This chapter facilitates an express review of fluid/electrolyte/cellular imbalances and their regulation. It presents an overview of the condition, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, nursing interventions, and patient education of the following: acid–base imbalances; electrolyte imbalances; and fluid imbalances such as hypervolemia and hypovolemia. Electrolyte imbalance occurs when the body’s concentrations of electrolytes become either too high or too low. Electrolyte imbalances can lead to acid–base imbalances. It is advised to take electrolyte supplements, such as potassium, as instructed. The chapter depicts as a figure the normal distributions of electrolytes in the plasma, intracellular space, and extracellular spaces. It additionally presents special features such as complications, nursing pearls, alerts, and pop quizzes to highlight the key information on fluid/electrolyte/cellular regulation. The chapter also portrays in tabular form the indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, precautions, and adverse effects of various medications used to correct fluid and electrolyte imbalances.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common unipolar affective disorders for individuals of all ages and is associated with hypofunction of the serotonergic system. Although there is no consensus regarding the cause of depression, theories such as the monoamine theory or the neurotransmitter hypothesis contribute to scientists’ understanding of depression. These theories discuss imbalances of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine and other modulating neurohormones. More contemporary theories consider depression to be a clinically heterogeneous disorder because depression originates from genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors. Depression rates increase from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. Early recognition and intervention are the key to treatment. Treatment for depression includes psychotherapy and antidepressant medications to minimize clinical morbidity and improve clinical outcomes. Although the risk of suicidality may increase upon initiation of antidepressants, suicide risk also increases with untreated depression; therefore, careful consideration is required when managing depressed individuals (Gautam et al., 2017). This chapter details medications for the treatment of MDD.

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) apply a holistic and patient-centered approach to diminish mental distress and help mental health sufferers set attainable goals and have hope for the future. Using theoretically grounded methods, PMHNPs are trained experts in the evaluation and treatment of patients with disordered feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Structured interviews, semistructured interviews, and questionnaires have become the gold standard for diagnostic interviewing for psychiatric mental health assessments. The goal of this chapter is to offer the knowledge and skills required to conduct a mental health evaluation across populations.

Nurses encounter various cardiovascular problems in the medical–surgical setting. This chapter presents a high-speed review of these problems for the registered nurses preparing for their certification exams. It provides an overview of the condition, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, nursing interventions, and patient education of the following cardiovascular conditions: acute coronary syndrome; angina; myocardial infarction; aneurysm; arrhythmias; cardiomyopathy; deep vein thrombosis; endocarditis; heart failure; hyperlipidemia; hypertension; peripheral vascular disease; and shock. The chapter also presents a tabulation of the indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, precautions, and adverse effects of various cardiovascular medications. It additionally showcases special features such as complications, nursing pearls, alerts, and pop quiz to highlight important information. The quizzes consist of critical-thinking questions to evaluate the ability of nurses to synthesize what they’ve learned.

There are various endocrine problems that nurses come upon in the medical–surgical setting. This chapter provides a quick review of these endocrine conditions that serve as a refresher for the registered nurses preparing for their certification examination. It presents an overview of the condition, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, nursing interventions, and patient education of the following: adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease); diabetes insipidus; diabetes mellitus; diabetic ketoacidosis; hyperthyroidism; hypothyroidism; hyperfunction of the adrenals (Cushing’s disease); polycystic ovarian syndrome; and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone. The chapter also illustrates special features such as complications, nursing pearls, alerts, and pop quizzes to emphasize the important information. In addition, it also presents indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, precautions, and adverse effects of various medications used in the treatment of diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

social, and spiritual aspects of all patients to determine the best care. The nurse provides care for the patient in an interdisciplinary fashion, collaborating with providers and other interdisciplinary teams (e.g., pharmacists, occupational/physical/speech therapists, social workers). They are responsible for delegating patient care tasks to the appropriate personnel using critical thinking. The nurses must combine their own expertise with evidence-based practice to make the best decisions about the patient’s care plan. The American Association of Nurses’ Code of Ethics for Nursing encompasses responsibilities for nurses. Legal issues for nurses include both professional-centered and patient-centered concerns. Nurses must address individual needs for advocacy as part of their patient’s care, including age, race and ethnicity, gender, income, and sexual orientation. They must address cultural aspects of care, including values, spirituality, and religion.

The nurses working in the medical–surgical setting often comes across patients with various reproductive system disorders. This chapter provides a quick review of these disorders. Nurses preparing for their certification examination can use this review in conjunction with other study aids to ensure that they are as well prepared as possible for the exam. The chapter presents an overview of the condition and describes the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, nursing interventions, and patient education of the following reproductive system disorders: breast cancer, cervical cancer, cystocele and rectocele, endometriosis, ovarian cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine cancer, and uterine prolapse. It showcases special features such as complications, nursing pearls, alerts, and pop quizzes that highlight the important information. Additionally, the chapter presents a tabulation of the indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, precautions, and side effects of various medications used in the treatment of reproductive system disorders.

This chapter reviews the various neurological conditions that a nurse might encounter in the medical–surgical setting. This quick review serves as a refresher for nurses who are preparing for their certification examination. It presents an overview of the condition, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, nursing interventions, and patient education of the following neurological disorders: Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, brain tumors, delirium, dementia, depression, encephalitis, Guillain–Barré syndrome, increased intracranial pressure, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis. The chapter discusses Parkinson’s disease; seizure disorders, spinal cord injury, stroke, transient ischemic attack, and traumatic brain injury. It then tabulates the types of seizures with varying symptoms and showcases special features such as complications, nursing pearls, alerts, and pop quizzes to highlight important information on neurological disorders. The chapter concludes with an appendix covering indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, precautions, and adverse effects of various medications used in the treatment of neurological conditions.

There are various hematologic disorders that registered nurses encounter in the medical–surgical setting. This chapter presents a quick overview of the following hematologic conditions: anemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, hemophilia, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and thrombocytopenia. This review helps the nurses preparing for their certification examination to gain insight on signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, nursing interventions, and patient education of these hematologic disorders. It can be used in conjunction with other study aids to ensure that they are as well prepared as possible for the exam. The chapter also showcases special features such as complications, nursing pearls, alerts, and pop quizzes to bring out important information. It concludes with an appendix covering indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, precautions, and adverse effects of commonly used hematologic medications.

For registered nurses who are preparing for their certification examination, this chapter provides a high-speed review of various eyes, ears, nose, and throat conditions that a nurse might encounter in the medical–surgical setting. The review can be used in conjunction with other study aids to ensure that the nurses are as well prepared as possible for the exam. The chapter presents an overview of the condition, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, nursing interventions, and patient education of the following conditions: cataracts; diabetic retinopathy; glaucoma; macular degeneration; hearing loss; sinusitis; laryngeal cancer; dysphagia; and oral cancer. It additionally showcases special features like complications, nursing pearls, alerts, and pop quizzes to highlight the vital information. The chapter also presents in tabulation indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, precautions, and side effects of various medications used in the treatment of the above eyes, ears, nose, and throat conditions.