Free LPN Interpreting Lab Values and Nursing Actions Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An LPN is reviewing the morning labs for a patient and notes a serum potassium level of 6.1 mEq/L. What is the LPN's priority action?
- Encourage the patient to eat a banana
- Document the finding and recheck in 4 hours
- Immediately notify the RN or healthcare provider (Correct answer)
- Administer a prescribed diuretic
Correct answer: Immediately notify the RN or healthcare provider
A potassium level of 6.1 mEq/L is critically high (hyperkalemia) and places the patient at risk for life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. The LPN's priority is to immediately report this finding to the RN or healthcare provider for urgent intervention.
Question 2: A patient receiving warfarin has an International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 4.8. The LPN should recognize this value as being:
- Within the therapeutic range
- Below the therapeutic range, indicating a risk of clotting
- Above the therapeutic range, indicating a risk of bleeding (Correct answer)
- A normal value for a patient not on anticoagulants
Correct answer: Above the therapeutic range, indicating a risk of bleeding
The therapeutic range for INR for a patient on warfarin is typically 2.0 to 3.0. An INR of 4.8 is significantly elevated above the therapeutic range, indicating an increased risk of bleeding. The nurse should hold the next dose and notify the provider.
Question 3: A patient's complete blood count (CBC) shows a hemoglobin level of 7.5 g/dL. Which clinical manifestation would the LPN expect to observe?
- Flushed skin and bradycardia
- Fatigue and shortness of breath (Correct answer)
- Hypertension and bounding pulses
- Increased energy and normal skin color
Correct answer: Fatigue and shortness of breath
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low hemoglobin level (anemia) results in decreased oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, pallor, shortness of breath, and tachycardia as the body tries to compensate.
Question 4: An LPN notes a patient's white blood cell (WBC) count is 18,000/mm³. The LPN interprets this finding as most likely indicating:
- Anemia
- Dehydration
- Infection (Correct answer)
- A risk for bleeding
Correct answer: Infection
The normal WBC count is typically between 4,500 and 11,000/mm³. An elevated WBC count, known as leukocytosis, is a common physiological response to infection or inflammation as the body increases its production of infection-fighting cells.
Question 5: A patient with diabetes mellitus has a fingerstick blood glucose reading of 58 mg/dL and is reporting feeling shaky and dizzy. What is the LPN's first nursing action?
- Administer the patient's scheduled dose of insulin
- Provide the patient with 4 ounces of orange juice (Correct answer)
- Notify the healthcare provider immediately
- Recheck the blood glucose in one hour
Correct answer: Provide the patient with 4 ounces of orange juice
A blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL with symptoms indicates hypoglycemia, which requires immediate intervention to prevent further decline. The first action is to provide a fast-acting carbohydrate, such as 15 grams of glucose (e.g., 4 oz of juice or regular soda), to quickly raise the blood sugar level.
Question 6: A patient's platelet count is 35,000/mm³. Which nursing intervention is a priority for this patient?
- Encouraging frequent ambulation
- Placing the patient on fluid restriction
- Implementing bleeding precautions (Correct answer)
- Administering a prescribed anticoagulant
Correct answer: Implementing bleeding precautions
A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 450,000/mm³. A count of 35,000/mm³ indicates severe thrombocytopenia, placing the patient at high risk for spontaneous bleeding. The priority is to implement bleeding precautions to minimize the risk of injury.
Question 7: An LPN is caring for an elderly patient with a serum sodium level of 128 mEq/L. The nurse should prioritize monitoring for which of the following?
- Changes in mental status (Correct answer)
- Increased urine output
- Peripheral edema
- Elevated blood pressure
Correct answer: Changes in mental status
A sodium level of 128 mEq/L indicates hyponatremia (normal is 135-145 mEq/L). Low sodium levels can cause cerebral edema, leading to neurological changes such as confusion, lethargy, headache, and seizures. Monitoring for changes in mental status is a priority.
Free LPN Interpreting Lab Values and Nursing Actions Questions and Answers
An LPN is reviewing the morning labs for a patient and notes a serum potassium level of 6.1 mEq/L.
What is the LPN's priority action?