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 includes a cortisol level. What critical assessment question must the collector ask?
Answer: What time did the patient wake up this morning?
Cortisol follows a diurnal rhythm with peak levels in the morning; collection time relative to waking must be documented for accurate interpretation.
When assessing a geriatric patient, the collector should anticipate that veins may be:
Answer: Fragile, rolling, and prone to collapse with standard technique
Aging causes loss of vein wall elasticity, increased fragility, and reduced subcutaneous support, making veins prone to rolling and collapsing under pressure.
A patient reports they had a seizure 30 minutes before arriving at the lab. What assessment concern is MOST relevant to specimen collection?
Answer: Serum potassium and creatine kinase may be transiently elevated from muscle activity
Muscle contractions during a seizure release potassium and creatine kinase into the bloodstream, causing transient elevations that can affect result interpretation.
A patient arrives for a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) test. What is the MOST important assessment question?
Answer: When did you last take the medication being monitored?
TDM specimens must be collected at a specific time relative to the last dose (peak or trough) to ensure the result is clinically meaningful.
During patient assessment before an arterial blood gas (ABG) collection, the collector performs an Allen test. What is being evaluated?
Answer: Adequacy of collateral ulnar circulation to the hand
The Allen test confirms adequate ulnar artery blood flow to the hand before radial artery puncture, ensuring hand perfusion if the radial artery is damaged.
A patient's chart shows they have thrombocytopenia. What should the collector plan for in post-collection care?
Answer: Extended pressure application and close monitoring for continued bleeding
Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) impairs primary hemostasis, requiring prolonged direct pressure and monitoring to prevent excessive blood loss.
When assessing a patient for capillary blood collection, which site is contraindicated for an adult fingerstick?
Answer: The fingertip pad at the very center
The central fingertip pad is avoided because it is close to the bone, lacks sufficient tissue depth, and is more painful due to a high concentration of nerve endings.