Nursing RN

Hello everyone, it's Nurse Sarah here! Today, I'm going to guide you through one of the more unique question types you might encounter on the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) exam—the drop-down close question. This question type can be a bit tricky, so it's crucial to understand how to approach it effectively. Let's get started! What is a Drop-Down Close Question? A drop-down close question differs significantly from the traditional multiple-choice or select-all-that-apply questions. Instead of choosing from a list of predetermined answers, you're required to fill in the blanks within a given statement or scenario by selecting options from drop-down menus. This type of question is designed to test not only your knowledge but also your ability to apply that knowledge in a clinical context. In a drop-down close question, you are presented with a scenario—often drawn from real-world nursing situations. The scenario will include patient information, such as clini...

Let's explore the various types of congenital heart defects, starting with Tetralogy of Fallot . This condition is characterized by four key abnormalities, which can be remembered with the acronym "RAPS" : R ight ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement) A orta displacement P ulmonary stenosis (narrowing) S eptal defect, specifically a ventricular septal defect (VSD) Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot often experience "Tet spells," where they become cyanotic (bluish skin due to lack of oxygen). To alleviate these spells, the knee-to-chest position is recommended. Next is Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) , where there is a hole in the wall (septum) between the right and left ventricles. You can remember this condition with the word "HOLE." Patients with VSD may develop heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, often leading to frequent lung infections, poor growth, and weight gain. Additionally, extra heart sounds, or murmurs, can often be heard...

Hello everyone, it’s Nurse Sarah here, and today, we're diving deep into the world of junctional rhythms. Junctional rhythms are an essential topic in cardiac nursing and understanding them is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective patient management. This guide will provide you with a thorough understanding of what junctional rhythms are, how they manifest on an ECG, their clinical significance, and the nursing interventions required to manage patients with these arrhythmias. What Are Junctional Rhythms? Junctional rhythms are abnormal heart rhythms that originate from the AV (atrioventricular) junction, a critical area that includes the AV node and the bundle of His. These rhythms occur when the heart’s primary pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, fails to generate impulses at the normal rate or the impulses are blocked before reaching the ventricles. In these cases, the AV junction steps in as the backup pacemaker to maintain the heart's rhythm, albeit at a...

Hi everyone, it’s Nurse Sarah. Pharmacology is one of the most challenging aspects of the NCLEX, but with the right preparation, you can master it. In this guide, we'll explore several key pharmacology concepts through case studies and practice questions. Each case is designed to enhance your understanding of how medications work, their potential side effects, and critical considerations for safe patient care. Let's get started! Case Study: Serotonin Syndrome You are caring for a 36-year-old patient who was admitted to the emergency room with symptoms of extreme sweating, shivering, muscle rigidity, and irritability. The patient’s heart rate is 140 beats per minute, and their temperature is elevated at 102.6°F. The patient’s medical history includes depression, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension. According to the family, the patient has been experiencing a persistent dry cough and has been using over-the-counter medications to manage it. The patient’s c...

Hello everyone, Nurse Sarah here! If you're looking to land your dream nursing job, then your resume is the first impression you'll make on potential employers. Whether you're fresh out of nursing school or a seasoned nurse, a well-crafted resume is essential. In this guide, I'll walk you through every section of a nursing resume in detail, ensuring that your resume not only stands out but also highlights your qualifications and readiness for the job. Let’s get started! 1. Selecting the Right Design: Clean, Professional, and Focused The design of your resume is the first thing a hiring manager will notice, so it's important to make it count. A clean, professional design sets the tone, conveying that you are organized and pay attention to detail. Here are some tips to help you achieve this: Minimal Distractions: Avoid overly busy designs with too many colors, graphics, or fonts. Your resume should focus on the content rather than the design elements. Sub...

Hello everyone, Nurse Sarah here! In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of inserting an indwelling Foley catheter on a male patient, step by step. This procedure requires precision and care, so take your time to understand each step thoroughly before you begin. Let’s dive into the process. Step 1: Pre-Procedure Preparation 1.1 Confirm the Order Before initiating any procedure, it’s essential to verify that there is a legitimate medical order for inserting the Foley catheter. This ensures that the procedure is necessary and appropriate for the patient’s condition. 1.2 Patient Identification and Rights Next, perform the patient identification and rights checks to confirm that you have the correct patient and that the procedure is what was ordered. This involves: Checking the patient’s ID band against the order. Ensuring that you have the correct procedure listed. Verifying the patient’s consent if required. 1.3 Educate the Patient Take a moment t...

Learning about blood type compatibility can be straightforward if you know how to approach it. Let's break it down into easy-to-remember steps. The Four Main Blood Groups First, it's essential to know that there are four main blood groups: O, A, B, and AB . From these groups, we get the eight blood types: O Positive (O+) O Negative (O-) A Positive (A+) A Negative (A-) B Positive (B+) B Negative (B-) AB Positive (AB+) AB Negative (AB-) Universal Donor and Universal Recipient When studying blood compatibility, start by memorizing the universal donor and the universal recipient: Universal Donor: Blood type O is known as the universal donor because it can be given to all blood types. An easy way to remember this is that the word "donor" has two O's, just like the blood type O. O types can donate to O, A, B, and AB types. However, they can only receive blood from other O types. Universal Recipient: Blood type AB is the universal recipient, meaning it c...

The short answer is no. You should discard expired glucose strips and use fresh ones instead. Using expired strips can give you inaccurate blood glucose readings, which is risky, especially when your medication dosage is based on these readings. Why Can't You Use Expired Strips? Glucose test strips contain a chemical that reacts with your blood to determine your glucose level. Over time, this chemical breaks down, leading to inaccurate results. These inaccuracies can cause your readings to be either too high or too low, which can mislead you in managing your diabetes. A Simple Experiment To illustrate this, I conducted an experiment by testing my fasting blood glucose on three different mornings using both expired and unexpired strips. Day 1 : The readings were identical for both expired and unexpired strips. Day 2 : The expired strips showed a reading that was 7 points lower than the unexpired strips. Day 3 : The expired strips were 10 points lower than the unexpired s...

When it comes to administering medication to pediatric patients, calculating the correct dose is crucial to ensure safety and efficacy. In this guide, we’ll go through a detailed step-by-step process to calculate whether the prescribed dose is safe for a pediatric patient. Case Study: Patient Overview Patient Weight: 48 lbs Prescribed Dose: 850 mg by mouth every 8 hours Safe Dose Range: 100 to 300 milligrams per kilogram per day, divided into doses every 8 hours Given this information, let’s proceed with the calculations to determine if the prescribed dose falls within the safe range. Step 1: Determine the Number of Doses Per Day First, we need to calculate how many doses the patient will receive in a 24-hour period. This is crucial because the total daily dose must be divided into equal doses given throughout the day. Frequency of Administration: Every 8 hours Total Hours in a Day: 24 To find the number of doses per day, divide the total hours in a day by the interval...