Diseases & Conditions

By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Apr 12 2023

Chlorpheniramine: How Does It Work? Chlorpheniramine is a histamine-1 (H1) antagonist or antihistamine medication used to treat upper respiratory tract conditions. It provides temporary relief of symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes, nose, or throat associated with...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Mar 20 2023

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: How Do They Differ? I’ve had several close family members develop dementia in recent years, and it’s a very difficult and heartbreaking deterioration to witness firsthand. Some received the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease while others didn’t...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Mar 3 2023

Alkylating Agents: How Do They Work? The National Cancer Institute defines an alkylating agent as a type of drug that is used to treat cancer by interfering with the cell's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and inhibiting cancer growth. Let's explore the mechanism of action further...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Feb 16 2023

Detecting Tracheal Deviation Assessment of the trachea is a standard component of any routine physical examination. It involves evaluating the position of the trachea and detecting tracheal deviation from the midline. This is a serious clinical finding and the cause should be...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Feb 13 2023

Tuning into the Weber and Rinne Hearing Tests Hearing loss can occur at any stage of life for a variety of reasons. For example, short term hearing loss can be caused by a common ear infection, which often resolves with treatment and time, while permanent hearing loss will afflict many of us...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Feb 6 2023

Pinpointing Ptosis Ptosis, or blepharoptosis, is the drooping of the upper eyelid caused by a congenital or acquired abnormality of the muscles that elevate the eyelid (Lee, 2021). Ptosis can affect normal vision, but more importantly, it may be a sign of a serious...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Feb 6 2023

Focusing on Abnormal Fundoscopic Findings A fundoscopic exam, also known as ophthalmoscopic or retinal examination, is a test used to screen for eye disorders, injuries, and diseases. Advanced practice nurses working in primary care and emergency departments should develop and sharpen...

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By: Jennifer Collins, MSN, AGACNP-BC Jan 13 2023

Monro-Kellie Doctrine: A Brief Review The Monro-Kellie doctrine was first described over two-hundred years ago by Dr. Alexander Monro and Dr. George Kellie. It describes the direct relationship between the contents of the cranium and intracranial pressure (Mokri, 2001). According to...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Dec 14 2022

Cholinergic Drugs: How Do They Work? Cholinergic drugs have a wide variety of clinical indications. They are used to treat myasthenia gravis, dementia, open-angle glaucoma, and postoperative urinary retention, to name just a few. How exactly do these drugs work? Let’s take a...

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By: Lisa Bonsall, MSN, RN, CRNP, CCRN Nov 28 2022

This Month in Nursing: December 2022 Here’s a glance at what’s happening this month, along with some resources for your learning and professional development. Healthcare Observances Here are some of the healthcare observances being recognized in December.World AIDS Day...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Nov 16 2022

Adrenergic Agents - How Do They Work? In two previous blogs we discussed alpha adrenergic and beta adrenergicblockers, medications that inhibit various actions of the sympathetic nervous system. In this blog, we’ll take a look at adrenergic agonists known as sympathomimetic...

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By: Lisa Bonsall, MSN, RN, CRNP, CCRN Nov 10 2022

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Pediatric Cases Surging in the U.S. While many eyes are on current levels of influenza and COVID-19 activity across the U.S., another virus is on the rise, impacting both adults and children. Pediatric cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are causing an influx of...

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By: Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Nov 10 2022

ABCDs of the Nutritional Assessment When obtaining a patient’s health history, it is important to assess and document the nutritional status. Nutrition is critical in maintaining a healthy weight and to preventing conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In...

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