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Guide to Acid-Base Balance and ABG Interpretation Study Guide

Learn the clinical reasons for discontinuing IV therapy and the essential steps for safe removal. This guide covers therapeutic completion, managing complications like infiltration and phlebitis, and proper documentation and monitoring post-removal.

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Diagnostic Tests, Laboratory Values, and Specimen Collection

Common Diagnostic Imaging and Electrocardiogram

Interpret common diagnostic tests and basic laboratory values to support clinical decision-making and safe patient care.

  • X-ray
  • Ultrasound
  • Computed Tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Nursing Considerations

Diagnostic Tests and Laboratory Values

A guide to diagnostic tests and laboratory values including urinalysis, complete blood count, electrolytes, kidney function, blood glucose, liver function, lipid profile, and arterial blood gas.

  • Urinalysis (UA)
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC)
  • Sodium (Na) imbalance
  • Potassium (K) imbalance
  • BUN/Creatinine
  • Blood Glucose
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Lipid Profile
  • Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)

Specimen Collection and Nursing Considerations

Diagnostic tests and laboratory values involve collecting samples such as nasal swabs, 24 hour urine, stool samples, throat swabs, and sputum samples to identify viral or bacterial presence, renal disease, endocrine disorders, GI bleeding, infection, malabsorption, pneumonia, TB, or cancer.

  • Nasal Swab
  • 24 Hour Urine
  • Stool Sample
  • Throat Swab
  • Sputum Sample
  • Nursing Considerations

Neurological Assessment and Sensory History

Neurological Assessment and Vision Evaluation

Neurological assessment involves evaluating health history, substance use, and vision changes to establish a baseline for consciousness and neurological function.

  • Neurological assessment
  • Level of consciousness
  • Substance use impact
  • Vision history
  • Gross motor assessment

Neurological and Sensory Assessment Techniques

Neurological Assessment of Vision and Substance Use

Assessing neurological status involves evaluating health history, substance use, and vision changes including cataracts and eye pigmentation.

  • Neurological assessment
  • Level of consciousness
  • Substance use impact
  • Vision history
  • Cataracts
  • Eye pigmentation
  • Gross motor assessment

Assessing Vision and Hearing Health

Neurological Assessment of Vision and Hearing

Assessment of neurological health history, vision changes, and ear conditions including hearing loss.

  • neurological assessment
  • health history
  • substance use
  • vision changes
  • cataracts
  • otoscope
  • conductive hearing loss
  • otoscereosis
  • tinnitus

Self-Care Domains and Physical Assessment

Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Mouth Assessment

Assessment of the ears, nose, mouth, and throat including lifespan development, conditions, and health promotion.

  • Ear Assessment
  • Otosclerosis
  • Presbycusis
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus
  • Epistaxis
  • Sinusitis
  • Ankyloglossia
  • Health Promotion

Neurologic and Mental Status Assessment

Assessment of central and peripheral nervous system structure, function, age-related changes, and mental health screening tools.

  • Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  • Age-Related Neurologic Changes
  • Cognitive Assessment Tools
  • Mental Health Screening
  • Substance Abuse Assessment

Safety, Sensory Perception, and Musculoskeletal Assessment

Safety and Fall Risk Management

An overview of environmental safety, common hazards, patient emergencies, healthcare risk factors, and fall risk assessment tools.

  • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
  • RACES Fire Safety Protocol
  • PASS Extinguisher Technique
  • Patient Emergency Types
  • Workplace Violence Prevention
  • Fall Risk Assessment Tools
  • Incident Command

Safety, Fall Risks, and Restraints

Nursing interventions for patient safety include fall risk prevention, restraint management, seizure precautions, and medication error prevention.

  • Physical and Chemical Restraints
  • Fall Risk Interventions
  • Seizure Precautions
  • Medication Error Prevention
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Restraint Assessment Protocols

Sensory Perception and Alterations

The sensory experience involves reception, perception, and reaction through sensory receptors and neural pathways.

  • Sensory receptors
  • Sensory experience
  • Sensory overload
  • Sensory deficit
  • Sensory deprivation
  • Nursing interventions
  • Sensory assessment

Musculoskeletal and Mobility Assessment Guide

A comprehensive overview of musculoskeletal health, mobility assessment, and principles of body mechanics.

  • Body mechanics
  • Musculoskeletal assessment
  • Muscle strength grading
  • Osteoporosis risk factors
  • Lifespan musculoskeletal changes
  • Range of Motion (ROM)
  • Sarcopenia
  • Kyphosis

Musculoskeletal Assessment and Range of Motion

Assessment of musculoskeletal mobility through inspection, palpation, and range of motion across various anatomical structures.

  • Spinal Inspection and Palpation
  • Range of Motion (ROM) Movements
  • Shoulder Muscle Strength
  • Elbow Pronation and Supination
  • Wrist Radial and Ulnar Deviation
  • Hand Thumb Opposition
  • Knee Fluid Assessment (Ballottement and Bulge Sign)
  • Ankle Dorsiflexion and Plantar Flexion
  • Foot Arch and Alignment

Musculoskeletal Mobility and Immobility Management

Assessment and nursing priorities regarding the systematic, psychosocial, and physiological effects of immobility.

  • Systematic effects of immobility
  • Psychosocial effects of immobility
  • Mobility assessment
  • Nursing priorities for safe positioning
  • Complications of bed rest

Foundations of Self-Care and Neurologic Assessment

Metric and Household Dosage Conversions

A guide to metric and household conversion for prescribing and measuring liquid medications.

  • Metric system standards
  • Weight conversions
  • Volume and length measurements
  • Household measure conversions
  • Special medication units
  • Decimal movement for conversion
  • Intake and output calculation

Neurologic, Mental Status, and HEET Assessment

Neurologic, Mental Status, and HEET Assessment covers health history, lymph node locations, eyes assessment, and lifespan development.

  • Health History
  • Lymph Node Locations
  • Eyes Assessment
  • Extraocular movements
  • Lifespan Development
  • Eye Conditions

Neurologic Assessment and Cranial Nerve Evaluation

A guide to cranial nerve assessment, reflex response grading, and neurological conditions including stroke and Bell’s palsy.

  • Reflex Response Grading
  • Stroke Types and Risk Factors
  • Motor and Sensory Functions

Medication Administration and Error Prevention

Medication Safety and Administration Principles

This content covers multidisciplinary roles, nurse responsibilities, medication rights, and error prevention strategies to ensure patient safety during administration.

  • Multidisciplinary roles in medication management
  • Nurse responsibility and clinical judgement
  • Medication order types
  • Pharmacokinetics terms including onset, peak, trough, duration, and plateau
  • Medication reconciliation
  • Medication rights (TRAMP-D)
  • Patient assessment and education
  • Common medication error types and causes
  • Error prevention through institutional culture, infrastructure, clinical practice, and technology
  • Legal liability in medication administration

Medication Labeling and Administration Information

Information regarding medication directions for mixing, dosage, storage, and reconstitution for various pharmaceutical products.

  • Directions for mixing
  • Reconstitution
  • Dosage
  • Storage temperature
  • Controlled room temperature
  • Potency prevention
  • Sublingual tablets
  • Oral suspension
  • Intravascular injection

Diphenhydramine HCl Injection Label Information

This document contains label information for Diphenhydramine HCl Injection, USP, including storage temperature, pH adjustment, and concentration.

  • Diphenhydramine HCl Injection, USP
  • USP Controlled Room Temperature
  • pH adjustment
  • intravascular administration
  • benzethonium chloride

Homeostasis of Fluids, Electrolytes, and Acid-Base Balance

Fluids, Electrolytes, and Acid-Base Balance

Homeostasis maintains stable internal conditions through the regulation of pH, fluids, and electrolytes for cellular function.

  • Homeostasis
  • Fluid balance
  • pH balance
  • Electrolyte balance
  • Cations
  • Osmosis
  • Diffusion
  • Active transport
  • Filtration
  • Hypervolemia
  • Hypovolemia
  • Osmolality
  • Hypotonic
  • Hypertonic
  • Potassium
  • Sodium
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Chloride
  • Bicarbonate

Fluid Distribution and Osmolality

Understanding how fluids move between compartments and the role of osmolality in maintaining balance.

Extracellular Fluid Volume Regulation

Mechanisms that regulate the volume of fluid in the extracellular space.

Electrolyte Imbalance Identification

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of common electrolyte disturbances.

Nursing Assessment for Imbalances

Using clinical judgment to select appropriate assessments for patients at risk for fluid and electrolyte issues.

Injection Techniques and Medication Preparation

Medication Safety and Injection Administration

This content covers injection safety, needle parts, needle sizes, syringe types, and proper sharps disposal protocols.

  • Parts of a needle
  • Needle safety devices
  • Needlestick injury prevention
  • Blood transfer safety
  • Sharps disposal protocols
  • Needle gauge and length
  • Intramuscular injection penetration
  • Subcutaneous injection needle length
  • Syringe sizes and types
  • Tuberculin syringes
  • Insulin measurement

Medication Administration and Injection Techniques

Procedures for subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intradermal injections including site selection, needle specifications, and medication preparation from vials, ampules, and powder reconstitution.

  • Subcutaneous injection sites
  • Intramuscular injection sites
  • Intradermal injection sites
  • Ventrogluteal site
  • Vastus lateralis site
  • Deltoid site
  • Needle gauge and length
  • Injection angles
  • Drawing medication from vials
  • Drawing medication from ampules
  • Reconstitution of vial medication powder
  • Filter needle use
  • Medication absorption rates

Homeostasis and ABG Interpretation

Acid-Base Balance and ABG Interpretation

This content covers homeostasis through renal, respiratory, and endocrine systems, including buffer systems and ABG interpretation for acid-base imbalances and compensation.

  • Homeostasis
  • Renal System
  • Respiratory System
  • Endocrine System
  • Buffer Systems
  • Bicarbonate Buffer System
  • Protein Buffers
  • Phosphate Buffers
  • Acid-Base Balance
  • Acidosis
  • Alkalosis
  • ABG Interpretation
  • Respiratory Acidosis
  • Respiratory Alkalosis
  • Metabolic Acidosis
  • Metabolic Alkalosis
  • Uncompensated
  • Partially Compensated
  • Fully Compensated

Intravenous Therapy Management and Complications

Intravenous Therapy and Fluid Management

This content covers intravenous therapy including vascular access devices, solution tonicity, infusion regulation, and management of IV complications.

  • Vascular access devices
  • Isotonic solutions
  • Hypertonic solutions
  • Hypotonic solutions
  • Peripheral IV line initiation
  • IV cannula gauges
  • Electronic infusion pump regulation
  • Gravity IV line regulation
  • Primary and secondary infusions
  • Infiltration
  • Extravasation
  • Infection
  • Air embolism
  • Circulatory overload
  • Hematoma
  • Peripheral IV discontinuation

IV Fluid and Electrolyte Calculations

Calculations for mL/hr flow rates, gtts/min drip rates, and procedures for IV pumps, gravity tubing, and IV push administration.

  • mL/hr calculations
  • gtts/min calculations
  • drop factor
  • IV pump programming
  • gravity tubing
  • IV push administration
  • piggyback infusion
  • primary line

Peripheral IV Catheter Insertion

Mastering the safe insertion of peripheral IVs using aseptic technique and safety protocols.

IV Maintenance and Safety

Procedures for changing solution containers, tubing, and dressings while maintaining safety.

  • Intravenous therapy
  • IV catheter
  • Infection
  • Infiltration
  • Extravasation
  • Therapeutic completion
  • Clinical necessity
  • Complication management
  • IV removal procedure
  • Patient safety
  • Hemostasis
  • Documentation

Recognizing IV Complications

Identifying and managing potential complications related to intravenous therapy.

  • Infiltration
  • Extravasation
  • Infection
  • Hematoma
  • Air embolism
  • Clinical signs
  • Immediate action
  • Patient assessment
  • Tissue damage

Discontinuing IV Therapy

The rationale and safe procedures for stopping intravenous therapy.

  • Rationale for IV discontinuation
  • Safe IV removal procedures
  • Therapeutic completion
  • Clinical necessity
  • Complication management
  • Patient assessment
  • Hand hygiene
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Sterile technique
  • Pressure application
  • Hemostasis
  • Post-removal care
  • Documentation
  • Monitoring for delayed complications

Blood Administration Management

Evaluating patient outcomes and applying clinical judgment during blood product administration.

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