NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Practice Test RN Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
An 18-year-old client enters the emergency room complaining of coughing, chest tightness, dyspnea, and sputum production. On physical assessment, the nurse notes agitation, nasal flaring, tachypnea, and expiratory wheezing. These signs should alert the nurse to:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A tension pneumothorax is an accumulation of air in the pleural space. Important physical assessment findings to confirm this condition include cyanosis, jugular vein distention, absent breath sounds on the affected side, distant heart sounds, and lowered blood pressure. Asthma is a disorder in which there is an airflow obstruction in the bronchioles and smaller bronchi secondary to bronchospasm, swelling of mucous membranes, and increased mucus production. Physical assessment reveals some important findings: agitation, nasal flaring, tachypnea, and expiratory wheezing. Pneumonia is an acute bacterial or viral infection that causes inflammation of the lung in the alveolar and interstitial tissue and results in consolidation. Specific assessment findings to confirm this condition include decreased chest expansion caused by pleuritic pain, dullness on percussion over consolidated areas, decreased breath sounds, and increased vocal fremitus. A pulmonary embolus is the passage of a foreign substance (blood clot, fat, air, or amniotic fluid) into the pulmonary artery or its branches, with subsequent obstruction of blood supply to lung tissue. Specific assessment findings that confirm this condition include tachypnea, tachycardia, crackles (rales), transient friction rub, diaphoresis, edema, and cyanosis.
Question 2 of 5
A patient with a PCA pump (patient controlled analgesia) asks the nurse if he can become overdosed with pain medication using this machine. Which statement made by the nurse is correct?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PCA pumps have a lockout interval and dose limits programmed to prevent overdose, ensuring safe administration of pain medication. The other statements are inaccurate: PCA requires patient action, does not deliver large doses every four hours, and is not based on ‘need’ detection.
Question 3 of 5
Which finding in the patient's history contraindicates the use of Imitrex (sumatriptan) for the prevention of migraine headaches?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sumatriptan (Imitrex) is a vasoconstrictor contraindicated in patients with angina due to the risk of coronary artery vasoconstriction and ischemia. Diabetes renal calculi and peptic ulcer disease are not contraindications for sumatriptan.
Question 4 of 5
When interviewing parents who are suspected of child abuse, the nurse would use which of the following interview techniques?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse must be honest, direct, professional, and attentive in her interview to gain the parent's trust. The nurse should approach the parents in private, away from the child. Asking them to relive and evaluate the situation may be looked at as placing blame on the parents for the child's 'accident.' At this point, the parents may get defensive and stop communicating. Although you may call child protective services, the nurse should inform the parents of their responsibility to do this and explain the process to them.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is teaching a client with a history of osteoarthritis about exercise. The nurse should tell the client to:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Low-impact activities like swimming reduce joint stress in osteoarthritis, improving mobility and reducing pain.