LPN Licensed Practical Nurse-PN 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient receiving IV potassium chloride develops pain and redness at the IV site. What is the priority nursing action?
- Slow the infusion rate
- Discontinue the IV and notify the physician (Correct answer)
- Apply a warm compress over the site
- Elevate the extremity above heart level
Correct answer: Discontinue the IV and notify the physician
Signs of phlebitis or infiltration require immediate discontinuation of the IV to prevent tissue damage.
Question 2: Which laboratory value should the LPN report immediately to the registered nurse for a patient on digoxin therapy?
- Serum sodium of 138 mEq/L
- Serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/L (Correct answer)
- Serum creatinine of 1.0 mg/dL
- Blood glucose of 110 mg/dL
Correct answer: Serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/L
Hypokalemia (potassium below 3.5 mEq/L) increases the risk of digoxin toxicity and must be reported promptly.
Question 3: An LPN is caring for a patient in Buck's traction. Which action is most important to prevent complications?
- Keep the foot of the bed elevated
- Assess neurovascular status of the affected limb every 4 hours (Correct answer)
- Remove the traction boot every shift for skin assessment
- Encourage the patient to perform sit-ups in bed
Correct answer: Assess neurovascular status of the affected limb every 4 hours
Regular neurovascular checks detect early signs of compromised circulation or nerve damage in patients in traction.
Question 4: When performing oral suctioning on an unconscious patient, the LPN should position the patient in which way?
- Supine with neck hyperextended
- Semi-Fowler's with head turned to one side (Correct answer)
- Prone with pillow under chest
- High-Fowler's with neck flexed forward
Correct answer: Semi-Fowler's with head turned to one side
Turning the head to the side allows secretions to drain by gravity and reduces the risk of aspiration.
Question 5: A patient with a urinary catheter has output of 20 mL over 2 hours. After ruling out catheter obstruction, what is the LPN's next action?
- Irrigate the catheter with normal saline
- Increase the patient's oral fluid intake
- Report the finding to the RN (Correct answer)
- Clamp the catheter for one hour
Correct answer: Report the finding to the RN
Urine output less than 30 mL/hr may indicate renal insufficiency or hypovolemia and must be reported to the RN.
Question 6: Which technique should the LPN use when administering an intradermal injection for tuberculin skin testing?
- Insert needle at 45-degree angle, aspirate before injecting
- Insert needle at 90-degree angle into subcutaneous tissue
- Insert needle at 5-15 degree angle, bevel up, creating a wheal (Correct answer)
- Insert needle at 30-degree angle, bevel down
Correct answer: Insert needle at 5-15 degree angle, bevel up, creating a wheal
Intradermal injections are given at a 5-15 degree angle with the bevel up to form a visible wheal just under the skin surface.
Question 7: A patient with COPD has an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. The physician orders oxygen at 1-2 L/min via nasal cannula. The patient asks why they can't have more oxygen. What is the best explanation?
- More oxygen would be wasted since it isn't fully absorbed
- Patients with COPD may rely on low oxygen levels to drive their breathing stimulus (Correct answer)
- Higher flow rates cause oxygen toxicity within minutes
- Insurance only covers low-flow oxygen for COPD patients
Correct answer: Patients with COPD may rely on low oxygen levels to drive their breathing stimulus
Some COPD patients develop hypoxic drive, where low oxygen (not CO2) triggers breathing, so high-flow O2 can suppress respirations.
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse-PN 2
A patient receiving IV potassium chloride develops pain and redness at the IV site.
What is the priority nursing action?