Registered Nurse: Reduction of Risk Potential 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: Reduction of Risk Potential flashcards as text
A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a blood transfusion who develops sudden chills, back pain, and dark urine after 50 mL has infused. What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer: Stop the transfusion and keep the IV line open with normal saline
These signs indicate an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction; the transfusion must be stopped immediately and the line kept open with normal saline.
Which patient is at highest risk for developing a pulmonary embolism postoperatively?
Answer: A 68-year-old who had a total hip replacement and remains on bed rest
Older age, orthopedic surgery, and immobility are all major risk factors for deep vein thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolism.
A nurse is inserting a nasogastric tube. After placement, which method best confirms correct placement before beginning a feeding?
Answer: Aspirating stomach contents and testing pH
Aspirating gastric contents and testing the pH (≤5.5 confirms gastric placement) is the most reliable bedside method before a chest X-ray.
A nurse notes that a patient's surgical wound has new separation with yellow drainage. What is the most appropriate nursing response?
Answer: Notify the surgeon and apply a moist sterile dressing
Wound dehiscence with purulent drainage suggests infection and requires immediate provider notification and appropriate wound care.
A patient is prescribed potassium chloride 40 mEq IV. The nurse should administer this over what minimum time frame?
Answer: 1 hour
IV potassium must be administered no faster than 10-20 mEq/hour to avoid life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube. Which finding requires the most immediate intervention?
Answer: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak in the system that must be identified and corrected immediately.
Which patient teaching point is the priority for a patient newly prescribed lithium carbonate?
Answer: Maintain consistent dietary sodium intake
Fluctuations in sodium intake alter lithium renal excretion; low sodium causes lithium retention and increases toxicity risk.