BS-Nursing General Flashcards
7 cards from real BSN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 BS-Nursing General flashcards as text
A nurse is reviewing a patient's medication list and notes that warfarin and aspirin are both prescribed. What is the priority concern?
Answer: Significantly increased risk of bleeding
Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation while warfarin inhibits clotting factors; together they substantially raise bleeding risk.
A patient is admitted with suspected meningitis. Which intervention should be completed first?
Answer: Complete blood culture specimens before starting antibiotics
Blood cultures must be drawn before antibiotic administration to maximize the chance of identifying the causative organism.
A patient who had a thyroidectomy 12 hours ago reports tingling around the mouth and muscle cramps in the hands. The nurse should assess for which complication?
Answer: Hypocalcemia due to parathyroid damage
Parathyroid glands may be inadvertently removed or damaged during thyroidectomy, leading to hypocalcemia with tetany symptoms.
When using a PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) pump, which action by the patient's family member requires immediate nurse intervention?
Answer: Pressing the PCA button while the patient is sleeping
Only the patient should activate the PCA; proxy dosing by a family member bypasses the safety mechanism and can cause respiratory depression.
A patient with a urinary tract infection is prescribed trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). Which allergy history is a contraindication to this medication?
Answer: Sulfa drug allergy
TMP-SMX contains a sulfonamide component; a documented sulfa allergy is a contraindication due to the risk of severe hypersensitivity reactions.
Which assessment finding indicates a complication of a plaster (non-fiberglass) cast requiring immediate notification of the provider?
Answer: Pallor, pulselessness, and pain distal to the cast
Pallor, pulselessness, and pain are signs of acute compartment syndrome or neurovascular compromise, a surgical emergency.
A nurse is performing a focused assessment on a patient with appendicitis. Which finding is consistent with Rovsing's sign?
Answer: Right lower quadrant pain elicited by palpating the left lower quadrant
Rovsing's sign is RLQ pain produced by palpation of the LLQ, suggesting peritoneal irritation from an inflamed appendix.