ATI LPN
LPN Fundamentals Study Guide Questions
Question 1 of 5
Click to highlight the findings that are recognized as needing only standard precautions.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patients, but additional precautions (e.g., contact, droplet) depend on infection risk. Among the findings pain 9/10, watery diarrhea, jaundice, and WBC 1,000 μL (immunosuppression) WBC count of 1,000 μL (D) requires only standard precautions unless an active infection is confirmed. Pain (A) and jaundice (C) are symptoms, not contagious risks. Diarrhea (B) suggests possible infection (e.g., C. difficile), warranting contact precautions. The client's HIV status heightens infection susceptibility, but low WBC alone doesn't dictate beyond standard precautions. D is correct. Rationale: Standard precautions (hand hygiene, gloves) suffice for immunosuppression without transmissible disease; diarrhea triggers extra measures due to potential pathogen spread, per CDC guidelines, making D the least likely to escalate precautions in isolation.
Question 2 of 5
What action should the nurse take when caring for a client who has a possible skull fracture as a result of trauma?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a possible skull fracture, monitoring for brain injury signs (A) is the priority, detecting neurological deterioration like altered consciousness or pupil changes. Checking hemorrhage (B) is secondary. Elevating the foot (C) risks increasing ICP. Observing decreased ICP (D) is incorrect; increased ICP is the concern. A is correct. Rationale: Brain injury monitoring identifies life-threatening complications like hematoma, guiding timely intervention, per trauma care protocols, over less immediate or contraindicated actions.
Question 3 of 5
A client is admitted with head trauma after a fall. The client is being prepared for a supratentorial craniotomy with burr holes, and an intravenous infusion of mannitol is instituted. The nurse concludes that this medication primarily is given to do what?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Mannitol (D) is an osmotic diuretic given pre-craniotomy to decrease brain fluid, reducing ICP. It doesn't primarily lower BP (A), prevent hypoglycemia (B), or boost cardiac output (C). D is correct. Rationale: Mannitol draws fluid from brain tissue into the bloodstream, lowering ICP, a key pre-surgical intervention in head trauma, per neurosurgical standards, targeting cerebral edema directly.
Question 4 of 5
A client with a traumatic brain injury from a motor vehicle crash is being monitored in the intensive care unit. The client's intracranial pressure (ICP) is $22 \mathrm{mmHg}$. Which nursing intervention is appropriate based on this finding?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ICP of 22 mmHg (elevated >20) requires mannitol (C) to reduce cerebral edema osmotically. Saline bolus (A) may worsen ICP. Flat bed (B) increases pressure. Coughing (D) raises ICP. C is correct. Rationale: Mannitol lowers ICP swiftly, a standard intervention in brain injury, per neurocritical care, preventing herniation unlike contraindicated actions.
Question 5 of 5
When a nurse is tried under criminal law, the nurse is being brought to trial by:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When a nurse faces a trial under criminal law, it involves a legal action initiated by the state or government, representing society as a whole, rather than a private entity or individual. Criminal law addresses offenses deemed harmful to the public, such as negligence causing harm or intentional misconduct. Unlike civil cases, where an individual or organization might sue for damages, criminal cases are prosecuted by the state to uphold public safety and justice. The nurse's actions are evaluated against legal standards that protect society, making this the most accurate description. Other options, like the plaintiff's lawyer or an individual, pertain more to civil litigation, while an organization might be involved in internal discipline but not a criminal trial. This distinction is critical in understanding the scope and authority behind criminal proceedings in nursing practice.