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 assessing a patient who has been receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for 5 days. Which laboratory finding indicates the highest risk complication?
Answer: Phosphorus of 1.2 mg/dL
Severe hypophosphatemia in a patient receiving TPN suggests refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal metabolic complication.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is 6 hours post-coronary angiography via the right femoral artery. Which assessment finding is most concerning?
Answer: A large expanding hematoma at the puncture site
An expanding hematoma at the femoral access site indicates active bleeding and potential vascular injury requiring immediate intervention.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a serum sodium of 118 mEq/L receiving a hypertonic saline infusion. The nurse should monitor the patient most carefully for which complication?
Answer: Osmotic demyelination syndrome
Correcting hyponatremia too rapidly with hypertonic saline can cause osmotic demyelination syndrome, leading to permanent neurological damage.
A nurse caring for a patient in Buck's traction discovers that the weights are resting on the floor. What should the nurse do?
Answer: Reposition the patient so the weights hang freely
Traction is only effective when weights hang freely; resting weights eliminate the therapeutic pull needed to maintain alignment.
A nurse notes that a patient's urine output has been 20 mL/hour for the past 3 hours. What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer: Notify the provider and assess for contributing factors
Urine output below 30 mL/hour indicates oliguria and potential renal hypoperfusion, which requires provider notification and prompt assessment.
A patient on mechanical ventilation has a sudden rise in peak airway pressure. What is the nurse's first action?
Answer: Manually ventilate the patient with a bag-valve mask
Manual ventilation with a bag-valve mask ensures the patient receives adequate breaths while the cause of high peak pressure is investigated.
A nurse is preparing to administer a unit of packed red blood cells. Which action is essential just before starting the infusion?
Answer: Have a second nurse verify the blood product with the patient's identification band
Two-nurse verification of blood product compatibility with the patient's identification is mandatory to prevent a potentially fatal transfusion error.