Perioperative Care Cheat Sheet

This cheat sheet covers standard and transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, and airborne) and sterile fields and technique. It explains the PPE, room assignment, and indications for each precaution, with mnemonics for remembering which infections need them.

This cheat sheet covers acid-base balance, compensatory mechanisms, ABG interpretation, causes and interventions, and ABG specimen collection, with practice problems. It explains how the lungs, kidneys, and bicarbonate buffers maintain pH and how CO2 acts as an acid.

This cheat sheet covers bowel elimination, including GI assessment, diagnostic studies, lifespan considerations, constipation, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, enemas, and colostomies and ileostomies. It emphasizes assessing bowel patterns and caring for clients with altered elimination.

This cheat sheet covers fluid and electrolyte imbalances, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. It explains each electrolyte's normal range and function, emphasizing that imbalances can be fatal if unrecognized or untreated.

This cheat sheet covers the nervous system and intracranial regulation, including neurological assessment, diagnostic tests, alterations and interventions, and lifespan considerations. It explains the roles of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

This cheat sheet covers IV therapy, peripheral and central venous access devices, VAD complications, blood transfusions, and transfusion reactions. It explains the differences between hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic IV fluids.