Nursing Exam Review

Flashcards about end-of-life care, grief, nursing practice, cultural considerations, wound care, vital signs, and other nursing topics.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

Emotional exhaustion experienced by nurses and caregivers due to prolonged exposure to suffering patients, leading to detachment and reduced empathy.

What is Prolonged Grief Disorder?

Intense, persistent grief lasting more than 6 months that interferes with normal functioning.

What is Adventitious Stress?

Stress arising from unexpected events like disasters, accidents, or violence.

What is PTSD?

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, with symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety.

What is anticipatory grief?

Grieving before the actual loss occurs.

What is disenfranchised grief?

Grief not acknowledged by society (e.g., death of an ex-spouse or pet).

What is complicated grief?

Includes chronic, delayed, or masked grief responses that hinder healing.

How should you provide nursing care to a grieving patient?

Provide a therapeutic presence, encourage expression of feelings, offer resources (support groups, chaplain, counselor), and monitor for signs of depression or self-harm.

What indicates healthy grieving?

Includes sadness, crying, talking about the loss, gradually returning to daily life.

What indicates complicated grieving?

Includes prolonged inability to function, denial that lasts months, intense guilt, or suicidal ideation.

How long does uncomplicated grief last?

Several months to a year and diminishes over time.

What is palliative care?

Focuses on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life for patients with serious or chronic illnesses at any stage, not just at the end of life.

Which patients would palliative care apply to?

Patients with cancer, heart failure, COPD, or advanced dementia.

What is hospice care?

Care for terminally ill patients with a prognosis of 6 months or less to live, when curative treatment is no longer pursued.

Who is hospice care restricted to?

Those terminally ill with a life expectancy of less than 6 months.

What is a supportive service for end-of-life care patients and their families?

Social work services, chaplain/spiritual care, bereavement counseling, respite care for family caregivers, and home health aides.

What nursing care should be provided to unconscious patients who are at the end of life?

Frequent repositioning, oral and skin care, moistening lips and eyes, assuring presence and touch (hearing is last to go), pain management and comfort, and maintaining dignity and respect.

What do vital signs look like for a patient at the end of life?

Decreased BP, irregular, shallow, or Cheyne-Stokes respirations, weak, thready pulse, cool, mottled extremities, and changes in LOC.

What are the Kubler-Ross stages of grief?

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

What is the Nurse Practice Act (NPA)?

A state law that governs the practice of nursing within that state, defining scope of practice, setting educational requirements, and establishing legal titles and responsibilities.

What is the first step in defining the scope of practice?

Consulting the state’s Nurse Practice Act, which clearly outlines what LPN/LVNs and RNs are legally permitted to do.

What are Standards of Practice?

Authoritative statements of the duties all nurses are expected to perform competently, serving as guidelines for providing safe, high-quality care.

What is malpractice?

A form of professional negligence that occurs when a nurse fails to meet the standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient.

What is assault?

The threat or attempt to make bodily contact with another person without consent, causing the person to fear harm.

What is battery?

Actual physical contact made with a person without their consent, which may or may not cause harm.

What is false imprisonment?

Occurs when a person is confined or restrained against their will.

What is non-maleficence?

The ethical principle meaning “do no harm.” Nurses must avoid actions that intentionally or unintentionally cause harm to patients and aim to promote patient well-being.

What is AMA?

Against Medical Advice; when a patient chooses to leave a healthcare facility before the physician recommends discharge.

What are nursing considerations for a patient that is leaving AMA?

Assess and document the patient’s understanding of risks, notify the provider immediately, explain potential consequences, have the patient sign an AMA form, do not restrain or delay the patient, and document all actions.

What are dietary considerations for a Muslim patient?

Pork and pork products are strictly prohibited, alcohol is forbidden, halal foods are required, and fasting during Ramadan is observed.

What does postmortem care of a Muslim patient look like?

Modesty and respect for the body are important. The same-sex caregiver should handle the body when possible. The body should be washed and wrapped in a plain white shroud. Burial should occur as soon as possible.

What is a Kosher meal?

A Kosher meal follows Jewish dietary laws (Kashrut) and includes guidelines such as no pork or shellfish, meat and dairy are not mixed, and only certain animals may be eaten.

Which religious group must have Kosher meals?

Observant Jewish patients, particularly those who follow Orthodox or Conservative traditions.

What are the stages (types) of wound healing?

1st Intention (Primary), 2nd Intention (Secondary), and 3rd Intention (Tertiary) Healing.

What are the phases of wound healing?

Hemostasis, Inflammatory Phase, Proliferation Phase, and Maturation (Remodeling) Phase.

What are the different stages of pressure injuries?

Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Unstageable, and Deep Tissue Pressure Injury.

What are signs and symptoms of Bradycardia (HR < 60 bpm)?

Fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, syncope.

What are signs and symptoms of Tachycardia (HR > 100 bpm)?

Palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, anxiety.

What are the steps to obtain blood pressure?

Have patient sit quietly for 5 minutes, arm supported at heart level. Select the correct cuff size. Wrap the cuff snugly 1–2 inches above the antecubital space. Place the stethoscope over the brachial artery. Inflate cuff 30 mmHg above expected systolic pressure. Slowly deflate (2–3 mmHg/sec), listening for sounds.

What are the effects of increased pain level on vital signs?

Increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, elevated blood pressure, decreased oxygen saturation due to shallow breathing.

What are the vital signs associated with Hypovolemic Shock?

Low blood pressure, high heart rate, increased respiratory rate, low SpO2, cool, clammy skin.

What are Nursing Interventions for Elevated Temperature (Fever)?

Monitor temperature frequently, encourage fluid intake to prevent dehydration, administer antipyretics as prescribed (e.g., acetaminophen), provide cooling measures (cool cloth, tepid bath), Reduce room temperature and remove excess clothing Monitor for signs of infection and report abnormalities

What are the Physiological Needs in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Food, water, oxygen, elimination, rest.

What PPE is needed for Standard Precautions?

Gloves, hand hygiene

What PPE is needed for Contact Precautions?

Gloves, gown

What PPE is needed for Droplet Precautions?

Mask (surgical), gloves

What PPE is needed for Airborne Precautions?

N95 respirator, negative pressure room

What are some age-related changes in the eyes in the elderly?

Presbyopia, decreased night vision, slower reaction to light changes.

What is the R.A.C.E. acronym for fire safety in facilities?

R: Rescue, A: Alarm, C: Confine, E: Extinguish/Evacuate