NCLEX-PN
NCLEX PN Test Questions with NGN Questions
Extract:
Nurses' Notes
Outpatient Clinic
Initial
visit
The child recently started attending a new preschool and hit a teacher during lunch. The parent says, "My
child has never been aggressive before but has always been particular about food."
The client was born at full term without complications and has no significant medical history. The child
started babbling at age 6 months, and the parent reports that the first words were spoken around age 12
months. The client then became quiet and "obsessed" with stacking blocks and organizing toys by color.
The child can kick a ball, draw a circle, pedal a tricycle, and now says two-word phrases. Vitals signs are
normal, and the client is tracking adequately on growth curves.
During the evaluation, the child sits in the corner of the room playing with blocks. The client does not follow
the parents gaze when the parent points to toys in the office. The child begins screaming and rocking back
and forth when the health care provider comes near.
Question 1 of 5
For each finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the disease process of autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or separation anxiety disorder. Each finding may support more than one disease process.
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (AS
D) range in severity from one individual to another. Clients often demonstrate a
ritualized pattern of behavior, resulting in distress and self-harm (eg, hitting the head) in response to changes in routine or
environment. Other manifestations include disinterest in social interaction, deficiency in verbal and nonverbal
communication (eg, lack of spontaneous eye contact or facial expressions), and restricted, fixated thoughts or interests
(eg, attached to unusual objects).
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OC
D) is characterized by obsessions (ie, restricted, fixated thoughts, impulses, or
images) and compulsions (ie, ritualistic, repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety or prevent an adverse event).
These compulsions are time consuming and cause significant distress. In contrast to those with OCD, clients with ASD are not
bothered about their preoccupations or mannerisms and do not desire to change. Clients with OCD do not have issues with
social interaction or social-emotional reciprocity (eg, poor eye contact).
Extract:
The nurse is performing a home health visit for an 84-year-old male.
History and Physical
Body System, Findings
General,
Client reports a 1-month-long history of fatigue and dyspnea that has worsened; he is unable to lie
flat and sleeps in a chair at night, medical history includes myocardial infarction, chronic heart
failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus; client
was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia 8 months ago; client is adherent with prescribed
medications; client reports frequent consumption of donuts, hamburgers, steak, and fried chicken;
BMI is 34 kg/m?; client reports 6-Ib (2.7-kg) weight gain in 1 week
Neurological,
Alert and oriented to person, place, time, and situation
Pulmonary,
Vital signs: RR 24, SpOz 88% on room air; labored breathing, crackles in bilateral lung bases; client
expectorates frothy, pink-tinged sputum; client has a 40-year history of smoking 1 pack of cigarettes
per day
Cardiovascular,
Vital signs: T 98.8 F (37.1 C), P 98, BP 113/92; S1, S2, and S3 present; 3+ bilateral lower extremity
edema
Genitourinary, Concentrated yellow urine; client reports increased urinary hesitancy and urgency
Psychosocial,
Client reports being lonely and has depressed mental status
Question 2 of 5
The health care provider has confirmed that the client is experiencing an exacerbation of heart failure. For each potential prescription, click to specify if the prescription is expected or unexpected for the care of the client.
| Potential Prescription, Expected, Unexpected |
| Perform daily weights |
| Administer furosemide |
| Apply compression stockings |
| Encourage the client to limit mobility |
| Encourage increased oral fluid intake |
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Heart failure (F) exacerbation management focuses on improving oxygenation and reducing fluid overload. Expected
prescriptions include:
• Performing daily weights to monitor fluid volume status and guide treatment. Ideally, daily weights should be performed
at the same time of day, on the same scale, and with the client wearing the same amount/type of clothes. Rapid weight
gain (ie, >5 lb/week [(2.3 kg/week]) should be communicated to the health care provider immediately.
• Administering loop diuretics (eg, furosemide, torsemide, bumetanide) to prevent reabsorption of sodium and chloride in
the kidneys, which increases fluid excretion and urine output. This provides symptom relief by reducing pulmonary
congestion and peripheral edema.
• Applying compression stockings, a common nopharmacological intervention, to promote venous blood return and
reduce peripheral edema.
Limiting mobility is unexpected for a client with increased fluid volume. The client should be encouraged to ambulate
frequently to promote venous return, exercise cardiac muscle, and reduce risk of deep venous thrombosis.
Increasing oral fluid intake is unexpected for a client with hypervolemia (ie, heart failure exacerbation) because it
exacerbates existing symptoms (eg, edema, pulmonary congestion).
Extract:
Nurses' Notes
Outpatient Clinic
Initial
visit
The child recently started attending a new preschool and hit a teacher during lunch. The parent says,
"My
child has never been aggressive before but has always been particular about food."
The client was born at full term without complications and has no significant medical history. The child
started babbling at age 6 months, and the parent reports that the first words were spoken around age 12
months. The client then became quiet and "obsessed" with stacking blocks and organizing toys by color.
The child can kick a ball, draw a circle, pedal a tricycle, and now says two-word phrases. Vitals signs are
normal, and the client is tracking adequately on growth curves.
During the evaluation, the child sits in the corner of the room playing with blocks. The client does not follow
the parents gaze when the parent points to toys in the office. The child begins screaming and rocking back
and forth when the health care provider comes near.
Laboratory Results
Laboratory Test and
Reference Range
1030
Glucose (random)
71-200 mg/dL
(3.9-11.1 mmol/L)
110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L)
Sodium
136-145 mEq/L
(136-145 mmol/L)|
133 mEq/L (133 mmol/L)|
Potassium
3.5-5.0 mEq/L
(3.5-5.0 mmol/L)
4.5 mEq/L (4.5 mmol/L)
B-type natriuretic peptide
<100 pg/mL
(<100 ng/L)
640 pg/mL (640 ng/L)
Diagnostic Results
Chest X-ray
1030:Mild cardiomegaly
Echocardiogram
1100:Mild left ventricular hypertrophy with left ventricular ejection fraction of 30%
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following findings indicate that the client is improving as expected? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D
Rationale: Clinical improvement in a client with heart failure includes manifestations of reduced cardiac workload and improved fluid
volume status and gas exchange. A decrease in blood pressure from 170/100 mm Hg to 138/70 mm Hg and increased
urinary output indicate effectiveness of diuretics to reduce circulatory fluid volume and antihypertensive medications to
decrease cardiac workload . In addition, clear lung sounds and an increased capillary oxygen
saturation (SpO2) indicate a decrease in pulmonary congestion and an improvement in fluid volume status
Extract:
Nurses' Notes
Initial Clinic Visit
1100:
The client has experienced enuresis at night for the past 2 weeks and frequently requests to use the
bathroom while at school. The client was previously toilet trained with no nighttime bed wetting for 6 months;
the client recently relocated to a new home and school where the client lives with parents.
The parent reports that the client has recently demonstrated fatigue, irritability, and multiple behavioral
outbursts that resemble past temper tantrums. The client frequently reports feeling thirsty. No dysuria or
urinary hesitancy is reported.
Weight and height were in the 40th percentiles at the previous visit a year ago. Growth charts today show
the client's weight in the 20th percentile and height in the 40th percentile.
The client appears tired and irritable. Dry mucous membranes are noted with no increased work of
breathing. The lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. No cardiac murmur is heard.
Question 4 of 5
For each client finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the disease process of behavior regression,diabetes mellitus, or urinary tract infection. Each finding may support more than one disease process.
| Finding | Behavior Regression | Diabetes Mellitus | Urinary Tract Infection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatigue | |||
| Irritability | |||
| Polydipsia | |||
| Urinary frequency | |||
| Nocturnal enuresis |
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Behavior regression is the return to a previous behavior as an act of coping. This may be caused by a stressful event (eg,
new school, parental divorce, relocation). Clinical findings may include withdrawal or the return of previous behaviors that
resemble toddlerhood (eg, temper tantrums [fatigue, irritability], nocturnal enuresis).
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin deficiency (type 1 DM) or resistance (type 2 DM),
which leads to increased blood glucose levels (ie, hyperglycemia) and signs of cellular starvation (eg, fatigue, irritability,
weight loss) from decreased glucose use. Glucose increases the osmolality of blood, which pulls water into the intravascular
space and leads to excessive urination (eg, urinary frequency, nocturnal enuresis). As the kidneys excrete excess glucose,
the body loses water, resulting in hypovolemia and signs of dehydration (eg, increased thirst [polydipsial, dry mucous
membranes).
A urinary tract infection is an infection of the urethra, bladder, ureters, and/or kidneys. Common manifestations include
fatigue, fever, painful urination (ie, dysuria), urinary frequency and urgency, and nocturnal enuresis. Irritability may be a
sign of illness in a child who has difficulty verbalizing or understanding the cause of the symptoms. Although increased urinary
frequency is seen (due to bladder irritation), volume is not excessive (unlike osmotic diuresis of DM); therefore, clients are not
dehydrated and would not report polydipsia.
Extract:
The nurse is caring for a 20-year-old female client.
Nurses' Notes
Urgent Care Clinic
0845: The parent brought the client to the clinic due to vomiting and weakness. The parent states that the client has experienced
sore throat and nasal congestion for the past week. The client has had 4 episodes of emesis during the past 24 hours and
diffuse, constant abdominal pain. The parent also reports that the client has had increased thirst and urine output over the
past 2 months.
The client's last menstrual period ended approximately 6 weeks ago with no abnormalities. Pregnancy status is unknown. The
client does not take any medications and does not use tobacco, alcohol, or recreational substances. Family history includes
hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
The client appears drowsy and is oriented to person and time only. The abdomen is soft without rigidity or rebound
tenderness, and bowel sounds are normal. No blood is present in emesis. Respirations are rapid and deep. Breath sounds
are clear.
Vital signs are T 98.8 F (37.1 C), P 128, RR 30, and BP 88/60 mm Hg.
Finger-stick blood glucose level is 600 mg/dL (33.3 mmol/L).
Laboratory Results
Laboratory Test and Reference Range, 0900
Glucose, serum (random)
≤200 mg/dL
(<11.1 mmol/L),
573 mg/dL
(31.8 mmol/L)
Potassium
3.5-5.0 mEq/L
(3.5-5.0 mmol/L),
5.7 mEq/L
(5.7 mmol/L)
Question 5 of 5
Drag words from the choices below to fill in the blanks. The nurse gathers supplies for medication administration. The nurse recognizes that the priority prescriptions are -------and ----------
Correct Answer: E,B
Rationale: The priority intervention for management of diabetic ketoacidosis is fluid resuscitation with isotonic IV fluid, typically starting with large-voli
0.9% sodium chloride IV boluses (eg, 1 L/hr) to prevent life-threatening hypovolemic shock. Fluid resuscitation also helps normalize
glucose and electrolyte levels via hemodilution. After initial large-volume boluses are complete, either hypotonic or isotonic IV fluids are
administered at continuous rate. Administration of regular insulin continuous IV infusion is also essential to correct hyperglycemia.