Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
The presence of an anterior shoulder dislocation is usually obvious. A posterior dislocation is more subtle in terms of both clinical and radiographic findings. It can be misdiagnosed as a severe contusion.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Most shoulder dislocations are anterior (i.e., the humeral head becomes situated in front of the glenoid fossa). Posterior dislocations are the next most common, but they generally account for less than 4% of shoulder dislocations.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
It is generally accepted that the sooner a dislocation is reduced, the better. This alleviates the patient's discomfort and corrects distortion. In some studies, the success rate of reduction is higher when attempted closer to the time of injury.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Clinical assessment of a patient with a dislocation must include a search for fractures or other serious injuries, especially if the mechanism involved high energy. This is most important for hip, knee and posterior sternoclavicular dislocations.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
The human shoulder joint is remarkable for its degrees of motion. The glenohumeral joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body, largely because of the loose joint capsule and the shallow nature of the glenoid fossa.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Fourth-degree burns extend deeply into subcutaneous tissue, muscle, fascia or bone. These burns are characteristically caused by contact with molten metal, flame, or high-voltage electricity.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Third-degree burns result from complete loss of the dermis and may extend into subcutaneous tissue. These burns usually appear dry, pearly white or charred. They are initially painless, with a leathery texture.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Second-degree burns involve the epidermis and extend into the dermis to include the sweat glands and hair follicles. Superficial second-degree burns involve only the papillary dermis. These burns are pink, moist and extremely painful.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
First-degree burns involve the epidermis only. The skin is reddened but is intact and not blistered. Minor edema may be noted. Causes include ultraviolet light (as in sunburn) and brief thermal “flash” burns.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
General anesthesia is a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which patients cannot be aroused, even by painful stimulation. Patients frequently need assistance in maintaining a patent airway and positive pressure ventilation may be required.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Deep sedation is a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully after repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to maintain ventilatory function may be impaired.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Dissociative sedation is a trancelike cataleptic state induced by the dissociative agent ketamine and characterized by profound analgesia and amnesia with retention of protective airway reflexes and cardiopulmonary stability.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Moderate sedation (formerly conscious sedation) is a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
Minimal sedation (anxiolysis) is a drug-induced state during which patients respond normally to verbal commands. Although cognitive function and coordination may be impaired, ventilatory and cardiovascular function is unaffected.

Nursing Tip of the Day! - Fundamentals

Category: Fundamentals 
One unit of PRBCs contains the same red cell mass as 1 unit of whole blood. One unit of PRBCs raises the hematocrit by approximately 3% in an adult or increases the hemoglobin level of a 70-kg individual by 1 g/dL.