General Patient Care Flashcards

When taking a radial pulse, the PCT should use which fingers?

Answer: The index and middle fingers

The index and middle fingers are used because the thumb has its own pulse that could be confused with the patient's pulse.

A patient's oxygen saturation (SpO2) reading of 88% indicates:

Answer: Significant hypoxemia that should be reported immediately

An SpO2 of 88% is below the normal threshold of 95% and indicates significant hypoxemia requiring immediate nursing notification.

The correct cuff size for measuring blood pressure is determined by:

Answer: The circumference of the upper arm—the bladder should cover 80% of the arm

The cuff bladder must encircle approximately 80% of the upper arm circumference for accurate readings—too small reads high, too large reads low.

When making an occupied bed, the PCT should:

Answer: Roll the patient to one side, change that half, then roll to the other side

The side-to-side rolling technique allows complete linen change while keeping the patient safely in bed.

A PCT observes that a patient has not had a bowel movement in 4 days. This should be:

Answer: Reported to the nurse as possible constipation

Four days without a bowel movement may indicate constipation requiring assessment and intervention, and the nurse needs to evaluate and manage it.

When measuring a patient's weight on a standing scale, the PCT should ensure:

Answer: The patient wears similar light clothing and is weighed at the same time daily

Consistent conditions—similar clothing, same time of day, same scale—ensure that weight changes reflect actual fluid or mass changes, not variables.