Taiwan Registered Nurse Licensing Examination flashcards

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

Cardiac output formula

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume. Normal adult resting output is roughly 4 to 8 liters per minute.

Gram stain principle

Crystal violet is retained by thick peptidoglycan in gram-positive cells, which stain purple. Gram-negative cells lose it and counterstain pink with safranin.

Isotonic solution effect

Isotonic fluids such as 0.9% saline have the same osmolality as plasma and expand extracellular volume without shifting water into cells.

Inflammation cardinal signs

Redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function result from vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, and chemical mediator release at the injury site.

Mean arterial pressure

Mean arterial pressure approximates diastolic pressure plus one-third of the pulse pressure. It reflects average perfusion pressure across the cardiac cycle.

Left versus right heart failure

Left heart failure causes pulmonary congestion with dyspnea, crackles, and orthopnea. Right heart failure causes systemic congestion with edema and jugular venous distention.

Hypoglycemia first treatment

A conscious patient with hypoglycemia receives about 15 grams of fast-acting oral carbohydrate and recheck of glucose. Unconscious patients need IV glucose or glucagon.

Diabetic ketoacidosis features

DKA shows hyperglycemia, ketonemia, metabolic acidosis, and Kussmaul respirations. Total body potassium is depleted even when serum potassium appears normal or high.

Hyperkalemia danger

Elevated serum potassium can cause peaked T waves and fatal dysrhythmias. In acute kidney injury it is the most immediately life-threatening electrolyte disturbance.

Stroke thrombolysis window

Intravenous thrombolysis is generally given within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Sudden facial droop, arm weakness, and speech difficulty are warning signs.

Postoperative priority assessment

After surgery, assess airway patency and vital signs first, then pain, wound status, and risk for deep vein thrombosis and atelectasis.

Naegele rule

Estimated delivery date equals first day of last menstrual period minus 3 months plus 7 days plus 1 year.

Stages of labor

First stage runs from regular contractions to full cervical dilation. Second stage runs from full dilation to delivery of the baby.

Late decelerations meaning

Late fetal heart rate decelerations that begin after the contraction peak suggest uteroplacental insufficiency. Reposition the mother and give oxygen.

Postpartum hemorrhage threshold

Blood loss over 500 mL after vaginal birth or over 1000 mL after cesarean defines postpartum hemorrhage. Uterine atony is the most common cause.

Preeclampsia definition

New hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation with proteinuria or end-organ dysfunction. Magnesium sulfate prevents seizures and requires reflex and respiratory monitoring.

Lochia progression

Lochia rubra occurs days 1 to 3, serosa days 4 to 10, and alba after about day 10. Foul odor or return to rubra suggests infection or retained tissue.

Infant weight milestones

Birth weight typically doubles by 4 to 5 months and triples by 12 months. Birth weight is usually regained by about 2 weeks of age.

Infant developmental milestones

Head control appears by about 3 months, sitting with support by 6 months, sitting alone by 8 months, and walking by 12 to 15 months.

Croup versus epiglottitis

Croup causes a barking cough and inspiratory stridor. Epiglottitis causes drooling, tripod posture, and muffled voice and requires airway protection without throat examination.

Kawasaki disease features

Fever over 5 days with conjunctivitis, rash, cervical lymphadenopathy, and mucosal and extremity changes. Coronary artery monitoring is essential because aneurysms may develop.

Pediatric weight-based dosing

Children's drug doses are calculated per kilogram of body weight. Verify current weight and check the calculated dose against the recommended maximum before giving.

Therapeutic communication rules

Use open-ended questions, reflection, and clarification. Avoid false reassurance, giving advice, and changing the subject, which block patient expression.

Serotonin syndrome signs

Agitation, hyperreflexia, tremor, and fever follow serotonergic drug use. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome instead shows rigidity, hyperthermia, and autonomic instability.

Lithium therapeutic range

Serum lithium is therapeutic around 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. Toxicity causes tremor, vomiting, ataxia, and confusion and is worsened by dehydration.

Delirium versus dementia

Delirium has acute onset with fluctuating attention and consciousness. Dementia is gradual and progressive cognitive decline with consciousness usually intact.

Alcohol withdrawal treatment

Withdrawal can progress to delirium tremens with tremor, hallucinations, and seizures. Benzodiazepines are the mainstay of treatment and require close monitoring.

Levels of prevention

Primary prevents disease before onset through immunization. Secondary detects early disease through screening. Tertiary limits disability through rehabilitation.

Incidence versus prevalence

Incidence counts new cases arising in a defined period. Prevalence counts all existing cases at a point or over a period.

Epidemiologic triad

Disease results from interaction among host, agent, and environment. Interrupting any link in this triad prevents or controls transmission.

Sensitivity definition

Sensitivity is the proportion of people with disease who test positive. Specificity is the proportion without disease who test negative.

Herd immunity concept

When enough of a population is immune, transmission chains break and unprotected individuals gain indirect protection. The threshold rises with pathogen transmissibility.