Guide Questions Line (CPN) and Answers 2026/2027
Which nursing action will best ensure the safety of a patient who is about to receive an
infusion of parenteral nutrition?
A. Assess the patient's blood glucose level by fingerstick.
B. Verify the physician's order for central parenteral nutrition (CPN) and the flow rate.
C. Confirm that the CPN infusion pump's alarm system is functioning properly.
D. Instruct the patient concerning the purpose for administering the CPN solution. -
correct answer B. Verify the physician's order for central parenteral nutrition (CPN) and
the flow rate.
Rationale: Verifying the physician's order for CPN and the flow rate will help ensure that
the right solution is administered to the right patient at the right rate. Assessing the
patient's blood glucose level is not the best action to ensure patient safety. Confirming
that the CPN infusion pump's alarm system is functioning properly is not the best action
to ensure patient safety. Providing patient education before starting the infusion is
appropriate but will not ensure patient safety.
A patient for whom an intravenous antibiotic is prescribed has a multilumen central line
in place for central parenteral nutrition (CPN). What should the nurse do?
A. Infuse the antibiotic through another lumen of the multilumen central line.
B. Interrupt the CPN infusion only long enough to administer the antibiotic.
C. Rearrange the antibiotic administration schedule so it does not interfere with the
CPN.
D. Ask the prescriber if the route of administration for the antibiotic can be changed. -
correct answer A. Infuse the antibiotic through another lumen of the multilumen central
line.
Rationale: IV medications and blood should be infused through a different line or lumen
than CPN. The parenteral nutrition must not be interrupted for medication
administration. Intravenous medications are to be infused through an alternative line or
lumen, not through the same lumen or port being used for parenteral nutrition. It would
be inappropriate for the nurse to ask the prescriber to change the route of administration