Patient Safety Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real CNS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Safety Protocols flashcards as text
A patient with an acute ischemic stroke has not yet passed a bedside swallow screen. Which action is most appropriate?
Answer: Keep the patient NPO until the screen is passed
Stroke patients stay NPO, including oral meds, until a validated dysphagia screen is passed, which lowers aspiration pneumonia risk.
Which seizure precaution is NOT recommended in current practice?
Answer: Placing a tongue blade in the patient's mouth during a seizure
Putting anything in the mouth during a seizure can cause dental, oral, or airway injury and is contraindicated.
After IV alteplase for stroke, which blood pressure limit must be kept for the first 24 hours?
Answer: Below 180/105 mmHg
AHA/ASA guidelines call for BP below 180/105 mmHg for 24 hours after thrombolysis to reduce hemorrhage risk.
A patient receiving alteplase suddenly develops a severe headache and vomiting. What is the first action?
Answer: Stop the infusion and notify the provider for an emergent head CT
New headache, vomiting, or neuro decline during thrombolysis suggests intracranial hemorrhage, so stop the infusion and get imaging right away.
Which intervention best prevents venous thromboembolism in an immobile patient with acute intracerebral hemorrhage?
Answer: Intermittent pneumatic compression starting on the day of admission
Guidelines recommend intermittent pneumatic compression from admission for ICH, while graduated stockings alone are not effective.
Which situation calls for a two-person check before giving a medication on a neuro unit?
Answer: An IV insulin or heparin infusion rate change
Insulin and heparin are high-alert medications, and independent double-checks reduce errors that could cause serious harm.
A confused patient with a TBI keeps pulling at their IV line. What is the best first intervention?
Answer: Try less restrictive measures such as covering the line, reorienting, and having a sitter
Restraints are a last resort under CMS and Joint Commission standards, so less restrictive alternatives must be tried and documented first.
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Sources & references
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- neurospecialist.org — Eligibility, exam dates, fees, passing score, retake policy, score validity · verified Oct 2026