CRANIAL NERVES IN REVIEW

Updated 5/24

Dear nurses,

Stroke Series Assessment is no longer available. 

The largest of the cranial nerves, is the Trigeminal.

                 This nerve contains three branches:
                Opthalmic ( corneal blink reflex). 
                           Maxillary - which supplies the upper jaw

                   Mandibular - controls the lower jaw.

Learn more :Cranial nerves

In the image above, Ann is an opera singer.
While on stage, she suddenly starts having
trouble getting her words out. Her right arm
also feels weak. These symptoms are classic
of stroke symptoms.

Severe headache, mental confusion, visual
disturbances and right or left sided weakness
ma occur.

      Learn more: The care plan
For more helpful information, please click on the links below:

What is a stroke? 

Stroke assessment

ICP monitoring

CEREBRAL FUNCTION IN REVIEW

Do you remember the basic functions of each cerebral hemisphere? Just in case you have forgotten just click on the link at the side:

STROKE SERIES ASSESSMENT IN THE CLINICAL SETTING .

VOLUME 3- ACCURATE NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT will help answer your questions.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL NURSES

HAVE A GOOD EASTER WEEKEND! Enjoy learning more about the Clinical Setting.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE REMEMBERED

Hi guys,

Do you ever stop to remember how the Nursing profession got going? Well, let us not forget to give the credit to Florence Nightingale.Florence Nightingale. The one who started with simple things such as love, caring and compassion.

Today, we have come along way from the simplicity that started this noble profession, but those

words can still be valuable to us all. So, let us try to remember as we celebrate this Easter , to try to love and care for our patients, family and coworkers.

I trully appreciate all that I have learnt over the years, from bad situations to good ones in the Clinical Setting. These have all come together to make a contribution, that I can share with you.

THE CLINICAL SETTING STEP BY STEP

Updated 12/24

Dear nurses,

The Clinical Setting Step by Step is no longer available.
New information is provided below.

Regardless of where a nurse works, doing good communication
skills, assessment tools and sound clinical judgment are all part
of a days work. Learn more: Here

ANEURYSMS IN REVIEW

Updated 2/25

An aneurysm is a bulge or balloon in a blood vessel.

The majority of aneurysms occur in the abdominal 

area.They may also occur along the blood vessels

that divide, after leaving the abdominal area.

An example of this phenomenon is the iliac artery.

PARALYTIC ILEUS IN REVIEW

Updated 6/23

Paralytic ileus may occur in the postoperative period.

Simply, click on the link:

Bowel obstruction

and enjoy watching the video:

LIVER FAILURE IN REVIEW

Scenario: In the image above, Mr.O is in liver failure.
Past history includes 20 years of alcohol ingestion. His
liver is enlarged and his abdomen is grossly distended.

He is also lethargic and has pedal edema.

Learn more by clicking on the link:
Liver and renal failure

Learn more about Liver and kidney failure

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS EKG - ASYSTOLE

Hi guys,

Hope you had a good week. The series WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS EKG has come to a close with Asystole. When the cardiac monitor shows Asystole, the heart is at a standstill and the patient is in full cardiac arrest. Outcomes are not always successful after treatment and the family involved, may be forced to make critical decisions. I hope to have more helpful clinical situations for you soon. I hope you have been able to benefit in one way or another from simple explanations of some of the commonest EKG rhythms.

http://www.dearnurses.com/ekg_series_-_what_is_wrong_with_this_ekg

for Asystole go to page 40

Have a good week.

You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos called SESSIONS, in particular,

watch Sessions 16 through 18

ADDRESSING PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity)

PEA - Pulseless Electrical Activity is a rhythm that requires immediate treatment. ACLS guidelines are followed to treat this rhythm. Typically, patients have electrical conduction from the heart, but the clinical picture is a patient who does not respond and needs CPR. Drugs such as Epinephrine and Atropine are included in the ACLS protocol.

Hypovolemia ( chapter 1)is a common cause.

Updated 5/23
You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos:

Sessions 18 ( Part 3 of 3)

CORRECT ASSESSMENT OF CHEST PAIN IN THE CLINICAL SETTING

The consequences of ignoring chest pain in the clinical setting may be fatal. Chest pain should never be ignored. Below, the result of the above nurse's decision is addressed.
For more information on assessing chest pain visit:
http://www.dearnurses.com/chest_pain_series_-_master_your_clinical
and
http://www.dearnurses.net/the_clinical_setting_step_by_step

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS EKG-VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION

Ventricular Fibrillation is a lethal rhythm and requires immediate and skillful treatment. The ventricles of the heart "quiver" and there are no heart contractions. It is commonly seen in cardiac arrest.The patient above, was successfully converted to Sinus Rhythm with PVCs.

For more info visit http://www.dearnurses.com/ekg_series_-_what_is_wrong_with_this_ekg

You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos called SESSIONS, in particular,

watch Sessions 16 through 18.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH EKG-TREATMENT OF VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION

Updated 1/25

Dear nurses,

Dearnurses.com is no longer available.

Scenario:   
Ventricular Fibrillation is a lethal rhythm.
Its hallmark is no pulse, no heart contractions
and a chaotic EKG rhythm demonstrated above.
For more updated information, please click on the link:

Chest pain and the EKG

Causes and Treatment of Ventricular Fibrillation
are outlined above.

Learn more about: Clinical Scenarios and Quizzes

CORRECT CHEST PAIN ASSESSMENT

Chest pain ( Sessions 12) should never be ignored, no matter how simple. Assessment, documentation and intervention if necessary, should be done. These simple steps above

may be life-saving.

Enjoy reading Chest Pain Series for more information on this topic and

http://www.dearnurses.net/the_clinical_setting_step_by_step,

Myocardial Infarction(Chapter 1).

HAVE A GOOD WEEK

GOD BLESS YOU MY FELLOW NURSES. HAVE A GOOD WEEK. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR PATIENTS AND TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER. ENJOY LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CLINICAL SETTING.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS EKG SERIES - TORSADES DE POINTES

Hi guys,

Hope you had a good week. I have tried to simplify TORSADES DE POINTES , which is a form of Ventricular Tachycardia. It is commonly found in patients who are chronic alcoholics and who are poorly nourished. Lack of Magnesium ( read also Preeclampsia, chapter 3)is usually the cause in chronic alcoholism.

Treatment is directed at correcting the cause.

For more information on Torsades de Pointes visit:

http://www.dearnurses.com/ekg_series_-_what_is_wrong_with_this_ekg

for Torsades go to page 33

You may also enjoy watching the Clinical Videos called SESSIONS, in particular

watch Sessions 16 through 18.

RECOGNIZING TORSADES DE POINTES

Dear nurses, 

See below for updated information.

Torsades de Pointes is a form of Ventricular Tachycardia. It is rare and

requires IMMEDIATE TREATMENT!

Causes include hypomagnesium, antiarrhythmic drugs that may prolong the Q-T interval and
myocardial infarction. Quinidine may cause Torsades de Pointes.

Symptoms include - Dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, hypotension and palpitations.

Dear nurses,

For more updated information, please
learn more by clicking on the link:

EKG interpretation Part 3

Updated 5/23

WHAT IS A PVC?

Updated 2/25

The image below, demonstrates chest pain brought
 on by stress. Mrs. K has an overly demanding boss.
 Not only is she experiencing chest pain related to stress,
 but her heart is having PVC's ( premature ventricular 
contractions), as reflected in the EKG.

A PVC is a premature ventricular contraction.

Typically, the ventricle contracts prematurely 

and the QRS is wider than normal. 

Heart disease may or may not be present. Anxiety/stress
are known causes. Other causes include:- 

Myocardial infarction, Amphetamines, Cocaine,

Caffeine and over-exhaustion. Treatment is

directed at the cause.Learn more:Chest pain and the EKG