NCLEX Comprehensive Review Flashcards

Practice vocabulary flashcards based on the NCLEX Study Guide covering labs, medical-surgical landmarks, diagnostics, maternity, pediatrics, and pharmacology.

Nurse Achieve CAT

A testing format (Computerized Adaptive Testing) that mimics the exact format used on the NCLEX.

INR (International Normalized Ratio)

A blood test that assesses how fast blood clots; it is used for patients taking warfarin and is dependent on vitamin K made by the liver.

PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time)

A laboratory test used to assess if heparin (blood-thinning therapy) is working correctly.

Isotonic Solutions

Intravenous fluids with no osmotic pressure where cells stay the same size; examples include $0.9\%$ NS, Lactated Ringers, and D5W.

Hypotonic Solutions

Intravenous fluids where water enters the cells; examples include $0.45\%$ NS and $0.33\%$ NS, requiring assessment for edema.

Hypertonic Solutions

Intravenous fluids where water is removed from cells; examples include $3\%$ NS, $5\%$ NS, and D10W.

Colloid Solutions

Fluids such as Albumin or Dextran that move fluid from the interstitial to the intravascular compartment, given to patients in severe hypovolemia.

Metabolic Acidosis Source

Condition typically caused by loss of bicarb or acid 'from the butt' due to diarrhea.

Metabolic Alkalosis Source

Condition typically caused by loss of acid 'from the mouth' due to vomitus.

Protamine Sulfate

The specific antidote used for Heparin.

Vitamin K

The specific antidote used for Warfarin (Coumadin).

Calcium Gluconate

The specific antidote used for Magnesium Sulfate.

Mucomyst (acetylcysteine)

The specific antidote used for Tylenol (Acetaminophen).

Narcan

The specific antidote used for Opiates or Narcotics.

Digiband

The specific antidote used for Digoxin.

Atropine and oximes

The medications used as an antidote for a cholinergic crisis.

Addison’s Disease Sign

Bronze pigmentation of the skin.

Cushing’s Syndrome Sign

Physical manifestation of moonface and/or a buffalo hump.

Diabetes Mellitus Signs

The triad of polyuria, polyphagia, and polydipsia.

Homan’s Sign

A hallmark sign indicative of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Cushing’s Triad

A sign of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) consisting of HTN, bradycardia, and bradypnea.

Strawberry Tongue

A hallmark sign associated with Kawasaki Syndrome.

Butterfly Rash

A hallmark sign associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Koplick’s spots

Specifically located lesions in the mouth that serve as a hallmark sign for Measles.

Cullen’s sign

Ecchymosis around the umbilical region indicating internal hemorrhage; often seen in pancreatitis.

Turner’s sign

Grayish blue discoloration on the flanks indicating internal hemorrhage; often seen in pancreatitis.

Allen’s Test

A diagnostic test that assesses arterial blood supply in the hand before performing a radial stick or drawing ABGs.

Murphy’s Sign

Pain with palpation of the gallbladder area; indicative of cholecystitis.

Babinski Sign

An assessment where toes fan (abnormal in adults) or curl (normal in adults) when the bottom of the foot is stimulated.

Halo Sign

A positive test where fluid from a head injury forms a bloody circle surrounded by a yellow border, indicating the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

RACE

The fire safety acronym: Rescue patients at risk, Activate alarm, Contain fire, and Extinguish fire.

Primary Prevention

Health strategies aimed at preventing disease or injury before it occurs, such as first aid education.

Secondary Prevention

Health strategies aimed at treating patients who are already injured, such as triage in an emergency department.

Rule of 9s

The assessment tool for burn surface area: head ($9\%$), arms ($18\%$), torso ($36\%$), legs ($36\%$), and perineum ($1\%$).

Parkland Formula

$4\,\text{ml} \times \text{Total Burn Surface Area} \times \text{body weight (kg)}$; used to calculate total fluid requirement 24 hours after a burn.

MONA

The treatment acronym for a Myocardial Infarction: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitrates, and Aspirin.

Virchow's Triad

The three factors contributing to DVT: Stasis of venous circulation, Hypercoagulability, and Endothelial damage (S.H.E.).

Beck’s Triad

The symptoms of cardiac tamponade: hypotension, JVD, and muffled heart sounds.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

A medical emergency for spinal cord injuries at T6 or higher, causing severe hypertension, bradycardia, and headache.

HbA1C

A laboratory test that averages blood glucose levels over the past 90-120 days; 7 is the ideal level for a diabetic.

Somogyi Effect

Early morning hyperglycemia caused by a rebound effect from 2-3am hypoglycemia associated with bedtime insulin.

Dawn Phenomenon

Early morning hyperglycemia that occurs in patients with diabetes without a preceding middle-of-the-night hypoglycemic event.

Metabolic Syndrome Risks

A combination of abdominal obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and high triglycerides increasing the risk for CAD, stroke, and DM Type II.

Nagele Rule

Method to estimate date of birth: First day of LMP plus seven days minus 3 months.

GTPAL

Obstetric history acronym: Gravidity, Term births, Preterm births, Abortion/miscarriages, and current Living children.

VEAL CHOP

Fetal heart rate monitoring acronym: Variable/Cord compression, Early/Head compression, Accel/Okay, Late/Placental insufficiency.

ESSR

System for feeding infants with cleft lip/palate: Enlarge nipple, Stimulate infant to suck, Swallow, and Rest.

Evaluation, Assessment, Teaching (EAT)

The specific nursing responsibilities that an RN cannot delegate to a LVN/PN or CNA/UAP.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Irreversible, involuntary movements of the tongue, face, and extremities due to prolonged antipsychotic medication use.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

A medical emergency caused by antipsychotic reactions characterized by fever, muscle rigidity, and tachycardia.