Nursing Exam #1 Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering nursing fundamentals, infection control, safety, vital signs, and physical assessment for Exam #1.

HGTC 5 Integrated Concepts

1. Safety 2. Teamwork & collaboration 3. Clinical decision making 4. Professional behaviors 5. Patient centered care

Aims of Nursing

1. Promote health 2. Prevent illness 3. Restore health 4. Facilitate coping with disability/death

Standards of Nursing Practice

Guidelines that protect the patient, nurse, and institution by defining how nursing roles are “normally done.”

Nurse Practice Acts

Laws that regulate nursing practice in each state and define the specific acts nurses can and cannot perform.

Reciprocity

When one state recognizes a nursing license that was granted in another state.

ADPIE

The nursing process steps: Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Interventions, and Evaluation.

Traditional Knowledge

Wisdom handed down from nurse to nurse that is not always accurate but is followed because it is "the way things are done."

Authoritative Knowledge

Knowledge provided by an expert nurse, such as a wound care nurse teaching how to clean a wound vac.

Scientific Knowledge

Knowledge gained through research and science that involves proving and demonstrating findings.

Inductive Reasoning

A process of reasoning summarized by the logic $2+2=4$, where specific actions lead to a result.

Deductive Reasoning

A process of reasoning summarized by the logic $4=2+2$, where a result is explained by its causes.

Qualitative Research

Research that gains insight into human experiences through interviews, often called the “art of nursing.”

Quantitative Research

Research that provides data through statistics, often called the “science of nursing.”

PICOT

A structured format for nursing research: Patient/population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time.

Endemic

A disease that constantly “lives” in a specific area.

Pandemic

A disease that spreads rapidly around the world.

Endogenous

An infection that originates from inside the body.

Exogenous

An infection that originates from outside the body.

Fomite

A nonliving object that can carry microorganisms.

Asphyxiation

A condition where the body does not receive enough $O_2$.

Infection Cycle

1. Infectious agent 2. Reservoir 3. Portal of exit 4. Means of transmission 5. Portals of entry 6. Susceptible host

5 Moments for Hand Hygiene

1. Before touching patient 2. Before clean/aseptic procedure 3. After bodily fluid exposure risk 4. After touching patient 5. After touching patient surroundings.

Incubation Period

The stage from the moment an infectious agent enters the body until the first signs or symptoms appear.

Prodromal Stage

The most infectious phase of infection where the patient feels like they are “getting sick.”

Convalescence

The recovery stage of an infection.

Cardinal Signs of Acute Infection

Rubor (red), Erythema (heat), Edema (swelling), Pain, and Loss of function.

CAUTI

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection.

CLABSI

Central line associated bloodstream infection.

Airborne Precautions (MTV)

Used for Rubeola (measles), TB, and Varicella (chicken pox); requires a negative pressure room and an $N95$ mask.

Droplet Precautions

Used for COVID, FLU, rubella, mumps, and pertussis; requires a private room, mask, goggles, and keeping visitors $3\,ft$ away.

Contact Precautions

Used for MRSA, VRE, and ESBL; requires gloves and gown.

Enteric Precautions

Used for CDIFF; requires washing hands with soap and water and cleaning surfaces with bleach.

Medical Asepsis

Also known as clean technique.

Surgical Asepsis

Also known as sterile technique.

Donning PPE Sequence

1. Gown 2. Mask 3. Goggles 4. Gloves

Doffing PPE Sequence

1. Gloves 2. Goggles 3. Gown 4. Mask

RACE (Fire Safety)

Rescue, Activate fire code, Confine the fire, Evacuate.

PASS (Fire Extinguisher)

Pull pin, Aim at base of fire, Squeeze handle, Sweeping motion.

Afebrile

The absence of fever.

Auscultatory Gap

The disappearance of Korotkoff sounds when palpating the brachial pulse while taking blood pressure.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A drop in blood pressure when a patient changes position.

Normal Adult Temperature (Oral)

$37.0\,^{\circ}C$ or $98.6\,^{\circ}F$

Normal Adult Pulse (P)

$60-100$ beats per minute ($80$ average).

Normal Adult Respiration (R)

$12-20$ breaths per minute.

Normal Blood Pressure (BP)

$$120/80$$

Oxygen Saturation (O2 sat)

$$>95\%$$

Intermittent Fever

Temperature fluctuates but returns to normal at least once every $24\,hr$.

Apical Pulse Location

$5th$ intercostal space at the left midclavicular line.

Pulse Pressure

The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (e.g., $120 - 80 = 40$).

Ventilation

The movement of air in and out of the lungs.

Diffusion

The exchange of $O_2$ and $CO_2$ between the alveoli and the blood.

Perfusion

The exchange of $O_2$ and $CO_2$ between the blood and tissue cells.

Eupnea

Normal, unlabored respirations (typically $1$ respiration to $4$ heartbeats).

Subjective Data

Symptoms or information regarding how the patient feels.

Objective Data

Signs or information that can be observed or measured by the nurse.

Cyanosis

A blue discoloration of the skin.

Diaphoresis

Excessive sweating.

Ecchymosis

Discoloration of the skin caused by underlying bleeding (blue, purple, black, yellow).

Ascites

The buildup of fluid in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity.

Bruit

An abnormal swishing sound heard over an artery.

Fowler's Positions

Low ($15-30$ degrees), Semi ($30-45$ degrees), and High ($60-90$ degrees) elevation of the head of the bed.

Trendelenburg Position

Patient is flat on their back with feet elevated higher than the head.

Inspection

Physical assessment technique used to assess size, color, shape, position, and symmetry by sight.

Palpation

Physical assessment technique using light touch to assess temperature, turgor, texture, moisture, vibrations, and shape.

Auscultation

Physical assessment technique of listening to sounds to assess pitch, loudness, quality, and duration.

Percussion

Physical assessment technique of tapping to assess location, shape, size, and density of tissue.

Order for Abdominal Assessment

1. Inspection, 2. Auscultation, 3. Palpation.

Petechiae

Tiny red blood spots related to infection or platelet dysfunction.

Purpura

Larger red blood spots often related to blood thinners or vitamin deficiency.

Crepitus

A grinding, crackling, popping, or crunching sound heard or felt when moving a joint.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Ranges

Mild impairment ($13-15$), Moderate impairment ($9-12$), and Coma ($3-8$).

Romberg Test

A neurological exam where the patient stands barefoot with feet together and eyes closed to evaluate balance.