Patient Care & Procedure Assistance Flashcards

Which assessment finding would be most concerning in a patient recovering from colonoscopy under moderate sedation?

Answer: Respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute

A respiratory rate of 8 is a sign of respiratory depression, a serious complication of opioid and benzodiazepine sedation.

A patient who is hard of hearing arrives for an endoscopy procedure. What accommodation should the technician prioritize?

Answer: Ensure a qualified interpreter or assistive device is available and confirm the patient's understanding of all instructions

Effective communication accommodations for patients with hearing impairment are legally and ethically required to ensure informed consent and patient safety.

During an upper endoscopy, the endoscopist requests a cold biopsy forceps to sample a gastric lesion. What does 'cold' mean in this context?

Answer: The forceps is used without electrocautery current

Cold biopsy refers to tissue sampling using mechanical force only, without applying electrocautery current through the forceps.

A patient with COPD is scheduled for a colonoscopy. Which monitoring consideration is most important during the procedure?

Answer: Using continuous capnography in addition to pulse oximetry

Patients with COPD are at higher risk for hypoventilation under sedation, making capnography essential for early detection of respiratory compromise.

What is the correct technique for administering topical pharyngeal anesthesia before upper endoscopy?

Answer: Apply lidocaine spray to the posterior oropharynx and ask the patient to gargle, then expectorate or swallow per protocol

Topical pharyngeal anesthesia is applied to the posterior throat and the patient garggles to coat the mucosa before swallowing or expectorating per facility protocol.

A patient discloses a shellfish allergy before a procedure requiring fluoroscopic contrast. What is the technician's responsibility?

Answer: Document the allergy and immediately notify the endoscopist and radiologist before contrast is used

Shellfish allergy may indicate iodine sensitivity; the endoscopist must be notified to assess risk and determine if premedication or contrast avoidance is needed.

Which intervention best reduces the risk of post-procedural aspiration in a patient recovering from upper endoscopy under sedation?

Answer: Keeping the patient NPO for 4 hours and positioning them with the head of the bed elevated

Elevating the head of bed and maintaining NPO status until protective reflexes return reduces aspiration risk during recovery from sedation after upper endoscopy.