LPN Licensed Practical Nurse-PN 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient taking warfarin asks what to do if they miss a dose. The LPN should instruct the patient to:
- Take double the dose the next day to compensate
- Take the missed dose as soon as remembered if it is the same day (Correct answer)
- Stop taking warfarin until the next INR check
- Take a half dose for the next two days
Correct answer: Take the missed dose as soon as remembered if it is the same day
The missed warfarin dose should be taken the same day it is remembered, but never doubled the next day to avoid bleeding risk.
Question 2: The LPN is performing a head-to-toe assessment and notes that a patient's abdomen is rigid and board-like with guarding. The priority action is to:
- Apply a heating pad to the abdomen for comfort
- Encourage ambulation to stimulate bowel motility
- Report the finding to the RN immediately (Correct answer)
- Document and reassess in one hour
Correct answer: Report the finding to the RN immediately
A rigid, board-like abdomen with guarding indicates peritoneal irritation, a medical emergency requiring immediate reporting.
Question 3: Which action by the LPN best demonstrates correct wound care for a stage 2 pressure injury?
- Packing the wound with dry gauze and securing with tape
- Cleaning the wound with povidone-iodine and leaving it open to air
- Covering the wound with a moisture-retentive dressing after gentle cleansing (Correct answer)
- Applying ice packs to reduce inflammation twice daily
Correct answer: Covering the wound with a moisture-retentive dressing after gentle cleansing
Moist wound healing environments promote epithelialization; stage 2 injuries require moisture-retentive dressings after cleansing with saline.
Question 4: A patient with peripheral vascular disease reports leg pain while walking that resolves with rest. The LPN recognizes this as:
- Restless leg syndrome
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Intermittent claudication (Correct answer)
- Cellulitis
Correct answer: Intermittent claudication
Intermittent claudication is muscle pain caused by insufficient blood flow during activity that resolves with rest.
Question 5: When teaching a patient about taking iron supplements, the LPN should instruct the patient to:
- Take iron with milk to reduce stomach upset
- Expect stools to turn black while taking iron supplements (Correct answer)
- Take iron supplements within one hour of taking antacids
- Limit vitamin C intake while on iron supplements
Correct answer: Expect stools to turn black while taking iron supplements
Iron supplements cause black or tarry stools, which is a normal and expected side effect, not a sign of GI bleeding.
Question 6: A patient with a fractured hip is in Buck's traction preoperatively. The LPN notices the patient has slid down in bed so the weights are resting on the floor. The correct action is to:
- Lift the weights off the floor and reposition the patient
- Remove the traction until the surgeon can reassess
- Reposition the patient up in bed so the weights hang freely (Correct answer)
- Call the orthopedic technician to reset the traction
Correct answer: Reposition the patient up in bed so the weights hang freely
The weights must hang freely to maintain traction; repositioning the patient restores the therapeutic pull without disrupting the traction setup.
Question 7: Which behavior indicates that a patient with alcohol use disorder is experiencing alcohol withdrawal and needs immediate nursing intervention?
- Requesting extra blankets due to feeling cold
- Reporting mild headache and fatigue on day two of admission
- Experiencing tremors, diaphoresis, and reporting seeing insects on the walls (Correct answer)
- Expressing anxiety about being unable to drink
Correct answer: Experiencing tremors, diaphoresis, and reporting seeing insects on the walls
Tremors, diaphoresis, and hallucinations are signs of severe alcohol withdrawal (delirium tremens), which is life-threatening and requires immediate intervention.
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse-PN 4
A patient taking warfarin asks what to do if they miss a dose.
The LPN should instruct the patient to: