Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
Table of Contents
General............................................................................................................................................ 3
• Vital signs.............................................................................................................................. 3
• Lab values............................................................................................................................. 4
• Medical abbreviations........................................................................................................... 5
• Head to Toe Assessment....................................................................................................... 9
• Positioning........................................................................................................................... 10
• Isolation/Personal Protective Equipment............................................................................11
Integumentary System................................................................................................................... 12
Musculoskeletal System................................................................................................................. 14
Endocrine System........................................................................................................................... 16
Neurological System....................................................................................................................... 17
Cardiovascular System.................................................................................................................... 22
Respiratory System.......................................................................................................................... 27
Gastrointestinal System.................................................................................................................. 33
Pediatrics......................................................................................................................................... 37
Maternity......................................................................................................................................... 39
Pharmacology.................................................................................................................................. 44
Success in Nursing School................................................................................................................ 45
• Clinical placement................................................................................................................. 48
1
• Studying for the NCLEX.......................................................................................................... 53
Applying for your First Job............................................................................................................... 59
• Interview Questions + Answers............................................................................................59
Vital Signs
Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
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,Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
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Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions and are used in detecting or
monitoring medical problems.
VS Range Notes
Temperature 97.8 - 99 F Can be taken, orally, axillary, rectally, or by ear
36.5 - 37.2 C
Heart Rate 60 – 100 The heart forces blood through
beats/min arteries and you can feel the
beats by firmly pressing on the
arteries (located close to the
surface of the skin at certain
points)
Blood Pressure 120/80 Systolic pressure: the pressure inside the artery when the
heart contracts + pumps blood through the body
Diastolic pressure: the pressure inside the artery when the
heart is at rest + is filling with blood
Elevated BP: systolic 120-129 and diastolic less than 80
Stage 1 hypertension: systolic 130-139 or diastolic
between 80-89
Stage 2 hypertension is: systolic 140 or higher or the
diastolic is 90 or higher
Respiratory Rate 12-20 RR may increase with fever, illness, and other medical
breaths/min conditions
Oxygen 95-100% A measurement of the amount of oxygen being carried in
Saturation your blood as a percentage
(SpO2) Normal SpO2 for a COPD patient is 88-92%
2
Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
,Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
Vital Signs, Assessments, and Lab Values
Adult Vital Signs
Heart Rate 60 – 100 bpm
Blood Pressure 120/80 – 139/89
SpO2 95% - 100%
Respiratory Rate 12 – 20 rpm
Temperature Lung Sounds
97.8 - 99 F
Wheeze High-pitched, continuous
36.5 - 37.5
musical sound, occurs during
inspiration and/or expiration
Ronchi Low pitched, rumbling course Heart Sounds
wheeze Aortic 2 intercostal space, R sternal
nd
Crackles Short, high pitched, intermittent border
popping sounds, occurs during Pulmonic 2nd intercostal space, L sternal
inspiration border
Stridor High pitched, inspiratory Tricuspid 4th intercostal space, L sternal
wheeze, loudest over anterior border
neck Mitral 5th intercostal space, L midclavicular
Lab Values
Ca+ 9 – 11 mEq/L RBC 4.5 – 5.0 million
Cl- 95 – 105 mEq/L WBC 5,000 – 10,000
Mg+ 1.5 – 2.5 mEq/L Platelets 200,000 – 400,000
K+ 3.5 – 5.0 mEq/L Hemoglobin F: 12 – 16
M: 14 – 18
P+ 3.0 – 4.5 mEq/L Hematocrit F: 37 - 47
M: 40 – 54
Na+ 135-145 mEq/L pH 7.35 – 7.45
Glucose 70 – 110 mg/dL (4 – 6 CO2 35 – 45
mmol/L)
BUN 6 – 20 mg/dL HCO3 22 – 26
Creatinine 0.6 – 1.35 mg/dL PaO2 80% - 100%
Specific 1.010 – 1.030 PTT 28-38 seconds; if on heparin = 1.5-2x
gravity the normal
Total < 200 mg/dL INR 0.9-1.2
cholesterol
Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
, Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
Medical Terminology
Frequency Medication Routes
AC Before meals IM Intramuscular
BID Twice a day IO Intraosseous
c With IV Intravenous
HS At bedtime NPO Nothing by mouth
PC After eating PO By mouth
q Every PR By rectum
qd Every day PRN As needed
qh Every hour SL Sublingual
q4h, q6h, etc. Every four hours, every six hours, etc SQ Subcutaneous
QID Four times a day
STAT Immediately
TID Three times a day
Medical Conditions
AAA Abdominal aortic aneurysm
AF Atrial fibrillation
AKA Above the knee amputation
ALL Acute lymphocytic leukemia
ARDS Acute respiratory distress syndrome
ARF Acute renal failure
ASD Atrial septal defect
BKA Below the knee amputation
BPH Benign prostatic hyperplasia
CABG Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD Coronary artery disease
CF Cystic fibrosis
CHF Congestive heart failure
CML Chronic myelogenous leukemia
COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CVA Cerebrovascular accident
DI Diabetes insipidus
DIC Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
DKA Diabetic ketoacidosis
DM Diabetes mellitus
Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
RATED A+
Table of Contents
General............................................................................................................................................ 3
• Vital signs.............................................................................................................................. 3
• Lab values............................................................................................................................. 4
• Medical abbreviations........................................................................................................... 5
• Head to Toe Assessment....................................................................................................... 9
• Positioning........................................................................................................................... 10
• Isolation/Personal Protective Equipment............................................................................11
Integumentary System................................................................................................................... 12
Musculoskeletal System................................................................................................................. 14
Endocrine System........................................................................................................................... 16
Neurological System....................................................................................................................... 17
Cardiovascular System.................................................................................................................... 22
Respiratory System.......................................................................................................................... 27
Gastrointestinal System.................................................................................................................. 33
Pediatrics......................................................................................................................................... 37
Maternity......................................................................................................................................... 39
Pharmacology.................................................................................................................................. 44
Success in Nursing School................................................................................................................ 45
• Clinical placement................................................................................................................. 48
1
• Studying for the NCLEX.......................................................................................................... 53
Applying for your First Job............................................................................................................... 59
• Interview Questions + Answers............................................................................................59
Vital Signs
Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
,Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions and are used in detecting or
monitoring medical problems.
VS Range Notes
Temperature 97.8 - 99 F Can be taken, orally, axillary, rectally, or by ear
36.5 - 37.2 C
Heart Rate 60 – 100 The heart forces blood through
beats/min arteries and you can feel the
beats by firmly pressing on the
arteries (located close to the
surface of the skin at certain
points)
Blood Pressure 120/80 Systolic pressure: the pressure inside the artery when the
heart contracts + pumps blood through the body
Diastolic pressure: the pressure inside the artery when the
heart is at rest + is filling with blood
Elevated BP: systolic 120-129 and diastolic less than 80
Stage 1 hypertension: systolic 130-139 or diastolic
between 80-89
Stage 2 hypertension is: systolic 140 or higher or the
diastolic is 90 or higher
Respiratory Rate 12-20 RR may increase with fever, illness, and other medical
breaths/min conditions
Oxygen 95-100% A measurement of the amount of oxygen being carried in
Saturation your blood as a percentage
(SpO2) Normal SpO2 for a COPD patient is 88-92%
2
Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
,Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
Vital Signs, Assessments, and Lab Values
Adult Vital Signs
Heart Rate 60 – 100 bpm
Blood Pressure 120/80 – 139/89
SpO2 95% - 100%
Respiratory Rate 12 – 20 rpm
Temperature Lung Sounds
97.8 - 99 F
Wheeze High-pitched, continuous
36.5 - 37.5
musical sound, occurs during
inspiration and/or expiration
Ronchi Low pitched, rumbling course Heart Sounds
wheeze Aortic 2 intercostal space, R sternal
nd
Crackles Short, high pitched, intermittent border
popping sounds, occurs during Pulmonic 2nd intercostal space, L sternal
inspiration border
Stridor High pitched, inspiratory Tricuspid 4th intercostal space, L sternal
wheeze, loudest over anterior border
neck Mitral 5th intercostal space, L midclavicular
Lab Values
Ca+ 9 – 11 mEq/L RBC 4.5 – 5.0 million
Cl- 95 – 105 mEq/L WBC 5,000 – 10,000
Mg+ 1.5 – 2.5 mEq/L Platelets 200,000 – 400,000
K+ 3.5 – 5.0 mEq/L Hemoglobin F: 12 – 16
M: 14 – 18
P+ 3.0 – 4.5 mEq/L Hematocrit F: 37 - 47
M: 40 – 54
Na+ 135-145 mEq/L pH 7.35 – 7.45
Glucose 70 – 110 mg/dL (4 – 6 CO2 35 – 45
mmol/L)
BUN 6 – 20 mg/dL HCO3 22 – 26
Creatinine 0.6 – 1.35 mg/dL PaO2 80% - 100%
Specific 1.010 – 1.030 PTT 28-38 seconds; if on heparin = 1.5-2x
gravity the normal
Total < 200 mg/dL INR 0.9-1.2
cholesterol
Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
, Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
Medical Terminology
Frequency Medication Routes
AC Before meals IM Intramuscular
BID Twice a day IO Intraosseous
c With IV Intravenous
HS At bedtime NPO Nothing by mouth
PC After eating PO By mouth
q Every PR By rectum
qd Every day PRN As needed
qh Every hour SL Sublingual
q4h, q6h, etc. Every four hours, every six hours, etc SQ Subcutaneous
QID Four times a day
STAT Immediately
TID Three times a day
Medical Conditions
AAA Abdominal aortic aneurysm
AF Atrial fibrillation
AKA Above the knee amputation
ALL Acute lymphocytic leukemia
ARDS Acute respiratory distress syndrome
ARF Acute renal failure
ASD Atrial septal defect
BKA Below the knee amputation
BPH Benign prostatic hyperplasia
CABG Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD Coronary artery disease
CF Cystic fibrosis
CHF Congestive heart failure
CML Chronic myelogenous leukemia
COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CVA Cerebrovascular accident
DI Diabetes insipidus
DIC Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
DKA Diabetic ketoacidosis
DM Diabetes mellitus
Nursing Study Guide Best Exam Review solution
RATED A+
