Nursing Exam Prep

Cheatsheet Content

### Key Definitions - **Epilepsy:** A medical emergency characterized by frequent fits without regaining consciousness. - **Occupational Therapy:** Mentally ill patients are given work to avoid boredom but also to improve their mental status. - **Legal Document for Suicide:** A legal document for close monitoring and cessation of a suicidal patient. - **Mood:** The emotional state of an individual. - **Drug Dependence/Addiction:** The tendency of an individual to increase the dose of a drug in order to get a desired effect. - **Mania:** The marked acceleration of psychomotor activity commonly seen in patients with bipolar disorder. - **Recreational Therapy:** A diversional psychological therapy given in the form of an activity. - **Nurse-Patient Relationship:** The professional interaction created between the nurse and the patient. - **Delusion:** The inability of a mentally ill patient to appreciate time, place, and a person. - **Behavior:** The mental state examination sphere under which the level of grooming and conduct is assessed. ### Multiple Choice Questions #### General Nursing - **Anti-fungal for tinea capitis:** Griseofulvin. - **Nursing intervention for meningitis with photophobia:** Dim lights. - **Priority nursing diagnosis for restless patient with meningitis:** Altered mental process. - **Causes chronic gastritis:** Helicobacter Pylori. - **Symptoms indicating pyelonephritis:** Costal vertebral angle tenderness. - **NOT a sign of Urinary Tract Infections in adults:** Urinary incontinence. - **Excessive production of T3 and T4 hormones:** Hyperthyroidism. - **Failure to regulate fluids by the body results in:** Diabetes insipidus. - **Complications nurse should be watchful for with patient with extremely high blood pressure in hepatic system:** Bleeding oesophageal varices. - **Risk factor for Hepatitis A:** Eating salads. - **NOT a normal constituent of urine:** Uric acid. #### Surgical & Pediatric Nursing - **Reducing discomfort from haemorrhoids:** Soaking in a shallow warm bath. - **Functional cause of urinary retention:** Urethral strictures. - **Condition caused by iodine deficiency:** Goitre. - **Most serious problem for infant born with cleft lip and palate:** Inability to feed. - **Age group intussusception common:** 1-5 months. - **NOT a clinical feature of viral conjunctivitis:** Purulent. - **Pain and swelling with thrombosed external haemorrhoids due to:** Clotted blood within veins. - **Tests used to monitor progression of prostate cancer:** Prostate specific antigen. ### Fill in the Blanks - **Medical name for ear wax:** Cerumen. - **Hour glass contracture:** Common complication of peptic ulcers. - **Retrograde amnesia:** Common in cerebral trauma. - **Accumulation of fluid in pentoneal cavity leading to abdominal swelling:** Ascites. - **Inflammation of eyelid with pus collection:** Stye/Hordeolum. - **Protein elevated in men with prostate cancer:** Prostate-specific antigen (PSA). - **Varicose veins around anus/lower rectum:** Hemorrhoids. - **Bleeding in space around brain:** Subarachnoid hemorrhage. - **Surgical removal of damaged lobe of lung:** Lobectomy. - **Small tear in lining of anus with pain/bleeding:** Anal fissure. - **Hypothyroidism commonly referred to as:** Myxedema. - **Glasgow coma scale score for best eye opening:** 4. - **Commonest causative organism of anal-rectal abscesses:** Staphylococcus aureus. - **Coughing up of blood:** Hemoptysis. - **Malformation in which urethral meatus opens on underside of penis:** Hypospadias. - **Normal functioning of thyroid gland:** Euthyroidism. - **Red patch around conjunctiva as result of conjunctival haemorrhage in head injury:** Subconjunctival hemorrhage. - **Complete closure of normal anatomical opening:** Atresia. - **Condition in which rectum ends into blind pouch:** Rectal atresia. - **Instrument used to dilate urethra:** Urethral dilator. - **Hour glass contracture (repeated):** Common complication of peptic ulcers. - **Accumulation of fluid within pleural space:** Pleural effusion. - **Tender swelling behind ear:** Mastoiditis. - **State of having normal thyroid gland function:** Euthyroidism. - **Leakage of cerebral spinal fluid through nose:** Cerebrospinal rhinorrhea. - **Thin and shiny vascular membrane that lines abdominal cavity:** Peritoneum. - **Surgical procedure of creating opening into trachea:** Tracheostomy. - **Abnormal presence of air in lung tissues:** Emphysema/Pneumothorax. - **Sudden inflammation of peritoneal cavity:** Peritonitis. - **Reduction in number and quality of red blood cells:** Anemia. - **Brain damage from high levels of bilirubin in babies with severe jaundice:** Kernicterus. - **Type of fracture in children where bone is partially bent and partially broken:** Greenstick fracture. - **Abnormal accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in ventricular space of brain:** Hydrocephalus. ### Long Essay Questions #### Mental Health - **Characteristics of good mental health (5 marks)**: (Details not provided in image, general knowledge expected) - Ability to cope with life's stresses. - Productive work. - Fulfilling relationships. - Adaptability to change. - Positive self-perception. - **Pre-disposing factors to mental illness (5 marks)**: (Details not provided in image, general knowledge expected) - Genetic predisposition. - Brain chemistry imbalances. - Trauma or abuse. - Chronic stress. - Substance abuse. - **Types of hallucinations in schizophrenia (5 marks)**: - Auditory (most common) - Visual - Olfactory (smell) - Gustatory (taste) - Tactile (touch) - **Clinical features of phobias (5 marks)**: - Intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation. - Avoidance behavior. - Panic attacks (palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness). - Anticipatory anxiety. - Significant distress or impairment in daily life. #### Short Essay Questions (General) - **Surgical conditions that may affect the eyes (5 marks)**: - Cataracts - Glaucoma - Retinal detachment - Strabismus - Corneal ulcers - **Measures to prevent dental and oral conditions (5 marks)**: - Regular brushing and flossing. - Fluoride use. - Healthy diet, limiting sugar. - Regular dental check-ups. - Avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol. - **Signs and symptoms of closed head injury (5 marks)**: - Loss of consciousness. - Headache. - Nausea/vomiting. - Dizziness/confusion. - Memory loss (amnesia). - **Measures of preventing haemorrhoids (5 marks)**: - High-fiber diet. - Adequate fluid intake. - Regular exercise. - Avoiding prolonged sitting on toilet. - Not straining during bowel movements. #### Short Essay Questions (Pediatric/Specific) - **Causes of unconsciousness in children (10 marks)**: (Details not provided in image, general knowledge expected) - Head trauma. - Seizures. - Infections (meningitis, encephalitis). - Hypoglycemia. - Poisoning/drug overdose. - Hypoxia. - Hydrocephalus. - Brain tumors. - Cardiac arrest. - Metabolic disorders. - **Complications that may follow surgical operations (10 marks)**: (Details not provided in image, general knowledge expected) - Infection. - Hemorrhage. - Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/Pulmonary embolism (PE). - Anesthesia complications. - Organ damage. - Pain. - Wound dehiscence. - Adhesions. - Nerve damage. - Allergic reactions. - **Complications of head injury (10 marks)**: - Cognitive deficits (memory, attention). - Seizures. - Hydrocephalus. - Cranial nerve palsies. - Post-concussion syndrome. - Mood changes/depression. - Speech difficulties (aphasia). - Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). - Meningitis (if open injury). - Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). - **Congenital abnormalities of gastrointestinal tract (5 marks)**: - Esophageal atresia. - Pyloric stenosis. - Hirschsprung's disease. - Imperforate anus. - Omphalocele/Gastroschisis. #### Long Essay Questions (Specific Conditions) - **Thyrotoxicosis (Hyperthyroidism)**: - **Signs and symptoms (10 marks)**: - Weight loss despite increased appetite. - Tachycardia/palpitations. - Heat intolerance, sweating. - Tremors. - Anxiety, irritability. - Goiter. - Exophthalmos (Grave's ophthalmopathy). - Muscle weakness. - Diarrhea. - Oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea. - **Specific nursing actions after thyroidectomy till discharge (10/15 marks)**: - Monitor airway for obstruction (edema, hematoma). - Assess for signs of hemorrhage. - Monitor for hypocalcemia (tetany, Chvostek's/Trousseau's sign) due to parathyroid injury. - Semi-Fowler's position, neck support. - Pain management. - Voice assessment (laryngeal nerve injury). - Education on thyroid hormone replacement. - Wound care. - Monitor vital signs. - Emotional support. - **Complications of thyroidectomy (5 marks)**: - Hemorrhage. - Airway obstruction. - Hypocalcemia/Tetany. - Laryngeal nerve damage (hoarseness). - Thyroid storm (rare). - **Intestinal Obstruction**: - **Causes (10 marks)**: - Adhesions (most common). - Hernias. - Tumors. - Volvulus. - Intussusception. - Crohn's disease. - Fecal impaction. - Strictures (e.g., from radiation). - Foreign bodies. - Paralytic ileus (functional). - **Specific pre-operative nursing actions for patient with acute intestinal obstruction (10 marks)**: - NPO status. - IV fluid administration (correct fluid/electrolyte imbalance). - Nasogastric tube insertion for decompression. - Pain management. - Monitor vital signs, intake/output. - Prepare for surgery (consents, labs). - Explain procedures to patient/family. - Assess abdominal distension and bowel sounds. - Administer antibiotics if indicated. - Foley catheter insertion. - **Complications of abdominal surgery (5 marks)**: - Wound infection. - Dehiscence/Evisceration. - Hemorrhage. - Ileus. - Adhesions. - **Meningitis (Pediatric)**: - **Clinical features in a baby suspected to have meningitis (5 marks)**: - Fever. - Irritability/poor feeding. - Lethargy. - Bulging fontanelle. - Seizures. - **Specific actions a nurse should perform while managing a seven (7) months old baby admitted with meningitis for the first 72 hours (15 marks)**: - Administer antibiotics as prescribed (STAT). - Monitor vital signs (temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, BP). - Neurological assessment (level of consciousness, fontanelle, reflexes). - Seizure precautions and management. - Fluid management (strict I&O, prevent overhydration). - Pain and comfort management. - Reduce environmental stimuli (quiet, dim lighting). - Respiratory support as needed. - Maintain strict hygiene (infection control). - Parental support and education. - Monitor for complications (hydrocephalus, hearing loss). - Skin care. - Nutritional support. - Documentation. - Collaboration with medical team. - **Complications of meningitis (5 marks)**: - Hearing loss. - Brain damage. - Seizures. - Hydrocephalus. - Learning disabilities.