There are some medications that we give our patients that require close monitoring through testing the blood for levels of the drug. The goal is to make sure the drug is at therapeutic levels in the system so that it produces the optimum effect with minimal side effects. This also applies to some drugs that […]

There are 4 sites we can use for Intramuscular or IM injections, though 3 of them are the most common.  The dorsogluteal, is rarely used due to its risk of damaging the sciatic nerve. The other three sites are the vastus lateralis, found in the middle third of the lateral aspect of the thigh, the […]

Dosage calculation is something that every nursing student either loves or dreads! We all have to pass math exams every semester. It’s either easy points or makes you a nervous wreck! If you’re the second type, I hope this little explanation helps simplify it a bit for you. Because after all, we believe here at […]

Dosage calculation is something that every nursing student either loves or dreads! We all have to pass math exams every semester. It’s either easy points or makes you a nervous wreck! If you’re the second type, I hope this little explanation helps simplify it a bit for you. Because after all, we believe here at […]

When choosing an IV fluid solution, we look at the tonicity or amount of solute dissolved in the solvent, in other words how much stuff is in the liquid. Isotonic solutions match the concentrations within the blood. Because everything matches, … Continued

Blood transfusions are much safer these days than they were a few decades ago, however, typing, crossmatching, and screening blood is still of the utmost importance! When you look at blood types and compare donor to recipient, what you will … Continued

When drawing blood, it’s important to know what order to draw the tubes in. This seems silly, but because of the various additives in the tube, we must not get them mixed up or there’s a chance of contaminating a … Continued

There are many tricks to interpreting ABG’s, the ROME chart is just one of them. ROME stands for “Respiratory Opposite Metabolic Equal”. What that means is that if your pH is High, which is alkalosis, then you would either see a Low CO2 (opposite) or a High Bicarb (equal). On the other hand if your […]

Lab value skeletons are a way to quickly and efficiently document and communicate a patient’s lab values. Each one has its own distinct design so anyone looking at your shorthand will know which lab values you’re referring to.  For example, … Continued

Early recognition and treatment of stroke are key to saving as much brain as possible. Stroke symptoms vary depending on which vessel is affected. Remember that strokes produce CONTRA-lateral symptoms, so if the RIGHT side of the brain is affected, … Continued