Clinical Knowledge and Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real RELIAS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Knowledge and Skills flashcards as text
A patient with diabetes insipidus (DI) would most likely present with which set of findings?
Answer: Polyuria, low urine specific gravity, and hypernatremia
Diabetes insipidus causes massive dilute urine output due to ADH deficiency, leading to hypernatremia from free water loss.
A patient presents with sudden severe headache described as 'the worst headache of my life.' The nurse should prioritize assessment for:
Answer: Subarachnoid hemorrhage
A sudden thunderclap headache described as the worst ever is a classic presentation of subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring emergent evaluation.
When caring for a patient receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN), the nurse should monitor most closely for which complication?
Answer: Hyperglycemia and catheter-related bloodstream infection
TPN's high glucose concentration frequently causes hyperglycemia, and central venous access creates risk for bloodstream infections.
A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 should have dietary restriction of which nutrients?
Answer: Potassium, phosphorus, and sodium
Advanced CKD impairs excretion of potassium, phosphorus, and sodium, requiring dietary restriction to prevent dangerous accumulation.
A patient develops a DVT in the left leg. Which instruction is most important to include in discharge education?
Answer: Report any sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, or hemoptysis immediately
Sudden chest pain, dyspnea, or hemoptysis may signal pulmonary embolism—the most life-threatening complication of DVT requiring emergency evaluation.
Which action by the nurse demonstrates correct technique when obtaining a sputum culture?
Answer: Instructing the patient to cough deeply and expectorate into a sterile container in the morning before oral hygiene
Morning sputum before oral hygiene yields the highest bacterial concentration, and deep coughing ensures lower respiratory tract secretions.
A patient has a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which ECG change is most characteristic of hyperkalemia?
Answer: Peaked, narrow T waves and widened QRS complex
Hyperkalemia classically produces tall peaked T waves initially, progressing to widened QRS as potassium rises further, indicating dangerous cardiac instability.