NUR 534 Final Exam Review Notes
Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice
University of Alabama — School of Nursing
Prepared for: Keinesha | Exam Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 100 Questions
Last Updated: Monday, April 27, 2026
Table of Contents
1. Nutrition and CAM (5 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
2. Mobility (10 Qs – NEW) — Faculty: Glass
3. Care of the Surgical Client (10 Qs – NEW) — Faculty: Bigham
4. Infection Prevention and Safety (5 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
5. Tissue Integrity (5 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
6. Medication Administration (8 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
7. Acid-Base Balance (6 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
8. Fluid and Electrolytes (6 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
9. Elimination (10 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
10. Sensory (5 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
11. Pain (5 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
12. Oxygenation (5 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
13. EKG (5 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
14. Diagnostic Lab Tests (10 Qs – MATCHING) — All Faculty
15. Medical Terminology and Abbreviations (5 Qs – MATCHING) — All Faculty
Quick Reference Summary & Cheat Sheet
, Exam Strategy Reminders
ABCs first: Airway → Breathing → Circulation. Always assess before intervening.
Maslow’s Hierarchy: Physiological → Safety → Love/Belonging → Esteem → Self-Actualization.
Nursing Process: Assess → Diagnose → Plan → Implement → Evaluate.
“Assess FIRST” is usually the right answer. “Notify the provider” is usually the answer when
something is out of your scope.
If a question says “BEST” or “PRIORITY” — more than one answer may be correct; pick the MOST
important one.
1. Nutrition and CAM (5 Questions)
High-Yield Key Concepts
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
● Complementary = used TOGETHER with conventional medicine
● Alternative = used INSTEAD of conventional medicine
● Types of CAM: herbal supplements, acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation, yoga,
chiropractic care, aromatherapy, biofeedback
Nurse’s Role with CAM
● Assess all patients for CAM use at admission and during medication reconciliation
● Document all CAM therapies the patient is using
● Check for drug-herb interactions before any procedure or medication change
● Do NOT recommend specific CAM therapies — this is outside nursing scope
● Respect patient choice and cultural practices regarding CAM use
⚠ Safety Alert — Dangerous Herb-Drug Interactions
, St. John’s Wort: Decreases effectiveness of oral contraceptives, antidepressants (SSRIs → serotonin
syndrome risk), anticoagulants, cyclosporine, digoxin, HIV meds.
Garlic supplements: Increased bleeding risk — STOP before surgery.
Ginkgo biloba: Potentiates anticoagulants (warfarin, heparin) — increased bleeding risk.
Kava: Hepatotoxicity risk; potentiates sedatives and anesthetics.
Ginseng: May decrease warfarin effectiveness; can cause hypoglycemia with insulin.
Nutrition Assessment
Marker Normal Value Clinical Significance
Pre-Albumin 15–36 mg/dL BEST indicator of current nutritional status (short half-life: 2–3 days)
Serum 3.5–5.0 g/dL Reflects nutritional status over past 2–3 weeks; <3.5 = risk for poor
Albumin wound healing
BMI 18.5–24.9 = Normal <18.5 = underweight; 25–29.9 = overweight; ≥30 = obese
BMI Formula: Weight (kg) ÷ Height (m²) OR [Weight (lbs) × 703] ÷ Height (in²)
Therapeutic Diets
Diet Indication Key Points
Low-Sodium Heart failure, hypertension, <2,000 mg/day; avoid processed foods, canned
edema soups, deli meats
Diabetic/Carb- Diabetes mellitus Consistent carbohydrate intake; monitor blood
Controlled glucose
Renal Kidney disease Restrict K+, Na+, phosphorus, protein, and fluid
High-Protein Wound healing, burns, pressure Promotes tissue repair; include eggs, lean meats,
injuries dairy
Wound Healing Nutrition
● Protein — essential for tissue repair and collagen synthesis
● Vitamin C — collagen formation and immune function
● Zinc — cell division and immune function
, ● Iron — oxygen transport to healing tissues
● Vitamin A — epithelial cell growth and differentiation
Priority Nursing Actions
● Always ask about herbal supplements and OTC products during medication reconciliation
● Hold herbal supplements 2–3 weeks before surgery (bleeding and anesthesia interaction risk)
● For TPN: check blood glucose q4–6h (high dextrose content); use dedicated IV line; never
abruptly stop (taper to prevent hypoglycemia)
● For enteral feeding (tube feeding): verify tube placement before each feeding (pH ≤5.5 for
gastric), elevate HOB 30–45°, check residuals
📚 Clinical Pearl — Exam Tip
Pre-albumin vs. Albumin: If the question asks about CURRENT nutritional status, choose pre-
albumin (half-life 2–3 days). Albumin reflects status over weeks and can be falsely low due to
inflammation, liver disease, or fluid overload.
2. Mobility (10 Questions
—
NEW CONTENT)
High-Yield Key Concepts
Types of Exercise
Type Definition Example
Isotonic Muscle shortens, causing movement; constant Walking, swimming, bicycling
muscle tension
Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice
University of Alabama — School of Nursing
Prepared for: Keinesha | Exam Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 100 Questions
Last Updated: Monday, April 27, 2026
Table of Contents
1. Nutrition and CAM (5 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
2. Mobility (10 Qs – NEW) — Faculty: Glass
3. Care of the Surgical Client (10 Qs – NEW) — Faculty: Bigham
4. Infection Prevention and Safety (5 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
5. Tissue Integrity (5 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
6. Medication Administration (8 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
7. Acid-Base Balance (6 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
8. Fluid and Electrolytes (6 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
9. Elimination (10 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
10. Sensory (5 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
11. Pain (5 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
12. Oxygenation (5 Qs) — Faculty: Bigham
13. EKG (5 Qs) — Faculty: Glass
14. Diagnostic Lab Tests (10 Qs – MATCHING) — All Faculty
15. Medical Terminology and Abbreviations (5 Qs – MATCHING) — All Faculty
Quick Reference Summary & Cheat Sheet
, Exam Strategy Reminders
ABCs first: Airway → Breathing → Circulation. Always assess before intervening.
Maslow’s Hierarchy: Physiological → Safety → Love/Belonging → Esteem → Self-Actualization.
Nursing Process: Assess → Diagnose → Plan → Implement → Evaluate.
“Assess FIRST” is usually the right answer. “Notify the provider” is usually the answer when
something is out of your scope.
If a question says “BEST” or “PRIORITY” — more than one answer may be correct; pick the MOST
important one.
1. Nutrition and CAM (5 Questions)
High-Yield Key Concepts
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
● Complementary = used TOGETHER with conventional medicine
● Alternative = used INSTEAD of conventional medicine
● Types of CAM: herbal supplements, acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation, yoga,
chiropractic care, aromatherapy, biofeedback
Nurse’s Role with CAM
● Assess all patients for CAM use at admission and during medication reconciliation
● Document all CAM therapies the patient is using
● Check for drug-herb interactions before any procedure or medication change
● Do NOT recommend specific CAM therapies — this is outside nursing scope
● Respect patient choice and cultural practices regarding CAM use
⚠ Safety Alert — Dangerous Herb-Drug Interactions
, St. John’s Wort: Decreases effectiveness of oral contraceptives, antidepressants (SSRIs → serotonin
syndrome risk), anticoagulants, cyclosporine, digoxin, HIV meds.
Garlic supplements: Increased bleeding risk — STOP before surgery.
Ginkgo biloba: Potentiates anticoagulants (warfarin, heparin) — increased bleeding risk.
Kava: Hepatotoxicity risk; potentiates sedatives and anesthetics.
Ginseng: May decrease warfarin effectiveness; can cause hypoglycemia with insulin.
Nutrition Assessment
Marker Normal Value Clinical Significance
Pre-Albumin 15–36 mg/dL BEST indicator of current nutritional status (short half-life: 2–3 days)
Serum 3.5–5.0 g/dL Reflects nutritional status over past 2–3 weeks; <3.5 = risk for poor
Albumin wound healing
BMI 18.5–24.9 = Normal <18.5 = underweight; 25–29.9 = overweight; ≥30 = obese
BMI Formula: Weight (kg) ÷ Height (m²) OR [Weight (lbs) × 703] ÷ Height (in²)
Therapeutic Diets
Diet Indication Key Points
Low-Sodium Heart failure, hypertension, <2,000 mg/day; avoid processed foods, canned
edema soups, deli meats
Diabetic/Carb- Diabetes mellitus Consistent carbohydrate intake; monitor blood
Controlled glucose
Renal Kidney disease Restrict K+, Na+, phosphorus, protein, and fluid
High-Protein Wound healing, burns, pressure Promotes tissue repair; include eggs, lean meats,
injuries dairy
Wound Healing Nutrition
● Protein — essential for tissue repair and collagen synthesis
● Vitamin C — collagen formation and immune function
● Zinc — cell division and immune function
, ● Iron — oxygen transport to healing tissues
● Vitamin A — epithelial cell growth and differentiation
Priority Nursing Actions
● Always ask about herbal supplements and OTC products during medication reconciliation
● Hold herbal supplements 2–3 weeks before surgery (bleeding and anesthesia interaction risk)
● For TPN: check blood glucose q4–6h (high dextrose content); use dedicated IV line; never
abruptly stop (taper to prevent hypoglycemia)
● For enteral feeding (tube feeding): verify tube placement before each feeding (pH ≤5.5 for
gastric), elevate HOB 30–45°, check residuals
📚 Clinical Pearl — Exam Tip
Pre-albumin vs. Albumin: If the question asks about CURRENT nutritional status, choose pre-
albumin (half-life 2–3 days). Albumin reflects status over weeks and can be falsely low due to
inflammation, liver disease, or fluid overload.
2. Mobility (10 Questions
—
NEW CONTENT)
High-Yield Key Concepts
Types of Exercise
Type Definition Example
Isotonic Muscle shortens, causing movement; constant Walking, swimming, bicycling
muscle tension
