Nurse Key

Assessment Collecting patient data Performing a 10-minute examination ♦ You won’t always want or need to examine a patient in 10 minutes. However, rapid examination is crucial when you must…

ECGs Components of an ECG waveform This illustration shows the components of a normal ECG waveform. Normal ECG Analyzing the ECG waveform An electrocardiogram (ECG) complex represents the electrical events…

Common disorders Alzheimer’s disease Overview ♦ Degenerative disorder of the cerebral cortex, especially the frontal lobe ♦ Accounts for more than 50% of all cases of dementia ♦ Poor prognosis…

Data collection findings Normal findings To distinguish between health and disease, you must be able to recognize normal data collection findings in each part of the body. When you perform…

Vital signs Temperature ♦ Body temperature represents the balance between heat produced by metabolism, muscular activity, and other factors and heat lost through the skin, lungs, and body wastes. A…

Patient mobility, hygiene, comfort, and safety This chapter covers the fundamental procedures needed to ensure patient mobility, hygiene, comfort, and safety. Each entry begins with a brief introduction and, where…