Treatment Protocols & Procedures Flashcards
7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Treatment Protocols & Procedures flashcards as text
A patient presents with hyperkalemia at 6.8 mEq/L with peaked T-waves on ECG. Which immediate treatment stabilizes the cardiac membrane?
Answer: Calcium gluconate IV
Calcium gluconate IV immediately stabilizes cardiac membranes against hyperkalemia-induced arrhythmias, though it does not lower potassium levels.
Which specimen type is preferred for blood culture collection to minimize contamination?
Answer: Venipuncture from two different sites before antibiotic administration
Two sets from two separate venipuncture sites collected before antibiotics maximizes sensitivity and helps distinguish true bacteremia from skin contamination.
For a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which treatment is first-line?
Answer: Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis)
Plasma exchange is the definitive treatment for TTP, removing ADAMTS13 inhibitor antibodies and replenishing ADAMTS13 enzyme.
Which urinalysis finding most strongly indicates the need for urine culture and antibiotic therapy workup?
Answer: Positive leukocyte esterase and nitrites with pyuria
Positive leukocyte esterase (WBCs), positive nitrites (gram-negative bacteria), and pyuria together strongly suggest bacterial UTI requiring culture confirmation.
A neonate is diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia. At what bilirubin threshold is exchange transfusion typically initiated in full-term infants?
Answer: Greater than 20–25 mg/dL (per AAP thresholds)
The AAP recommends exchange transfusion when total serum bilirubin exceeds phototherapy thresholds, typically around 20–25 mg/dL in full-term infants depending on gestational age and risk factors.
Which protocol should be followed when a laboratory receives a specimen labeled only with a room number and no patient identifier?
Answer: Reject the specimen and notify the ordering provider
Two patient identifiers are required by laboratory safety standards; improperly labeled specimens must be rejected to prevent patient identification errors.
For CSF analysis in suspected bacterial meningitis, which laboratory result most urgently supports starting empiric antibiotic therapy?
Answer: WBC count of 2,000 cells/μL with 90% neutrophils and low glucose
Markedly elevated neutrophilic pleocytosis with hypoglycorrhachia is the hallmark of bacterial meningitis, requiring immediate empiric antibiotic treatment.