LPN Licensed Practical Nurse MCQ 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with type 2 diabetes has a blood glucose of 58 mg/dL and is alert and oriented. What is the LPN's priority intervention?
- Administer IV dextrose 50%
- Give 15–20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate orally (Correct answer)
- Notify the provider and await orders
- Recheck blood glucose in 30 minutes without intervention
Correct answer: Give 15–20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate orally
The 15-15 rule directs giving 15–20 g of fast-acting carbohydrate to a conscious hypoglycemic patient, then rechecking glucose in 15 minutes.
Question 2: While performing wound care, the LPN notes the wound base is covered with black, leathery tissue. This tissue is best described as:
- Granulation tissue
- Slough
- Eschar (Correct answer)
- Epithelial tissue
Correct answer: Eschar
Eschar is dry, black, or brown leathery necrotic tissue that requires debridement before healing can occur.
Question 3: A patient is admitted with acute asthma exacerbation. Which breath sound finding would the LPN expect to assess?
- Crackles bilaterally in lung bases
- Expiratory wheezes diffusely throughout lung fields (Correct answer)
- Pleural friction rub
- Diminished breath sounds at the right base only
Correct answer: Expiratory wheezes diffusely throughout lung fields
Bronchospasm during asthma causes diffuse expiratory wheezes due to narrowed airway lumen.
Question 4: The LPN is preparing to administer insulin glargine. Which action is correct?
- Mix it with regular insulin in the same syringe for convenience
- Administer it only when the blood glucose exceeds 200 mg/dL
- Inject it at the same time each day without mixing with other insulins (Correct answer)
- Shake the vial vigorously before drawing up the dose
Correct answer: Inject it at the same time each day without mixing with other insulins
Glargine (Lantus) is a long-acting basal insulin given at a consistent time daily and must never be mixed with other insulins as it alters its pH-dependent action.
Question 5: An LPN is caring for a postoperative patient who reports chest pain and shortness of breath 48 hours after hip surgery. Which condition should the LPN suspect first?
- Atelectasis
- Pulmonary embolism (Correct answer)
- Pneumonia
- Pleural effusion
Correct answer: Pulmonary embolism
Sudden onset of chest pain and dyspnea in a postoperative orthopedic patient strongly suggests pulmonary embolism due to venous thromboembolism risk.
Question 6: When caring for a patient with a chest tube connected to water-seal drainage, the LPN notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What does this most likely indicate?
- Normal functioning of the drainage system
- An air leak in the system or lung (Correct answer)
- The tube needs to be clamped immediately
- The suction is set too high
Correct answer: An air leak in the system or lung
Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak, either from the patient's lung or a break in the system.
Question 7: A patient taking lithium for bipolar disorder reports tremors, nausea, and blurred vision. The LPN's priority action is to:
- Reassure the patient that these are expected side effects
- Hold the next dose and notify the RN immediately (Correct answer)
- Encourage increased fluid intake only
- Administer the next dose with a large glass of water
Correct answer: Hold the next dose and notify the RN immediately
Tremors, nausea, and blurred vision are signs of lithium toxicity, a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate reporting and medication withholding.
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse MCQ 3
A patient with type 2 diabetes has a blood glucose of 58 mg/dL and is alert and oriented.
What is the LPN's priority intervention?