Tuberculosis for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Tuberculosis: Definition/Etiology: Tuberculosis is an airborne disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tb can be latent or active. The latent infection is contained by the immune system. Latent TB is usually asymptomatic and treated with a variety of regimens. Active TB can take many forms, including active pulmonary disease. These patients require aggressive treatment and respiratory […]
Hemorrhagic Fevers for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Hemorrhagic Fevers Definition/Etiology: Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are a group of illnesses caused by four families of viruses. These include the Ebola and Marburg, Lassa fever, and yellow fever viruses. VHFs have common features: they affect many organs, they damage the blood vessels, and they affect the body’s ability to regulate itself. Some VHFs cause […]
Ethical Dilemmas for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Ethical Dilemmas Ethics: Principles, professional standards, and behavior Autonomy – Right to make one’s own choices and have those choices respected Beneficence – Duty to help others by providing care to improve health or quality of life Nonmaleficence – Duty to do no harm and not risk harm to others Justice – to be […]
Discharge Planning for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Discharge Planning Discharge instructions: Provide written discharge instructions; avoid use of medical abbreviations Review discharge instructions with patient and caregivers Answer questions, clarify unclear items, explain medical terms and directions Request that physician return to clarify patient education or information needs Involve family and significant others in interaction Explain rationale for prescribed medication (e.g., […]
End-of-Life and Palliative Care (Organ and Tissue Donation, Advance Directives, Care Withholding, Family Presence) for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
End-of-Life/Palliative Care (Organ/Tissue Donation, Advance Directives, Care Withholding, Family Presence) Palliative care: A comprehensive approach to a life-threatening or terminal condition – focus is to alleviate physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual suffering and promote quality of life Advance directives: A guide to patient wishes with end-of-life care Unique applications in various states, be […]
Pain Management and Procedural Sedation for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Pain Management and Procedural Sedation Pain Types: Somatic – localized, constant, achy Sites – skin, subcutaneous tissues, bone, muscle, blood vessels, connective tissue Visceral – poorly localized, diffuse, cramping Sites – organs, linings of body cavities Neuropathic – poorly localized, shooting, burning, sharp, numbness, tingling Sites – central and peripheral nervous system Assessment: […]
Endocarditis for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Endocarditis Definition/Etiology: Endocarditis occurs when a patient has bacteria in the blood that begin to stick to a heart valve (vegetate). Risk factors include: male, >60 years old, injection drug use, and poor dentition. Common comorbid conditions include: indwelling medical device, prosthetic heart valve, congenital heart disease, and hemodialysis. Top four pathogens are: Staph aureus, […]
Hypertension for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Hypertension Definition/Etiology: 2017 ACA/AHA guidelines: Normal blood pressure (BP) <120/80 Elevated BP: 120-129/<80 Hypertension (HTN) stage I: 130-139/80-89 Hypertension stage II: at least 140/ at least 90 If isolated systolic HTN or diastolic HTN, go by the higher of the two. White coat HTN: BP high in the medical office and normal at home. […]
Cardiovascular Trauma for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Cardiovascular Trauma Definition/Etiology: Aortic injury is the second leading mechanism of death from blunt trauma (head trauma is first). Aortic trauma has 2% survival overall from blunt trauma. Innominate artery is the second most frequently injured great vessel and is commonly associated with seat belt sign and sternal fracture. Sudden deceleration can cause vessels to […]
Obstruction for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Obstruction Definition/Etiology: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: persistent airflow obstruction due to abnormalities in alveoli and airways, usually caused by exposure to noxious particles and gasses. Chronic bronchitis: chronic productive cough for 3 months in each of 2 years, in patients without other causes like bronchiectasis. Emphysema: abnormal and permanent enlargement of the airspaces distal […]