Licensed Practical Nurse-RN 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 Licensed Practical Nurse-RN flashcards as text
An LPN is caring for a patient with a nasogastric tube for enteral feeding. Before administering the feeding, the nurse should first:
Answer: Verify tube placement by checking gastric aspirate pH
Checking gastric aspirate pH (less than 5) confirms NG tube placement in the stomach before feeding.
A patient is prescribed potassium chloride 40 mEq IV. The LPN should:
Answer: Refuse to administer and notify the charge nurse
LPNs are not authorized to administer IV potassium chloride; this requires an RN due to the risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
Which finding in a patient receiving heparin therapy requires IMMEDIATE reporting to the RN?
Answer: New-onset petechiae and oozing from IV site
Petechiae and bleeding from IV sites indicate possible heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) or overdose requiring immediate intervention.
An LPN is performing a sterile dressing change. The nurse accidentally touches the sterile field with an ungloved hand. The correct action is to:
Answer: Discard the sterile field and start over with new supplies
Once a sterile field is contaminated, it must be discarded and a new sterile setup established to prevent infection.
A patient with Type 1 diabetes reports shakiness, diaphoresis, and confusion. The LPN checks the blood glucose and gets a reading of 48 mg/dL. The patient is conscious and able to swallow. The first intervention is:
Answer: Give 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates orally
The 15-15 rule: give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrates orally to a conscious hypoglycemic patient, then recheck glucose in 15 minutes.
When performing tracheostomy care, the LPN should change the tracheostomy ties when:
Answer: A second person is available to hold the tube in place
A second person must hold the tracheostomy tube securely during tie changes to prevent accidental decannulation.
An LPN is caring for a postoperative patient 4 hours after abdominal surgery. The patient's blood pressure drops from 118/76 to 88/54 mmHg and heart rate increases from 80 to 118 bpm. The LPN's priority action is to:
Answer: Notify the RN immediately and stay with the patient
Hypotension with compensatory tachycardia in a postoperative patient may indicate hemorrhage or shock, requiring immediate RN/provider notification.