Quiz me Nurse

The Electrical Conduction System of the heart The SA   (sinoatrial) node is the pacemaker of the  heart and is part of the electrical conduction system. It is located in the upper part of the right atrium. When the SA node fires, the right and left atria contract simultaneously and  blood is forced into the right and left ventricles. The electrical stimulus then travels to the AV ( atrio- ventricular) node which is located in the lower part  of the right atrium. The AV node fires, causing the  right and left ventricles to contract simultaneously.   Scenario : Jim was admitted to the medical floor, with complaints of  abdominal pain.  The nurse arrives at his bedside and finds him unresponsive. She presses the code button, to alert the code team. She then begins CPR. What does CPR mean?  CPR  means Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When the heart stops beating and there is no circulation of blood throughout the body, CPR is initiated. ...

  The consequences of poor circulation Poor circulation   may occur for a number of reasons. Any obstruction to the flow of blood may lead to conditions such as stroke,  heart failure , and or  renal failure  .The  diabetetic  patient is also at risk. What is a stroke? A stroke is also known as a brain attack. Identifying strokes and treatment A stroke may be hemorrhagic (caused by bleeding) or ischemic ( embolic ) caused by a clot or plaque in a blood vessel.  Bleeding  ( hemorrhagic) into the brain may be caused by  trauma  or rupture of a blood vessel due to high blood pressure. ICP monitorin g may be necessary for  the patient with a hemorrhagic stroke. In the case of an embolic stroke, a blood clot may obstruct the flow of blood in the brain. This will also affect oxygen to the brain. Embolic strokes are usually treated with drugs such as TPA ( Tissue Plasminogenic Activator). Antihypertensive drugs and anti-  seizure...