Sources: WEB MD, Saunders NCLEX Review, KAPLAN NCLEX Medication Review
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Are you struggling with learning everything you need to know to ace the medical-surgical part of the NCLEX?
Then you definitely want to give this episode a listen.
In it, I share with you 100 quick medical-surgical facts that will help you pass the NCLEX on your first (or next) try.
These facts helped me study for the NCLEX (and pass it) and I’m certain they’ll help you achieve the same results.
Well then, what are you waiting for?
Run, don’t walk, and listen to the episode now!
Discover 100 Easy Medical-Surgical Facts to Pass the NCLEX
- One of the signs of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is vascular sound or bruit over the abdominal aorta.
- Hypercalcemia is an urgent concern in a patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
- An early sign of diabetic ketoacidosis is polyuria.
- Cushing’s syndrome occurs as a result of an excessive production of cortisol by the adrenal cortex.
- Night sweats, fever, and chills are signs and symptoms of tuberculosis.
- Airborne precautions are required for a patient diagnosed with active tuberculosis.
- Fluid overload should be monitored in patients diagnosed with heart failure.
- Vaginal bleeding after hysterectomy should be monitored for excessive bleeding.
- We should elevate the affected arm after a mastectomy to prevent lymphedema.
- Cramping, dizziness, and hypotension are side effects that can occur when the patient is receiving hemodialysis treatment.
- Abdominal palpation should be avoided with a patient diagnosed with pheochromocytoma.
- Oxytocin is a hormone that is released from the posterior pituitary.
- Embolectomy is performed to remove an embolus, which is causing blood flow obstruction.
- Tinnitus indicates systemic toxicity in a patient prescribed with salicylic acid.
- INR monitoring is done for patients on warfarin therapy to ensure the appropriate levels are being maintained to reduce clotting or bleeding risk.
- Liver function tests should be performed to watch out for hepatotoxicity when a patient is taking Diazepam.
- The healthcare staff should stand at the unaffected side of the patient when providing ambulation assistance.
- There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, which affects the central nervous system.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the common drugs used to address musculoskeletal pain.
- Atrial flutter has a “sawtooth” pattern, also known as flutter waves. When a patient is experiencing palpitation and shortness of breath, atrial flutter would be an expected finding.
- Cholecystectomy is the removal of the gallbladder.
- Parkinson’s disease does not have a cure, but it is a progressive neurological disorder. This is managed by medication therapy, which is levodopa combined with carbidopa.
- Cloudy fluid that is being drained out of the abdomen after the exchange process during peritoneal dialysis is an early sign of peritonitis.
- Pulselessness is a late sign of compartment syndrome.
- Tachypnea, which is when the breathing is abnormally rapid and shallow, is an expected finding in a patient that presents with pulmonary embolism.
- Hyperkalemia can lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
- The leading cause of peripheral artery disease is atherosclerosis.
- A patient with heart failure that presents with lung crackles and tachycardia is experiencing pulmonary edema.
- Allopurinol is prescribed for a patient with gout.
- The first step is to stop the blood transfusion immediately when there are reports of chills and itchiness.
- Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that occurs with a build-up of excessive pressure inside an enclosed muscle space in the body.
- Fluid and electrolyte imbalances should be monitored when a patient is receiving enemas.
- The healthcare provider should remove the object that is penetrating the eye.
- Arteriovenous fistula have a lower rate of infection than a catheter in a patient receiving dialysis treatment.
- Ulcerative colitis starts at the rectum and ascends towards the colon causing an inflammation.
- The major cause of death in an immunocompromised patient is infection.
- Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the chamber or vessel of the heart to examine the heart.
- Hyperuricemia is noted in a patient diagnosed with gout.
- The ring-shaped rash sometimes does NOT appear on patients with Lyme disease.
- The pineal gland is the smallest gland in the body, which is part of the endocrine system.
- Macular degeneration and hypertensive retinopathy are examples of retinal disorders, which are eye disorders that affect the innermost eye layer.
- Complications of hemodialysis treatments include hypotension, sepsis, shock, and disequilibrium syndrome.
- Special precautions are not required after a bone scan.
- Alendronate is prescribed to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
- The largest gland in the body is the liver.
- Blood pressure is regulated by the kidneys that secrete renin.
- A decrease in blood pressure and increased pulse rate are signs of hemorrhage occurring.
- Vasopressin antagonists may be prescribed to decrease overproduction of ADH.
- Hepatic encephalopathy and ascites are potential complications of cirrhosis.
- A patient in contact with poison ivy SHOULD shower immediately and does not need to go to the emergency department.
- Diabetes insipidus occurs when there is too little ADH being produced by the posterior pituitary gland.
- Cataracts and glaucoma are examples of intraocular disorders, which are eye disorders that occur inside the eyeball.
- To prevent rapid gastric emptying, the patient should lie down for 20 to 30 minutes after meals.
- Informed consent should be obtained prior to any invasive procedure.
- Addison’s disease affects the adrenal glands, causing them to not produce enough cortisol and aldosterone.
- Airway should be prioritized for a patient with a laryngeal tumor.
- Signs of decreased cardiac output are hypotension and dizziness.
- Auditory center is regulated by the temporal lobe.
- Glaucoma is a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment.
- Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight is a major risk factor of basal cell carcinoma.
- Topical glucocorticoids DO get absorbed into the systemic circulation.
- Anticoagulation therapy is required for a lifetime in patients with mechanical heart valves.
- Signs of renal impairment should be monitored in a patient diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus.
- A patient with chronic kidney disease should have a low-phosphorus diet.
- The patient should be NPO prior to a lung biopsy.
- Airborne precautions are not required for a patient diagnosed with latent tuberculosis.
- The most common symptom of digoxin toxicity is gastrointestinal upset.
- Tonometry is a test to screen for glaucoma and to measure the effectiveness of glaucoma treatment.
- Acute pyelonephritis can lead to acute kidney infection.
- Skin is no longer intact in a stage II pressure injury due to the partial-thickness skin loss of the dermis.
- Morphine should be administered to a patient experiencing a myocardial infarction for pain relief.
- Fever is usually noted in a patient diagnosed with pyelonephritis.
- Hearing loss, pain, and headaches is seen in mastoiditis, which is an infection of the mastoid bone.
- Transverse fracture is when the bone is fractured perpendicular to its length, which is a straight line that occurs in the opposite direction of the bone.
- The definitive diagnostic testing of cancer is biopsy.
- Hyperpituitarism, also known as acromegaly, occurs when there’s hypersecretion of growth hormones.
- Accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac is a condition known as cardiac tamponade that requires immediate medical attention.
- Respiratory difficulty, dysphagia, and muscle weakness are noted in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is an incurable degenerative disease.
- An early sign of peritonitis is acute abdominal pain and abdominal distention.
- Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion occurs when there is an excess amount of ADH being produced.
- Muscle weakness, hypotension, and bradycardia are signs and symptoms of hypermagnesemia.
- Goodpasture’s syndrome, which is a rare autoimmune disorder, can lead to glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage.
- The second cranial nerve is the OPTIC nerve, which affects vision.
- Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the digestive tract lining.
- Hypopituitarism can be treated with hormone replacement therapy.
- The lowest possible score on the Glasgow Coma Scale is 3.
- Benign prostatic hypertrophy usually affects patients that are 50 years old or more.
- A mydriatic medication is given for pupil dilation.
- To test cranial nerve VII, which is the facial nerve, the patient should be instructed to close the eyes tightly, smile, and frown.
- Myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia are examples of refractive errors.
- Addisonian crisis is caused by acute adrenal insufficiency, which is life-threatening.
- Hemianopsia is blindness in half of the visual field.
- A patient that is experiencing an acute asthma episode should be placed in a high-Fowler’s position.
- Antimyasthenic medications are administered for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, which is a lifelong therapy.
- A dark blue or black colored stoma indicates circulatory issues after an ileostomy.
- Meniere’s disease can lead to vertigo and hearing loss.
- Holter monitoring is a noninvasive test to identify dysrhythmias.
- The major complication of pulmonary contusion is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
- Pain caused by duodenal ulcer is often alleviated after a meal.
- Psoriasis presents as itchy and scaly patches noted on the skin.
