LPN Licensed Practical Nurse-PN 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient on a low-sodium diet asks which food is acceptable to eat. The LPN should advise the patient to choose:
- Canned vegetable soup
- Fresh steamed broccoli (Correct answer)
- Processed deli turkey slices
- Cottage cheese
Correct answer: Fresh steamed broccoli
Fresh vegetables contain minimal natural sodium and are appropriate for low-sodium diets, unlike processed or canned foods.
Question 2: The LPN is caring for a patient with a closed chest tube drainage system. Which finding requires immediate reporting to the RN?
- Gentle bubbling in the water-seal chamber during exhalation
- Tidaling (fluctuation) of fluid in the water-seal tube with respirations
- Drainage of 150 mL of serous fluid in the first 2 hours post-insertion
- Cessation of all bubbling or tidaling with increasing shortness of breath (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Cessation of all bubbling or tidaling with increasing shortness of breath
Absence of tidaling with increasing dyspnea may indicate tube occlusion, kinking, or lung collapse and is a critical emergency.
Question 3: A patient with a plaster leg cast reports that the cast feels hot and has an unpleasant smell. The LPN should:
- Reassure the patient that heat and odor are normal as the cast dries
- Petal the cast edges to improve comfort
- Report the findings to the RN as signs of possible infection (Correct answer)
- Apply foot powder near the cast edges to reduce odor
Correct answer: Report the findings to the RN as signs of possible infection
Heat and foul odor from a cast may indicate infection under the cast and require prompt assessment by the RN and physician.
Question 4: When assisting a patient with left-sided weakness to ambulate using a cane, the cane should be held:
- On the left (weak) side to support the affected limb
- On the right (strong) side to provide stability during weight bearing (Correct answer)
- Alternated between sides with each step
- Behind the patient to assist with balance
Correct answer: On the right (strong) side to provide stability during weight bearing
The cane is held on the stronger side to widen the base of support and partially offload the weaker side during ambulation.
Question 5: A patient states they have been reading about herbal supplements online and wants to start taking St. John's Wort. The LPN knows this herb has a significant interaction with which class of medication?
- Antihypertensives
- Anticoagulants such as warfarin
- Antidepressants and SSRIs (Correct answer)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Correct answer: Antidepressants and SSRIs
St. John's Wort induces CYP enzymes that reduce SSRI levels and can trigger serotonin syndrome when combined with antidepressants.
Question 6: Which statement by a patient indicates understanding of how to use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) correctly?
- 'I will shake the inhaler, exhale fully, press it as I begin to inhale slowly, then hold my breath for 10 seconds.' (Correct answer)
- 'I will inhale quickly and forcefully right after I press the inhaler.'
- 'I will place the inhaler directly in my mouth and press it while I breathe normally.'
- 'I will press the inhaler two times rapidly before each use.'
Correct answer: 'I will shake the inhaler, exhale fully, press it as I begin to inhale slowly, then hold my breath for 10 seconds.'
Correct MDI technique includes shaking, exhaling fully, slow inhalation coordinated with actuation, and breath-holding to maximize drug deposition.
Question 7: A nurse aide reports to the LPN that a resident in a long-term care facility has a large bruise on their back and seems afraid when the family visits. The LPN should:
- Reassure the aide and document the observation in the chart
- Ask the family about the bruise during their next visit
- Report the observations to the charge nurse and follow facility abuse reporting protocol (Correct answer)
- Wait and monitor for additional signs before taking action
Correct answer: Report the observations to the charge nurse and follow facility abuse reporting protocol
Signs of possible elder abuse require mandatory reporting per facility protocol and applicable state law to protect the resident.
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse-PN 5
A patient on a low-sodium diet asks which food is acceptable to eat.
The LPN should advise the patient to choose: