Skill 39 Metered-Dose Inhalers Pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), breath-actuated metered-dose inhalers (BAIs), and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) deliver medications that produce local effects such as bronchodilation. Some of these medications…
Skill 51 Parenteral Medications Mixing Medications in One Syringe Some medications need to be mixed from two vials or from a vial and an ampule. Mixing compatible medications avoids the…
Skill 45 Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is the application of a vacuum (negative pressure) to a wound through suction to draw edges of a wound together while…
Skill 84 Wound Drainage Devices Jackson-Pratt, Hemovac If drainage accumulates in the wound bed, wound healing is delayed. Drainage is removed by using either a closed or an open drain…
Skill 81 Urinary Diversion Pouching an Incontinent Urinary Diversion Because urine flows continuously from an incontinent urinary diversion, placement of the pouch is more challenging than with the fecal diversion….
Skill 74 Suprapubic Catheter Care A suprapubic catheter is a urinary drainage tube inserted surgically into the bladder through the abdominal wall above the symphysis pubis. The catheter may be…
Skill 10 Blood Pressure by Auscultation Upper Extremities, Lower Extremities, Palpation The most common technique of measuring blood pressure is auscultation with a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. As the sphygmomanometer cuff…
Skill 53 Peripheral Intravenous Care Dressing Care, Discontinuation Short peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters require strict adherence to infection-prevention measures to avoid complications associated with these devices. Securely apply catheter dressings…
Skill 66 Seizure Precautions The two basic types of seizures are partial (simple and complex) and generalized. In a simple seizure a patient does not lose consciousness. In a partial…
Skill 62 Rectal Suppository Insertion Rectal medications exert either local effects on gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa (e.g., promoting defecation) or systemic effects (e.g., relieving nausea or providing analgesia). The rectal route…
