MR

Fundamental Midterm

💡 Question: What are the normal vital sign ranges for an adult?
Answer:

  • Temperature: 97.8 - 99.5°F (36.5 - 37.3°C)

  • Pulse: 60 - 100 bpm

  • Respirations: 12 - 20 breaths/min

  • Blood Pressure: <120/80 mmHg

  • Oxygen Saturation: ≥ 95%

💡 Question: What are the 4 primary techniques used in physical assessment?
Answer: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation

💡 Question: What are the different patient positions and their uses?
Answer:

  • Supine: Lying flat on back (general assessment)

  • Prone: Lying on stomach (assessing back/lungs)

  • Fowler’s (High/Low): Upright 45°-90° (breathing issues)

  • Lateral: Side-lying (reduces pressure ulcers)

  • Lithotomy: Supine, legs in stirrups (pelvic exams)

  • Trendelenburg: Head lower than feet (hypotension/shock)


💧 IV Fluids & Uses

💡 Question: What are the three main types of IV fluids and their uses?
Answer:

  1. Isotonic (0.9% NS, LR, D5W) - Expands intravascular volume (for dehydration, blood loss)

  2. Hypotonic (0.45% NS, D5W in body) - Moves fluid into cells (for intracellular dehydration)

  3. Hypertonic (D5NS, D5LR, 3% NS) - Pulls fluid out of cells into bloodstream (for cerebral edema, hyponatremia)

💡 Question: Which IV fluid is best for a burn patient?
Answer: Lactated Ringer’s (LR) – Replaces fluids and electrolytes

💡 Question: Which IV solution should never be given to a patient with ICP (increased intracranial pressure)?
Answer: Hypotonic solutions (e.g., 0.45% NS) – Can cause brain swelling


🦠 Infection Control & PPE

💡 Question: What are the 5 types of isolation precautions?
Answer:

  1. Standard Precautions: Hand hygiene, gloves (all patients)

  2. Contact Precautions: Gloves, gown (MRSA, C. diff)

  3. Droplet Precautions: Mask, gloves (Flu, Mumps)

  4. Airborne Precautions: N95 mask, negative pressure room (TB, Measles, Varicella)

  5. Protective/Neutropenic: Mask, no fresh flowers (immunocompromised patients)

💡 Question: What PPE should be worn for a C. difficile patient?
Answer: Gown & gloves (Contact Precautions)Must wash hands with soap & water (alcohol does NOT kill C. diff)

💡 Question: What is the correct order for donning PPE?
Answer: Gown → Mask → Goggles → Gloves

💡 Question: What is the correct order for doffing PPE?
Answer: Gloves → Goggles → Gown → Mask


📊 Documentation & Charting

💡 Question: What are the types of documentation methods?
Answer:

  • Narrative: Traditional, detailed notes in paragraph format

  • SOAP: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan

  • PIE: Problem, Intervention, Evaluation

  • DAR (Focus Charting): Data, Action, Response

💡 Question: What does SBAR stand for in communication?
Answer: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation

💡 Question: What is the golden rule of documentation?
Answer: If it wasn’t documented, it wasn’t done!


😴 Sleep Cycle & Physiology

💡 Question: What are the stages of sleep?
Answer:

  • NREM Stage 1: Light sleep, easy to wake

  • NREM Stage 2: Slightly deeper sleep

  • NREM Stage 3: Deep sleep (tissue repair, immune function)

  • REM Sleep: Dreaming, memory consolidation

💡 Question: How does lack of sleep affect the body?
Answer: Increases risk of heart disease, weakens immune system, causes cognitive impairment


📏 Math & I&O Calculation

💡 Question: How do you calculate intake and output (I&O)?
Answer: Total intake - Total output = Net fluid balance
(Fluids include IV, PO, tube feeds, urine, drains, etc.)

💡 Question: 1 oz = ___ mL?
Answer: 30 mL

💡 Question: A patient drank 8 oz of juice, 4 oz of milk, and 2 oz of water. How many mL is this?
Answer: (8+4+2) x 30 = 420 mL


🔺 Maslow’s Hierarchy & Prioritization

💡 Question: What are the levels of Maslow’s hierarchy?
Answer:

  1. Physiological (breathing, food, water, sleep)

  2. Safety (security, health, stability)

  3. Love/Belonging (relationships, support)

  4. Esteem (self-worth, respect, recognition)

  5. Self-Actualization (growth, purpose)

💡 Question: Which patient needs attention first?
Answer: Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABCs) ALWAYS come first!


🚨 Emergency & First Aid

💡 Question: What are the 3 steps of fire safety (RACE)?
Answer: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish

💡 Question: What is the PASS method for using a fire extinguisher?
Answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep

💡 Question: A patient is having anaphylaxis. What is the priority action?
Answer: Give epinephrine, maintain airway, call for help!


💊 Medication Side Effects

💡 Question: What is a common side effect of opioids?
Answer: Respiratory depression, constipation, sedation

💡 Question: What is a major risk of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)?
Answer: GI bleeding, kidney damage

💡 Question: What medication can cause ototoxicity (hearing loss)?
Answer: Aminoglycosides (Gentamicin), Furosemide (Lasix)


😖 Pain Assessment & Theories

💡 Question: What are the 5 types of pain?
Answer:

  1. Acute pain – Short-term, sudden (surgery, injury)

  2. Chronic pain – Long-term, persistent (arthritis)

  3. Neuropathic pain – Nerve damage (diabetes, shingles)

  4. Nociceptive pain – Tissue damage (burns, fractures)

  5. Referred pain – Pain felt in a different location (MI → arm pain)

💡 Question: What is the most reliable indicator of pain?
Answer: The patient’s self-report!