SNB RN Licensure Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Normal adult respiratory rate

Adults normally breathe 12 to 20 times per minute at rest; rates outside this range suggest respiratory or metabolic compromise and warrant further assessment.

Maslow priority for nursing

Physiologic needs such as airway, breathing, and circulation take priority over safety, then belonging, esteem, and self-actualization when ordering nursing interventions.

Stage 1 pressure injury

Intact skin with non-blanchable erythema over a bony prominence; it signals tissue damage before skin breakdown and requires repositioning and pressure relief.

Six rights of medication

Before giving any drug, verify right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation using two patient identifiers.

Hypertonic saline effect

Hypertonic solutions such as 3% sodium chloride pull fluid out of cells into the vascular space, raising serum osmolality and expanding intravascular volume.

Metabolic acidosis criteria

A pH below 7.35 with bicarbonate below 22 mEq/L; respiratory compensation produces deep rapid breathing that lowers PaCO2 toward normal.

Respiratory alkalosis criteria

A pH above 7.45 with PaCO2 below 35 mmHg; hyperventilation from pain, anxiety, fever, or early salicylate toxicity drives carbon dioxide levels down.

Troponin timing in MI

Troponin rises within 3 to 12 hours of myocardial injury, peaks around 24 hours, and stays elevated for 7 to 14 days, aiding late diagnosis.

Digoxin toxicity signs

Nausea, anorexia, visual halos, confusion, and bradycardia suggest digoxin toxicity; the therapeutic serum range is 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL.

Hypoglycemia treatment rule

For a conscious patient with glucose below 70 mg/dL, give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, recheck in 15 minutes, and repeat until glucose normalizes.

Late deceleration meaning

Fetal heart rate decelerations that begin after the contraction peak indicate uteroplacental insufficiency; reposition the mother, give oxygen, and notify the provider.

Naegele rule due date

Estimate the delivery date by taking the first day of the last menstrual period, subtracting three months, adding seven days, and adding one year.

Normal fetal heart rate

A reassuring fetal heart rate ranges from 110 to 160 beats per minute; sustained values outside this range require evaluation and possible intervention.

Postpartum hemorrhage definition

Blood loss greater than 500 mL after vaginal birth or 1000 mL after cesarean birth; uterine atony is the most common cause and fundal massage is first-line.

APGAR components

Appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration are each scored 0 to 2 at one and five minutes after birth, with a maximum total of 10.

Serotonin syndrome triad

Mental status changes, autonomic instability, and neuromuscular hyperactivity such as clonus or tremor appear within 24 hours of starting or increasing serotonergic drugs.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome features

Severe muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, altered consciousness, and autonomic instability occur with dopamine antagonists such as haloperidol and require immediate drug withdrawal.

Lithium therapeutic range

Serum lithium between 0.6 and 1.2 mEq/L is therapeutic; levels above this cause tremor, vomiting, and ataxia, and adequate sodium and hydration must be maintained.

Alcohol withdrawal timeline

Tremor and anxiety begin at 6 to 12 hours, hallucinations at 12 to 24 hours, seizures at 24 to 48 hours, and delirium tremens at 48 to 96 hours after the last drink.

Clozapine monitoring requirement

Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, so absolute neutrophil counts must be checked regularly; fever or sore throat requires immediate blood work and provider notification.

Levels of prevention

Primary prevention stops disease before it starts, secondary prevention detects it early through screening, and tertiary prevention limits disability through treatment and rehabilitation.

Incidence versus prevalence

Incidence counts new cases arising in a population over a period; prevalence counts all existing cases at one point in time, including old and new.

Attack rate formula

The attack rate equals the number of new cases divided by the number of people at risk during an outbreak, usually expressed as a percentage.

Epidemiologic triad

Disease results from interaction among an agent, a susceptible host, and an environment that supports transmission; breaking any link interrupts the chain.

Sensitivity definition

Sensitivity is the proportion of people who truly have a disease and test positive; a highly sensitive test produces few false negatives.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent requires a competent patient, a voluntary decision, disclosure of risks and benefits, and understanding of available alternatives before the procedure.

Mandatory reporting duty

Nurses are legally required to report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, certain communicable diseases, and impaired colleagues to the designated authority.

Confidentiality exceptions

Patient information may be disclosed with consent, under a valid subpoena, when mandatory reporting applies, or when warning an identifiable person of imminent harm.

Ethical principle autonomy

Autonomy is respect for a patient's right to make self-determined health care decisions, even when those choices differ from what the clinician recommends.

Negligence four elements

A malpractice claim requires duty owed to the patient, breach of that duty, causation linking the breach to injury, and actual damages; all four must be proven.

Delegation five rights

Delegation requires the right task, circumstance, person, direction and communication, and supervision; the registered nurse remains accountable for the outcome.

Nurse practice act purpose

State nurse practice acts define the legal scope of nursing practice, establish licensure requirements, and authorize the board of nursing to enforce standards.