fundamentals of nursing

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs s is a classification of diseases according to etiologic factors.
• There are three levels of prevention by Leavell and Clark s: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.
• Novice to Expert Theory by Patricia Benner is a nursing theory.
• The nursing process consists of Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Intervention, and Evaluation.
• Elements of communication in nursing include modes and types of communication.
• Types of therapeutic communication include types of therapeutic communication.
• Things to avoid in communication in nursing include clients who cannot speak clearly, cognitively impaired clients, unresponsive clients, hearing impaired clients, and clients who do not speak English.
• Documentation and Report in nursing include confidentiality guidelines, legal guidelines, and quality guidelines.
• Vital signs in nursing include body temperature, core temperature, surface body temperature, axillary temperature, and skin temperature.
• Normal body temperature ranges from 36.5 - 37.5 C for oral temperature, 35.8 - 37.0 C for axillary temperature, 36.8 - 37.9 C for tympanic temperature, and 37.0 - 38.1 C for rectal temperature.
• Pyrexia is defined as body temperature above normal range.
• Cutaneous pain is caused by injury to the skin or superficial tissues and is classified as nociceptive pain.
• Observe the patient’s behavior, including body language, moaning, grimacing, withdrawal, crying, restlessness, muscle twitching, and immobility.
• Arm is above the level of the heart.
• Neuropathic pain is caused by abnormal processing of sensory input of the peripheral or central nervous system.
• Consider both the patient’s description of pain and your observation on their behavioral responses when assessing pain.
• The Wong-Baker Scale is a method for someone to self-assess and effectively communicate the severity of pain they may be experiencing.
• Pain is subjective and the most reliable indicator of pain is self-report.
• Ask the patient to rank the pain from 0 - 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates severe pain.
• Place the bladder of the blood pressure cuff 1 inch above the pulse when taking blood pressure in the lower extremity.
• Visceral pain arises from the deep organs and is difficult to localize, often referred to somatic structures.
• Ask the patient where the pain is located, how long it lasts, how often it occurs, and what makes the pain worse.
• Prone/Supine with legs slightly flexed is the position for taking blood pressure in the lower extremity.
• Nociceptive pain can be somatic or visceral and is usually well localized, often triggered by movement.
• Palpate the popliteal pulse before taking blood pressure in the lower extremity.
• Acute pain is brief and sudden onset, while chronic pain is persistent and progressive, lasting more than 6 months.
• Pain is a protective and an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual and potential tissue damage.
• Blood pressure in the lower extremity is higher by 20 to 30 mmhg than in the upper extremity.
• Hyperpyrexia is defined as very high fever, typically 41 C and above, and can be caused by hyperthyroidism or Thyroid Storm.
• Hypothermia is defined as body temperature below normal range, typically seen in the elderly due to decreased subcutaneous fat.
• Pulse increases with activity.
• Normal pulse rate for an adult is 60 - 100 bpm.
• Irregular pulse is characterized by an uneven interval.
• Normal pulse rate for a 6-year-old is 75 - 120 bpm.
• Normal pulse rate for a newborn is 120 - 160 bpm.
• Temporal pulse site is located in the head and is used whenever the radial pulse is not accessible.
• Popliteal pulse site is located on the knee and is used to determine circulation in the lower leg and to measure blood pressure using lower extremities.
• Normal pulse rate for a 2-year-old is 80 - 130 bpm.
• Normal pulse rate for a 10-year-old is 60 - 90 bpm.
• Carotid pulse site is located in the neck and is used during emergency, particularly in cardiac arrest/shock in adults, and to determine circulation to the brain.