LPN Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield LPN facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A nurse is teaching a patient how to store an opened vial of regular insulin. Which instruction is correct? → Keep it at room temperature for up to 28–30 days
2. A patient cannot swallow oral medications due to dysphagia. Which alternative route is most appropriate for analgesic delivery? → Rectal suppository or IV route per order
3. A patient receiving IV potassium chloride develops pain and redness at the IV site. What is the priority nursing action? → Discontinue the IV and notify the physician
4. Before administering a bolus enteral feeding via a nasogastric (NG) tube, what is the LPN's priority action? → Check for gastric residual volume.
5. A patient receiving heparin therapy has an aPTT result of 120 seconds (normal: 25–35 sec, therapeutic range: 60–100 sec). The LPN should: → Notify the provider immediately, as the level is supratherapeutic
6. Which Braden Scale subscale specifically evaluates the patient's ability to change and control body position? → Mobility
7. When should gloves be changed during patient care? → When moving from a contaminated body site to a clean site on the same patient
8. Which non-pharmacological intervention is most appropriate for a patient experiencing mild musculoskeletal pain? → Applying a warm compress to the affected area
9. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen therapy. Which oxygen flow rate is safest to initiate? → 1-2 L/min via nasal cannula
10. A patient taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for seizures should be taught to report which finding to the provider? → Gingival hyperplasia (gum overgrowth)
11. The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale is primarily designed for which patient population? → Children and patients who have difficulty with numeric scales
12. Which of the following best describes how doctors listen for bowel sounds? → Auscultation
13. What is 'cohorting' in the context of transmission-based precautions? → Grouping patients infected with the same organism together in a shared room
14. A patient with type 1 diabetes develops nausea, vomiting, and inability to eat. Which sick-day rule should the nurse reinforce? → Continue taking basal insulin and check blood glucose every 2–4 hours
15. A patient's serum ammonia level is significantly elevated. Which condition does the LPN associate this with? → Hepatic encephalopathy
16. A nurse is assessing insulin injection sites on a patient who always injects in the same spot. What complication should the nurse look for? → Lipohypertrophy—a lumpy, fatty buildup that impairs insulin absorption
17. A patient on contact precautions requires a blood pressure measurement. What should the nurse do with the blood pressure cuff? → Dedicate a blood pressure cuff for use in that patient's room only
18. An LPN is reviewing the morning labs for a patient and notes a serum potassium level of 6.1 mEq/L. What is the LPN's priority action? → Immediately notify the RN or healthcare provider
19. Which statement by a patient indicates understanding of taking oral iron supplements correctly? → 'I should take my iron pill with orange juice on an empty stomach.'
20. Which electrolyte imbalance most increases a patient's risk for digoxin toxicity? → Hypokalemia
21. A patient has a serum sodium of 128 mEq/L. Which symptom would the LPN expect? → Headache, confusion, and nausea
22. A patient develops diarrhea 24 hours after starting enteral feedings. Which intervention should the LPN implement first? → Assess for infection, medications, and formula concentration as causes
23. When initiating continuous enteral feedings, the LPN should start at what rate and advance how? → Low rate (10–20 mL/hr) and increase gradually as tolerated per orders
24. A patient taking NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) long-term should be monitored for which complication? → Gastrointestinal bleeding and renal impairment
25. What is women's studies? → Gynecology
26. A patient's INR is 4.8 while on warfarin therapy. What is the priority nursing action? → Hold the next warfarin dose and notify the provider
27. When performing oral suctioning on an unconscious patient, the LPN should position the patient in which way? → Semi-Fowler's with head turned to one side
28. A UAP is asked to perform oral care on an unconscious patient. What must the LPN verify first? → That the UAP is trained in aspiration precautions for unconscious patients
29. While performing wound care, the LPN notes the wound base is covered with black, leathery tissue. This tissue is best described as: → Eschar
30. A nurse is evaluating a client's understanding about the risk for cancer. Which of the following client statements indicates the need for further teaching? → I used to smoke but switched to chewing tobacco 3 years ago