Mixed Deck — All LVN Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All LVN Topics flashcards as text
The term 'respondeat superior' in nursing law means:
Answer: Employers can be held liable for the negligent acts of their employees
Respondeat superior is the legal doctrine holding employers vicariously liable for employees' negligent acts performed within the scope of employment.
Which of the following is an example of an intentional tort in nursing?
Answer: Restraining a patient without consent or legal authority
False imprisonment is an intentional tort; applying restraints without consent or proper legal justification constitutes this violation.
A patient is pacing aggressively, clenching fists, and yelling. Which de-escalation technique should the LVN use FIRST?
Answer: Speak in a calm, low voice and give the patient personal space.
Verbal de-escalation with a calm tone and non-threatening stance is the first-line intervention before any physical or chemical measures.
A nurse is caring for an infant with pyloric stenosis post-pyloromyotomy. Which feeding approach is appropriate?
Answer: Gradual introduction of small, frequent feedings starting with clear liquids or formula
After pyloromyotomy, feedings are reintroduced gradually, starting with small, frequent amounts of clear liquids then advancing to formula/breast milk.
How is medication dosing different for pediatric patients?
Answer: Doses are calculated based on weight (mg/kg) or body surface area, not adult fixed doses
Weight-based dosing accounts for the wide variation in body size among pediatric patients.
Which client situation requires droplet precautions?
Answer: A client with influenza
Influenza is transmitted via respiratory droplets and requires droplet precautions including a surgical mask.
Which cleaning agent is most effective against Clostridioides difficile spores on environmental surfaces?
Answer: Dilute bleach solution
C. difficile spores are resistant to many disinfectants; EPA-registered hypochlorite (bleach) solutions are recommended.
What is the difference between subjective and objective data?
Answer: Subjective is what the patient reports; objective is what can be measured or observed
Subjective data comes from the patient (symptoms, feelings); objective data is measurable (vital signs, lab results, physical exam findings).
An LVN is reviewing medications for an 80-year-old patient. Which drug is on the Beers Criteria as potentially inappropriate for older adults?
Answer: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Diphenhydramine is listed on the Beers Criteria because its strong anticholinergic effects increase confusion and fall risk in elderly patients.
Which type of wound exudate suggests a high bacterial bioburden and potential infection?
Answer: Purulent — thick, opaque, green or yellow
Purulent exudate (thick, yellow, green, or tan) indicates the presence of white blood cells and bacteria, signaling infection.
Which age-related change most significantly slows drug elimination in older adults?
Answer: Reduced renal function
Reduced renal function (decreased GFR) is the primary reason drugs are eliminated more slowly in elderly patients, raising toxicity risk.
A nurse notices an elderly patient is acutely confused, agitated, and disoriented after surgery — different from their baseline. This presentation is most consistent with:
Answer: Delirium
Delirium is characterized by acute onset, fluctuating consciousness, and inattention — it is reversible and distinct from dementia.
An elderly patient is on multiple medications. Which term describes the use of five or more medications simultaneously, common in older adults?
Answer: Polypharmacy
Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent use of five or more medications and increases the risk of adverse drug reactions in elderly patients.
When administering medications to an older adult with dysphagia, which action is most appropriate?
Answer: Consult the pharmacist for liquid alternatives or crushable medications
The pharmacist should be consulted to identify safe alternatives, as not all medications are safe to crush or dissolve.
An 85-year-old patient has a stage 2 pressure injury on the coccyx. Which wound description matches stage 2?
Answer: Partial-thickness skin loss with a shallow open wound
Stage 2 pressure injuries involve partial-thickness skin loss presenting as a shallow open wound or intact or ruptured blister.
The LVN made a documentation error in a paper chart. What is the correct way to correct it?
Answer: Draw a single line through the error, write 'error,' initial, and date it
The correct method is a single line through the error with 'error,' the nurse's initials, and date — never obliterate original entries.
A terminally ill patient tells the nurse, 'If God lets me live long enough to see my daughter graduate, I promise I'll volunteer at the hospital every week.' The nurse recognizes this as which stage of Kübler-Ross grief?
Answer: Bargaining
Bargaining is the stage in which patients make deals or promises — often with a higher power — in hopes of postponing death or loss. The patient is offering a future action in exchange for more time, which is the hallmark of this stage.
What is informed consent and the LVN's role?
Answer: The LVN ensures consent is documented but cannot obtain informed consent — that is the provider's responsibility
While LVNs may witness signatures and verify documentation, explaining procedures and obtaining informed consent is the provider's responsibility.
What is contact isolation?
Answer: Precautions for patients with infections spread by direct or indirect contact, requiring gown and gloves
Contact precautions include gown and gloves for all patient contact, plus dedicated equipment.
The nurse is assessing a 3-month-old infant. Which finding would be considered a normal developmental milestone?
Answer: Holding head steady when upright
Head control with steady head when held upright is a normal milestone achieved around 3–4 months of age.