LPN Licensed Practical Nurse MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with a history of alcoholism is admitted for detoxification. Which early sign of alcohol withdrawal should the LPN monitor for most closely?
- Hypotension and bradycardia
- Tremors, diaphoresis, and anxiety (Correct answer)
- Hypothermia and bradypnea
- Miosis and decreased reflexes
Correct answer: Tremors, diaphoresis, and anxiety
Early alcohol withdrawal (6–24 hours after last drink) presents with tremors, diaphoresis, anxiety, and autonomic hyperactivity, which can escalate to seizures and delirium tremens.
Question 2: An LPN is preparing to give a subcutaneous injection of heparin. Which action is correct?
- Aspirate before injecting to confirm placement
- Inject into the deltoid muscle
- Pinch up abdominal fat and inject at a 90-degree angle (Correct answer)
- Massage the site vigorously after injection
Correct answer: Pinch up abdominal fat and inject at a 90-degree angle
Subcutaneous heparin is injected into pinched abdominal tissue at 90 degrees (45 degrees for thin patients) without aspiration or post-injection massage to reduce bruising.
Question 3: A patient with Parkinson's disease is at highest risk for which nursing diagnosis?
- Risk for fluid volume excess
- Risk for falls related to impaired gait and balance (Correct answer)
- Impaired skin integrity related to diaphoresis
- Acute confusion related to medication
Correct answer: Risk for falls related to impaired gait and balance
Parkinson's disease causes bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability, making falls the predominant safety risk requiring nursing intervention.
Question 4: The LPN receives a telephone order from a provider. Which is the correct procedure for accepting a verbal/telephone order?
- Write the order and have another nurse co-sign immediately
- Read back and verify the complete order before ending the call (Correct answer)
- Implement the order immediately and document afterward
- Refuse the order until it can be received in writing
Correct answer: Read back and verify the complete order before ending the call
The read-back technique requires repeating the entire order to the provider for verification before implementation to prevent medication errors.
Question 5: A patient with heart failure reports waking at night unable to breathe unless sitting upright. The LPN documents this as:
- Orthopnea
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (Correct answer)
- Dyspnea on exertion
- Cheyne-Stokes respiration
Correct answer: Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) is sudden nighttime breathlessness that awakens the patient and is relieved by sitting upright, caused by fluid redistribution when supine.
Question 6: When administering an enema, the LPN should position the patient in which position?
- Supine with legs elevated
- Left lateral (Sims') position (Correct answer)
- Right lateral decubitus
- High Fowler's position
Correct answer: Left lateral (Sims') position
The left lateral (Sims') position follows the anatomical path of the sigmoid colon, facilitating solution flow and patient comfort during enema administration.
Question 7: A patient taking metformin for type 2 diabetes is scheduled for a contrast CT scan tomorrow. The LPN reinforces which instruction?
- Take a double dose of metformin the morning of the procedure
- Hold metformin on the day of the scan and until kidney function is confirmed normal afterward (Correct answer)
- Continue metformin as usual since it does not interact with contrast dye
- Switch to insulin only on the day of the procedure
Correct answer: Hold metformin on the day of the scan and until kidney function is confirmed normal afterward
IV contrast dye can impair renal function; metformin retained in the body under impaired kidney clearance can accumulate and cause lactic acidosis, so it is held before and after contrast studies.
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse MCQ 5
A patient with a history of alcoholism is admitted for detoxification.
Which early sign of alcohol withdrawal should the LPN monitor for most closely?