BLS Basics
The universal sign for choking in an adult
What is holding both hands to the throat?
The primary reason restraints are used on a patient
What is patient safety (to prevent harm to self or others)?
The common identifiers used to confirm a patient's identity
What are: name, date of birth, and/or medical number
The five main vital signs that are typically monitored
What are temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and oxygen saturation?
You are helping an elderly patient who uses a walker to the bathroom. They suddenly feel dizzy and begin to slump. Your immediate action
What is lower them gently to the floor in a controlled manner, protecting their head, and call for help?
The very action you should take upon finding an unresponsive person, after ensuring the scene is safe
What is checking for responsiveness and calling for help?
How often must support staff check on the patient in restraints
What is at least 30 minutes?
This is when you should always verify a patient's identity
What is obtaining and documenting vitals, collecting specimens, performing an ECG, and transferring the patients
A patient's temperature is 95.8 orally. What is one specific common factor you would ask the patient about before reporting this to the nurse as a true hypothermic reading?
If they recently consumed a cold drink, if they are shivering, or if they just came from a cold environment?
What staff should offer a patient every 1-2 hours to proactively meet needs and reduce the urge to get up unassisted
What is hourly rounding (offering toileting, water, repositioning)?
The action you should take for a conscious adult who is choking and cannot speak, cough, or breathe
What are abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)?
This type of observation requires a staff member to be within an arm's reach of the patient at all times, never turning their back, watching TV, or browsing on the phone
What is 1:1 or Constant Observation?
What should you do if a patient tells you their name is different from what's on their ID band
What is to stop, re-verify their identity with the nurse/chart, and clarify the discrepancy before proceeding?
What "rule" do these measurements represent: Temperature over 100, BP under 100, pulse over 100, and what needs to be done about it
"Rule of 100": it must be reported to the RN immediately
You observe a family member assisting a patient at high risk of falls in transferring from bed to chair unsafely. Your action
What is respectfully intervene, explain the correct and safe transfer technique, and offer to assist
This is the rate and depth you should aim for when performing chest compression on adult
What is 100 to 120 compressions per minute at a depth of 2- 2.5 inches?
You are assigned to CO for a patient who is calm but repeatedly attempts to pull out their IV. What is the "least-restrictive" intervention we could try before considering restraints
What is offer distraction, cover the IV site, engage them in conversation, or attempt reorientation
If a patient ID band is found on the floor in their room, and the patient is asleep, your first action, after picking up the band
What is to immediately notify the nurse and NOT reapply the old band, but await a new one after proper verification?
You are about to take a patient's blood pressure but notice they have a cast on their right arm and an IV infusing in their left arm. Your action
Ask the nurse which arm is appropriate, or if a leg cuff should be used?
The proactive communication benefit of red socks and a fall risk armband for staff who may interact with the patient serves a purpose of
What is a visual cue for any staff member entering the room to be extra cautious and offer assistance
This life-saving device delivers an electrical shock to help restore a normal heart rhythm
What is an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)?
The primary reason that physical restraints should never be tied to a movable part of the bed, such as the side rail
What is to prevent injury from self-strangulation or entanglement if the bed position changes or the patient moves?
You are about to collect a blood specimen and notice that the patient appears confused and speaks very little English. Besides the ID band, this is a critical additional step you should take to ensure accuracy and patient satisfaction
What is utilizing the interpreter services (via Rover, iPad, or the double headset phone)
What are you measuring when you take a patient's blood pressure while they are lying down, sitting, and then standing
What are orthostatic (postural) blood pressures
If you find a patient has fallen in the room, and they are unconscious or appear to have sustained a head injury, this is your immediate action before the nurse arrives
What is to protect the head, protect further movement, and call for help?