Next Next Clinical Skills and Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing a physical assessment on a patient, which technique should be performed LAST to avoid altering bowel sounds?
- Inspection
- Auscultation
- Palpation (Correct answer)
- Percussion
Correct answer: Palpation
Palpation should be performed last in abdominal assessments because it can alter bowel sounds that would be detected during auscultation.
Question 2: Which vital sign finding in an adult patient should be reported to the healthcare provider immediately?
- Pulse 72 bpm
- Blood pressure 118/76 mmHg
- Respiratory rate 28 breaths/min (Correct answer)
- Temperature 37.2°C (99°F)
Correct answer: Respiratory rate 28 breaths/min
A respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min in an adult is significantly above the normal range of 12–20 breaths/min and indicates respiratory distress requiring immediate attention.
Question 3: A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. What is the correct sequence after opening the sterile field?
- Cleanse the meatus, then don sterile gloves
- Don sterile gloves, then cleanse the meatus (Correct answer)
- Insert the catheter, then don sterile gloves
- Cleanse the meatus, insert catheter, then don gloves
Correct answer: Don sterile gloves, then cleanse the meatus
Sterile gloves must be donned before any sterile procedure begins, including cleansing the meatus, to maintain sterility throughout catheter insertion.
Question 4: When administering oxygen via a simple face mask, what is the minimum flow rate required to prevent CO2 rebreathing?
- 1–2 L/min
- 3–4 L/min
- 5–6 L/min (Correct answer)
- 8–10 L/min
Correct answer: 5–6 L/min
A minimum flow rate of 5–6 L/min is required with a simple face mask to flush exhaled CO2 from the mask and prevent rebreathing.
Question 5: Which action best prevents venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a postoperative patient?
- Keeping the patient on strict bed rest
- Elevating the head of the bed to 90 degrees
- Encouraging early ambulation and leg exercises (Correct answer)
- Applying warm compresses to the lower extremities
Correct answer: Encouraging early ambulation and leg exercises
Early ambulation and leg exercises promote venous return, reduce venous stasis, and are the most effective non-pharmacologic measures to prevent VTE.
Question 6: A nurse is suctioning a patient's tracheostomy. The maximum recommended suction time per pass is:
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds (Correct answer)
- 20 seconds
- 30 seconds
Correct answer: 10 seconds
Suctioning should not exceed 10 seconds per pass to minimize hypoxia, mucosal trauma, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
Next Next Clinical Skills and Procedures 1
When performing a physical assessment on a patient, which technique should be performed LAST to avoid altering bowel sounds?