elderly at risk, R: Recurrence is common.

What are the common symptoms of active Tuberculosis (TB)?

Persistent cough > 3 weeks, hemoptysis, chest pain, fever, chills, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss.

What are the first-line TB medications known by the acronym "RIPE"?

Rifampin (R), Isoniazid (I), Pyrazinamide (P), and Ethambutol (E).

Which TB medication requires monitoring for vision changes and color perception?

Ethambutol.

What is the difference between Latent TB Infection (LTBI) and Active TB Disease?

LTBI results in a positive test but no symptoms and is not contagious; Active TB is symptomatic and contagious.

What is the classic sputum finding for pneumococcal pneumonia?

"Rusty" or blood-tinged sputum.

What is the target oxygen saturation ($SpO_2$) for a patient with Pneumonia?

$\ge 92\%$.

What are the two conditions that characterize Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

Chronic bronchitis (inflammation and excess mucus) and Emphysema (destruction of alveoli and air trapping).

What is the target $SpO_2$ range for a patient with COPD?

$88-92\%$.

Which pulmonary function test (PFT) ratio indicates COPD?

A $FEV_1/FVC$ ratio $< 0.70$.

How is Septic Shock clinically defined?

Sepsis with hypotension requiring vasopressors to maintain $MAP \ge 65\,mmHg$ and a lactate $> 2\,mmol/L$ despite adequate fluid resuscitation.

What are the three criteria for the qSOFA bedside screening for sepsis?

1. Systolic Blood Pressure ($SBP$) $\le 100\,mmHg$, 2. Respiratory Rate ($RR$) $\ge 22/min$, 3. Altered mentation ($GCS < 15$).

What is the recommended initial IV fluid volume for a patient in sepsis?

$30\,mL/kg$ of crystalloid.

What does the mnemonic "TIME" stand for regarding sepsis recognition?

T: Temperature change, M: Mental status change, I: Infection suspected, E: Elevated HR & RR.