Care of Chronic Illness Flashcards
7 cards from real RPN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Care of Chronic Illness flashcards as text
A patient with asthma uses a peak flow meter. A reading in the red zone indicates:
Answer: A medical emergency requiring immediate emergency care
A red zone reading (below 50% of personal best) signals a severe asthma episode requiring immediate emergency treatment.
A patient with Parkinson's disease has difficulty swallowing. Which nursing intervention best reduces aspiration risk?
Answer: Offer thickened liquids and small bite-sized foods
Thickened liquids and small bites slow swallowing and reduce the risk of aspiration in patients with dysphagia.
A patient with chronic liver disease develops asterixis. This finding is associated with which condition?
Answer: Hepatic encephalopathy
Asterixis (flapping tremor) is a neurological sign indicating hepatic encephalopathy from ammonia accumulation.
A nurse is teaching a patient with osteoporosis about fall prevention. Which instruction is most important?
Answer: Remove throw rugs and ensure good lighting in the home
Removing environmental hazards like throw rugs and improving lighting are key fall prevention strategies for osteoporosis patients.
Which assessment finding in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) indicates worsening respiratory status?
Answer: Use of accessory muscles for breathing
Use of accessory muscles indicates significant respiratory distress and signals worsening airflow obstruction.
A patient with Type 1 diabetes is found unresponsive with a blood glucose of 38 mg/dL. What is the nurse's first action?
Answer: Administer IV dextrose 50% as ordered
An unresponsive patient cannot safely swallow, so IV dextrose is the appropriate treatment for severe hypoglycemia.
A patient with chronic pain is started on a scheduled opioid regimen. Which bowel intervention should the nurse initiate proactively?
Answer: Start a stimulant laxative regimen prophylactically
Opioids cause constipation by slowing GI motility; a stimulant laxative should be started preventively when opioid therapy begins.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy