Nursing Review Notes

Validation scheduled for the next day.
Overview of past tests discussed after a group meeting.
Emphasis on reviewing questions that at least 80% of students struggled with, but without revealing answers word for word to prevent cheating in future cohorts.
General encouragement and a hopeful tone for the upcoming validation test.

Definitions:
- Primary Prevention: Actions taken to prevent disease occurrence. Examples include:
- Vaccinations (aiming to prevent diseases entirely).
- Practices like using sunscreen.
- Secondary Prevention: Early detection and intervention to prevent disease progression. Examples include:
- Screening tests such as mammograms.
- Regular check-ups.
- Tertiary Prevention: Actions taken once a disease is diagnosed to manage its effects. Examples include:
- Rehabilitation services for recovering patients.
- Treatment plans to restore health post-diagnosis.

Distinction between respiratory sounds due to airway conditions:
- Wheezing: High-pitched sound typically associated with narrowing of the airway, often heard in diseases affecting the bronchioles.
- Stridor: Harsh, high-pitched sound indicating severe narrowing of the upper airway, often associated with conditions like epiglottitis.
Clinical importance of distinguishing between sounds:
- Wheezing indicates problems in lower airways; stridor signifies upper airway distress.
- Both sounds require immediate medical attention if noticed in a patient.

Importance of using closed versus open-ended questions during patient interviews:
- Closed-ended questions yield limited response options appropriate for direct medical history.
- Open-ended questions gather comprehensive information about a patient's experience.
Example of effective questioning when a patient states they have difficulty breathing:
- Use open-ended questions to elaborate on their symptoms and history.

Tactile Fremitus: The vibration felt on the chest wall when the patient speaks; useful for detecting lung conditions.
Variability in palpation vs. auscultation:
- Palpation helps evaluate conditions through feel rather than sound; students should differentiate methods used in assessments (palpation vs. auscultation).

The necessity of knowing the anatomical location of lung lobes:
- Cannot assess the right middle lobe from a posterior approach; understanding this will impact practice.
Importance of practical knowledge for clinical assessments.

Common clinical findings associated with UTIs include:
- Fever and confusion.
- Frequency and dysuria (pain during urination).
- Nocturia (nighttime urination).
- Flank pain may arise if the infection travels upward.
Understanding anatomy related to infection spread in the urinary tract is crucial for assessment.

Procedure of CVA tenderness assessment:
- Tapping the area where the ribs meet the vertebrae to check for kidney pain; positive assessment indicates potential kidney issues.

Key pulses readily palpable in upper extremities include:
- Radial Pulse: Located at the wrist.
- Brachial Pulse: Located in the arm.
- Ulnar Pulse: Less commonly assessed; located alongside the radial pulse.
Importance of precise terminology when describing locations and assessing pulses.

Key factors to assess when palpating lymph nodes:
- Size (less than 6mm is considered normal).
- Mobility (should be mobile, not fixed or matted).
- Tenderness may indicate infection.
Enlarged lymph nodes signify possible health concerns and must be closely monitored.