LPN Fundamentals Practice Questions

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Assisting the client with early ambulation is crucial in preventing respiratory complications after abdominal surgery. Early ambulation helps to prevent conditions like atelectasis and pneumonia by promoting lung expansion and preventing pooling of respiratory secretions. It also aids in improving circulation, reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis, and enhancing overall recovery. Instructing the client to exhale into an incentive spirometer (Choice A) is beneficial for lung expansion but is more focused on respiratory therapy rather than preventing complications. Repositioning the client every 8 hours (Choice B) is important for preventing pressure ulcers but is not directly related to preventing respiratory complications. Maintaining the client on bed rest for the first 48 hours (Choice D) can lead to complications such as atelectasis, pneumonia, and deep vein thrombosis due to decreased lung expansion and mobility.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: During an abdominal assessment, the correct sequence of steps is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. This sequence is followed to prevent altering bowel sounds. Inspection allows for visual observation, followed by auscultation to listen for bowel sounds without causing disturbance, percussion to assess for tympany or dullness, and finally palpation to feel for any abnormalities or tenderness. Choice A is incorrect because palpation should come after percussion. Choice B is incorrect as auscultation should be performed after inspection. Choice C is incorrect because palpation should be the final step after percussion.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: When assisting a client with bilateral casts on her hands with feeding, the nurse should sit at the bedside. This action is crucial to provide the client with the nurse's full attention during the feeding process. Sitting at the bedside helps avoid appearing rushed and ensures a safe and comfortable environment for the client. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because while they may be relevant in other situations, the priority when assisting a client with bilateral casts on her hands is to ensure proper attention and a comfortable setting during feeding.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed to 30� is the correct action to take when a client is receiving continuous enteral feedings through a nasogastric tube. This position helps prevent aspiration of the enteral feedings into the lungs, reducing the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Additionally, elevating the head of the bed promotes proper digestion and absorption of the feedings by utilizing gravity to facilitate movement into the stomach and through the gastrointestinal tract. Flushing the tube with water every 2 hours (Choice B) is not necessary for continuous feedings and may disrupt the feeding schedule. Replacing the feeding bag and tubing every 72 hours (Choice C) is not the standard recommendation unless there are specific concerns or complications. Checking the client's gastric residual every 8 hours (Choice D) is important but not the immediate action needed to prevent aspiration during enteral feedings.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: For infants and young children, the vastus lateralis muscle located over the anterior thigh is the preferred site for intramuscular injections. This site is chosen for its large muscle mass and reduced risk of injury to major nerves and blood vessels. Infants have less developed muscle structures, making the vastus lateralis a safer and more effective site for injections compared to other sites like the deltoid, ventrogluteal, or dorsogluteal. Using the correct injection site is essential to prevent complications and ensure the proper absorption of the medication.