Free DHA Nursing Exam Exam Flashcards

Temperature 36.5-37.5°C (97.7-99.5°F); pulse 60-100 bpm; respirations 12-20/min; blood pressure <120/80 mmHg; SpO2 95-100%. Deviations from these ranges guide the nurse's first assessment priorities.

Scores Eye opening (1-4), Verbal response (1-5), and Motor response (1-6); total range 3-15. A score of 8 or less indicates severe impairment and usually requires airway protection.

Numeric Rating Scale (0-10) for verbal adults; Wong-Baker FACES for children or patients with limited communication; FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) for nonverbal or preverbal patients. Pain is reassessed after every intervention.

Rapid level-of-consciousness check: A-Alert, V-responds to Verbal stimuli, P-responds to Pain only, U-Unresponsive. Used for quick triage before a full Glasgow Coma Scale assessment.

1) Before touching a patient, 2) before a clean/aseptic procedure, 3) after body fluid exposure risk, 4) after touching a patient, 5) after touching the patient's surroundings. Alcohol-based handrub for 20-30 seconds; soap and water when hands are visibly soiled.

Applied to ALL patients regardless of diagnosis: hand hygiene, PPE when contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated, safe injection practices, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, and safe handling of contaminated linen and equipment.

Airborne (measles, varicella, TB): N95 respirator plus negative-pressure room. Droplet (influenza, meningitis, pertussis): surgical mask within about 1 meter. Contact (MRSA, C. difficile, scabies): gown and gloves with dedicated equipment.

Immediately wash the exposed area with soap and water (do not squeeze or suck the wound), then report to occupational health/infection control right away. Source and exposed person are tested per protocol, and post-exposure prophylaxis is considered promptly for bloodborne pathogen risk.

Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation — plus right reason, right response, and the patient's right to refuse.

Medications with heightened risk of serious harm if given in error: insulin, opioids, anticoagulants (heparin/warfarin), concentrated electrolytes (potassium chloride is never given IV push undiluted), and chemotherapy agents. These require an independent double-check before administration.

Rapid-acting (lispro/aspart): onset 10-15 min, peak 1-2 hr. Short-acting (regular): onset 30 min, peak 2-4 hr. Intermediate (NPH): onset 1-2 hr, peak 4-12 hr. Long-acting (glargine/detemir): onset 1-2 hr, minimal peak, lasts about 24 hr.

Report every medication error immediately through the facility's incident/variance reporting system, regardless of harm caused. The purpose is quality improvement, not punishment; never reference the incident report in the patient's chart — document only the objective facts and care given.

Assess with a validated tool such as the Morse Fall Scale. Key interventions: bed in lowest position, call bell within reach, non-slip footwear, hourly rounding, and clear walkways. Falls are a leading preventable hospital safety event.

Stage 1: non-blanchable redness with intact skin. Stage 2: partial-thickness skin loss, shallow open ulcer. Stage 3: full-thickness loss with visible subcutaneous fat. Stage 4: full-thickness loss with exposed bone, muscle, or tendon. Reposition at-risk patients at least every 2 hours.

Nasal cannula: 1-6 L/min (about 24-44% FiO2). Simple face mask: 5-8 L/min (about 40-60%). Non-rebreather mask: 10-15 L/min (about 80-95%). Venturi mask: delivers a precise, fixed FiO2, useful for patients like those with COPD who need controlled oxygen.

Adult CPR: compression rate 100-120/min, compression depth 5-6 cm, compression-to-ventilation ratio 30:2 for a single rescuer. Allow full chest recoil, minimize interruptions, and reassess rhythm every 2 minutes.

Rate 60-100 bpm, regular rhythm, one P wave before every QRS complex, PR interval 0.12-0.20 sec, and QRS duration under 0.12 sec. This is the baseline normal cardiac rhythm on ECG.

Crushing substernal chest pain or pressure radiating to the jaw, arm, or back, with diaphoresis, dyspnea, and nausea. Troponin is the most specific cardiac biomarker, rising 4-6 hours after injury and peaking at 12-24 hours. Initial management follows aspirin, oxygen (if hypoxic), nitrates, and morphine per protocol.

Left-sided: pulmonary symptoms — dyspnea, orthopnea, crackles, pink frothy sputum. Right-sided: systemic congestion — peripheral edema, jugular venous distension, hepatomegaly, weight gain. Memory aid: Left = Lungs, Right = Rest of the body.

Short-acting beta-agonists (for example, salbutamol) treat acute bronchospasm; inhaled corticosteroids provide long-term control. Peak expiratory flow monitors severity. A silent chest with minimal wheeze in a struggling patient signals impending respiratory failure — a medical emergency.

Respiratory = Opposite (pH and PaCO2 move in opposite directions); Metabolic = Equal (pH and HCO3 move in the same direction). Normal ranges: pH 7.35-7.45, PaCO2 35-45 mmHg, HCO3 22-26 mEq/L.

Tachypnea, use of accessory muscles, nasal flaring, cyanosis, tripod positioning, and SpO2 below 90%. Requires immediate oxygen therapy and provider notification, with possible escalation to non-invasive or mechanical ventilation.

Blood glucose under 70 mg/dL. If the patient is conscious, give 15-20 g of fast-acting carbohydrate (juice, glucose tablets) and recheck in 15 minutes (the '15-15 rule'). If unconscious, give IV dextrose or IM glucagon — never give oral intake to an unconscious patient.

Blood glucose typically above 250 mg/dL, ketonuria/ketonemia, metabolic acidosis (pH under 7.3, HCO3 under 18 mEq/L), Kussmaul respirations, fruity breath odor, polyuria, and polydipsia. Treatment starts with IV fluids, then an insulin infusion, with potassium replacement as levels normalize.

Oliguric phase (urine output under 400 mL/day, risk of fluid overload and hyperkalemia), diuretic phase (large urine volumes, risk of dehydration and electrolyte loss), and recovery phase (renal function gradually improves).

Never take a blood pressure, draw blood, or start an IV in the fistula arm. Palpate for a thrill and auscultate for a bruit every shift to confirm patency; the absence of either signals possible occlusion requiring immediate provider notification.

Hematemesis (coffee-ground or bright red vomitus) and melena (black, tarry stool). Priorities: assess airway and hemodynamic stability, obtain large-bore IV access, type and crossmatch blood, and monitor closely for hypovolemic shock.

Caused by ammonia buildup in liver failure. Signs include confusion, asterixis (a flapping hand tremor), and eventually coma. Lactulose is given to trap ammonia in the gut and increase its excretion in stool, targeting 2-3 soft stools per day.

Heparin is reversed with protamine sulfate. Warfarin is reversed with vitamin K (phytonadione), plus fresh frozen plasma or prothrombin complex concentrate for urgent reversal. Monitor heparin with aPTT and warfarin with INR (therapeutic range typically 2-3).

Signs: respiratory depression (respiratory rate under 12/min), pinpoint pupils, and decreased level of consciousness. Antidote: naloxone (Narcan), which may need repeat dosing since its effect is shorter than many opioids.

Therapeutic level is 0.5-2 ng/mL. Toxicity signs include nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances (yellow-green halos), bradycardia, and dysrhythmias. Hold the dose and notify the provider if the apical pulse is under 60 bpm in an adult; hypokalemia increases toxicity risk.

Ask directly: 'Are you thinking of harming or killing yourself?' Assess plan, means/access, and intent. Never leave a high-risk patient unsupervised; remove access to potential means and initiate the facility's safety protocol.

Use open-ended questions, reflection, clarification, silence, and empathy. Avoid 'why' questions, false reassurance, giving unsolicited advice, and changing the subject — these block honest disclosure from the patient.

Subtract 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period, then add 7 days (adding 1 year if needed). Estimates a 40-week gestation from a regular 28-day cycle.

Blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher after 20 weeks' gestation with proteinuria or end-organ dysfunction. Warning signs: severe headache, visual changes, epigastric pain, edema. Severe range is 160/110 mmHg or higher. Magnesium sulfate is given to prevent eclamptic seizures.

Therapeutic level is 4-7 mEq/L. The earliest toxicity sign is loss of deep tendon reflexes, followed by respiratory depression (under 12/min) and cardiac arrest. Antidote: calcium gluconate, kept at the bedside whenever magnesium sulfate is infusing.

Normal baseline FHR is 110-160 bpm. Early decelerations mirror contractions (head compression, benign). Variable decelerations are abrupt (cord compression — reposition the mother). Late decelerations occur after the contraction peaks (uteroplacental insufficiency — reposition, give oxygen, notify the provider immediately).

Blood loss over 500 mL after vaginal delivery or over 1000 mL after cesarean. Uterine atony is the most common cause. First-line action is fundal massage; medications include oxytocin, with IV fluids or blood products for hemodynamic instability.

Assessed at 1 and 5 minutes after birth: Appearance (color), Pulse, Grimace (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), Respirations — each scored 0-2 for a total of 0-10. A score under 7 at 5 minutes requires continued intervention and reassessment.

Heart rate 110-160 bpm (up to 180 briefly with crying), respirations 30-60/min, and axillary temperature 36.5-37.5°C. Newborns are obligate nose breathers, so nasal patency is a priority assessment.

WHO and UNICEF recommend initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of life and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, continuing with complementary foods up to 2 years or beyond.

Most common in children aged 6 months to 5 years, typically with a rapidly rising temperature above 38°C (100.4°F). Nursing priorities: protect from injury, do not restrain, position on the side, time the seizure, and manage the fever once it resolves.

The physician or provider is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives. The nurse's role is to witness the patient's signature and confirm the patient appears to understand — not to explain the procedure itself.

Patient health information may only be shared with those directly involved in care or with the patient's authorization, on a strict need-to-know basis. Breaches, such as discussing cases in public areas or unauthorized chart access, are grounds for disciplinary and legal action.

Completed for any unusual occurrence that could harm a patient, staff member, or visitor. Its purpose is quality improvement and system-level prevention, not punishment. The report itself is never referenced in the patient's medical record — chart only the objective facts.

Nurses use Sheryan to check eligibility, complete primary source verification, and apply for registration. If DHA requires the RNT0312 assessment, the applicant must pass it before registration is issued. A DHA-licensed healthcare facility then activates that registration into a license before the nurse may practise in Dubai.

Governs medical liability and malpractice in the UAE, defining healthcare professionals' duties of care and the process for reviewing medical error complaints through licensing-authority medical liability committees.

Requires healthcare professionals, including nurses, to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the relevant authorities. Nurses practicing in the UAE are mandated reporters under this child protection law.

Right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision. The delegating nurse retains accountability for the outcome even though responsibility for performing the task is transferred.

Ask a clinical question, acquire the best available evidence, appraise its quality, apply it to patient care, and assess outcomes. This cycle underpins continuous quality improvement in nursing units.