Specialty Hub
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Heart failure, COPD, pneumonia, diabetes, and DKA/HHS — high-yield med-surg topics for nursing students and NCLEX preparation.
Guides
In-depth med-surg nursing guides for NCLEX and clinical practice.
Heart Failure Basics
10 minHeart failure fundamentals for nurses — left vs right-sided HF, reduced vs preserved ejection fraction, pulmonary congestion, fluid overload, daily weights, sodium restriction, and diuretic monitoring.
COPD Management for Nurses
11 minCOPD management for nurses — chronic bronchitis vs emphysema, oxygen therapy considerations, pursed-lip breathing, exacerbation recognition, ABG interpretation, and nursing priorities.
Pneumonia Assessment and Care
10 minPneumonia assessment and nursing care — community-acquired vs hospital-acquired, lung sounds, sputum changes, oxygenation monitoring, sepsis risk recognition, and nursing priorities.
Diabetes Management Basics
11 minDiabetes management for nurses — Type 1 vs Type 2, blood glucose monitoring, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia recognition and management, insulin basics, and nursing priorities.
Fracture Nursing Care
9 minFracture care from injury to healing — emergency stabilization, open vs closed priorities, reduction and fixation concepts, neurovascular surveillance, and the complications to catch early.
Compartment Syndrome Recognition for Nurses
8 minThe 6 Ps in the order they actually appear, why pain out of proportion is the alarm, what to do and what not to do (no ice, no elevation above heart), and fasciotomy basics.
Hip & Knee Arthroplasty Nursing Care
9 minTotal hip and knee replacement nursing care — posterior hip precautions, dislocation recognition, VTE prevention, early mobility, and the discharge teaching that protects the new joint.
Amputation Nursing Care
8 minResidual limb positioning and figure-eight wrapping, contracture prevention (prone lying after AKA), phantom limb pain management, hemorrhage readiness, and body-image care.
HIV/AIDS Nursing Care
9 minTransmission and testing, CD4 counts and viral load, why ART adherence prevents resistance, opportunistic infection vigilance, and stigma-free care — HIV as a managed chronic disease.
Lupus (SLE) Nursing Care
8 minThe butterfly rash and beyond, flare triggers and warning signs, organ involvement (especially lupus nephritis), the medication backbone, and sun-protection teaching.
Glaucoma & Cataracts Nursing Care
8 minOpen-angle vs acute angle-closure emergency, eye-drop technique and adherence, cataract surgery teaching, and safety for the patient with low vision.
Cirrhosis Nursing Care
10 minThe failing liver's lost functions, portal hypertension and its complications (varices, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy), ammonia and lactulose, bleeding risk, and patient teaching.
Peripheral Arterial Disease Nursing Care
9 minIntermittent claudication and rest pain, the arterial vs venous distinction, the ankle-brachial index, the positioning that opposes venous disease, foot protection, and revascularization.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Nursing Care
9 minObstructive vs irritative LUTS, acute urinary retention, the two medication classes (alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors), TURP, and post-op continuous bladder irrigation.
DVT & Venous Thromboembolism Nursing Care
9 minVirchow's triad, recognizing DVT and its dangerous sequel pulmonary embolism, mechanical and pharmacologic prophylaxis, anticoagulation, and the bleeding-vs-clotting balance.
Hearing Loss Nursing Care
9 minConductive vs sensorineural loss, presbycusis, ototoxic medications, Weber and Rinne logic, hearing aid care, and the communication techniques that actually work — lower your pitch, don't shout.
Vertigo & Ménière's Disease Nursing Care
9 minPeripheral vs central vertigo, the Ménière's triad, BPPV and the Epley maneuver, attack care, fall safety, low-sodium teaching, and the red flags that mean stroke until proven otherwise.
Cellulitis & Skin Infections Nursing Care
9 minCellulitis vs erysipelas vs impetigo vs abscess, the warm-red-swollen-tender hallmark, marking the border to track spread, MRSA, the necrotizing fasciitis red flags (pain out of proportion, crepitus), antibiotics, and prevention teaching.
Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Nursing Care
9 minHerpes zoster (shingles) nursing care: varicella-zoster reactivation, the unilateral dermatomal vesicular rash, precautions, antiviral timing, postherpetic neuralgia, ophthalmic risk, and the vaccine.
Psoriasis & Eczema Nursing Care
9 minPsoriasis (silvery plaques, Auspitz and Koebner signs, biologics) vs atopic dermatitis/eczema (itchy flexural rash, the atopic triad), with topical therapy, skin-barrier repair, and self-care teaching.
Skin Cancer & Melanoma Nursing Care
9 minSkin cancer nursing care: basal cell vs squamous cell vs melanoma, the ABCDE and ugly-duckling warning signs, risk factors, biopsy and excision, staging basics, and sun-safety teaching.
Hypertension Nursing Care
9 minPrimary vs secondary hypertension, the blood-pressure categories, why it's the silent killer, target-organ damage, lifestyle/DASH and medication management, and the central problem of adherence.
Hypertensive Crisis Nursing Care
8 minThe difference between hypertensive urgency and emergency (target-organ damage), the danger of lowering BP too fast (cerebral hypoperfusion/stroke), IV antihypertensives and the controlled lowering targets, and the nursing monitoring.
Aortic Aneurysm Nursing Care
8 minAbdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms, risk factors, the rupture warning signs (sudden tearing pain, hypotension, pulsatile mass), why not to palpate deeply, surveillance vs repair, and post-op care.
Aortic Dissection Nursing Care
8 minA tear in the aortic wall with sudden tearing pain radiating to the back and a blood-pressure differential between arms, Stanford A vs B classification, and rapid rate and BP control (beta-blockers first).
Interactive Practice
Practice Tools
Labs, med math, vitals, and the fall and pressure-injury risk scores med-surg runs on.
Clinical References
Quick-access med-surg references for clinical practice.
Heart Failure Medications Reference
Heart failure medication classes for nurses — ACE inhibitors, ARBs, ARNIs, beta-blockers, loop diuretics, and aldosterone antagonists with mechanisms, examples, and key nursing considerations.
Insulin Pharmacokinetics Explained
Why insulin pharmacokinetics matter clinically — onset, peak, and duration explained with the rationale behind each insulin class, absorption factors, and nursing implications.
COPD Oxygen Therapy Reference
COPD oxygen therapy reference for nurses — SpO₂ 88–92% target, Venturi mask FiO₂ settings, nasal cannula flow rates, CO₂ narcosis recognition, and NPPV considerations.
Pneumonia Treatment Overview
Pneumonia treatment overview for nurses — antibiotics, oxygen support, hydration, pulmonary hygiene, and clinical monitoring priorities for community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia.
DKA vs HHS Quick Reference
Fast bedside recall of DKA vs HHS — the hallmark differences in glucose, ketones, pH, onset, and mental status, plus the monitoring priorities nurses own during treatment.
Neurovascular Assessment Reference
The 6 Ps in order of appearance, circulation-motion-sensation (CMS) checks by limb and nerve territory, when to assess, and the findings that demand immediate escalation.
Cast & Traction Care Reference
Cast drying and hot spots, what patients must never do, skin vs skeletal traction compared, the weights-hang-free rules, and pin-site care basics.
Osteoporosis Reference
Risk factors, T-score thresholds, fragility fracture red flags, bisphosphonate administration rules (empty stomach, upright 30 minutes), and fall-proofing education.
Gout Reference
Acute flare vs chronic management, colchicine and NSAID notes, why allopurinol never starts mid-flare, the purine food list, and adherence teaching.
Types of Immunity Reference
Innate vs adaptive immunity, and the four boxes of acquired immunity — active vs passive, natural vs artificial — with vaccine and immunoglobulin examples and the logic behind them.
Viral Hepatitis Reference (A–E)
Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E compared by transmission, acute vs chronic course, and vaccine availability — with the precautions and teaching that follow each route of spread.
Peripheral Vascular Assessment Reference
Pulse sites and grading, capillary refill, the 6 P's of arterial compromise, the ankle-brachial index, and the arterial vs venous skin findings that distinguish the two.
Post-TURP & Continuous Bladder Irrigation Reference
CBI setup, titrating to urine color, the output-minus-irrigant calculation, recognizing clot obstruction and hemorrhage, catheter traction, and bladder spasms.
Paracentesis Nursing Care Reference
Before/during/after responsibilities, voiding before the procedure, positioning, the post-tap hypotension risk of large-volume taps, albumin replacement, and complications.
Hearing Assessment Reference
The whisper test, Weber and Rinne tuning-fork tests with an interpretation table, behavioral signs of hearing loss, the ototoxic medication list, and communication techniques that work.
Vertigo Assessment & Safety Reference
The timing-trigger-duration framework that sorts BPPV, Ménière's, and vestibular neuritis, the Dix-Hallpike and Epley maneuvers, attack-care checklist, fall precautions, and central red flags.
Skin Lesion Terminology Reference
Primary lesions (macule, papule, nodule, plaque, vesicle, bulla, pustule, wheal) vs secondary lesions (scale, crust, erosion, ulcer, fissure, lichenification, scar), plus configuration and distribution terms for accurate documentation.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome & TEN Reference
The drug-reaction emergency — the SJS/TEN spectrum by body-surface-area sloughing, culprit drugs, the positive Nikolsky sign, mucosal involvement, burn-unit-style care, and the stop-the-drug priority.
Topical Dermatologic Medications Reference
Reference on topical dermatologic medications — corticosteroid potency classes, fingertip-unit dosing, vehicles, calcineurin inhibitors, vitamin D analogs, antifungals, and safety teaching to prevent skin atrophy.
Skin Cancer Screening & ABCDE Reference
The ABCDE melanoma rule, the ugly-duckling sign, how to teach a monthly skin self-exam, the high-risk who-to-screen list, biopsy types (excisional for suspected melanoma), and the sun-protection counseling that prevents most skin cancer.
Blood Pressure Measurement Reference
Correct cuff size and positioning, the common errors that falsely raise or lower readings, orthostatic (postural) vital signs, and white-coat vs masked hypertension and ambulatory monitoring.
Secondary Hypertension Reference
Reference on the identifiable, sometimes-curable causes of secondary hypertension — renal artery stenosis, primary hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, Cushing's, OSA, and coarctation — and when to suspect them.
Aortic Emergencies Reference
The Stanford (A/B) and DeBakey (I/II/III) classification of aortic dissection, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening and repair-size thresholds, and the endovascular (EVAR/TEVAR) vs open repair options at a glance.
Hypertensive Crisis Medications Reference
Reference on IV antihypertensives for hypertensive emergency — nicardipine, clevidipine, labetalol, esmolol, nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, and hydralazine — with nursing cautions and the controlled BP-lowering target.
Quick Charts
Med-surg comparison charts and clinical assessment tools.
Heart Failure Comparison Chart
Left-sided vs right-sided heart failure compared — symptoms, assessment findings, complications, and nursing priorities for rapid differentiation and care planning.
Insulin Clinical Decision Chart
Insulin clinical decision chart — advantages, disadvantages, typical use cases, dosing flexibility, and hypoglycemia risk by insulin type, including basal-bolus therapy concepts.
DKA vs HHS Comparison Chart
DKA vs HHS side-by-side comparison — glucose, ketones, pH, HCO₃, osmolality, mental status, onset, and treatment priorities for rapid differentiation of both diabetic emergencies.
COPD vs Asthma Comparison Chart
COPD vs asthma compared side by side — pathophysiology, airflow reversibility, triggers, assessment findings, ABG patterns, oxygen targets, and treatment approaches.
Pneumonia Assessment Findings Chart
Pneumonia assessment findings reference — crackles, bronchial breath sounds, egophony, fever, productive cough, tachypnea, and hypoxemia indicators with mechanisms and clinical significance.
Fracture Type Comparison
Closed, open, comminuted, greenstick, spiral, transverse, oblique, compression, stress, and pathologic fractures — pattern, mechanism, and nursing implications side by side.
Osteoarthritis vs Rheumatoid Arthritis Comparison
OA vs RA side by side — pathophysiology, joint pattern, morning stiffness duration, systemic signs, labs, hand findings, and where gout fits as the third arthritis.
Assistive Device Comparison
Canes, walkers, and crutches — COAL cane rule, walker sequencing, all five crutch gaits, stair navigation (up with the good, down with the bad), and fitting checks.
Orthopedic Complication Comparison
Compartment syndrome, fat embolism, pulmonary embolism, osteomyelitis, and avascular necrosis — onset windows, hallmark findings, and first nursing actions side by side.
Hypersensitivity Reaction Types Chart
The four hypersensitivity types (I-IV) compared — mechanism, timing, and classic examples (anaphylaxis, transfusion reaction, lupus, PPD/contact dermatitis), plus the ACID mnemonic.
CD4 Count & Opportunistic Infections Chart
How HIV opportunistic infections track with the CD4 count — thresholds for PCP, toxoplasmosis, MAC, and CMV, with prophylaxis cues and the AIDS-defining 200 line.
Glaucoma vs Cataracts Comparison
Glaucoma vs cataracts side by side — pathophysiology, vision loss pattern, pain, reversibility, treatment, and the open-angle vs acute angle-closure emergency distinction.
Arterial vs Venous Insufficiency Chart
Core problem, pain pattern, pulses, skin, edema, ulcer features, and positioning compared side by side — with the positioning rule that flips between arterial and venous disease.
Arterial vs Venous Ulcers Chart
Location, appearance, pain, surrounding skin, drainage, and care for arterial vs venous leg ulcers — including why compression is right for venous and dangerous for arterial ulcers.
Cirrhosis Complications Chart
Varices, ascites, SBP, hepatic encephalopathy, coagulopathy, jaundice, and hepatorenal syndrome traced to their root cause (portal hypertension or lost liver function), with nursing responses.
BPH Medications Comparison Chart
Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin) vs 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (finasteride) by mechanism, onset, effect on PSA and gland size, key side effects, and nursing teaching.
VTE Prophylaxis Comparison Chart
Early ambulation, SCDs, compression stockings, and pharmacologic prophylaxis (LMWH, heparin, DOACs) by how they work, who gets them, and contraindications.
Conductive vs Sensorineural Hearing Loss Chart
Where the problem is, common causes, Weber and Rinne results, how speech sounds to the patient, treatment options, and nursing care for the two hearing losses.
Vertigo Causes Comparison Chart
BPPV, Ménière's disease, and vestibular neuritis/labyrinthitis by mechanism, duration, triggers, hearing involvement, treatment, and teaching — plus the central red flags.
Skin Infection Types Comparison Chart
Bacterial vs viral vs fungal skin infections — cellulitis, erysipelas, impetigo, MRSA; herpes simplex/zoster, warts; tinea and candidiasis: hallmark look, cause, treatment, and precautions side by side.
Psoriasis vs Eczema Chart
Lesion appearance, distribution (extensor vs flexural), itch, hallmark signs (Auspitz/Koebner vs lichenification), triggers, associations, and treatment — the two chronic inflammatory skin diseases side by side.
Skin Cancer Comparison Chart
Basal cell vs squamous cell vs melanoma — frequency, typical appearance, common location, growth and metastatic risk, key risk factors, and treatment, the three main skin cancers side by side.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome vs TEN Chart
SJS vs toxic epidermal necrolysis — body-surface-area skin detachment, severity and mortality, shared features (drug trigger, Nikolsky sign, mucosal involvement), and management, the same drug-reaction emergency at two scales.
Blood Pressure Classification Chart
The AHA/ACC blood-pressure categories — normal, elevated, stage 1, stage 2, and hypertensive crisis — with the systolic/diastolic thresholds and the general action for each.
Hypertensive Emergency vs Urgency Chart
The defining difference (acute target-organ damage), the setting, the route and speed of blood-pressure lowering, and the typical agents for hypertensive emergency vs urgency, side by side.
Aortic Aneurysm vs Dissection Chart
The pathology, the hallmark presentation, the key sign, the major danger, and the management priority for aortic aneurysm vs aortic dissection, side by side.
Hypertension Target Organ Damage Chart
How chronic hypertension damages the body, organ by organ — heart, brain, kidneys, eyes, and vessels — with the injury and the assessment clue for each.
Suggested Learning Path
Study high-yield med-surg topics in this recommended order.
Related Specialties
Expand your med-surg knowledge with these related specialty areas.