T H E N U R S E S C O R N E R
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pharmacology & Need to Know Medications................Page 3-13
Fundamentals & Delegation..........................................Page 14-17
Ethical Principals & Law..................................................Page 18-20
Integumentary.................................................................Page 21-23
Respiratory Disorders & Nursing Considerations.......Page 24-32
Disorders of the Heart & Circulation...........................Page 33- 44
Musculoskeletal Disorders.............................................Page 45-47
Diabetes & Insulin.................................................................Page 48
Contact Precautions & Infectious Disease....................Page 49-53
Renal Disorders & Nursing Considerations..................Page 54-58
GI Disorders......................................................................Page 59-60
Spinal Cord Injuries..........................................................Page 61-62
Neuro & Brain..................................................................Page 63- 68
Visual/Auditory & Nursing Considerations...................Page 69- 71
Psychiatric Nursing..........................................................Page 72- 75
Endocrine Disorders........................................................Page 76- 79
Reproductive & Sexual Health........................................Page 80- 81
Maternal- Antepartum.....................................................Page 82- 88
Labor & Delivery................................................................Page 89- 92
Postpartum & Newborn...................................................Page 93- 95
Pediatric Nursing............................................................Page 96- 100
, PHARMACOLOGY
Warfarin
Vitamin k is the antagonist
used to prevent blood clots in clients with atrial fibrillation, artificial heart valves, or a
history of thrombosis
Intake of vitamin k rich foods can decrease effect ( broccoli, spinach, liver)
Monitor INR levels
Pregnant women should not take
Avoid aspirin, NSAIDS, and alcohol If recovering from a PE,
Warfarin is usually taken for 3-6 months
Antibiotics can affect INR levels
INR level 3.0-3.5
contraindicated in pregnancy
Adenosine
First line drug therapy for SVT
Administer over 1-2 minutes then flush with saline
Find a line closest to the heart
ACE Inhibitors
End with -il, controls high blood pressure
Check blood pressure before administering
Check potassium levels before administering because these medications increase
potassium levels
Can cause a dry cough and reflex tachycardia
Can have severe adverse effects of angioedema
Do not take while pregnant
Can cause orthostatic hypertension
If a client cannot tolerate ACE inhibitor then they are prescribed ARBS (-an) drugs
Calcium Channel Blockers
CCB are like valium to your heart
Help control atrial fibrillation
End in -em like diltiazem
Also end in -ine (Amlodipine)
Most severe adverse effect is dizziness
Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this or statins
Measure blood pressure before administering, if systolic is under 100 then you hold CCB
, Clients with hypertension should not take over the counter medications for colds, these
medications have decongestants and can cause vasoconstriction
Nicardipine
Calcium channel blocker vasodilator
Brings blood pressure down, usually after stroke and patients get extremely hypertensive
(systolic over 240)
The nurse should bring the blood pressure down but not below 170 (systolic)
Priority nursing interventions are to monitor for hypotensive effects of this drug
Beta Blockers
Helps control heart rate and blood pressure (mainly heart rate)
Side effects may be bronchospasms
Do not give to people with asthma
The nurse should assess for any wheezing
May mask signs of hypoglycemia
ARBS
End with - an like Losartan (sartans)
Should not be taken while pregnant
Helps lower blood pressure
Can cause hyperkalemia
Do not take with salt substitutes
Digoxin
Increases cardiac contractility and slows the heart rate and conduction (slows the rate of
conduction through the AV node)
NOT a vasodilator
Decreases workload of the heart It is used in heart failure and atrial fibrillation
Excreted exclusively by the kidneys so need to check kidney function (creatinine and BUN)
Digoxin toxicity: N/V, GI symptoms are the earliest sign, confusion, weakness,
Toxic level above 2
visual symptoms, cardiac arrhythmias
Hypokalemia can cause digoxin toxicity
Treats A fib and heart failure
Antiplatelet Therapy Drugs
Increased risk for bleeding
Helps prevent platelet aggregation
Clients should be assessed for black tarry stools, bleeding gums, hematuria, bruising,
monitor platelets
Should not be taken with Ginko
Inhibits platelet aggregation, prevents thrombus formation, and reduces heart
inflammation
Clients can receive this when they do not have signs of bleeding or low platelet levels
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pharmacology & Need to Know Medications................Page 3-13
Fundamentals & Delegation..........................................Page 14-17
Ethical Principals & Law..................................................Page 18-20
Integumentary.................................................................Page 21-23
Respiratory Disorders & Nursing Considerations.......Page 24-32
Disorders of the Heart & Circulation...........................Page 33- 44
Musculoskeletal Disorders.............................................Page 45-47
Diabetes & Insulin.................................................................Page 48
Contact Precautions & Infectious Disease....................Page 49-53
Renal Disorders & Nursing Considerations..................Page 54-58
GI Disorders......................................................................Page 59-60
Spinal Cord Injuries..........................................................Page 61-62
Neuro & Brain..................................................................Page 63- 68
Visual/Auditory & Nursing Considerations...................Page 69- 71
Psychiatric Nursing..........................................................Page 72- 75
Endocrine Disorders........................................................Page 76- 79
Reproductive & Sexual Health........................................Page 80- 81
Maternal- Antepartum.....................................................Page 82- 88
Labor & Delivery................................................................Page 89- 92
Postpartum & Newborn...................................................Page 93- 95
Pediatric Nursing............................................................Page 96- 100
, PHARMACOLOGY
Warfarin
Vitamin k is the antagonist
used to prevent blood clots in clients with atrial fibrillation, artificial heart valves, or a
history of thrombosis
Intake of vitamin k rich foods can decrease effect ( broccoli, spinach, liver)
Monitor INR levels
Pregnant women should not take
Avoid aspirin, NSAIDS, and alcohol If recovering from a PE,
Warfarin is usually taken for 3-6 months
Antibiotics can affect INR levels
INR level 3.0-3.5
contraindicated in pregnancy
Adenosine
First line drug therapy for SVT
Administer over 1-2 minutes then flush with saline
Find a line closest to the heart
ACE Inhibitors
End with -il, controls high blood pressure
Check blood pressure before administering
Check potassium levels before administering because these medications increase
potassium levels
Can cause a dry cough and reflex tachycardia
Can have severe adverse effects of angioedema
Do not take while pregnant
Can cause orthostatic hypertension
If a client cannot tolerate ACE inhibitor then they are prescribed ARBS (-an) drugs
Calcium Channel Blockers
CCB are like valium to your heart
Help control atrial fibrillation
End in -em like diltiazem
Also end in -ine (Amlodipine)
Most severe adverse effect is dizziness
Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this or statins
Measure blood pressure before administering, if systolic is under 100 then you hold CCB
, Clients with hypertension should not take over the counter medications for colds, these
medications have decongestants and can cause vasoconstriction
Nicardipine
Calcium channel blocker vasodilator
Brings blood pressure down, usually after stroke and patients get extremely hypertensive
(systolic over 240)
The nurse should bring the blood pressure down but not below 170 (systolic)
Priority nursing interventions are to monitor for hypotensive effects of this drug
Beta Blockers
Helps control heart rate and blood pressure (mainly heart rate)
Side effects may be bronchospasms
Do not give to people with asthma
The nurse should assess for any wheezing
May mask signs of hypoglycemia
ARBS
End with - an like Losartan (sartans)
Should not be taken while pregnant
Helps lower blood pressure
Can cause hyperkalemia
Do not take with salt substitutes
Digoxin
Increases cardiac contractility and slows the heart rate and conduction (slows the rate of
conduction through the AV node)
NOT a vasodilator
Decreases workload of the heart It is used in heart failure and atrial fibrillation
Excreted exclusively by the kidneys so need to check kidney function (creatinine and BUN)
Digoxin toxicity: N/V, GI symptoms are the earliest sign, confusion, weakness,
Toxic level above 2
visual symptoms, cardiac arrhythmias
Hypokalemia can cause digoxin toxicity
Treats A fib and heart failure
Antiplatelet Therapy Drugs
Increased risk for bleeding
Helps prevent platelet aggregation
Clients should be assessed for black tarry stools, bleeding gums, hematuria, bruising,
monitor platelets
Should not be taken with Ginko
Inhibits platelet aggregation, prevents thrombus formation, and reduces heart
inflammation
Clients can receive this when they do not have signs of bleeding or low platelet levels
