Clinical Skills and Procedures Flashcards
7 cards from real TRIVIUM 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 Skills and Procedures flashcards as text
A nurse is preparing to draw blood from a peripheral IV site. Which action is most important before obtaining the sample?
Answer: Stop any infusing IV fluids, flush with saline, discard the initial draw, then collect the sample
Stopping IV fluids, flushing, and discarding the initial blood draw prevents dilution or contamination of the sample with IV fluids.
When measuring blood pressure manually, which error causes a falsely high reading?
Answer: Deflating the cuff too slowly
Deflating the cuff too slowly allows venous congestion to build, leading to an artificially elevated diastolic reading.
A nurse is caring for a patient in Buck's traction. Which assessment is the priority?
Answer: Pulses and neurovascular status of the extremity
Neurovascular assessment — including pulses, capillary refill, sensation, and movement — is the priority to detect compartment syndrome or vascular compromise.
Which action should the nurse take when a patient reports that their PCA pump is not relieving pain?
Answer: Assess pain level, check pump settings and delivery log, then contact the provider
The nurse must first assess the patient and verify pump function and delivery history before contacting the provider for a dosage adjustment order.
When performing postural drainage, the nurse should position the patient so that the affected lung segment is:
Answer: Inferior to the main bronchus so gravity aids drainage
Postural drainage uses gravity by positioning the affected segment above the bronchus so secretions drain toward the central airways.
A nurse inadvertently administers a medication via the wrong route. After ensuring patient safety, what is the next priority action?
Answer: Document the error in the chart and complete an incident report
Medication errors must be documented accurately in the medical record and reported through the facility's incident reporting system to ensure patient safety and quality improvement.
Which technique is used to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)?
Answer: Maintain a closed drainage system and keep the bag below bladder level
Maintaining a closed drainage system and keeping the drainage bag below the bladder prevents backflow of contaminated urine, reducing CAUTI risk.