CHAPTER 27: PATIENT SAFETY PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES | INSTANT PDF
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1. A home health nurse is performing a home assessment for safety. Which of the following
comments by the patient would indicate a need for further education?
A. "I will schedule an appointment with a chimney inspector next week."
B. "Daylight savings is the time to change batteries on the carbon monoxide detector."
C. "If I feel dizzy when using the heater, I need to have it inspected."
D. "When it is cold outside in the winter, I can warm my car up in the garage." - correct answer -
ANS: D
Allowing a car to run in the garage introduces carbon monoxide into the environment and
decreases the available oxygen for human consumption. Garages should be opened and not just
cracked to allow fresh air into the space and allay this concern. Checking the chimney and
heater, changing the batteries on the detector, and following up on symptoms such as dizziness,
nausea, and fatigue are all statements that would indicate that the individual has understood
the education.
2. The nurse is caring for an elderly patient admitted with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Upon
completing the health history, which priority concern would require collaboration with social
services to address the patient's health care needs?
A. The electricity was turned off 2 days ago.
B. The water comes from the county water supply.
C. A son and family recently moved into the home.
D. The home is not furnished with a microwave oven. - correct answer -ANS: A
Electricity is needed for refrigeration of food, and lack of electricity could have contributed to
the nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—potential food poisoning. This discussion about the
patient's electrical needs can be referred to social services. The water supply, the increased
,number of individuals in the home, and not having a microwave may or may not be concerns
but do not pertain to the current health care needs of this patient.
3. The patient has been diagnosed with a respiratory illness and complains of shortness of
breath. The nurse adjusts the temperature to facilitate the comfort of the patient. What is the
usual comfort range for most patients?
A. 65° F to 75° F
B. 60° F to 75° F
C. 15° C to 17° C
D. 25° C to 28° C - correct answer -ANS: A
The comfort zone for most individuals is the range between 65° F and 75° F (18.3° C to 23.9° C).
The other ranges do not reflect the average person's comfort zone.
4. A homeless adult patient presents to the emergency department. The nurse obtains the
following vital signs: temperature 94.8° F, blood pressure 100/56, apical pulse 56, respiratory
rate 12. Which of the vital signs should be addressed immediately?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Temperature
C. Apical pulse
D. Blood pressure - correct answer -ANS: B
Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature of 95° F or below. Homeless individuals are
more at risk for hypothermia owing to exposure to the elements.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient with a urinary catheter. After the nurse empties the collection
bag and disposes of the urine, the next step is to
A. Use alcohol-based gel on hands.
B. Wash hands with soap and water.
, C. Remove eye protection and dispose of in garbage.
D. Remove gloves and dispose of in garbage. - correct answer -ANS: D
After disposing of the urine, the first step in removing personal protective equipment is
removing gloves and disposing of them properly. In this scenario, the next step would be to
remove eye protection followed by hand hygiene. Wash hands if the hands are visibly soiled;
otherwise the use of alcohol-based gel is indicated for routine decontamination of hands.
6. The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. The nurse explains that the reason for writing in
indelible ink on the surgical site the word "correct" is to
A. Distinguish the correct surgical site.
B. Label the correct patient.
C. Comply with the surgeon's preference.
D. Adhere to the correct regulatory standard. - correct answer -ANS: A
The purpose of writing on the surgical site as part of the Universal Protocol from the Joint
Commission is to distinguish the correct site on the correct patient and match with the correct
surgeon for patient safety and prevention of wrong site surgery. All patients who are having an
invasive procedure should receive labeling in many different ways, including the record and
patient armbands. Writing in indelible ink may comply with the surgeon's preference, but safety
is the driving factor. Although labeling of the site helps to meet regulatory standards, this is not
the reason to do this activity—the reason is to keep the patient safe.
7. The nurse identifies that a patient has received Mylanta (simethicone) instead of the
prescribed Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) for the problem of indigestion. The nurse's next
intervention is to
A. Do nothing, no harm has occurred.
B. Assess and monitor the patient.
C. Notify the physician, treat and document.
D. Complete an incident report. - correct answer -ANS: B
After providing an incorrect medication, assessing and monitoring the patient to determine the
effects of the medication is the first step. Notifying the physician and providing treatment would
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES | INSTANT PDF
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1. A home health nurse is performing a home assessment for safety. Which of the following
comments by the patient would indicate a need for further education?
A. "I will schedule an appointment with a chimney inspector next week."
B. "Daylight savings is the time to change batteries on the carbon monoxide detector."
C. "If I feel dizzy when using the heater, I need to have it inspected."
D. "When it is cold outside in the winter, I can warm my car up in the garage." - correct answer -
ANS: D
Allowing a car to run in the garage introduces carbon monoxide into the environment and
decreases the available oxygen for human consumption. Garages should be opened and not just
cracked to allow fresh air into the space and allay this concern. Checking the chimney and
heater, changing the batteries on the detector, and following up on symptoms such as dizziness,
nausea, and fatigue are all statements that would indicate that the individual has understood
the education.
2. The nurse is caring for an elderly patient admitted with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Upon
completing the health history, which priority concern would require collaboration with social
services to address the patient's health care needs?
A. The electricity was turned off 2 days ago.
B. The water comes from the county water supply.
C. A son and family recently moved into the home.
D. The home is not furnished with a microwave oven. - correct answer -ANS: A
Electricity is needed for refrigeration of food, and lack of electricity could have contributed to
the nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—potential food poisoning. This discussion about the
patient's electrical needs can be referred to social services. The water supply, the increased
,number of individuals in the home, and not having a microwave may or may not be concerns
but do not pertain to the current health care needs of this patient.
3. The patient has been diagnosed with a respiratory illness and complains of shortness of
breath. The nurse adjusts the temperature to facilitate the comfort of the patient. What is the
usual comfort range for most patients?
A. 65° F to 75° F
B. 60° F to 75° F
C. 15° C to 17° C
D. 25° C to 28° C - correct answer -ANS: A
The comfort zone for most individuals is the range between 65° F and 75° F (18.3° C to 23.9° C).
The other ranges do not reflect the average person's comfort zone.
4. A homeless adult patient presents to the emergency department. The nurse obtains the
following vital signs: temperature 94.8° F, blood pressure 100/56, apical pulse 56, respiratory
rate 12. Which of the vital signs should be addressed immediately?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Temperature
C. Apical pulse
D. Blood pressure - correct answer -ANS: B
Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature of 95° F or below. Homeless individuals are
more at risk for hypothermia owing to exposure to the elements.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient with a urinary catheter. After the nurse empties the collection
bag and disposes of the urine, the next step is to
A. Use alcohol-based gel on hands.
B. Wash hands with soap and water.
, C. Remove eye protection and dispose of in garbage.
D. Remove gloves and dispose of in garbage. - correct answer -ANS: D
After disposing of the urine, the first step in removing personal protective equipment is
removing gloves and disposing of them properly. In this scenario, the next step would be to
remove eye protection followed by hand hygiene. Wash hands if the hands are visibly soiled;
otherwise the use of alcohol-based gel is indicated for routine decontamination of hands.
6. The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. The nurse explains that the reason for writing in
indelible ink on the surgical site the word "correct" is to
A. Distinguish the correct surgical site.
B. Label the correct patient.
C. Comply with the surgeon's preference.
D. Adhere to the correct regulatory standard. - correct answer -ANS: A
The purpose of writing on the surgical site as part of the Universal Protocol from the Joint
Commission is to distinguish the correct site on the correct patient and match with the correct
surgeon for patient safety and prevention of wrong site surgery. All patients who are having an
invasive procedure should receive labeling in many different ways, including the record and
patient armbands. Writing in indelible ink may comply with the surgeon's preference, but safety
is the driving factor. Although labeling of the site helps to meet regulatory standards, this is not
the reason to do this activity—the reason is to keep the patient safe.
7. The nurse identifies that a patient has received Mylanta (simethicone) instead of the
prescribed Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) for the problem of indigestion. The nurse's next
intervention is to
A. Do nothing, no harm has occurred.
B. Assess and monitor the patient.
C. Notify the physician, treat and document.
D. Complete an incident report. - correct answer -ANS: B
After providing an incorrect medication, assessing and monitoring the patient to determine the
effects of the medication is the first step. Notifying the physician and providing treatment would
