Nursing Tips

Medical-Surgical (110)

Urolithiasis

Urolithiasis

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

For a patient with urolithiasis (kidney stone), a key nursing intervention is to strain the patient's urine. Send stone for lab analysis!

Urolithiasis

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

For a patient with urolithiasis (kidney stone), a key nursing intervention is to strain the patient's urine. Send stone for lab analysis!

Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers

Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Key differences in symptoms for Gastric and Duodenal ulcers: Gastric ulcer: Pain 30-60 minutes after meal, worse in DAY, worse with eating. Duodenal ulcer: Pain 1.5-3 hours after meal, worse...

Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Key differences in symptoms for Gastric and Duodenal ulcers: Gastric ulcer: Pain 30-60 minutes after meal, worse in DAY, worse with eating. Duodenal ulcer: Pain 1.5-3 hours after meal, worse...

Malignant Hyperthermia

Malignant Hyperthermia

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening complication due to certain general anesthesia medications. Symptoms: Muscle rigidity, tachycardia, fever, dysrhythmias, tachypnea, hypotension, cyanosis.

1 comment

Malignant Hyperthermia

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening complication due to certain general anesthesia medications. Symptoms: Muscle rigidity, tachycardia, fever, dysrhythmias, tachypnea, hypotension, cyanosis.

1 comment
Continuous Bladder Irrigation

Continuous Bladder Irrigation

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

When administering Continuous Bladder Irrigation (CBI) for a patient following a Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), be sure to increase the CBI rate if outflow is bright red or...

Continuous Bladder Irrigation

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

When administering Continuous Bladder Irrigation (CBI) for a patient following a Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), be sure to increase the CBI rate if outflow is bright red or...

Herpes Zoster

Herpes Zoster

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Key symptom of Herpes Zoster: Painful, unilateral vesicular rash that runs along a dermatome

Herpes Zoster

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Key symptom of Herpes Zoster: Painful, unilateral vesicular rash that runs along a dermatome

Mastectomy Care

Mastectomy Care

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Mastectomy Care and Patient Teaching: Nursing Care: Do not administer injections, obtain blood, or take BP in the affected arm. Patient Teaching: Wear sling when ambulating, wear loose clothing, perform...

Mastectomy Care

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Mastectomy Care and Patient Teaching: Nursing Care: Do not administer injections, obtain blood, or take BP in the affected arm. Patient Teaching: Wear sling when ambulating, wear loose clothing, perform...

Patient Teaching for GERD

Patient Teaching for GERD

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Patient teaching for GERD: Avoid fatty, fried, citrus, spicy foods. Eat smaller meals. Remain upright after meals. Avoid tight-fitting clothing. Lose weight (if applicable). Quit smoking. Elevate HOB with blocks.

Patient Teaching for GERD

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Patient teaching for GERD: Avoid fatty, fried, citrus, spicy foods. Eat smaller meals. Remain upright after meals. Avoid tight-fitting clothing. Lose weight (if applicable). Quit smoking. Elevate HOB with blocks.

Potassium Ranges

Potassium Ranges

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Potassium (K) expected range: 3.5 - 5.0 mEq/L HINT #1: There are ~3.1 miles in a 5K HINT #2: Bananas (high in Potassium!) come in bunches of 3-5.

Potassium Ranges

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Potassium (K) expected range: 3.5 - 5.0 mEq/L HINT #1: There are ~3.1 miles in a 5K HINT #2: Bananas (high in Potassium!) come in bunches of 3-5.

Magnesium Ranges

Magnesium Ranges

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Magnesium (Mg) expected range: 1.3 - 2.1 mEq/L HINT: MGs are very small British cars - you can only fit 1-2 people in them.

Magnesium Ranges

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Magnesium (Mg) expected range: 1.3 - 2.1 mEq/L HINT: MGs are very small British cars - you can only fit 1-2 people in them.

Stomatitis

Stomatitis

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth/lips. It is a common side effect of chemotherapy. If your patient has stomatitis, provide the following teaching: Do not use alcohol based mouthwash! Use...

Stomatitis

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth/lips. It is a common side effect of chemotherapy. If your patient has stomatitis, provide the following teaching: Do not use alcohol based mouthwash! Use...

Contrast Dye

Contrast Dye

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Any time your patient needs to have a procedure that uses contrast dye (ex: angiogram, CT/MRI with contrast, hysterosalpingography), be sure to check for an allergy to shellfish and iodine...

Contrast Dye

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Any time your patient needs to have a procedure that uses contrast dye (ex: angiogram, CT/MRI with contrast, hysterosalpingography), be sure to check for an allergy to shellfish and iodine...

How to treat a seizure

How to treat a seizure

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

During a seizure, turn the patient to his/her side, loosen restrictive clothing, and DO NOT insert airway or restrain patient.

How to treat a seizure

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

During a seizure, turn the patient to his/her side, loosen restrictive clothing, and DO NOT insert airway or restrain patient.

Bone loss and aging

Bone loss and aging

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Bone loss begins at 35 years old. In order to prevent osteoporosis, individuals should engage in weight-bearing exercises. FYI - swimming is NOT weight-bearing.

Bone loss and aging

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

Bone loss begins at 35 years old. In order to prevent osteoporosis, individuals should engage in weight-bearing exercises. FYI - swimming is NOT weight-bearing.

Blood transfusion reaction

Blood transfusion reaction

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

If a patient has a blood transfusion reaction: stop the transfusion, infuse 0.9% NACL through a separate line, and be sure to send the blood bag back to the lab....

Blood transfusion reaction

Cathy Parkes RN, BSN, PHN, CWCN

If a patient has a blood transfusion reaction: stop the transfusion, infuse 0.9% NACL through a separate line, and be sure to send the blood bag back to the lab....