Nursing Tips

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A patient with borderline personality disorder: Exhibits SPLITTING behavior (i.e. characterizes people/things as ALL good or ALL bad). Engages in impulsive behavior. Is at high risk for self-harm! Provide for patient safety.

Splitting Behavior

by Cathy Parkes March 05, 2021

A patient with borderline personality disorder exhibits SPLITTING behavior, engages in impulsive behavior, and is at high risk for self-harm.

Antisocial personality

Antisocial personality

by Cathy Parkes March 03, 2021

An antisocial personality disorder does NOT mean an individual doesn't like to be around people.

Diagnosis of meningitis is done by analyzing the patient's CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). Bacterial meningitis: CSF is cloudy with ↓ glucose. Viral meningitis: CSF is clear and glucose levels are typically normal.

Meningitis diagnosis

by Cathy Parkes March 01, 2021

Diagnosis of meningitis is done by analyzing the patient's CSF (cerebrospinal fluid).

Stuck on a question? If you can eliminate even one option, you increase your odds of choosing correctly!

Test Taking: Eliminate Options

by Laura Fong February 26, 2021

Stuck on a question? If you can eliminate evenone option, you increase your odds of choosing correctly!

Tooth eruption typically begins around 6 months of age. You can calculate the child's estimated age by the number of teeth they have! The age of the child in months - 6 equals the approximate total number of teeth (up to age 24 months).

Tooth Eruption

by Laura Fong February 24, 2021

Tooth eruption typically begins around 6 months of age. You can calculate the child's estimated age by the number of teeth they have!

If you see two answers that are the exact opposite of one another (e.g. constipation and diarrhea), it is likely that one of those is the correct answer.

Test taking: Opposite answers

by Laura Fong February 22, 2021

If you see two answers that are the exact opposite of one another, it is likely that one of those is the correct answer.

When mixing insulin, remember CLEAR before CLOUDY. Inject air in longer-acting insulin, then inject air in shorter-acting insulin. Without withdrawing needle, draw up shorter-acting insulin, then draw up longer-acting insulin.

Mixing insulin

by Cathy Parkes February 19, 2021

When mixing insulin, remember CLEAR before CLOUDY. Inject air in the longer-acting insulin (NPH), then inject air in the shorter-acting insulin (regular). Without withdrawing needle, draw up shorter-acting insulin, then draw up longer-acting insulin.

For intramuscular injections under 1 year old, use vastus lateralis muscle!

Injections for infants

by Cathy Parkes February 17, 2021

For intramuscular injections under 1 year old, use vastus lateralis muscle!

MSAFP is a test performed at 15-20 weeks gestation to test for genetic abnormalities. ↓ MSAFP indicative of Down syndrome. ↑ MSAFP indicative of neural tube defects. MSAFP will be down for Down syndrome.

MSAFP

by Cathy Parkes February 15, 2021

MSAFP is a test performed at 15-20 weeks gestation to test for genetic abnormalities.

Cystic Fibrosis - LevelUpRN

Cystic Fibrosis

by Cathy Parkes February 12, 2021 1 Comment

Nursing care for the child with cystic fibrosis

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - LevelUpRN

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

by Cathy Parkes February 10, 2021

Risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) - LevelUpRN

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

by Cathy Parkes February 08, 2021

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect where the fetal ductus arteriosus fails to close.

Cramming the night before an exam? STOP! There is nothing you will learn in the hours before your test that would serve you better than a good night's sleep.

Cramming

by Cathy Parkes February 05, 2021

Cramming the night before an exam? STOP!

A child indicates readiness for toilet training when they: Recognize and communicate the need to eliminate; Wake up dry from nap/bedtime; Stay dry for 2 hours during the day

Toilet Training

by Cathy Parkes February 03, 2021

Signs that a child is ready for toilet training.

Suffix: -lithiasis

by Cathy Parkes February 01, 2021

The suffix "lithiasis" means "presence of stones," as in "cholelithiasis" (presence of stones in the gallbladder).

Watch out! Extreme words like

Extreme Answers

by Cathy Parkes January 29, 2021

Watch out! Extreme words like "always" or "never" may make an otherwise good answer incorrect.

TRUST YOUR GUT! If you had a gut reaction to an answer, don't change it!

Gut Reaction

by Cathy Parkes January 27, 2021

TRUST YOUR GUT! If you had a gut reaction to an answer, don't change it!

HF stands for Heart Failure. To help you remember the symptoms of the different kinds of HF, remember Left is Lungs, Right is Rest of the Body!

Heart Failure

by Cathy Parkes January 25, 2021

HF stands for Heart Failure.

Tire out easily? Try alternating periods of studying with periods of rest. For example: Study for 25 minutes, break for 5.

Periodic Rest

by Cathy Parkes January 22, 2021

Tire out easily? Try alternating periods of studying with periods of rest.

Don't let the test be the first time you're exposed to test material! Practice the art of testing like a nurse by utilizing practice tests.

Practice Tests

by Cathy Parkes January 20, 2021

Don't let the test be the first time you're exposed to test material!

A child's posterior fontanelle closes between 6-8 weeks. The anterior fontanelle closes between 12-18 months. Hint: A baby starts on its back first then her front later

Fontanelle Closures

by Cathy Parkes January 18, 2021 1 Comment

A child's posterior fontanelle closes first, then the anterior fontanelle closes.

Odd Man Out

by Cathy Parkes January 15, 2021

If there are three answers that have a lot in common, but one answer is unique, it may be the correct answer!

When assessing a child's pain, be sure to use an age-appropriate pain scale, such as CRIES, FLACC for infants, FACES beginning at age 3 or numeric scales after age 8.

Pediatric Pain Scales

by Cathy Parkes January 13, 2021

When assessing a child's pain, be sure to use an age-appropriate pain scale.

Prefix: Pan-

by Cathy Parkes January 11, 2021

The prefix "Pan-" means "all," as in "pancytopenia" where all types of blood cells are decreased.

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