Maternal-Child and Pediatric Nursing Final Exam Concepts

Vocabulary-style flashcards derived directly from the Maternal-Child and Pediatric Nursing final exam review guide, covering key ethical principles, obstetric complications, labor and delivery, postpartum, neonatal, and pediatric medical-surgical conditions.

Autonomy

An ethical principle defined as the right of the individual to make their own choices.

Beneficence

An ethical principle defined as the duty to do good.

Nonmaleficence

An ethical principle defined as the duty to avoid harm.

Justice

An ethical principle defined as fairness in healthcare delivery and allocation of resources.

Fidelity

An ethical principle defined as keeping commitments and promises.

Veracity

An ethical principle defined as truthfulness.

Advocacy

Protecting the patient's rights, preferences, safety, and access to appropriate care, even when personal beliefs differ.

Combined Hormonal Contraception

Contraceptive methods containing estrogen + progestin that increase thromboembolic risk and may be contraindicated with cardiovascular risk factors.

Progestin-Only Pills

Contraceptive pills without estrogen that can be used during breastfeeding and require consistent timing.

Placenta Previa

Obstetric condition characterized by classic painless bright-red vaginal bleeding where routine digital vaginal examinations must be avoided.

Abruptio Placentae

Premature separation of the placenta characterized by painful bleeding, uterine tenderness or rigidity, and fetal distress.

Early Decelerations

Fetal heart rate decelerations associated with fetal head compression occurring as a normal response during labor.

Late Decelerations

Fetal heart rate decelerations indicating uteroplacental insufficiency that require prompt intrauterine resuscitation measures.

Variable Decelerations

Fetal heart rate decelerations commonly associated with umbilical cord compression requiring prompt pattern assessment and intervention.

HELLP Syndrome

Serious maternal-fetal emergency characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets.

The 4 Ts of Postpartum Hemorrhage

Memory mnemonic for major causes of hemorrhage: Tone (uterine atony), Tissue (retained placenta), Trauma (laceration/hematoma), and Thrombin (coagulation problem).

Endometritis

Postpartum puerperal uterine infection characterized by fever, uterine tenderness, malaise, and foul-smelling lochia.

Subinvolution

Condition in which the uterus remains larger and softer than expected or bleeding persists postpartum.

Mastitis

Localized breast infection presenting with focal breast pain, redness, warmth, fever, and flu-like symptoms.

Apgar Scoring

Newborn adaptation assessment conducted at $1$ and $5$ minutes evaluating appearance/color, pulse, grimace/reflex response, activity/muscle tone, and respirations.

Atraumatic Care

Pediatric nursing approach that aims to minimize physical and psychological distress by involving caregivers, preserving routines, and providing age-appropriate preparation.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Congenital heart defect with a persistent opening between the aorta and pulmonary artery, creating a left-to-right shunt and a continuous murmur.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)

Cyanotic congenital heart defect characterized by four features: VSD, pulmonary stenosis/outflow obstruction, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Hypercyanotic 'Tet' Spell

Acute worsening cyanotic episode in Tetralogy of Fallot requiring immediate knee-chest/squatting positioning, oxygen, and reduced stimulation.

Kawasaki Disease

Acute systemic vasculitis in children presenting with prolonged fever, conjunctival changes, red/cracked lips, strawberry tongue, rash, and swollen extremities, carrying a high risk of coronary artery complications.

Status Asthmaticus

Severe asthma unresponsive to first-line therapy, where a silent chest with diminished or absent breath sounds signals impending failure.

Bronchiolitis

Acute viral lower-airway inflammation (commonly RSV in infants) characterized by cough, wheezing, tachypnea, retractions, and risk of apnea or dehydration.

Croup

Viral upper-airway inflammation causing subglottic swelling, characterized by a barking cough, hoarseness, inspiratory stridor, and retractions.

Epiglottitis

Rapid, life-threatening inflammation of the epiglottis causing drooling, dysphagia, muffled voice, and tripod positioning, where throat examination with a tongue blade is strictly contraindicated.

Cystic Fibrosis

Autosomal-recessive exocrine disorder caused by CFTR gene mutation, leading to thick mucus secretions, chronic respiratory infections, pancreatic insufficiency, and poor growth.

Pyloric Stenosis

Hypertrophy of the pyloric muscle in infants causing progressive projectile nonbilious vomiting, an olive-like abdominal mass, and dehydration.

Intussusception

Pediatric GI emergency where one segment of intestine telescopes into another, causing intermittent severe abdominal pain (knees drawn up), vomiting, and currant-jelly stools.

Hirschsprung Disease

Congenital absence of enteric ganglion cells in the distal bowel causing functional obstruction, failure to pass meconium, and abdominal distention.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)

Inflammatory intestinal necrosis primarily affecting premature infants, presenting with abdominal distention, feeding intolerance, bloody stools, and temperature instability.

Celiac Disease

Immune-mediated response to gluten causing intestinal villous injury, chronic diarrhea, abdominal distention, malabsorption, and growth failure.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Acute autoimmune peripheral neuropathy causing ascending muscle weakness, decreased reflexes, and paresthesias following an infection.

Infant Botulism

Neuromuscular paralysis caused by botulinum toxin (associated with honey in infants under $12$ months) presenting with hypotonia, weak cry, poor feeding, diminished gag, and bulbar weakness.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

Pediatric hip instability characterized by positive Ortolani/Barlow signs, asymmetric skin folds, and limited abduction, managed with a Pavlik harness.

Nephrotic Syndrome

Renal disorder marked by heavy urinary protein loss leading to hypoalbuminemia, generalized edema/ascites, weight gain, and frothy urine.

Acute Glomerulonephritis

Post-streptococcal immune-complex kidney inflammation characterized by tea/cola-colored urine (hematuria), edema, hypertension, and reduced urine output.

Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)

Congenital backward flow of urine from the bladder toward the ureters and kidneys, predisposing children to recurrent febrile UTIs.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

Life-threatening complication of Type 1 diabetes featuring hyperglycemia, ketosis, metabolic acidosis, Kussmaul breathing, abdominal pain, and fruity breath.

Diabetes Insipidus (DI)

Condition caused by ADH deficiency or renal resistance resulting in excessive free-water loss, extreme thirst, polyuria, dilute urine, and hypernatremia.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

Inherited adrenal enzyme deficiency causing impaired cortisol synthesis, salt-wasting, ambiguous genitalia, and risk of life-threatening adrenal crisis.

Sickle Cell Disease

Inherited autosomal recessive hemoglobin S disorder causing RBC sickling, vaso-occlusive pain episodes, chronic hemolytic anemia, and complications like acute chest syndrome.

Hemophilia

Inherited X-linked clotting-factor deficiency leading to prolonged bleeding, hemarthrosis, and risk of deep tissue or intracranial hemorrhage.

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

Autoimmune platelet destruction following a viral infection, leading to severe thrombocytopenia, petechiae, purpura, bruising, and mucosal bleeding.