Patient Care Flashcards
6 cards from real HSRT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Patient Care flashcards as text
A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient has fallen out of bed. The patient is conscious and reports hip pain. Which action should the nurse prioritize FIRST?
Answer: Assess the patient's airway, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness before moving them
The first priority after a fall is clinical assessment (ABCs and neurological status) before any movement that could worsen an unidentified injury.
A patient with diabetes asks a healthcare provider: 'What is my blood sugar result?' The provider notices the result is 380 mg/dL but hesitates to share the result. What principle of patient care is MOST relevant?
Answer: Transparency and informed consent — patients have the right to know their own clinical data
Patients have the right to access their own clinical information (informed consent and autonomy). Withholding results undermines trust and the therapeutic relationship.
A healthcare worker is about to administer a blood transfusion. Before starting the transfusion, which verification step is MOST critical for patient safety?
Answer: Confirm two patient identifiers and match them to the blood product label at the bedside with a second licensed professional
Blood product administration requires two-person bedside verification of two patient identifiers against the blood product label to prevent ABO-incompatible transfusion reactions, which can be fatal.
A 72-year-old patient post-hip replacement reports severe pain (9/10) 6 hours after the last analgesic dose. The pain medication is ordered PRN (as needed). The nurse should:
Answer: Assess the pain thoroughly, administer the PRN medication per protocol, and reassess for effectiveness within 30–60 minutes
PRN (as needed) medications exist precisely for breakthrough pain. Assessment, administration, and follow-up assessment are the standard of care.
During morning medication rounds, a nurse realizes she administered Medication A to Patient X but then discovers the medication was prescribed for Patient Y (same room, adjacent bed). Which action should occur IMMEDIATELY?
Answer: Assess Patient X for any adverse effects from Medication A and notify the prescribing physician immediately
The immediate priority is patient safety: assess the patient who received the wrong medication for adverse effects and notify the physician so appropriate intervention can be arranged.
A hospice nurse visits a terminally ill patient at home who says: 'I want to stop taking all my medications.' The nurse's MOST appropriate response reflects which patient care principle?
Answer: Respect for patient autonomy — the competent patient's right to refuse treatment must be honored, with support for comfort-focused care
A competent patient has the absolute right to refuse medical treatment, including medications. The nurse's role is to support this decision, ensure informed choice, and provide comfort-focused care.