Patient Care and Safety 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 Patient Care and Safety flashcards as text
A fire alarm activates in the healthcare facility. Using the RACE acronym, what does the 'C' stand for?
Answer: Contain the fire by closing doors
In the RACE fire response protocol, C stands for Contain — close all doors to prevent fire and smoke from spreading.
Which vital sign change in an elderly patient should be reported as a potential sign of sepsis?
Answer: Temperature 96.8°F (36°C) with a sudden change in mental status
In elderly patients, sepsis may present with hypothermia rather than fever; a low temperature combined with new confusion is a serious warning sign.
A nurse is preparing to hang a new IV bag. Which finding should prompt her to discard the bag and obtain a new one?
Answer: The solution appears cloudy with visible particulate matter
Cloudiness or particulate matter in an IV solution indicates contamination or instability; the bag must be discarded and replaced.
When performing oral care on an unconscious patient, the safest patient position is:
Answer: Side-lying (lateral) with the head turned toward the caregiver
The lateral position with the head turned allows secretions and rinse water to pool in the cheek and drain out, preventing aspiration.
Which statement about the use of side rails is correct according to patient safety standards?
Answer: Raising all four side rails constitutes a restraint and requires an order
Raising all four side rails restricts a patient's voluntary movement and is legally classified as a restraint, requiring a physician order.
A patient is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 4 L/min. The nurse notices the patient's oxygen saturation has dropped to 88%. The FIRST action is to:
Answer: Assess the patient for tube displacement and airway patency
Before adjusting oxygen delivery, the nurse must first assess whether the cannula is properly placed and the airway is patent, as the issue may be a simple equipment problem.
Which of the following is an example of a 'near miss' in patient safety?
Answer: A nurse catches a medication error before it reaches the patient
A near miss is an event that could have caused harm but was caught before it reached the patient, and it should be reported to prevent future errors.