LPN Licensed Practical Nurse MCQ 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The LPN is reviewing morning labs for a patient on furosemide. Which result requires the most immediate notification to the RN?
- Sodium 138 mEq/L
- Potassium 2.8 mEq/L (Correct answer)
- Creatinine 1.0 mg/dL
- Hemoglobin 11.5 g/dL
Correct answer: Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
Furosemide causes potassium wasting; a level of 2.8 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia, which can cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Question 2: A patient with chronic kidney disease is on a fluid restriction of 1,200 mL/day. The patient has already consumed 900 mL by noon. How much fluid remains for the rest of the day?
- 200 mL
- 300 mL (Correct answer)
- 400 mL
- 500 mL
Correct answer: 300 mL
1,200 mL total minus 900 mL consumed equals 300 mL remaining for the rest of the day.
Question 3: An LPN notes that a patient's IV site is swollen, cool, and pale with no blood return. These findings are most consistent with:
- Phlebitis
- Infiltration (Correct answer)
- Thrombophlebitis
- Systemic infection
Correct answer: Infiltration
Infiltration occurs when IV fluid leaks into surrounding tissue, causing swelling, coolness, pallor, and absent blood return at the site.
Question 4: Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate for an LPN to use with a non-verbal patient who has dementia?
- Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
- Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
- PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia) (Correct answer)
- Wong-Baker FACES Scale
Correct answer: PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia)
The PAINAD scale assesses behavioral indicators of pain (breathing, vocalization, facial expression, body language, consolability) in patients with advanced dementia who cannot self-report.
Question 5: A patient with a new colostomy expresses embarrassment and states, 'I'll never be able to go out in public again.' The LPN's best initial response is:
- 'Many people with colostomies lead completely normal lives.'
- 'Tell me more about what worries you most about going out.' (Correct answer)
- 'You'll get used to it; it just takes time.'
- 'Would you like me to arrange a visit from the ostomy nurse?'
Correct answer: 'Tell me more about what worries you most about going out.'
Therapeutic communication begins with an open-ended statement that invites the patient to express their feelings before offering information or resources.
Question 6: A patient is in skeletal traction for a femur fracture. Which nursing action is the LPN's priority?
- Removing the weights when repositioning the patient
- Assessing neurovascular status of the affected extremity every 2–4 hours (Correct answer)
- Keeping the traction ropes parallel to the bed frame at all times
- Massaging bony prominences vigorously to prevent pressure injuries
Correct answer: Assessing neurovascular status of the affected extremity every 2–4 hours
Frequent neurovascular checks (circulation, sensation, movement) detect compartment syndrome or nerve damage, the most serious complications of skeletal traction.
Question 7: The LPN is educating a patient about pursed-lip breathing. Which outcome best indicates the patient understood the technique?
- 'I breathe in slowly through pursed lips and out through my nose.'
- 'I inhale through my nose for 2 counts and exhale slowly through pursed lips for 4 counts.' (Correct answer)
- 'I breathe as fast as possible through my pursed lips to move more air.'
- 'I use this technique only when I feel a panic attack coming on.'
Correct answer: 'I inhale through my nose for 2 counts and exhale slowly through pursed lips for 4 counts.'
Pursed-lip breathing involves slow nasal inhalation and prolonged exhalation through pursed lips (ratio approximately 1:2) to reduce air trapping and dyspnea.
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse MCQ 4
The LPN is reviewing morning labs for a patient on furosemide.
Which result requires the most immediate notification to the RN?