Patient Assessment & Documentation Flashcards
7 cards from real MLS 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 & Documentation flashcards as text
A fasting glucose specimen is received, but the requisition does not indicate fasting status. What is the appropriate course of action?
Answer: Contact the patient or nursing unit to verify fasting status before reporting
Fasting status must be verified and documented because it directly affects the interpretation of fasting glucose results.
Which of the following is a pre-analytical variable that the MLS can identify from the patient assessment before collection?
Answer: Patient exercise within 30 minutes of collection
Recent strenuous exercise is a pre-analytical variable affecting analytes like CK, potassium, and lactate that can be identified during patient assessment.
When documenting a traumatic venipuncture in the patient's record, which information is MOST important to include?
Answer: The site of collection, number of attempts, patient's response, and collector's identity
Traumatic venipuncture documentation must include collection site, number of attempts, patient response, and the identity of the collector for complete incident tracking.
A requisition is received for a drug level with no dose or last dose time listed. Why is this information critical?
Answer: Trough vs. peak timing affects therapeutic range interpretation
Knowing the last dose time determines whether a specimen is a trough or peak level, which directly affects whether the drug concentration is within therapeutic range.
Which assessment finding should prompt the MLS to select an alternative collection site during phlebotomy?
Answer: A mastectomy on the ipsilateral side of the intended draw arm
Venipuncture on the same side as a mastectomy risks lymphedema and inaccurate results due to altered lymphatic drainage and should be avoided.
An MLS observes that a pediatric patient's wristband is loose and has slipped off onto the crib rail. What should happen before specimen collection?
Answer: Replace or reattach the wristband with nursing staff verification before collection
The wristband must be properly placed on the patient and verified with nursing staff before proceeding to maintain a reliable two-identifier check.
When assessing a patient for a glucose tolerance test (GTT), which pre-test instruction is MOST important to verify?
Answer: That the patient fasted for 8–12 hours and avoided strenuous exercise
An 8–12 hour fast and avoidance of strenuous exercise are essential preconditions for a valid GTT, as both can significantly alter glucose metabolism.