Licensed Practical Nurse Flashcards

A 5-year-old girl with a fever, chills, and trouble walking is taken to the emergency room by her grandmother. The nurse makes an effort to undress the infant but finds it difficult. The nurse also discovered bruising near the vaginal region after conducting a thorough examination. Which of the following should the nurse start with?

Answer: Inform the law enforcement for a possible child abuse

The nurse's immediate priority is the child's safety. Bruising near the vaginal region, difficulty undressing, and the child's age are strong indicators of potential child abuse, specifically sexual abuse. Nurses are mandated reporters and have a legal and ethical obligation to report suspected abuse to law enforcement or child protective services to ensure the child's protection.

A patient using hydrochlorothiazide is told to eat more potassium in her diet. The best treat for a patient who needs more potassium is:

Answer: Avocado

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that can cause potassium loss, leading to hypokalemia. Patients on this medication need to increase their dietary potassium intake. Avocados are an excellent source of potassium, containing significantly more per serving than apples, pears, or oranges, making them the best choice among the options to replenish potassium levels.

After the thyroid was removed, the patient is being treated by the nurse. Following surgery, the nurse should:

Answer: Maintain the client in a semi-Fowler’s position with the head and neck supported by pillows

After a thyroidectomy, maintaining a semi-Fowler's position with head and neck support is crucial. This position helps reduce swelling and tension on the incision site, promotes venous drainage, and facilitates respiratory effort. Supporting the head and neck with pillows prevents hyperextension or flexion, which could strain the surgical site and compromise airway patency.

A patient with persistent dyspepsia who was admitted to the hospital is found to have gastric cancer. Which of the following is linked to a higher incidence of stomach cancer?

Answer: Luncheon meats

Processed meats, such as luncheon meats, are linked to a higher incidence of stomach cancer. These foods often contain nitrates and nitrites, which can form carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in the stomach. A diet rich in these processed foods is considered a significant risk factor for gastric cancer.

After being accused of setting a fire, a patient is sent to the psychiatric ward for a forensic assessment. The antisocial personality disorder is his preliminary diagnosis. The nurse would anticipate discovering after looking through the client's file

Answer: A history of cruelty to animals

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive disregard for and violation of the rights of others, often with a history of conduct disorder in childhood. A history of cruelty to animals is a common and significant diagnostic criterion for conduct disorder, reflecting a lack of empathy and a precursor to adult antisocial behaviors.

A patient's primary care cannot be assumed by a registered vocational nurse:

Answer: With a venous access device

The scope of practice for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) generally does not include the initiation or management of complex intravenous therapies, especially those involving central venous access devices (CVADs). Managing a patient with a venous access device often requires advanced assessment, medication administration, and complication management skills that typically fall within the Registered Nurse (RN) scope of practice.

The doctor has prescribed Sulfamylon cream dressings for a patient who has full-thickness burns on his or her hands and arms. The following should come first for the nurse when changing dressings:

Answer: Administering pain medication

Changing dressings for full-thickness burns is an extremely painful procedure. The nurse's priority before starting the dressing change should be to administer adequate pain medication. This ensures patient comfort, reduces anxiety, and allows for better cooperation during the procedure, which is essential for effective wound care.

A normal blood sugar range is 80 to 180. False or true?

Answer: FALSE

A normal fasting blood sugar range is typically considered to be 70 to 99 mg/dL. A range of 80 to 180 mg/dL is too broad and includes levels that would be considered prediabetic or diabetic, especially the upper end. Therefore, the statement that 80 to 180 is a normal range is false.

What exactly are gonads?

Answer: Testis and Ovaries

Gonads are the primary reproductive organs responsible for producing gametes (sperm or eggs) and sex hormones. In males, the gonads are the testes, and in females, they are the ovaries. These organs are essential for sexual reproduction and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

During uterine contractions, moms create the hormone _________, which causes nursing mothers to expel milk.

Answer: Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland. During breastfeeding, suckling stimulates oxytocin release, which causes the myoepithelial cells in the mammary glands to contract, leading to the 'milk ejection reflex' or 'let-down.' It also plays a crucial role in uterine contractions during labor.

Vasopressin _____________ urine production.

Answer: Decreases

Vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a hormone that regulates the body's water balance. It acts on the kidneys to increase water reabsorption from the renal tubules back into the bloodstream. This action decreases the amount of water excreted in the urine, thereby decreasing urine production and concentrating the urine.

Due to the maturity of ________________, WBCs in children aid in the battle against infection.

Answer: Thymosin

Thymosin is a hormone produced by the thymus gland, which is crucial for the development and maturation of T-lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) during childhood. These T-cells are vital components of the adaptive immune system, helping the body fight off infections and providing immunity.

Which glands control hormone levels by negative feedback?

Answer: Both A and C

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland work together as the main control centers for the endocrine system, regulating hormone levels through negative feedback loops. The hypothalamus controls the pituitary, which in turn regulates other endocrine glands, ensuring hormone levels are maintained within a narrow physiological range for proper body function.

The inappropriate rise in growth hormones is the cause of ____________ and __________.

Answer: Gigantism

An inappropriate rise in growth hormone (GH) during childhood, before the epiphyseal plates have fused, leads to gigantism. This condition is characterized by excessive growth in height and overall body size. Dwarfism, conversely, is caused by a deficiency in growth hormone.

For the thyroid hormone to work effectively, ____________ is required.

Answer: Iodine

Iodine is an essential trace element crucial for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, specifically thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid gland actively takes up iodine from the bloodstream to produce these hormones, which are vital for regulating metabolism, growth, and development. Without sufficient iodine, the thyroid cannot function effectively.

Your body's ______________ levels are controlled by the parathyroid.

Answer: Calcium

The parathyroid glands primarily regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the blood. They secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH), which increases blood calcium by stimulating its release from bones, increasing absorption in the intestines, and promoting reabsorption in the kidneys, thereby maintaining calcium homeostasis.