Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation Flashcards
7 cards from real CSC 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 Assessment & Clinical Evaluation flashcards as text
A patient's requisition indicates they are receiving IV fluids in their left arm. Which site should the collector choose?
Answer: The right arm, away from the IV
IV fluids dilute blood constituents in that arm; the contralateral arm must be used to ensure accurate, undiluted specimen results.
During pre-collection assessment, a patient mentions they have had a mastectomy on the right side. What does this mean for specimen collection?
Answer: Right arm should be avoided; collect from the left arm
Lymph node removal during mastectomy impairs lymphatic drainage, making the ipsilateral arm susceptible to infection and lymphedema from venipuncture.
A patient states they have a dialysis fistula in their left arm. The collector should:
Answer: Avoid the fistula arm entirely and collect from the right arm
Arteriovenous fistulas used for dialysis must never be punctured for routine blood collection due to risk of infection, hematoma, and fistula damage.
Which patient history finding requires the collector to apply pressure for a longer-than-normal time after venipuncture?
Answer: Patient is taking heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin
Heparin and its derivatives are anticoagulants that prolong clotting time, requiring extended pressure at the puncture site to achieve hemostasis.
Before collecting a blood culture specimen, the collector's assessment should include confirming that the patient:
Answer: Has not received antibiotics in the last 24 hours if possible
Antibiotic therapy can suppress bacterial growth in culture media, ideally specimens should be collected before antibiotics are administered.
A patient reports dizziness and feeling faint halfway through a multi-tube collection. What is the FIRST action?
Answer: Remove the needle immediately and have the patient lower their head
Signs of syncope require immediate needle removal to prevent injury, followed by lowering the patient's head to restore cerebral blood flow.
When assessing venous access in an obese patient, the collector should:
Answer: Palpate carefully to locate a vein by feel rather than relying on visual inspection
In obese patients, subcutaneous fat may obscure veins visually, but thorough palpation can identify accessible veins by their resilient, bouncy texture.