NHI Patient Care and Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient's chart shows NPO status before a scheduled procedure. What does NPO mean?
- Nothing by mouth (Correct answer)
- No physical orders
- Normal patient observation
- Neutral position only
Correct answer: Nothing by mouth
NPO (nil per os) means nothing by mouth, restricting all oral intake including food, water, and medications before a procedure.
Question 2: When performing a bed bath, which area should be washed LAST?
- Face
- Arms
- Perineal area (Correct answer)
- Chest
Correct answer: Perineal area
The perineal area is always washed last to prevent contamination from this area spreading to other body parts.
Question 3: A patient has a skin tear on their forearm. Which dressing type is most appropriate?
- Dry gauze taped firmly
- Non-adherent dressing secured gently (Correct answer)
- Tight elastic bandage
- Wet-to-dry dressing
Correct answer: Non-adherent dressing secured gently
Non-adherent dressings prevent further trauma when removed and are applied gently to avoid extending the tear.
Question 4: What is the correct cuff placement when measuring blood pressure on the arm?
- Over the antecubital fossa directly
- 1-2 inches above the antecubital fossa (Correct answer)
- At the wrist
- At the mid-upper arm with cuff edge at shoulder
Correct answer: 1-2 inches above the antecubital fossa
The BP cuff lower edge should be placed 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) above the antecubital fossa for accurate readings.
Question 5: A patient using a walker complains of arm fatigue. The MOST likely cause is:
- Walker height set too low (Correct answer)
- Walker height set too high
- Walker width too narrow
- Patient gripping too loosely
Correct answer: Walker height set too low
A walker set too low forces the patient to bend forward and bear excessive weight on their arms, causing fatigue.
Question 6: When collecting a mid-stream clean-catch urine specimen, the patient should begin urinating and then:
- Stop and restart into the cup
- Continue voiding into the collection cup without stopping (Correct answer)
- Collect only the final portion
- Use the first stream only
Correct answer: Continue voiding into the collection cup without stopping
The patient voids a small amount to clear the urethra, then without stopping continues into the sterile collection cup.
Question 7: Which action by a healthcare worker BEST prevents pressure injuries in bedridden patients?
- Massaging bony prominences vigorously
- Repositioning every 2 hours (Correct answer)
- Keeping sheets tightly tucked
- Elevating the head of bed to 90 degrees
Correct answer: Repositioning every 2 hours
Repositioning every 2 hours relieves sustained pressure over bony prominences, the primary cause of pressure injuries.
NHI Patient Care and Procedures 2
A patient's chart shows NPO status before a scheduled procedure.
What does NPO mean?