All practice questions

An interprofessional healthcare team is coordinating care for a client who was recently admitted with acute pyelonephritis and an exacerbation of chronic heart failure. As the licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN) on the team reviews the prescribed interventions, which of the following actions fall within their legal scope of practice? (Select all that apply)

A 78-year-old client is 12 hours postoperative following a laparotomy and bowel resection. The practical nurse (PN) answers the call light and finds the client restless, repeatedly attempting to pull at their intravenous tubing, and stating that they are 'waiting for the bus.' The client's abdominal dressing is dry and intact. Vital signs are temperature 98.4°F (36.9°C), heart rate 114 beats/min, respiratory rate 24 breaths/min, and blood pressure 106/60 mm Hg. The preoperative blood pressure was 148/82 mm Hg. Which action should the PN take first?

A client who underwent a complete left-sided pneumonectomy three days ago requires routine hygiene and repositioning to prevent skin breakdown. The client is currently resting in a supine position but reports stiffness and back discomfort. Which positioning action by the practical nurse is the safest and most appropriate for this client?

A practical nurse (PN) is reviewing the assessment data of an older adult client who is 24 hours postoperative following a partial bowel resection. Which findings indicate a potential complication that requires immediate escalation to the registered nurse? Select all that apply.

A practical nurse (PN) is reviewing the electronic health records of four assigned clients before beginning morning rounds. Which client should the PN see first?

A client recovering from an ischemic stroke is receiving continuous enteral nutrition via a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. The client's medication administration record includes scheduled morning doses of extended-release nifedipine and liquid acetaminophen. Which action by the practical nurse demonstrates safe pharmacological practice?

During routine hourly rounds, a practical nurse evaluates a 42-year-old client who returned from a total abdominal hysterectomy 4 hours ago. The client appears very restless and requests water, stating they are extremely thirsty. The client's heart rate has increased from 82 to 110 beats per minute over the past hour, while the blood pressure is currently 108/68 mm Hg. What is the most appropriate initial action for the nurse to take?

A school-aged child with a superficial skin infection is prescribed oral cephalexin 500 mg every 12 hours. The pharmacy dispenses cephalexin oral suspension with a concentration of 250 mg/5 mL.

How many mL should the practical nurse administer for a single dose? Record the answer as a whole number. Do not include units in the answer.

Following an ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy, an adult client is brought to the medical unit for recovery. The client is drowsy from mild conscious sedation, reports mild procedural discomfort, and needs assistance finding a resting position. Which positioning action should the practical nurse implement to ensure client safety?

A practical nurse is assigned to care for a client who is two hours postoperative following a subtotal thyroidectomy. To minimize swelling and protect the surgical airway, which position is most appropriate for the nurse to place the client in?

A practical nurse is preparing to apply knee-length anti-embolism stockings to a client who is resting in bed. In which order should the nurse perform the following actions? Arrange the steps from first to last.

An adult client is undergoing post-procedure care on a medical-surgical unit following a percutaneous liver biopsy. The client is currently positioned on the right side with a rolled towel under the puncture site. During the 4-hour post-procedure assessment, the licensed practical nurse notes that the client's heart rate has climbed to 108 beats per minute from a pre-procedure baseline of 76 beats per minute. The blood pressure is currently 104/62 mm Hg, compared to a baseline of 128/74 mm Hg. The client reports new-onset, moderate pain in the right shoulder. Based on these assessment findings, which action must the nurse take to reduce the risk of a severe complication?

A client who underwent a right-sided supratentorial craniotomy two days ago is currently receiving continuous enteral feedings via a nasogastric tube. The practical nurse is preparing to provide a complete bed bath and change the soiled bottom sheets. What is the safest method for the nurse to execute these care tasks?

An older adult client is receiving care on a medical unit for a suspected upper gastrointestinal bleed. The morning laboratory report indicates a hemoglobin level of $6.9 \text{ g/dL}$ and a serum potassium of $2.8 \text{ mEq/L}$. The client's current vital signs are: blood pressure $96/60 \text{ mm Hg}$, apical pulse $116 \text{ beats/minute}$, and respirations $22 \text{/minute}$. A registered nurse (RN) prepares a prescribed intravenous (IV) piggyback of potassium chloride, hands the bag to the practical nurse (PN), and delegates the medication administration and subsequent monitoring of this client. Which action is most appropriate for the PN to take?

The electronic barcode scanner on a unit's medication cart is unexpectedly malfunctioning due to a network outage. A practical nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled dose of oral amlodipine to an alert client who is resting in bed. Which action must the nurse take to ensure safe medication administration?

A practical nurse (PN) is reviewing the electronic health record and collecting data on a client who is $12$ hours postoperative following an exploratory laparotomy. The client's preoperative baseline data showed a hemoglobin of $13.8\text{ g/dL}$, a blood pressure of $132/78\text{ mm Hg}$, and a heart rate of $76\text{ beats/min}$. The current morning laboratory results show a hemoglobin of $9.6\text{ g/dL}$. Upon assessment, the client's blood pressure is $102/64\text{ mm Hg}$, heart rate is $114\text{ beats/min}$, and the client reports feeling restless and lightheaded when the head of the bed is elevated. Which action should the PN take first?

A practical nurse (PN) is instructing a female client on how to collect a clean-catch midstream urine specimen for a prescribed urine culture. Arrange the following procedural steps in the correct chronological order to reduce the risk of sample contamination.

A practical nurse is instructing a female client on how to obtain a midstream (clean-catch) urine specimen for culture and sensitivity. To prevent contamination of the specimen and reduce the risk of inaccurate diagnostic laboratory results, arrange the following steps in the correct chronological order.

The interprofessional healthcare team on an inpatient medical unit is organizing the daily workflow. Which action, if independently performed by the practical nurse (PN), demonstrates a correct understanding of their legal scope of practice and professional responsibilities?

A practical nurse (PN) is assigned to care for an emancipated 17-year-old client who is 32 weeks pregnant and receiving observation for gestational hypertension. The client's parent arrives at the unit, states they provide the client's medical insurance, and demands to review the client's electronic health record. Simultaneously, the client tells the PN, "I refuse to take the blood pressure medication, and I am leaving the hospital right now." Which actions should the PN take? (Select all that apply.)