NUR 2790 FINAL EXAM CONTENT GUIDE
Final Exam Content Guide
1. Stroke – CVA – Brain attack disruption of cerebral blood flow secondary to ischemia,
hemorrhage, brain attack, or embolism
1) Hemorrhagic – ruptured artery or aneurysm = ischemia and ↑ICP caused by
expanding collection of blood. Prognosis poor.
2) Thrombotic – d/t development of blood clot on an atherosclerotic plaque in a
cerebral artery. The clot gradually shuts off the artery causing ischemia distal
to the occlusion. Symptoms evolve over several hours to days.
3) Embolic – d/t embolus traveling from another part of the body to the cerebral
artery. Blood to brain distal to occlusion immediately shuts off causing neuro
deficits, or a loss of consciousness can instantly occur. --- This type of stroke
may be reversed with rtPA if given within 4.5hrs of initial symptoms.
Risk Factors: HTN, DM, smoking == PREVENTION == Early treatment of HTN,
maintain BGL, quit smoking.
Right vs Left: Right = visual and spatial awareness and propriception. Left = language,
math, and analytic thinking (agnosia – inability to recognize familiar objects).
Interventions: Have suction equipment avail. Vitals 1-2hrs – Notify MD if BP
>180/110. Temp (↑ can cause ↑ICP). O2 and maintain > 92%. Cardiac
monitor. Monitor LOC (↑ICP). Elevate HOB >30 to reduce ICP and promote
venous drainage. Maintain midline neutral position. SEIZURE Percautions.
Assist with communication. Assist with safe feeding. Intervene for complications
r/t immobility. Active ROM to unaffected exteemities, and Passive ROM to
affected extremities. Vision deficits = instruct scanning techinique (turning head).
Prevent DVT. Assist with ADL’s. Provide frequent rest.
Complitcations: – Prevent shoulder subluxation if affected arm is not supported.
Unilateral neglect (nurse to provide arm sling/foot rest). Dysphagia and aspiration (nurse
assess gag reflex, monitor swallowing).
MEDS: Anticoagulant: Enoxaparin (Lovenox), warfarin (Coumadin) – Antiplatelet:
Aspirin – Thrombolytic: rtPA – Antiepileptic: phenytoin (Dilantin), gabapentin
(Neurontin)
2. Traumatic brain injury – major causes, eligibility for federal programs, types,
assessment, interventions, rehabilitation, support, interdisciplinary care planning,
sympathetic storming prevention
,3. Mild brain injury – common types, assessment, interventions, patient education,
prevention
4. Moderate brain injury – common types, assessment, interventions, treatments,
interdisciplinary care planning, patient education, prevention
5. Increased intracranial pressure – assessment, interventions, unsafe interventions,
treatments, monitoring, common medications, what to avoid, interdisciplinary care
planning, patient education
Treatment: Cooling blankets to lower overall body temperature. By lowering
temperature of the body, the metabolic rate in the brain decreases, thus reducing
metabolic demands and allowing the brain to begin to recover; Sedative or neuromuscular
medications may be needed to prevent shivering and anxiety, which will increase
temperature; ICP is measured by placing a small tube in the ventricles of the brain
(ventriculostomy)
Nursing Interventions:
Monitor the cerebral perfusion pressure, difference between the CPP is the
difference between the ICP and the mean arterial pressure (MAP)
CPP is calculated by subtracting the ICP from the MAP
Keep oxygen saturation at 100%
Help with environmental stimuli; keep lights and noise low
Visitors limited to one to two for short time
Institute measures to promote healing and prevent complications; turn every 2
hours & HOB at 30
Compression stockings
Anticoagulant therapy
6. Brain tumor- Cancer usually originates in the lung and breast but can also start in the
kidney, prostate, or as lymphoma or melanoma, which then spreads to the brain
- Primary brain tumor means that the cancer originated in the brain tissue; however, this
type of tumor is rare
- Secondary brain tumor is one that started in another location in the body and spread to
the brain or CNS
• Treatment: Main interventions are chemotherapy, radiation, & surgery
• Potential Complications: Increased intracranial pressure
7. Hepatitis – is inflammation of the liver. Increased inflammation = necrosis interfereing
with blood flow to liver.
Symptoms – influenza like (Fatigue, joint pain, abd pain, ↓appetite with nausea). Dark
urine. Clay stool. Jaundice. Fever. Vomiting.
Labs – Elevated ALT/AST and total bilirubin
NORMAL VALUES:
ALT or SGPT: 10-25 units/L -- 200-400 can = hepatitis or liver damage from
drugs/chemicals
, Jaundice caused by liver = >300 not caused by liver <300
AST or SGOT: 8-38 units/L Liver injury can ↑by 10X.
Bilirubin: Total: 0.1-1.2 mg/dL adults
Liver Biopsy – most definitive diagnostic approach. Need informed consent. Have Pt
lie supine URQ exposed, take EXHALE breath and hold during needle insertion – resume
breathing after needle withdrawn. After procedure lie in on Right side and maintain for
several hours.
a. Who is at risk for:
i. Hepatitis A: Individuals living with infected people, sex partners of infected
people, traveling to other countries
- Fecal/oral route, contaminated food or water (PPE for incontinent
PT’s)
- Can take vaccine after exposure.
ii. Hepatitis B: Health care workers or people exposed to blood and body
fluids, inmates in prisons, drug users, multiple sex partners, hemodialysis
patients, recipients of clotting factor concentrates
- Blood, Body fluids (semen, saliva, vaginal), blood through skin and
mucous membranes
- Use PPE if exposure to blood.
iii. Hepatitis C: IV drug users, recipients of blood products or tissue transplants
before 1992, tattoos and piercings
- Blood and plasma through skin and mucous membranes
- Use PPE if exposure to blood.
iv. Hepatitis D: coinfection with hep B
b. Chronic Hepatits = B, C, or D.
8. Cirrhosis – Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by
destruction of the liver cells and subsequent formation of fibrotic tissue that reconfigures
normal, healthy liver tissue. This lack of elasticity causes blood, bile, and lymphatic
systems to become congested and obstructed, and further damage is incurred.
Final Exam Content Guide
1. Stroke – CVA – Brain attack disruption of cerebral blood flow secondary to ischemia,
hemorrhage, brain attack, or embolism
1) Hemorrhagic – ruptured artery or aneurysm = ischemia and ↑ICP caused by
expanding collection of blood. Prognosis poor.
2) Thrombotic – d/t development of blood clot on an atherosclerotic plaque in a
cerebral artery. The clot gradually shuts off the artery causing ischemia distal
to the occlusion. Symptoms evolve over several hours to days.
3) Embolic – d/t embolus traveling from another part of the body to the cerebral
artery. Blood to brain distal to occlusion immediately shuts off causing neuro
deficits, or a loss of consciousness can instantly occur. --- This type of stroke
may be reversed with rtPA if given within 4.5hrs of initial symptoms.
Risk Factors: HTN, DM, smoking == PREVENTION == Early treatment of HTN,
maintain BGL, quit smoking.
Right vs Left: Right = visual and spatial awareness and propriception. Left = language,
math, and analytic thinking (agnosia – inability to recognize familiar objects).
Interventions: Have suction equipment avail. Vitals 1-2hrs – Notify MD if BP
>180/110. Temp (↑ can cause ↑ICP). O2 and maintain > 92%. Cardiac
monitor. Monitor LOC (↑ICP). Elevate HOB >30 to reduce ICP and promote
venous drainage. Maintain midline neutral position. SEIZURE Percautions.
Assist with communication. Assist with safe feeding. Intervene for complications
r/t immobility. Active ROM to unaffected exteemities, and Passive ROM to
affected extremities. Vision deficits = instruct scanning techinique (turning head).
Prevent DVT. Assist with ADL’s. Provide frequent rest.
Complitcations: – Prevent shoulder subluxation if affected arm is not supported.
Unilateral neglect (nurse to provide arm sling/foot rest). Dysphagia and aspiration (nurse
assess gag reflex, monitor swallowing).
MEDS: Anticoagulant: Enoxaparin (Lovenox), warfarin (Coumadin) – Antiplatelet:
Aspirin – Thrombolytic: rtPA – Antiepileptic: phenytoin (Dilantin), gabapentin
(Neurontin)
2. Traumatic brain injury – major causes, eligibility for federal programs, types,
assessment, interventions, rehabilitation, support, interdisciplinary care planning,
sympathetic storming prevention
,3. Mild brain injury – common types, assessment, interventions, patient education,
prevention
4. Moderate brain injury – common types, assessment, interventions, treatments,
interdisciplinary care planning, patient education, prevention
5. Increased intracranial pressure – assessment, interventions, unsafe interventions,
treatments, monitoring, common medications, what to avoid, interdisciplinary care
planning, patient education
Treatment: Cooling blankets to lower overall body temperature. By lowering
temperature of the body, the metabolic rate in the brain decreases, thus reducing
metabolic demands and allowing the brain to begin to recover; Sedative or neuromuscular
medications may be needed to prevent shivering and anxiety, which will increase
temperature; ICP is measured by placing a small tube in the ventricles of the brain
(ventriculostomy)
Nursing Interventions:
Monitor the cerebral perfusion pressure, difference between the CPP is the
difference between the ICP and the mean arterial pressure (MAP)
CPP is calculated by subtracting the ICP from the MAP
Keep oxygen saturation at 100%
Help with environmental stimuli; keep lights and noise low
Visitors limited to one to two for short time
Institute measures to promote healing and prevent complications; turn every 2
hours & HOB at 30
Compression stockings
Anticoagulant therapy
6. Brain tumor- Cancer usually originates in the lung and breast but can also start in the
kidney, prostate, or as lymphoma or melanoma, which then spreads to the brain
- Primary brain tumor means that the cancer originated in the brain tissue; however, this
type of tumor is rare
- Secondary brain tumor is one that started in another location in the body and spread to
the brain or CNS
• Treatment: Main interventions are chemotherapy, radiation, & surgery
• Potential Complications: Increased intracranial pressure
7. Hepatitis – is inflammation of the liver. Increased inflammation = necrosis interfereing
with blood flow to liver.
Symptoms – influenza like (Fatigue, joint pain, abd pain, ↓appetite with nausea). Dark
urine. Clay stool. Jaundice. Fever. Vomiting.
Labs – Elevated ALT/AST and total bilirubin
NORMAL VALUES:
ALT or SGPT: 10-25 units/L -- 200-400 can = hepatitis or liver damage from
drugs/chemicals
, Jaundice caused by liver = >300 not caused by liver <300
AST or SGOT: 8-38 units/L Liver injury can ↑by 10X.
Bilirubin: Total: 0.1-1.2 mg/dL adults
Liver Biopsy – most definitive diagnostic approach. Need informed consent. Have Pt
lie supine URQ exposed, take EXHALE breath and hold during needle insertion – resume
breathing after needle withdrawn. After procedure lie in on Right side and maintain for
several hours.
a. Who is at risk for:
i. Hepatitis A: Individuals living with infected people, sex partners of infected
people, traveling to other countries
- Fecal/oral route, contaminated food or water (PPE for incontinent
PT’s)
- Can take vaccine after exposure.
ii. Hepatitis B: Health care workers or people exposed to blood and body
fluids, inmates in prisons, drug users, multiple sex partners, hemodialysis
patients, recipients of clotting factor concentrates
- Blood, Body fluids (semen, saliva, vaginal), blood through skin and
mucous membranes
- Use PPE if exposure to blood.
iii. Hepatitis C: IV drug users, recipients of blood products or tissue transplants
before 1992, tattoos and piercings
- Blood and plasma through skin and mucous membranes
- Use PPE if exposure to blood.
iv. Hepatitis D: coinfection with hep B
b. Chronic Hepatits = B, C, or D.
8. Cirrhosis – Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by
destruction of the liver cells and subsequent formation of fibrotic tissue that reconfigures
normal, healthy liver tissue. This lack of elasticity causes blood, bile, and lymphatic
systems to become congested and obstructed, and further damage is incurred.
