Nursing Tips

Medical-Surgical (21)

If a patient reports sudden, painless loss of vision (as though a "curtain" has been pulled over the visual field), immediately report this to the provider. This may indicate retinal detachment which requires emergency surgery to repair.

Retinal Detachment

Cathy Parkes

If a patient reports sudden, painless loss of vision (as though a "curtain" has been pulled over the visual field), immediately report this to the provider. This may indicate retinal...

Retinal Detachment

Cathy Parkes

If a patient reports sudden, painless loss of vision (as though a "curtain" has been pulled over the visual field), immediately report this to the provider. This may indicate retinal...

In a positive feedback loop, a release of hormones initiates actions that lead to an additional release of that hormone.

Positive Feedback Loop

Cathy Parkes

In a positive feedback loop, a release of hormones initiates actions that lead to an additional release of that hormone.

Positive Feedback Loop

Cathy Parkes

In a positive feedback loop, a release of hormones initiates actions that lead to an additional release of that hormone.

Important nutritional guidance for the patient with Cushing's Disease includes restricting fluid and sodium, but increasing intake of potassium, calcium, and protein.

Cushing's Disease: Nutritional Guidance

Cathy Parkes

Important nutritional guidance for the patient with Cushing's Disease includes restricting fluid and sodium, but increasing intake of potassium, calcium, and protein.

Cushing's Disease: Nutritional Guidance

Cathy Parkes

Important nutritional guidance for the patient with Cushing's Disease includes restricting fluid and sodium, but increasing intake of potassium, calcium, and protein.

Tumors are staged using the TNM staging criteria.

TNM Staging Criteria for Tumors

Cathy Parkes

Tumors are staged using the TNM staging criteria. T = Tumor (T1 - T4), representing the size and extent of the tumor. N = Node (N0 - N3), relating to...

TNM Staging Criteria for Tumors

Cathy Parkes

Tumors are staged using the TNM staging criteria. T = Tumor (T1 - T4), representing the size and extent of the tumor. N = Node (N0 - N3), relating to...

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) causes a sudden onset of weakness and paralysis, usually following a respiratory or GI viral infection. Be sure to maintain a patent airway!

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

Cathy Parkes

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) causes a sudden onset of weakness and paralysis, usually following a respiratory or GI viral infection. Be sure to maintain a patent airway!

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

Cathy Parkes

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) causes a sudden onset of weakness and paralysis, usually following a respiratory or GI viral infection. Be sure to maintain a patent airway!

Educate a patient following cataract surgery to avoid activities that increase intracranial pressure. Do not bend at waist, blow nose, lift ≥ 10 lbs., or strain with bowel movements.

Cataract Surgery: Patient Teaching

Cathy Parkes

Educate a patient following cataract surgery to avoid activities that increase intracranial pressure. Do not bend at waist, blow nose, lift ≥ 10 lbs., or strain with bowel movements.

Cataract Surgery: Patient Teaching

Cathy Parkes

Educate a patient following cataract surgery to avoid activities that increase intracranial pressure. Do not bend at waist, blow nose, lift ≥ 10 lbs., or strain with bowel movements.

Educate patients on measures to prevent integumentary system cancers including avoiding midday sun, wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and performing regular skin checks for changes.

Skin Cancer

Cathy Parkes

Educate patients on measures to prevent integumentary system cancers including avoiding midday sun, wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and performing regular skin checks for changes.

Skin Cancer

Cathy Parkes

Educate patients on measures to prevent integumentary system cancers including avoiding midday sun, wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and performing regular skin checks for changes.

Educate patients who experience gout to avoid alcohol, purine-rich foods (e.g., red meat, organ meat, shellfish, high fructose drinks), and "starvation" dieting, but increase their fluid intake and reduce stress.

Gout: Patient Teaching

Cathy Parkes

Educate patients who experience gout to avoid alcohol, purine-rich foods (e.g., red meat, organ meat, shellfish, high fructose drinks), and "starvation" dieting, but increase their fluid intake and reduce stress.

Gout: Patient Teaching

Cathy Parkes

Educate patients who experience gout to avoid alcohol, purine-rich foods (e.g., red meat, organ meat, shellfish, high fructose drinks), and "starvation" dieting, but increase their fluid intake and reduce stress.

Expected labs with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Positive Rheumatoid Factor (RF) antibody and Positive ANA titer.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Expected Labs

Cathy Parkes

Expected labs with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Positive Rheumatoid Factor (RF) antibody and Positive ANA titer.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Expected Labs

Cathy Parkes

Expected labs with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Positive Rheumatoid Factor (RF) antibody and Positive ANA titer.

When it comes to lactation, prolactin is responsible for causing milk production, while oxytocin controls the release of milk from the breasts through the "letdown reflex."

Lactation

Cathy Parkes

When it comes to lactation, prolactin is responsible for causing milk production, while oxytocin controls the release of milk from the breasts through the "letdown reflex."

Lactation

Cathy Parkes

When it comes to lactation, prolactin is responsible for causing milk production, while oxytocin controls the release of milk from the breasts through the "letdown reflex."

Thrombolytics may be given within three hours of the onset of symptoms in the case of an ischemic stroke, but are NOT indicated for hemorrhagic strokes.

Thrombolytics

Cathy Parkes

Thrombolytics may be given within three hours of the onset of symptoms in the case of an ischemic stroke, but are NOT indicated for hemorrhagic strokes.

Thrombolytics

Cathy Parkes

Thrombolytics may be given within three hours of the onset of symptoms in the case of an ischemic stroke, but are NOT indicated for hemorrhagic strokes.

Educate patients > 60 years of age who have had chickenpox (Varicella) that prevention of shingles (Herpes Zoster) is possible with the Zostavax vaccine.

Zostavax Vaccine

Cathy Parkes

Educate patients > 60 years of age who have had chickenpox (Varicella) that prevention of shingles (Herpes Zoster) is possible with the Zostavax vaccine.

1 comment

Zostavax Vaccine

Cathy Parkes

Educate patients > 60 years of age who have had chickenpox (Varicella) that prevention of shingles (Herpes Zoster) is possible with the Zostavax vaccine.

1 comment
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) involves palpation of the prostate gland through the rectal wall. Abnormal findings include an enlarged or hard prostate, or irregular shapes/lumps within the prostate.

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

Cathy Parkes

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) involves palpation of the prostate gland through the rectal wall. Abnormal findings include an enlarged or hard prostate, or irregular shapes/lumps within the prostate.

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

Cathy Parkes

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) involves palpation of the prostate gland through the rectal wall. Abnormal findings include an enlarged or hard prostate, or irregular shapes/lumps within the prostate.

Stroke: Right versus Left Hemisphere

Stroke: Right versus Left Hemisphere

Cathy Parkes

A patient experiencing a left hemisphere stroke is likely to have expressive aphasia (difficulty speaking/understanding language) or reading/writing difficulty. A stroke affecting the right hemisphere may lead to poor judgement...

Stroke: Right versus Left Hemisphere

Cathy Parkes

A patient experiencing a left hemisphere stroke is likely to have expressive aphasia (difficulty speaking/understanding language) or reading/writing difficulty. A stroke affecting the right hemisphere may lead to poor judgement...

Ascending = liquid, Transverse = semi-solid, Descending/Sigmoid = formed.

Ileostomoy versus Colostomy

Cathy Parkes

A patient with an ileostomy has a surgical opening created from the ileum. Bowel movements will be loose or watery. A colostomy, however, is created from the large intestine and...

1 comment

Ileostomoy versus Colostomy

Cathy Parkes

A patient with an ileostomy has a surgical opening created from the ileum. Bowel movements will be loose or watery. A colostomy, however, is created from the large intestine and...

1 comment
The autonomic nervous system is comprised of two parts: the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight" responses) and the parasympathetic nervous system ("rest and digest" functions).

Autonomic Nervous System

Cathy Parkes

The autonomic nervous system is comprised of two parts: the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight" responses) and the parasympathetic nervous system ("rest and digest" functions).

Autonomic Nervous System

Cathy Parkes

The autonomic nervous system is comprised of two parts: the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight" responses) and the parasympathetic nervous system ("rest and digest" functions).

Blood is composed of plasma and formed elements. The plasma contains water, ions, protein, nutrients, wastes, gasses, and clotting factors. The formed elements include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Blood: Components

Cathy Parkes

Blood is composed of plasma and formed elements. The plasma contains water, ions, protein, nutrients, wastes, gasses, and clotting factors. The formed elements include red blood cells, white blood cells,...

Blood: Components

Cathy Parkes

Blood is composed of plasma and formed elements. The plasma contains water, ions, protein, nutrients, wastes, gasses, and clotting factors. The formed elements include red blood cells, white blood cells,...

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) may have prerenal, intrarenal, or postrenal causes.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): Causes

Cathy Parkes

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) may have prerenal, intrarenal, or postrenal causes.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): Causes

Cathy Parkes

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) may have prerenal, intrarenal, or postrenal causes.

A patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) has some classic findings including fatigue, joint pain, fever, butterfly rash on the face, Raynaud's phenomenon, and a positive ANA titer.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Cathy Parkes

A patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) has some classic findings including fatigue, joint pain, fever, butterfly rash on the face, Raynaud's phenomenon, and a positive ANA titer.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Cathy Parkes

A patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) has some classic findings including fatigue, joint pain, fever, butterfly rash on the face, Raynaud's phenomenon, and a positive ANA titer.

A patient with Addison's Disease (a form of adrenocortical insufficiency) will have increased potassium, calcium, and BUN, but decreased cortisol, sodium, and glucose.

Addison's Disease

Cathy Parkes

A patient with Addison's Disease (a form of adrenocortical insufficiency) will have increased potassium, calcium, and BUN, but decreased cortisol, sodium, and glucose. 

Addison's Disease

Cathy Parkes

A patient with Addison's Disease (a form of adrenocortical insufficiency) will have increased potassium, calcium, and BUN, but decreased cortisol, sodium, and glucose. 

A patient with a spinal cord injury is at risk for experiencing life-threatening hypertension known as autonomic dysreflexia.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

Cathy Parkes

A patient with a spinal cord injury is at risk for experiencing life-threatening hypertension known as autonomic dysreflexia. 

Autonomic Dysreflexia

Cathy Parkes

A patient with a spinal cord injury is at risk for experiencing life-threatening hypertension known as autonomic dysreflexia.