GUIDE TO SPECIAL FEATURES
PRIORITY CONCEPT EXEMPLARS
Unit I. Essential Concepts of Medical-Surgical Nursing
1. Overview of Professional Nursing Concepts for Medical-Surgical Nursing
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses’ Competencies
Teamwork and Collaboration
2. Clinical Judgment and Systems Thinking
Individual Patient Care: Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning, and Decision Making
Individual Patient Care: Clinical Judgment
The Health Care System: Environment of Care
The Health Care System: Role of the Interprofessional Health Care Team
The Need for Systems Thinking
Moving From Clinical Judgment to Systems Thinking
3. Overview of Health Concepts for Medical-Surgical Nursing
Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
4. Concepts of Care for Older Adults
Health Issues for Older Adults in Community-Based Settings
Health Issues for Older Adults in Hospitals and Long-Term Care Settings
5. Concepts of Care for Transgender and Nonbinary Patients
Patient-Centered Terminology
Transgender and Nonbinary Health Issues
6. Assessment and Concepts of Care for Patients With Pain
7. Concepts of Rehabilitation for Chronic and Disabling Health Conditions
8. Concepts of Care for Patients at End of Life
Overview of Death, Dying, and End of Life
Comfort Concept Exemplar: End of Life
9. Concepts of Care for Perioperative Patients
Unit II. Concepts of Emergency Care and Disaster Preparedness
10. Concepts of Emergency and Trauma Nursing
The Emergency Department Environment of Care
Staff and Patient Safety Considerations
Scope of Emergency Nursing Practice
Emergency Nursing Principles
Trauma Nursing Principles
11. Concepts of Care for Patients With Common Environmental Emergencies
Snakebites and Arthropod Bites and Stings
Altitude-Related Illnesses
12. Concepts of Disaster Preparedness
Impact of External Disasters
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Event Resolution and Debriefing
Role of Nursing in Community Emergency Preparedness and Response
Psychosocial Response of Survivors to Mass Casualty Events
Unit III. Concepts of Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance and Imbalance
13. Concepts of Fluid and Electrolyte Balance and Imbalance
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
Fluid and Electrolyte Balance Concept Exemplar: Dehydration
Sodium Imbalance: Hyponatremia
Sodium Imbalance: Hypernatremia
Potassium Imbalance: Hypokalemia
Potassium Imbalance: Hyperkalemia
Calcium Imbalance: Hypocalcemia
Calcium Imbalance: Hypercalcemia
Magnesium Imbalance: Hypomagnesemia
Magnesium Imbalance: Hypermagnesemia
14. Concepts of Acid-Base Balance and Imbalance
Maintaining Acid-Base Balance
Acid-Base Regulatory Actions and Mechanisms
Acid-Base Balance Concept Exemplar: Acidosis
15. Concepts of Infusion Therapy
Peripheral Intravenous Therapy
Central Intravenous Therapy
Nursing Care for Patients Receiving Intravenous Therapy
Complications of Intravenous Therapy
Intravenous Therapy and Care of The Older Adult
Other Types of Infusion Therapy
Unit IV. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Immunity Conditions
16. Concepts of Inflammation and Immunity
17. Concepts of Care for Patients With Allergy and Immunity Conditions
HYPERSENSITIVITIES/ALLERGIES
TYPES OF HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS
IMMUNITY CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
IMMUNITY CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) INFECTION
18. Concepts of Care for Patients With Cancer
Health Promotion: Cancer Prevention
Impact of Cancer on Physical Function
Impaired Immunity and Clotting
Altered Peripheral Nerve Function
Motor and Sensory Deficits
Altered Respiratory and Cardiac Function
Cancer Pain and Quality of Life
Sepsis and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
19. Concepts of Care for Patients With Infection
Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Sources of Infection
Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism
Problems Resulting from Inadequate Antimicrobial Therapy
Interprofessional Collaborative Care
Unit V. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Integumentary System Conditions
20. Assessment of the Skin, Hair, and Nails
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Recognize Cues: Assessment
21. Concepts of Care for Patients With Conditions of the Skin, Hair, and Nails
TISSUE INTEGRITY CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: PRESSURE INJURY
IRRITATION SKIN DISORDERS
INFLAMMATORY SKIN DISORDERS
TISSUE INTEGRITY CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: BURNS
LIFE-THREATENING SKIN DISORDERS
Unit VI. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Respiratory System Conditions
22. Assessment of the Respiratory System
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Recognize Cues: Assessment
Assessment of the Patient Receiving Oxygen Therapy
23. Concepts of Care for Patients With Noninfectious Upper Respiratory Conditions
Gas Exchange Concept Exemplar: Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Cancer of the Nose and Sinuses
24. Concepts of Care for Patients With Noninfectious Lower Respiratory Conditions
Gas Exchange Concept Exemplar: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
25. Concepts of Care for Patients With Infectious Respiratory Conditions
Pandemic Respiratory Infections
Infection Concept Exemplar: COVID-19
Gas Exchange Concept Exemplar: Pneumonia
Endemic/Geographic Respiratory Infection
26. Critical Care of Patients With Respiratory Emergencies
Gas Exchange Concept Exemplar: Pulmonary Embolism
Acute Respiratory Failure
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
The Patient Requiring Intubation and Ventilation
Pneumothorax and Hemothorax
Unit VII. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Cardiovascular System Conditions
27. Assessment of the Cardiovascular System
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Recognize Cues: Assessment
28. Concepts of Care for Patients With Dysrhythmias
REVIEW OF CARDIAC CONDUCTION SYSTEM
PERFUSION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
29. Concepts of Care for Patients With Cardiac Conditions
PERFUSION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: HEART FAILURE
30. Concepts of Care for Patients With Vascular Conditions
Perfusion Concept Exemplar: Hypertension
Arteriosclerosis and Atherosclerosis
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Acute Peripheral Arterial Occlusion
Aneurysms of the Central Arteries
Aneurysms of the Peripheral Arteries
Peripheral Venous Disease
Clotting Concept Exemplar: Venous Thromboembolism
31. Critical Care of Patients With Shock
Perfusion Concept Exemplar: Hypovolemic Shock
Infection Concept Exemplar: Sepsis and Septic Shock
32. Critical Care of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes
CHRONIC STABLE ANGINA PECTORIS
PERFUSION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME
Unit VIII. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Hematologic System Conditions
33. Assessment of the Hematologic System
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Recognize Cues: Assessment
34. Concepts of Care for Patients With Hematologic Conditions
PERFUSION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: SICKLE CELL DISEASE
Interprofessional Collaborative Care
IMMUNITY CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: LEUKEMIA AND MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME
DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION
Unit IX. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Nervous System Conditions
35. Assessment of the Nervous System
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Recognize Cues: Assessment
36. Concepts of Care for Patients With Conditions of the Central Nervous System: The Brain
COGNITION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
MOBILITY CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: PARKINSON’S DISEASE
37. Concepts of Care for Patients With Conditions of the Central Nervous System: The Spinal Cord
Immunity Concept Exemplar: Multiple Sclerosis
Mobility Concept Exemplar: Spinal Cord Injury
Low Back Pain (Lumbosacral Back Pain)
38. Critical Care of Patients With Neurologic Emergencies
Transient Ischemic Attack
Perfusion Concept Exemplar: Stroke
Cognition Concept Exemplar: Traumatic Brain Injury
Unit X. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Sensory System Conditions
39. Assessment and Concepts of Care for Patients With Eye and Vision Conditions
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY REVIEW
RECOGNIZE CUES: ASSESSMENT
SENSORY PERCEPTION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: CATARACT
SENSORY PERCEPTION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: GLAUCOMA
CORNEAL ABRASION, ULCERATION, AND INFECTION
RETINAL HOLES, TEARS, AND DETACHMENTS
40. Assessment and Concepts of Care for Patients With Ear and Hearing Conditions
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Sensory Perception Concept Exemplar: Hearing Loss
Cerumen or Foreign Bodies
Vestibular Schwannoma/Acoustic Neuroma
Unit XI. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Musculoskeletal System Conditions
41. Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Recognize Cues: Assessment
42. Concepts of Care for Patients With Musculoskeletal Conditions
CELLULAR REGULATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: OSTEOPOROSIS
COMMON DISORDERS OF THE HAND
COMMON DISORDERS OF THE FOOT
43. Concepts of Care for Patients With Arthritis and Total Joint Arthroplasty
Mobility Concept Exemplar: Osteoarthritis
Immunity Concept Exemplar: Rheumatoid Arthritis
44. Concepts of Care for Patients With Musculoskeletal Trauma
Mobility Concept Exemplar: Fracture
Lower Extremity Fractures
Fractures of the Chest and Pelvis
Compression Fractures of the Spine
Perfusion Concept Exemplar: Amputation
Unit XII. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Gastrointestinal System Conditions
45. Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY REVIEW
RECOGNIZE CUES: ASSESSMENT
46. Concepts of Care for Patients With Oral Cavity and Esophageal Conditions
Oral Tumors: Premalignant Lesions
Interprofessional Collaborative Care
47. Concepts of Care for Patients With Stomach Conditions
Infection Concept Exemplar: Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)
48. Concepts of Care for Patients With Noninflammatory Intestinal Conditions
Elimination Concept Exemplar: Intestinal Obstruction
49. Concepts of Care for Patients With Inflammatory Intestinal Conditions
Infection Concept Exemplar: Peritonitis
INFLAMMATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: ULCERATIVE COLITIS
50. Concepts of Care for Patients With Liver Conditions
CELLULAR REGULATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: CIRRHOSIS
NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE
INFECTION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: HEPATITIS
51. Concepts of Care for Patients With Conditions of the Biliary System and Pancreas
INFLAMMATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: CHOLECYSTITIS
INFLAMMATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: ACUTE PANCREATITIS
52. Concepts of Care for Patients With Malnutrition: Undernutrition and Obesity
General Nutrition Recommendations for Health Promotion/Disease Prevention
Nutrition Concept Exemplar: Undernutrition
Nutrition Concept Exemplar: Obesity
Unit XIII. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Endocrine System Conditions
53. Assessment of the Endocrine System
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Recognize Cues: Assessment
54. Concepts of Care for Patients With Pituitary and Adrenal Gland Conditions
DISORDERS OF THE PITUITARY GLAND
ARGININE VASOPRESSIN DEFICIENCY AND ARGININE VASOPRESSIN RESISTANCE/DIABETES INSIPIDUS
SYNDROME OF INAPPROPRIATE ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE
DISORDERS OF THE ADRENAL GLAND
FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: CUSHING SYNDROME (Hypercortisolism)
55. Concepts of Care for Patients With Thyroid and Parathyroid Gland Conditions
CELLULAR REGULATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: HYPOTHYROIDISM
56. Concepts of Care for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
GLUCOSE REGULATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: DIABETES MELLITUS
Unit XIV. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Renal/Urinary System Conditions
57. Assessment of the Renal/Urinary System
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY REVIEW
RECOGNIZE CUES: ASSESSMENT
58. Concepts of Care for Patients With Urinary Conditions
ELIMINATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: URINARY INCONTINENCE
59. Concepts of Care for Patients With Kidney Conditions
Elimination Concept Exemplar: Pyelonephritis
Chronic Glomerulonephritis
Polycystic Kidney Disease
Hydronephrosis and Hydroureter
60. Concepts of Care for Patients With Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease
ELIMINATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
Unit XV. Interprofessional Collaboration for Patients With Reproductive System Conditions
61. Assessment of the Reproductive System
Anatomy and Physiology Review
Recognize Cues: Assessment
62. Concepts of Care for Patients With Breast Conditions
PROLIFERATIVE BREAST LESIONS WITH ATYPIA
PROLIFERATIVE BREAST LESION WITHOUT ATYPIA: FIBROADENOMA
NONPROLIFERATIVE BREAST LESIONS: FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES (FCCs) AND CYSTS
BREAST INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION
CELLULAR REGULATION CONCEPT EXEMPLAR: BREAST CANCER
63. Concepts of Care for Patients With Gynecologic Conditions
Sexuality Concept Exemplar: Uterine Leiomyoma
64. Concepts of Care for Patients With Male Reproductive Conditions
Elimination Concept Exemplar: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Cellular Regulation Concept Exemplar: Prostate Cancer
Other Conditions Affecting the Male Reproductive System
65. Concepts of Care for Patients With Sexually Transmitted Infections
Introduction to Sexually Transmitted Infections
Condylomata Acuminata (Genital Warts)
Infection Concept Exemplar: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease