Unit 3-Nurses

Question 1

pulse

Answer 1

pressure of blood pushing against wall of an artery as the heart beats and rests

Question 2

pulse points

Answer 2

most easily felt in arteries that are close to skin and can be pressed against bone by fingers

Question 3

antecubital space

Answer 3

bend of elbow

- where brachial pulse is found

Question 4

palpate

Answer 4

feeling a pulse

- use first 3 fingers

Question 5

Auscultate

Answer 5

heading a pulse

- use stethoscope

Question 6

Rate

Answer 6

measured as number of beats per minute (BPM)

Question 7

rhythm

Answer 7

pattern of heartbeats

- charted as “regular” or “irregular”

Question 8

Arrhythmia

Answer 8

irregular pulse

- assess irregular pulse for 1 minute

Question 9

volume

Answer 9

strength/intensity of pulse

Question 10

absent

Answer 10

unable to detect (0)

Question 11

thready/weak

Answer 11

difficult to palpate (+1)

Question 12

strong/normal

Answer 12

easily found (+2)

Question 13

bounding/full

Answer 13

pushed forcefully against fingertips (+3)

Question 14

apical pulse

Answer 14

-assessed at apex of heart
-use stethoscope
used?= irregular heartbeat, before certain meds, peripheral pulse too weak, assessing infants

Question 15

respiration

Answer 15

exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

- patient shouldn’t be aware of assessment

Question 16

respiratory rate

Answer 16

• adult= rise and fall of chest

* children= rise and fall of abdomen

Question 17

rhythm

Answer 17

pattern should be regular

Question 18

quantity

Answer 18

refers to depth and character of respiration

• deep
• shallow
• labored
• unlabored

Question 19

blood pressure

Answer 19

measurement of pressure blood exerts as it pulsates throughly arteries
• mmHg
• uses sphygmomanometer

Question 20

3 types of sphygmomanometer

Answer 20

• mercury
• aneriod
• electronic

Question 21

mercury

Answer 21

usually hung on wall

• most accurate
• OSHA discourages their use

Question 22

aneriod

Answer 22

calibrated dial

Question 23

electronic

Answer 23

digital display

Question 24

BP measurement

Answer 24

records as fraction

- systolic = occurs when heart is contracting (top #) 
- diastolic = present when heart is at rest (bottom #)

Question 25

causes of hypertension

Answer 25

- stress - anxiety - obesity - kidney diease

Question 26

causes of hypotension

Answer 26

- heart failure - dehydration - depression - severe burns - shock

Question 27

normal range of BP

Answer 27

``` systolic = <120 diastolic = <80 ```

Question 28

hypotension

Answer 28

``` systolic = <90 diastolic = <60 ```

Question 29

prehypertension

Answer 29

``` systolic = 120-139 diastolic = 80-89 ```

Question 30

hypertension

Answer 30

``` systolic = 140+ diastolic= 90+ ```

Question 31

temperature

Answer 31

measurement of heat loss and heat produced

Question 32

causes of increased temperature

Answer 32

- infection - exercise - excitement - high temperature environment

Question 33

causes of decreased temperature

Answer 33

- starvation/fasting - decreased muscle fine - mouth breathing - exposure to cold environment

Question 34

hypothermia

Answer 34

below 95 | -death = below 93

Question 35

hyperthermia

Answer 35

above 104 | - death= 106+

Question 36

febrile

Answer 36

running a fever (100+)

Question 37

afebrile

Answer 37

without a fever

Question 38

oral temperature

Answer 38

taken in mouth

Question 39

rectal (R)

Answer 39

taken in rectum | - runs 1 degree higher

Question 40

Axillary (AX)

Answer 40

taken in armpit | - runs 1 degree lower than oral

Question 41

aural (A)

Answer 41

taken in ear

Question 42

temporal (TA)

Answer 42

taken across forehead

Question 43

health history

Answer 43

- follow check list of questions - active listening - silence - opened ended questions - protect privacy

Question 44

valuables list

Answer 44

must be documented and sent to holding • jewelry • watches -clothing = kept in closet

Question 45

client comfort

Answer 45

``` • starts with psycho-social comfort -client is nervous/scared • provide supplies for daily needs • introduce roommate • put call-bell in reach ```

Question 46

instructions of polices/procedures

Answer 46

- patient = anxiety - inform client of: • meal schedule • visitor policy • what to expect now they are here

Question 47

work environment

Answer 47

- large area of work | - nurses can travel anywhere there’s a shortage of nurses

Question 48

how to become a nurse

Answer 48

``` • min = associates degree - 2 years • max = bachelors degree - 4 years • diploma = nursing right away but not paid ```

Question 49

qualities

Answer 49

- compassionate - empathetic - hardworking - comfortable with touch

Question 50

advancement

Answer 50

- beginner nurse = start as staff nurse (work in hospital) | - after bachelors you can get masters

Question 51

pay

Answer 51

* average nurse in DE = $70,000 | * most money you can earn will be in the hospital setting