Nursing Tips

Check out these easy-to-remember nursing tips, tricks and hacks. Includes fun mnemonics that make recall a breeze.

Elevated hBNP

Cardiovascular Med-Surg

A patient with elevated hBNP (> 100 pg/mL) should be evaluated for Heart Failure.

Assessing Bowel Sounds

Health Assessment

Bowel sounds cannot be called "absent" until the nurse has listened for five minutes without hearing bowel activity.

Febrile Seizures

Nervous Pediatrics

The most common seizure disorder in children is febrile seizures.

Spironolactone

Renal Pharmacology

Because spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, monitor the patient for signs of hyperkalemia. Educate patients to avoid salt substitutes, as most of these contain potassium.

Food Deserts

Community Fundamentals

Food deserts are geographic areas that lack sufficient access to grocery stores and healthy food options.

Eating Disorders

Disorders Psychiatric Mental Health

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory measures to avoid weight gain (e.g., vomiting, laxative use, extreme exercise).

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restriction of caloric intake.

Patient Identifiers

Health Assessment

All assessments should involve identifying the patient with two patient identifiers (e.g., name, DOB, MRN#). Remember: room number is NOT a valid patient identifier!

Adenosine

Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Adenosine (Adenocard) is a Class V antiarrhythmic medication used for supraventricular tachycardia.

Calcium (Ca) expected range: 9 - 10.5 mEq/L.

Calcium Ranges

Cardiovascular Lab Values Med-Surg

Calcium (Ca) expected range: 9 - 10.5 mEq/L HINT: California (CA) is due for a big earthquake that may measure 9 - 10.5 on the Richter scale.

Filgrastim

Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Filgrastim is a medication used to stimulate the growth of neutrophils in patients with neutropenia.

$A patient who experienced a long-bone fracture is at risk for a fat embolism. Immediately report any dyspnea, confusion, tachypnea, tachycardia, or chest pain to the provider.$

Long-bone Fractures

Musculoskeletal Med-Surg

A patient who experienced a long-bone fracture is at risk for a fat embolism. Immediately report any dyspnea, confusion, tachypnea, tachycardia, or chest pain to the provider.

Authoritarian parents are those who are strict and require high control but offer little warmth. Authoritative parents have moderate-high control, but offer high amounts of warmth.

Authoritarian vs. Authoritative Parenting

Principles Pediatrics

Authoritarian parents are those who are strict and require high control but offer little warmth. Authoritative parents have moderate-high control, but offer high amounts of warmth.

Because oxybutynin is used to treat overactive bladder by inhibiting acetylcholine in the bladder, assess for anticholinergic symptoms. These include dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, and blurred vision.

A patient with appendicitis is likely to have RLQ pain at McBurney's Point along with rebound tenderness, nausea/vomiting, and fever.

Appendicitis: Nursing Care

Gastrointestinal Med-Surg

A patient with appendicitis is likely to have RLQ pain at McBurney's Point along with rebound tenderness, nausea/vomiting, and fever.

A patient undergoing hemodialysis may have an arteriovenous fistula in the arm. Educate patient that blood pressures, IVs, and blood draws must be done from the arm without the shunt.

Hemodialysis: Patient Teaching

Renal Med-Surg

A patient undergoing hemodialysis may have an arteriovenous fistula in the arm. Educate patient that blood pressures, IVs, and blood draws must be done from the arm without the shunt. Also educate patients not to sleep on the arm with the fistula, and perform hand exercises to mature a new fistula.

Corticosteroids: Patient Teaching

Endocrine Pharmacology

Patients taking corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone, hydrocortisone) are at increased risk of infection. Monitor for signs of infection, and educate patients taking these medications to avoid crowded areas and perform frequent hand hygiene.

Written educational materials should be provided in the patient's primary language using layman's terms and an appropriate reading level.

Providing Educational Materials to Patients

Principles Fundamentals

Written educational materials should be provided in the patient's primary language using layman's terms and an appropriate reading level.

Performing a Snellen Exam

Nervous Pediatrics

When performing a Snellen exam for visual acuity, an adult should stand 20 feet away from the chart, but a child should stand 10 feet from the chart.

Metformin

Endocrine Pharmacology

Because of the unpleasant GI side effects of metformin, educate patients to take this medication with a meal.

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

Nutrition

Vitamin B9 (folic acid) is needed to prevent neural tube defects in a developing fetus.

Status Asthmaticus

Respiratory Med-Surg

A patient with asthma who is experiencing airway obstruction unresponsive to usual therapy is experiencing status asthmaticus. Administer oxygen and prepare for emergency intubation!

The Scoop Method

Principles Fundamentals

Avoid recapping needles to prevent sharps injury. If recapping is unavoidable, use the scoop method to minimize the risk of injury.

When caring for a child with appendicitis, report to the provider any sudden relief of pain. This may indicate that the appendix has perforated and requires emergency surgery!

Appendicitis: Family Teaching

Gastrointestinal Pediatrics

When caring for a child with appendicitis, report to the provider any sudden relief of pain. This may indicate that the appendix has perforated and requires emergency surgery!

A patient who experiences prolonged standing (like nurses!) is at risk for developing varicose veins. Educate patients with this risk factor to wear compression stockings and elevate the legs when possible.

Varicose Veins: Patient Teaching

Cardiovascular Med-Surg

A patient who experiences prolonged standing (like nurses!) is at risk for developing varicose veins. Educate patients with this risk factor to wear compression stockings and elevate the legs when possible.

Because hypokalemia increases a patient's risk of digoxin toxicity, be sure to closely monitor the potassium levels for patients taking digoxin!

Digoxin and Hypokalemia

Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Because hypokalemia increases a patient's risk of digoxin toxicity, be sure to closely monitor the potassium levels for patients taking digoxin!

Patients receiving enemas may report cramping. Lower the solution container if cramping is reported.

Enemas: Nursing Care

Practice & Skills Fundamentals

Patients receiving enemas may report cramping. Lower the solution container if cramping is reported.

With Cushing's Syndrome, restrict fluid and sodium but increase the patient's intake of protein, calcium, and vitamin D.

Cushing's Syndrome: Nursing Care

Nutrition

With Cushing's Syndrome, restrict fluid and sodium but increase the patient's intake of protein, calcium, and vitamin D.

Loss of Central Vision

Nervous Med-Surg

A patient reporting a loss of central vision should be evaluated for macular degeneration.

Atropine

Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Atropine is a medication that can be administered to patients with sinus bradycardia or heart block in order to increase heart rate.

Car Seat Safety for Newborns

Newborn Maternity

Car seat safety for newborns includes installing the car seat in the back/middle seat, using a rear-facing seat with a 5-point harness until at least age 2, installing the seat at a 45 degree angle, positioning straps at or below the level of the child's shoulders, and ensuring the chest clip is at the nipple level (NOT resting on the abdomen!)

A patient using crutches should be taught to ascend stairs leading with the strong leg and descend by leading with the weaker leg.

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