Clinical Nursing Skills and Techniques (2024)

In this review, I will demonstrate how to insert an indwelling Foley catheter in a male patient. First, confirm that you have an order for the procedure, then verify the patient rights to ensure you have the correct patient and are performing the right procedure. Next, educate the patient about what will happen and answer […]

Here are some of the most common mistakes nurses make when starting IVs. The first mistake is failing to anchor the vein. Anytime you start an IV or even draw blood, you should anchor the vein. The reason is that when you apply pressure with the needle, if the vein is not secured, it can […]

In this review, I’m going to show you how to solve dosage calculations using the ratio and proportion method. In my dosage calculations videos, I have used various methods like dimensional analysis and the desired over have formula method, but today we’re going to concentrate on the ratio and proportion method. With this method, you’re […]

To demonstrate the placement of a five-lead ECG, you will need the following supplies: five electrodes, alcohol prep pads, abrasive tape, and some hair trimmers if there is excessive hair. It is important to ensure that your patient is positioned properly; the best position is supine, meaning they should lie flat on their back. However, […]

If you want to check your blood sugar at home, this quick tutorial will demonstrate the key steps involved. Before you begin, it’s important to always read and follow the glucometer’s instructions and/or your healthcare facility’s protocols. Each meter is different in the steps required to perform the procedure, including collecting the sample, using the […]

Tonsil stones, also called tonsiloliths, are compacted stone-like masses that can form in the crypts and crevices of the tonsils. If you have large tonsils, you’ll probably have large crypts, too, which can harbor bacteria, food, and other substances that may eventually form into a tonsil stone. Tonsil stones are quite common, but they sometimes […]

Before removing a Foley catheter, it is crucial to explain to the patient the steps involved in the process and reassure them that it is a simple procedure compared to the Foley catheter insertion. After confirming the doctor’s order for removal and ensuring the patient’s rights, gather all necessary supplies, including: Before Catheter Removal: Perform […]

Patient positioning quiz for nursing student preparing for the next generation NCLEX (NGN). It’s important to be familiar with various patient positioning techniques and the problems can that arise from these positions. In this quiz, you will have to identify the patient positions, what they are used for, and complications from these positions. Don’t forget […]

This article will review how to perform peri-care (perineal care) on a female patient with a Foley catheter. For a complete demonstration on this nursing procedure, you can watch the video below: Perineal and catheter care are an important part of patient care. This helps maintain the patient’s personal hygiene and decreases the risk of […]

Foley catheters help patients drain urine, and as a nurse, this is a common skill you may perform. However, Foley catheters are a pretty big deal. If you don’t keep things sterile and insert properly, you can cause infection or damage to the patients genitals or urinary tract area. This video covers some common mistakes […]

When inserting an indwelling Foley catheter in a patient, there are several steps you must follow to maintain a sterile field. In this article (and video), I’ll give you some quick tips on setting up your Foley catheter kit, and detail the supplies that are often included in popular kits that are used by many […]

After inserting an indwelling Foley catheter in a patient, you’ll want to secure the catheter tubing to help prevent unnecessary movement or tension. One popular device used to do this is the StatLock stabilization device. This device is often included in popular Foley catheter kits, such as Bard’s SureStep Foley Tray System, and they make […]

One of the most important things you can do before starting an IV or drawing blood (venipuncture) is to properly anchor the vein you are about to stick. Anchoring the vein will help prevent it from moving (or rolling) as you attempt to penetrate it with the needle, and in the article and video, I’m […]

Many people talk about body fat percentage, but how you do actually measure body fat percentage? In this article and video, I’m going to demonstrate how to measure body fat percentage on an adult male by using skinfold calipers to measure the skinfold thickness at various sites of the body. The skinfold thickness measurement is […]

The capillary refill test, also called capillary refill time (CRT) or nail blanch test, is a technique that nurses use to assess for peripheral perfusion or dehydration in patients. How is the Capillary Refill Test Performed? Nurses typically perform the capillary refill test by pressing on the nail plate or the pad of a digit […]

Learn how to take a manual blood pressure! As a nurse or healthcare professional, it is essential that you know how to take a manual blood pressure, and many nursing students must pass a blood pressure measurement skills check-off in nursing school. The manual blood pressure reading is obtained with a sphygmomanometer (aneroid manometer gauge […]

Oral liquid medication administration is one medication route that nurses use when administering medications to patients. In addition, nursing schools may require nursing students to perform a skills check-off on this technique. While you should always verify the specific protocols for your facility or nursing school before administering medications, these general tips can help you […]

The buccal route is a medication route that nurses can use to administer certain medications. Although this is not used as commonly as other medication routes, there are a few things to consider when giving a medication via the buccal route. What is the Buccal Route? What is the buccal route? The word buccal (pronounced […]

This review will cover how to read a medication label. As a nurse, it is very important you are familiar with how to read a medication label. The drug label contains helpful information that will guide you with safely administering a medication to a patient. In this review you will learn: What information is included […]

How to read a medication label quiz for nursing students! It is very important a nurse knows how to read a medication label. Many times the drug label details the brand and generic name, dosage strength, volume amount, expiration date, route of administration, and contains important medication instructions. One of the reasons a nurse needs […]

What is Chvostek’s Sign? Chvostek’s sign is a specific type of facial muscle twitching that occurs when cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve) is manually stimulated by tapping the finger over the masseter muscle of the jaw. A positive sign demonstrates hyper-excitability of the facial nerve. This is not to be confused with Trousseau’s sign […]

Trousseau’s sign of latent tetany is a clinical sign that nurses and other healthcare professionals use to assess whether a patient has an electrolyte imbalance known as hypocalcemia, though this sign can present during hypomagnesemia as well. You’ll likely hear Trousseau’s sign mentioned in nursing school or medical school, especially when studying fluid and electrolytes. […]

This practice quiz will test your knowledge on the 24-hour clock vs. the 12-hour clock. Most nurses use the 24-hour clock (military time) when documenting rather than the 12-hour AM and PM clock. The reason for this is to prevent confusion and potentially errors from occurring. (NOTE: When you hit submit, it will refresh this […]

Missing a vein when trying to start an I.V. (or drawing blood) can be a very frustrating and embarrassing experience for nurses, phlebotomists, and other healthcare professionals. It can also be a painful and frustrating experience for the patient, too. Nevertheless, missing veins is an unfortunate reality that all nurses and healthcare professionals face, even […]

This review will cover the SBAR communication acronym that is used in nursing for various forms of communication. Review objectives are the following: What is the SBAR and how is it used? Detailed description on each section of the SBAR SBAR Example for Nurse-to-Physician Communication SBAR Nursing Communication What is SBAR? It’s a communication method […]

This review will cover how to discontinue a peripheral IV. Peripheral IVs are inserted in patients to help administer medications, blood products, and fluids. They are really an essential device used in the hospitalized patient. Peripheral IVs are removed or discontinued when they need to be changed (about every 3 days, depending on the hospital’s […]

Rights of Medication Administration review for nursing students! The purpose of the Rights of Medication Administration is to prevent medication errors. The nurse is the last safety net in medication administration, and we must always double or even triple check everything. As a nurse, I’ve caught many medication errors by using the Rights of Medication […]

Learn how to prevent vial coring when piercing a rubber stopper of a vial with a needle. What is vial coring and does it present a problem for the patient? Vial coring can occur when a needle is used to pierce a vial’s rubber stopper. Coring occurs when parts of the rubber stopper enter the […]

Recapping a needle is extremely dangerous, and healthcare workers such as nurses should avoid recapping. Instead, needles should be disposed of in an appropriate sharps container, and healthcare workers should use needle safety devices when handling or disposing of sharps per their healthcare facility’s protocols. Some of the risks of a needle-stick injury include pain […]

As a nurse you can play an important role in teaching a parent about car seat safety. This education actually starts at birth before the baby goes home in its first car ride from the hospital. This lecture will concentrate on the main concepts you need to know as a nurse and for exams. Don’t […]