Patient Care & Clinical Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real LPN 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 Care & Clinical Skills flashcards as text
An LPN is caring for a patient with a chest tube. The water-seal chamber shows continuous bubbling. What does this indicate?
Answer: An air leak in the system
Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber (not the suction control chamber) indicates an air leak in the chest tube system.
A patient with a hip replacement surgery asks to put on their own shoes. Which postoperative precaution is the LPN reinforcing?
Answer: Avoid hip flexion greater than 90 degrees
Hip replacement precautions include avoiding hip flexion greater than 90 degrees to prevent dislocation of the prosthesis.
When applying a warm compress to a wound, the LPN should check the skin every:
Answer: 15–20 minutes
Skin under a warm compress should be assessed every 15–20 minutes to detect signs of burns, excessive redness, or tissue damage.
A patient receiving IV potassium chloride reports burning at the IV site. What is the LPN's priority action?
Answer: Discontinue the infusion and relocate the IV
Burning at the IV site indicates potential infiltration or phlebitis; the infusion must be stopped and a new IV site established before restarting potassium.
The LPN is preparing to ambulate a patient for the first time after surgery. What is the correct sequence of steps?
Answer: Dangle at bedside → assist to standing → ambulate → return to bed
Dangling at the bedside before standing allows the patient to adjust to position changes and prevents orthostatic hypotension.
An LPN is providing wound care to a stage 2 pressure injury. Which dressing type is most appropriate?
Answer: Transparent film or hydrocolloid dressing
Transparent film or hydrocolloid dressings maintain a moist wound environment, promote healing, and protect stage 2 pressure injuries.
A patient receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) through a central line has blood glucose of 320 mg/dL. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Hyperglycemia from the high dextrose concentration in TPN
TPN contains high concentrations of dextrose that commonly cause hyperglycemia, requiring regular blood glucose monitoring and insulin management.