(Mensy) P 1 of 8
Hints from Exam Cram NCLEX-PN
Question
Answer
Sodium:
135-145 mEq/L
Potassium:
3.5-5.5 mEq/L
Calcium:
8.5-10.9 mg/L
Chloride:
95-105 mEq/L
Magnesium:
1.5-2.5 mEq/L
Phosphorus:
2.5-4.5 mg/dL
RBC:
4.5-5.0 million
WBC:
5,000-10,000
Platelet.:
200,000-400,000
Hgb:
12-16 gms women; 14-18 gms men
HC03:
24-26 mEq/L
C02:
35-45 mEq/L
Pa02:
80%-100%
Sa02:
> 95%
Glucose:
70-110 mg/dL
Specific gravity:
1.010-1.030
BUN:
7-22 mg/dL
Serum creatinine:
0.6-1.35 mg/dL (< 2 in older adults)
LDH:
100-190 U/L
CPK:
21-232 U/L
Uric acid:
3.5-7.5 mg/dL
(Mensy) P 2 of 8
Triglyceride:
40-50 mg/dL
Total cholesterol:
130-200 mg/dL
Bilirubin:
< 1.0 mg/dL
Protein:
6.2-8.1 g/dL
Albumin:
3.4-5.0 g/dL
Digoxin:
0.5-2.0 ng/ml
Lithium:
0.8-1.5 mEq/L
Dilantin:
10-20 mcg/dL
Theophylline:
10-20 mcg/dL
Heart rate:
80-100
Respiratory rate:
12-20
Blood pressure:
110-120 (systolic); 60-90 (diastolic)
Temperature:
98.6
FHR:
120-160 BPM
FHR Variability:
6-10 BPM.
Contractions: normal frequency
2-5 minutes apart
Contractions normal duration
< 90 sec.
Contractions intensity
< 100 mm/hg.
Amniotic fluid:
500-1200 ml (nitrozine urine-litmus paper
green/amniotic fluid-litmus paper blue).
APGAR meaning
A = appearanceP = pulses, G = grimace, A =
activity, R = reflexes
APGAR scoring done at
1 and 5 minutes
APGAR scoring:
0 for absent, 1 for decreased, and 2 for
strongly positive
(Mensy) P 3 of 8
AVA:
The umbilical cord has two arteries and one
vein (Arteries carry deoxygenated blood. The
vein carries oxygenated blood.)
FAB 9Folic acid = B9
B stands for brain (decreases the incidence
of neural tube defects); the client should
begin taking B9 three months prior to
becoming pregnant.
Decelerations are _______________findings
abnormal
on the fetal monitoring strip.
Decelerations are classified as
Earky, Variable and Late
Early decelerations
Begin prior to the peak of the contraction
and end by the end of the contraction. They
are caused by head compression. There is no
need for intervention if the variability is
within normal range (that is, there is a rapid
return to the baseline fetal hear
Variable decelerations
Are noted as V-shaped on the monitoring
strip. Variable decelerations can occur
anytime during monitoring of the fetus. They
are caused by cord compression. The
intervention is to change the mother's
position; if pitocin is infusing, stop the
infusion; ap
Late decelerations
Occur after the peak of the contraction and
mirror the contraction in length and
intensity. These are caused by uteroplacental
insuffiency. The intervention is to change the
mother's position; if pitocin is infusing, stop
the infusion; apply oxygen;, and
TORCHS syndrome in the neonate
A combination of diseases including
toxoplasmosis, rubella (German measles),
cytomegalovirus, herpes, and syphyllia.
Pregnant nurses should not be assigned to
care for the client with toxoplasmosis or
cytomegalovirus.
STOP-This is the treatment for maternal 1. Stop pitocin if infusing. 2. Turn the client
hypotension after an epidural
on the left side. 3. Administer oxygen. 4. If
anesthesia:
hypovolemia is present, push IV fluids.
(Mensy) P 4 of 8
Coumadin (sodium warfarin) PT:
10-12 sec. (control).
The antidote for Coumadin is
vitamin K.
Heparin/Lovenox/Dalteparin PTT:
30-45 sec. (control).
The antidote for Heparin is
protamine sulfate.
Therapeutic level: It is important to
maintain a bleeding time that is slightly
prolonged so that clotting will not
1 1/2-2 times the control.
occur; therefore, the bleeding time with
mediication should be:
The control (for anticoagulants) is
the premedication bleeding time.
Rule of nines for calculating TBSA for
burns
Head = 9% ; Arms = 18% (9% each) ; Back =
18% ; Legs = 36% (18% each) ; Genitalia =
1%
Arab American cultural attributes
Females avoid eye contact with males; touch
is accepted if done by same-sex healthcare
providers; most decisions are made by
males; Muslims (Sunni) refuse organ
donation; most Arabs do not eat pork; they
avoid icy drinks when sick or hot/cold drinks
toget
Asian American cultural attributes
They avoid direct eye contact; feet are
considered dirty (the feet should be touched
last during assessment); males make most of
the decisions; they usually refuse organ
donation; they generally do not prefer cold
drinks, believe in the "hot-cold" theory
Native American cultural attributes
They sustain eye contact; blood and organ
donation is generally refused; they might
refuse circumcision; may prefer care from
the tribal shaman rather than using western
medicine.
Mexican American cultural attributes
They might avoid direct eye contact with
authorities; they might refuse organ
donation; most are very emotional during
bereavement; believe in the "hot-cold"
theory of illness.
(Mensy) P 5 of 8
Jehovah's Witness
No blood products should be used
Hindu
No beef or items containing gelatin
Jewish
Special dietary restrictions, use of kosher
foods
Renal diet
High calorie, high carbohydrate, low protein,
low potassium, low sodium, and fluid
restricted to intake = output + 500 ml
Gout diet
Low purine; omit poultry ("cold chicken")
medication for acute episodes: Colchicine;
maintenance medication: Zyloprim
Heart healthy diet
Low fat (less than 30% of calories should be
from fat)
ROME (respiratory opposite/metabolic
equal) is a quick way of remembering
that:
in respiratory acid/base disorders the pH is
opposite to the other components. For
example, in respiratory acidosis, the pH is
below normal and the C02 is elevated, as is
the HC03 (respiratory opposite). In metabolic
disorders, the components of the lab
pH down, C02 up, and HC03 up:
respiratory acidosis
pH down, C02 down, and HC03 down:
metabolic acidosis
pH up, C02 down, and HC03 down:
respiratory alkalosis
pH up, C02 up, and HC03 up :
metabolic alkalosis
Addison's and Cushing's are diseases of
the __________________ system involving
endocrine
either overproduction or inadequate
production of cortisol.
Treatment for the client with Addison's:
increase sodium intake; medications include
cortisone preparations.
Treatment for the client with Cushing's:
restrict sodium; observe for signs of
infection.
Treatment for spider bites/bleeding
RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevate
extremity)
(Mensy) P 6 of 8
Treatment for sickle cell crises
HHOP (heat, hydration, oxygen, pain
medications)
Five Ps of fractures and compartment
syndromeThese are symptoms of
fractures and compartment syndrome:
Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Polar
(cold)
Hip fractures commonly:
hemorrhage
Femur fractures are at risk for:
fat emboli
Profile of gallbladder disease
Fair, fat, forty, five pregnancies, flatulent
(actually gallbladder disease can occur in all
ages and both sexes)
Delegate sterile skills such as dressing
changes to the:
RN or LPN.
Where nonskilled care is required, you
can delegate the stable client to the:
nursing assistant.
Choose the most critical client to assign
to the______such as the client who has
RN
recently returned from chest surgery.
Clients who are being discharged should
RN
have final assessments done by the:
IV therapy, insert urinary catheters and
The PN, like the RN, can monitor clients
feeding tubes, apply restraints, discontinue
with
IVs, drains, and sutures.
For room assignments, do not coassign
the post-operative client with clients
who have:
vomiting, diarrhea, open wounds, or chest
tube drainage.
Remember the ___________________ when
answering questions choices that ask
who would you see first.
A, B, Cs (airway, breathing, circulation)
For hospital triage, care for the client
with a ________________ or__________________ life-threatening illness or injury
first.
For disaster triage, choose to triage
first those clients who can:
be saved with the least use of resources.
(Mensy) P 7 of 8
The ___ and the __________ institute
seclusion protection.
RN, Physician
The ____ or the _________ nurse can
pronounces client dead.
MD, hospice
Angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibiting agents:
Benazepril (Lotensin), lisinopril (Zestril),
captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec),
fosinopril (Monopril), moexipril (Univas),
quinapril (Acupril), ramipril (Altace)
Beta adrenergic blockers:
Acebutolol (Monitan, Rhotral, Sectral),
atenolol (Tenormin, Apo-Atenol, NovaAtenol), esmolol (Brevibloc), metaprolol
(Alupent, Metaproterenol), propanolol
(Inderal)
Anti-infective drugs:
Gentamicin (Garamycin, Alcomicin,
Genoptic), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin
(Mycifradin), streptomycin (Streptomycin),
tobramycin (Tobrex, Nebcin), amikacin
(Amikin)
Benzodiazepine drugs:
Clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium),
chlordiazepox-ide (Librium), lorazepam
(Ativan), flurazepam (Dalmane)
Phenothiazine drugs:
Chlopromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine
(Compazine), trifluoperazine (Stelazine),
promethazine (Phenergan), hydroxyzine
(Vistaril), fluphenazine (Prolixin)
Glucocorticoid drugs:
Prednisolone (Delta-Cortef, Prednisol,
Prednisolone), prednisone (Apo-Prednisone,
Deltasone, Meticorten, Orasone, Panasol-S),
betametha-sone (Celestone, Selestoject,
Betnesol), dexamethasone (Decadron,
Deronil, Dexon, Mymethasone, Dalalone),
cortisone (Co
Antivirals:
Acyclovir (Zovirax), ritonavir (Norvir),
saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), indinavir
(Crixivan), abacavir (Ziagen), cidofovir
(Vistide), ganciclovir (Cytovene, Vitrasert)
Cholesterol-lowering drugs:
Atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol),
lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin
(Mensy) P 8 of 8
(Pravachol), simvas-tatin (Zocar),
rosuvastatin (Crestor)
Angiotensin receptor blocker drugs:
Valsartan (Diovan), candesartan (Altacand),
losartan (Cozaar), telmisartan (Micardis)
Cox 2 enzyme blocker drugs:
Celecoxib (Celebrex), valdecoxib (Bextra)
Histamine 2 antagonist drugs:
Cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid),
nizatidine (Axid), rantidine (Zantac)
Proton pump inhibitors:
Esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole
(Prevacid), pantopra-zole (Protonix),
rabeprazole (AciPhex)
Anticoagulant drugs:
Heparin sodium (Hepalean), enoxaparin
sodium (Lovenox), dalteparin sodium
(Fragmin)
Schedule I drugs
Research use only (example LSD)
Schedule II drugs
Requires a written prescription (example
Ritalin)
Schedule III drugs
Requires a new prescription after six months
or five refills (example codeine)
Schedule IV drugs
Requires a new prescription after six months
(example Darvon)
Schedule V drugs
Dispensed as any other prescription or
without prescription if state law allows
(example antitussives)
Antacids
Reduce hydrochloric acid in the stomach
Antianemics
Increase red blood cell production
Anticholenergics
Decrease oral secretions
Anticoagulants
Prevent clot formation
Anticonvulsants
Used for management of seizures/bipolar
disorder
Antidiarrheals
Decrease gastric motility and reduce water in
(Mensy) P 9 of 8
bowel
Antihistamines
Block the release of histamine
Antihypertensives
Lower blood pressure and increase blood
flow
Anti-infectives
Used for the treatment of infections
Bronchodilators
Dilate large air passages in asthma/lung
disease
Diuretics
Decrease water/sodium from the Loop of
Henle
Laxatives
Promote the passage of stool
Miotics
Constrict the pupils
Mydriatics
Dilate the pupils
Narcotics/analgesics
Relieve moderate to severe pain
tort
litigation in which one person asserts that an
injury, which may be physical, emotional, or
financial, occurred as a consequence of
another's actions or failure to act.
negligence
harm that results because a person did not
act reasonably
malpractice
prefessional negligence
slander
character attacked and uttered in the
presence of others
assault
act in which there is a threat or attempt to
do bodily harm
battery
unauthorized physical contact
