Registered Nurse Flashcards
7 cards from real RN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Registered Nurse flashcards as text
A nurse is reviewing a patient's ABG results: pH 7.28, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these findings?
Answer: Respiratory acidosis
A low pH with elevated PaCO2 and normal HCO3 indicates respiratory acidosis, caused by CO2 retention from hypoventilation.
Which action by a nursing student requires the RN to intervene immediately?
Answer: Recapping a used needle before disposal
Recapping used needles is a major cause of needlestick injuries and violates standard safety precautions; needles must be discarded uncapped into sharps containers.
A patient is admitted with suspected meningitis. Which action should the nurse prioritize before antibiotics are administered?
Answer: Obtain blood cultures and CSF specimen as ordered
Culture specimens must be collected before antibiotic administration to identify the causative organism; antibiotics can render cultures falsely negative.
A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a blood transfusion who develops chills, flank pain, and dark-colored urine 30 minutes into the infusion. What is the priority action?
Answer: Stop the transfusion and infuse normal saline
These symptoms indicate an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction; the transfusion must be stopped immediately and NS infused to maintain kidney perfusion.
A patient's serum sodium level is 122 mEq/L. Which clinical finding does the nurse anticipate?
Answer: Seizures and altered mental status
Severe hyponatremia causes cerebral edema, manifesting as neurological symptoms including confusion, seizures, and decreased level of consciousness.
A nurse is assessing a patient with a suspected pulmonary embolism. Which clinical finding is most consistent with this diagnosis?
Answer: Sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea
Pulmonary embolism classically presents with sudden-onset pleuritic chest pain (worse with inspiration), dyspnea, and tachycardia.
Which intervention is most effective in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)?
Answer: Maintaining a closed urinary drainage system
Maintaining a sterile, closed drainage system is the single most effective intervention to prevent CAUTI by preventing bacterial entry.