NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Practice Test RN Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A 52-year-old client is scheduled for a small-bowel resection in the morning. In conjunction with other preoperative preparation, the nurse is teaching her diaphragmatic breathing exercises. She will teach the client to:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This is the correct method of teaching diaphragmatic breathing, which allows full lung expansion to increase oxygenation, prevent atelectasis, and move secretions up and out of the lungs to decrease risk of pneumonia. Quick, short breaths do not allow for full lung expansion and movement of secretions up and out of the lungs. Quick, short breaths may lead to O2 depletion, hyperventilation, and hypoxia. Expelling breaths through the nose does not allow for full lung expansion and the use of diaphragmatic muscles to assist in moving secretions up and out of the lungs. Inhaling and exhaling at a rate of 20-24 times/min does not allow time for full lung expansion to increase oxygenation. This would most likely lead to O2 depletion and hypoxia.
Question 2 of 5
A client admitted to the psychiatric unit claims to be the Pope and insists that he will not be kept away from his followers. The most likely explanation for the client's delusion is:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Delusions of grandeur, like claiming to be the Pope, often stem from low self-esteem in psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, compensating for feelings of inadequacy. The other factors are less specific.
Question 3 of 5
A 19-year-old client has sustained a C-7 fracture, which resulted in his spinal cord being partially transected. By 2 weeks' postinjury, his neck has been surgically stabilized, and he has been transferred from the intensive care unit. A potential life-threatening complication the nurse monitors the client for is:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomic dysreflexia, a life-threatening exaggerated sympathetic response, can occur in spinal cord injuries above T6, causing severe hypertension.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is preparing to administer oral potassium chloride to an elderly client. Which action should the nurse take before administering the medication?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Potassium chloride can worsen renal function in elderly clients. Checking the creatinine level assesses kidney function to ensure safe administration. Glucose hypocalcemia and withholding food are not directly related to potassium administration.
Question 5 of 5
After 3 weeks of treatment, a severely depressed client suddenly begins to feel better and starts interacting appropriately with other clients and staff. The nurse knows that this client has an increased risk for:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When the severely depressed client suddenly begins to feel better, it often indicates that the client has made the decision to kill himself or herself and has developed a plan to do so. Improvement in behavior is not indicative of an exacerbation of depressive symptoms. The depressed client has a tendency for self-violence, not violence toward others. Depressive behavior is not always accompanied by psychotic behavior.