Patient Assessment & Monitoring Flashcards
7 cards from real CSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment & Monitoring flashcards as text
During post-procedure monitoring, a patient who received IV midazolam becomes re-sedated 45 minutes after flumazenil administration. This phenomenon is called:
Answer: Resedation
Resedation occurs because flumazenil has a shorter half-life (1–2 hours) than midazolam, allowing benzodiazepine effects to return as the reversal agent wears off.
Which vital sign parameter is the LEAST reliable indicator of respiratory adequacy when supplemental oxygen is being administered during conscious sedation?
Answer: Pulse oximetry (SpO2)
Supplemental oxygen masks hypoventilation by maintaining SpO2 even as CO2 rises; SpO2 alone is unreliable for detecting respiratory depression in this setting.
A nurse notices that a sedated patient's jaw is becoming slack and the tongue is falling back. The MOST appropriate initial intervention is:
Answer: Perform a jaw thrust or chin lift maneuver
A jaw thrust or chin lift opens the airway by displacing the tongue, correcting soft tissue obstruction without requiring medication.
Which characteristic distinguishes the CIWA-Ar scale from tools used in conscious sedation monitoring?
Answer: It measures alcohol withdrawal severity, not sedation depth
The CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol) measures alcohol withdrawal symptoms and is not used to assess sedation depth.
A patient undergoing IV conscious sedation has a documented latex allergy. Which monitoring equipment requires latex-free alternatives?
Answer: Electronic blood pressure cuff tubing and bladder
Blood pressure cuff bladders and tubing can contain latex; latex-free alternatives must be used to prevent anaphylaxis in sensitized patients.
What is the primary purpose of the 'time-out' procedure conducted immediately before a procedure requiring conscious sedation?
Answer: Verify patient identity, procedure, site, and consent
The time-out is a mandatory patient safety protocol to confirm the correct patient, procedure, site, and consent before proceeding.
Which assessment finding in an elderly patient undergoing conscious sedation most directly suggests decreased drug clearance and risk of prolonged sedation?
Answer: Serum creatinine of 2.8 mg/dL
Elevated serum creatinine reflects reduced renal function, which impairs clearance of renally excreted sedation drugs and their metabolites, prolonging their effects.