APEA 3P Nursing Exam Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary-style practice flashcards covering physical assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology concepts for nursing exams.

Wheezes

High-pitched whistling sounds caused by narrowed airways, typical in asthma or bronchospasm.

Clubbing of the nails

Often associated with Chronic hypoxia, seen in COPD or interstitial lung disease.

S3 Heart Sound (Adult)

Known as a “ventricular gallop,” this sound indicates volume overload and suggests heart failure in adults.

Carotid Bruit

A sound heard over the carotid artery that suggests turbulent arterial flow or potential arterial narrowing/stenosis.

Tactile Fremitus Assessment

Assessed using the technique of palpation with the palms while the patient speaks.

Resonant Note

The normal lung percussion note produced by healthy lung tissue.

Positive Murphy’s Sign

Pain on inspiration while pressing the right upper quadrant, suggesting Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).

Rooting Reflex

An infant reflex tested by stroking the cheek to help evaluate the ability to locate the nipple.

Pitting Edema Scale

A numeric scale used in clinical assessment ranging from $1+$ (mild) to $4+$ (severe).

Abdominal Aortic Bruit

A sound indicating turbulent flow from a dilated vessel, which may indicate an aortic aneurysm.

Jugular Venous Distention (JVD) Assessment

Best assessed with the patient reclined at a $30\text{--}45^\text{o}$ angle.

Thyroiditis

Inflammation of the thyroid causing the gland to be enlarged and tender.

Hyperresonant Lung Percussion

A percussion finding indicating increased air in the lungs, typically seen in Emphysema.

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes resulting from deoxygenated hemoglobin in capillaries.

Core Body Temperature Site

The rectal site is considered the most reliable as it closely reflects core body temperature.

Ascites Assessment

Best confirmed using percussion for shifting dullness and the fluid wave technique.

Lung Base Crackles

Sounds arising from fluid in the alveoli, commonly associated with pulmonary edema.

Prolonged Capillary Refill

A refill time longer than $3$ seconds, indicating poor peripheral perfusion, shock, or vascular compromise.

Allen Test

Used to assess blood flow in the radial and ulnar arteries to ensure adequate collateral circulation.

Abdominal Examination Sequence

The correct order is Inspection $\rightarrow$ Auscultation $\rightarrow$ Percussion $\rightarrow$ Palpation.

Romberg Test

Evaluates balance and proprioception; a patient swaying with eyes closed indicates a proprioceptive deficit.

Normal Adult Respiratory Rate

$12\text{--}20$ breaths per minute.

Pericardial Friction Rub

A sound auscultated when there are inflamed pericardial layers, suggesting pericarditis.

Glasgow Coma Scale

A tool used to evaluate consciousness after CNS injury by measuring eye, verbal, and motor responses.

Cranial Nerve III (Oculomotor)

The nerve responsible for mediating pupillary constriction to light.

Barrel Chest

A physical finding characterized by a barrel-shaped chest caused by chronic air trapping in emphysema.

Lymphedema

Edema caused by lymphatic obstruction, which is usually non-pitting.

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)

The most accurate way to measure oxygen saturation ($SaO_2$), $PaO_2$, and $PaCO_2$.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Primary Cause

Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic $\beta$ cells leading to insulin deficiency.

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

Primarily due to diastolic dysfunction where ventricles fail to relax properly, impairing filling.

Hypokalemia ECG Changes

Low potassium levels delay repolarization, leading to a prolonged QT interval.

Chronic Bronchitis Definition

A condition defined by a productive cough lasting $\beta \text{ge} 3$ months/year for $\beta \text{ge} 2$ years.

Myocardial Infarction Common Cause

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture leading to thrombus formation.

Cushing’s Triad

A clinical sign of increased intracranial pressure consisting of bradycardia, hypertension, and irregular respiration.

B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

An elevated marker for heart failure, released from ventricles under pressure or volume overload.

Type 2 Diabetes Hyperglycemia Mechanism

Hyperglycemia resulting from insulin resistance in target tissues.

Graves’ Disease

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism, characterized by autoimmune excessive thyroid hormone production.

Anemia of Chronic Disease Pathophysiology

Involves impaired iron utilization where chronic inflammation limits iron availability despite normal stores.

Asthma Primary Mechanism

Airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, leading to reversible airway obstruction, edema, and bronchospasm.

Portal Hypertension in Cirrhosis

Develops due to fibrosis and increased vascular resistance in the liver.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Triad

Hyperglycemia, ketosis, and metabolic acidosis.

Nephrotic Syndrome Hallmark

Proteinuria greater than $3.5\text{ }g/day$ due to glomerular damage.

Septic Shock Mechanism

Systemic vasodilation and distributive hypotension leading to relative hypoperfusion.

Hypernatremia Cause

Usually caused by a water deficit relative to sodium, often from dehydration.

Iron Deficiency Anemia RBC Morphology

Microcytic hypochromic, meaning small and pale RBCs.

Pulmonary Embolism Pathophysiology

Obstruction of the pulmonary artery by a thrombus traveling from the circulation.

Chronic Kidney Disease Anemia

Caused by decreased erythropoietin production in the failing kidneys.

Hypocalcemia ECG Finding

A prolonged QT interval caused by the lengthening of phase 2 of the cardiac action potential.

Hydrostatic Pressure in Heart Failure

The mechanism of edema in heart failure; raised venous pressure pushes fluid into tissues.

Atherosclerosis Pathophysiology

Involves endothelial injury, lipid deposition, and inflammation leading to plaque formation.

Hyperkalemia Mechanisms

Often caused by decreased renal excretion (kidney failure), potassium-sparing drugs, or cell shift (acidosis).

Ischemic Stroke

The most common type of stroke, resulting from a thrombus or embolus causing brain ischemia.

COPD Gas Exchange Problem

Involves V/Q (ventilation-perfusion) mismatch and impaired diffusion.

Osteoarthritis Major Mechanism

Degeneration of joint cartilage from wear and tear.

Peptic Ulcer Disease Pathophysiology

Often involves mucosal damage induced by NSAIDs or H. pylori infection.

Metabolic Acidosis in Renal Failure

Mechanism involves decreased acid ($H^+$) excretion and failure to reabsorb bicarbonate ($HCO_3^-$).

Lisinopril

An ACE inhibitor used as first-line drug therapy for hypertension without compelling indications.

Furosemide Mechanism of Action

Inhibits the $Na^+/K^+/2Cl^-$ pump in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle.

Metformin Contraindication

Contraindicated in renal impairment due to the increased risk of lactic acidosis.

Warfarin Antidote

Vitamin K, used to reverse the anticoagulant effect when INR is high and bleeding occurs.

ACE Inhibitor Side Effects

Commonly causes a persistent dry cough due to increased bradykinin level; may also cause angioedema.

Albuterol

A $\beta_2$ agonist that relaxes airway smooth muscle to treat bronchospasm.

Statins Mechanism

Inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase to reduce endogenous cholesterol synthesis.

Naloxone

An opioid receptor antagonist used as an antidote for opioid overdose to reverse respiratory depression.

Beta-blockers Mechanism

Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade used to reduce heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand.

Digoxin Toxicity Symptoms

Presents as nausea, visual changes, and arrhythmias.

Long-term Corticosteroid Side Effects

Can cause hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and suppressed immunity.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) Mechanism

Inhibit $H^+/K^+$ ATPase in gastric parietal cells to block acid secretion.

Heparin Mechanism of Action

Enhances antithrombin III activity to inactivate thrombin and factor Xa.

Aminoglycosides Adverse Effects

Primarily nephrotoxicity (kidney damage) and ototoxicity (inner ear damage).

Short-acting Beta-agonists (SABA)

The drug class used for rapid treatment of an acute asthma attack (e.g., albuterol).

Warfarin Action

A Vitamin K antagonist that inhibits clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X.

Epinephrine

The drug used for anaphylaxis to rapidly reverse airway constriction and shock.

Insulin Mechanism of Action

Facilitates glucose uptake into cells to lower blood glucose levels.

Rhabdomyolysis

A rare but serious side effect of statins involving muscle breakdown and potential kidney injury.

Nitrates Pharmacologic Action

Vasodilation of both veins and arteries to reduce cardiac workload and ischemia.

Flumazenil

The antidote for benzodiazepine overdose that competitively inhibits binder at GABA receptors.

Thiazide Diuretics Mechanism

Inhibit $Na^+/Cl^-$ transport in the distal convoluted tubule.

Digoxin Effect

Increases myocardial contractility and helps control heart rate in atrial fibrillation.

Sulfonylureas Adverse Effect

Significant risk of hypoglycemia as the drugs stimulate insulin release.

Levothyroxine

Mechanism involves the replacement of endogenous thyroxine ($T_4$) to treat hypothyroidism.

Amiodarone Adverse Effect

Can cause pulmonary toxicity, thyroid disorders, and liver injury with long-term use.

Protamine Sulfate

The antidote used for heparin overdose to neutralize the drug and reverse anticoagulation.