Patient Care & Clinical Procedures Flashcards
7 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 7 Patient Care & Clinical Procedures flashcards as text
A nurse is applying sequential compression devices (SCDs) to a postoperative patient. Which assessment finding is a contraindication for SCD use?
Answer: Patient has a deep vein thrombosis in the left leg
SCDs are contraindicated in confirmed DVT because the compression could dislodge a clot and cause a pulmonary embolism.
A patient develops redness, swelling, and warmth at an IV site. The nurse stops the infusion. What is the next priority action?
Answer: Remove the IV catheter and apply pressure
Signs of phlebitis or infiltration require immediate removal of the IV catheter to prevent further tissue damage.
During a bed bath, the nurse should wash the patient's body in which sequence?
Answer: Face → arms → chest → abdomen → perineum → legs → back
The bed bath proceeds from cleanest to most contaminated areas, starting at the face and ending with the perineum and back.
A nurse is performing postural drainage on a patient. The patient suddenly becomes dyspneic and cyanotic. What is the priority action?
Answer: Return the patient to a normal anatomical position and call for help
Acute dyspnea and cyanosis during postural drainage indicate the procedure must be stopped immediately and the patient repositioned upright.
When applying a transdermal medication patch, what must the nurse do before applying the new patch?
Answer: Remove the previous patch and clean the skin thoroughly
The old patch must be removed and the skin cleaned to prevent medication accumulation and overdose.
A patient with a tracheostomy begins coughing and the inner cannula becomes dislodged. What is the nurse's immediate action?
Answer: Replace the inner cannula with a clean one immediately
Replacing the inner cannula restores airway patency and is within the LVN's scope of care during a non-emergency dislodgment.
The nurse is caring for a patient in Buck's traction. Which nursing action is most important to prevent skin breakdown?
Answer: Remove the traction boot every 8 hours and inspect the skin
Regular skin assessment under traction devices identifies early signs of pressure injury and allows corrective action.