Fundamentals of Nursing Flashcards

When administering oxygen via a simple face mask, what is the minimum flow rate to prevent CO₂ rebreathing?

Answer: 5 L/min

A minimum flow rate of 5 L/min is required with a simple face mask to flush exhaled CO₂ from the mask reservoir. Lower flow rates allow CO₂ accumulation and rebreathing, potentially worsening respiratory status.

A nurse is preparing to administer blood. Which action is most important before beginning the transfusion?

Answer: Verify blood type and cross-match with two nurses at the bedside

Two-nurse verification of blood product labels against the patient's identification and compatibility report is mandatory to prevent ABO-incompatible transfusion reactions, which can be fatal.

What is the correct action if a nurse makes a medication error?

Answer: Assess the patient, report to the charge nurse and physician, complete an incident report

After a medication error, patient assessment and safety are the first priority, followed by immediate notification of the charge nurse and prescribing physician. An incident report documents the event for quality improvement without punitive intent.

What does the nursing term 'diaphoresis' mean?

Answer: Profuse sweating

Diaphoresis means profuse or excessive sweating. It is a clinical sign associated with conditions such as hypoglycemia, myocardial infarction, fever, pain, and anxiety, and warrants further assessment.

What is the correct technique for measuring blood pressure manually?

Answer: Position the cuff 2–3 cm above the antecubital fossa, inflate 30 mmHg above estimated systolic, deflate at 2–3 mmHg/sec

The cuff should be placed 2–3 cm above the antecubital fossa over the brachial artery, inflated 30 mmHg above the estimated systolic pressure, and slowly deflated at 2–3 mmHg/second to accurately identify Korotkoff sounds.

Which intervention is most effective in preventing hospital-acquired infections?

Answer: Consistent hand hygiene

Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent healthcare-associated infections. The WHO '5 Moments for Hand Hygiene' framework identifies key moments that break the chain of transmission.