NURS 225 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE

Pain Management in Renal Calculi: The primary objective is to provide adequate pain relief to the patient until the stone successfully passes through the urinary tract.
Fluid Intake: Increased fluid consumption is necessary to help flush kidney stones out of the system.
Straining Urine: It is essential to strain the urine during episodes of renal calculi to capture stones for analysis.
Pre-renal Failure: This condition is typically characterized by hypovolemia and dehydration, which reduce blood flow to the kidneys.
Acute Renal Failure: This is defined as a sudden and significant loss of kidney function.
Hyperkalemia: This condition involves high levels of potassium in the blood, which presents a significant cardiac risk.
Normal Urine Output: The standard normal rate for urine output is approximately $\sim 60\,mL/hr$ .
Weight Loss and Dehydration: Significant weight loss may be a clinical indicator of dehydration.

Classic Signs of Inflammation: The local indicators of inflammation include redness, heat, and swelling.
Systemic Infection Indicators: Symptoms that suggest a systemic infection include the presence of a fever and an increased White Blood Cell (WBC) count.
Prevention: Adhering to strict hand hygiene remains the best method for preventing the spread of infection.
Edema: This condition is caused by increased capillary permeability.
Histamine: This chemical mediator causes both vasodilation and increased capillary permeability.
Neutrophils: These are categorized as the immune system's first responders to infection or injury.
Eosinophils: These cells are primarily associated with the body's response to parasites.
Basophils: These cells are involved in the allergic response.
Atypical Lymphocytes: The presence of these cells is indicative of viral infections.
Lymphocytosis: This term refers to an increased count of lymphocytes in the blood.
MRSA: This refers to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that has developed resistance to many antibiotics.

Hypovolemic Shock: Resulting from significant fluid loss, clinicians will often observe tachycardia in the patient.
Cardiogenic Shock: This state is characterized by decreased cardiac output.
Neurogenic Shock: This type of shock is caused by widespread vasodilation.
Sepsis Criteria: Clinical indicators include a Heart Rate ( $HR$ ) > 100 and a Blood Pressure ( $BP$ ) < 90.
Arrhythmias: These irregular heart rhythms are often the result of an electrolyte imbalance.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Risk: A significant risk factor for CAD is having Low-Density Lipoprotein ( $LDL$ ) levels > 160.
Left-Sided Heart Failure: Typical clinical manifestations include crackles in the lungs and dyspnea (shortness of breath).

Diarrhea: Characterized by the passage of frequent, watery stools.
Diverticulitis: This involves the inflammation of diverticula.
Diverticula: These are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of the colon.
Bowel Obstruction: A key diagnostic indicator is the total absence of bowel movements.
Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine telescopes into itself.
Volvulus: This occurs when a segment of the intestine becomes twisted.
Crohn’s Disease: A condition involving chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Ulcerative Colitis: A major symptom of this condition is the presence of bloody diarrhea.
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease): Characterized by chronic acid reflux.
Steatorrhea: This is the clinical term for fatty stools.
Peritonitis: A hallmark sign of this condition is rebound tenderness in the abdomen.
H. pylori: This bacterium is a known cause of stomach ulcers.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS): The maximum possible score on this scale is $GCS = 15$ .
Stroke: A common clinical sign of a stroke is facial drooping.
Stroke Protocol: It is mandatory to perform a CT scan before administering tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).
Intracranial Pressure (ICP): This refers to increased pressure within the skull.
Myasthenia Gravis: A condition characterized by significant muscle fatigue.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): An injury to the brain caused by external force.
Cervical Spinal Injury: Injuries to the cervical area of the spine directly affect the patient's ability to breathe.

Hypoxemia: Defined as low levels of oxygen in the blood.
Pneumonia: Common clinical findings include crackles heard during lung auscultation combined with a fever.
Kussmaul Breathing: This specific deep and labored breathing pattern is associated with metabolic acidosis.
Dyspnea: The medical term for difficulty breathing.
Cyanosis: A bluish discoloration of the skin indicating low oxygen levels.
Respiratory Infection: An infection affecting the airways.

Insulin: Its primary function is to facilitate the transport of glucose into the cells.
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH): This hormone functions to raise calcium levels in the blood.
Hypoglycemia: Clinical signs include skin that is cool and clammy to the touch.
Cortisol: Known as the body's primary stress hormone.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): This hormone is responsible for stimulating the production of cortisol.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG): This is the only antibody capable of crossing the placenta from mother to fetus.
Immunoglobulin A (IgA): This antibody is found primarily in bodily secretions.
Passive Immunity: A type of immunity where the individual does not produce their own antibodies.
Humoral Immunity: This involves the production of antibodies by B-cells.
Type I Hypersensitivity: This category covers immediate allergic responses.

pH: This measures the level of acidity or alkalinity in the body.
Bicarbonate (HCO3): This value serves as the primary indicator of metabolic status.
Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide (PaCO2): This value serves as the primary indicator of respiratory status.
Metabolic Acidosis: Characterized by a decrease in pH ( $\downarrow pH$ ).
Uncompensated State: This occurs when there is no respiratory compensation for a metabolic imbalance (or vice versa).

Early Sign of Shock: Tachycardia is considered an early indicator that a patient is entering shock.
Late Sign of Shock: Hypotension (low blood pressure) is considered a late sign of shock.
Confusion: In the context of shock, confusion indicates poor tissue perfusion.
Worsening Shock: The presence of a rapid, thready pulse suggests the patient's shock state is worsening.

The ABCs: Always prioritize Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (in that order) before other interventions.
Stability: Always prioritize unstable patients over stable patients.
Acuity: Always prioritize acute conditions over chronic conditions.
New Symptoms: Any patient presenting with new symptoms should be considered a high priority.
Airway Priority: Maintaining a patent airway takes precedence over all other concerns.
Potassium Monitoring: Potassium levels are critical because they directly impact heart function.
Confusion Assessment: If a patient is confused, the nurse should immediately suspect an oxygenation or perfusion issue.