NCLEX-PN
NCLEX PN Practice Test with NGN Questions
Extract:
The nurse is caring for an 82-year-old client in the emergency department.
Nurses' Notes
0930:
The client reports shortness of breath and left-sided chest pain for 2 days. The client fractured the right femoral neck a month ago after a fall and decided against operative management. Since then, the client has been wheelchair dependent and takes acetaminophen for fracture pain management. The client was placed on continuous cardiac monitoring.
History and physical
Body System
Neurological
The client is awake, alert, and oriented to person, place, time, and situation; the client appears anxious
Pulmonary
Vital signs are RR 22, SpOz 89% on room air; bilateral breath sounds are clear; pain increases with inhalation; the client reports shortness of breath for the past 2 days; the client smoked 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 10 years.
Cardiovascular
Vital signs are T 99.8 F (37.7 C), P 110, BP 110/60; S1 and S2 are present; there are no murmurs, redness and edema of the right lower extremity are noted; sinus tachycardia is seen on the monitor, chest pain is reported as 7 on a scale of 0-10
Musculoskeletal
The client has osteoporosis, is wheelchair dependent, and is unable to bear weight on the right leg
Diagnostic Results
CT pulmonary angiography
1030: Pulmonary embolism is confirmed
Lower extremity doppler ultrasound
1100: Deep venous thrombosis is noted in the right lower extremity.
Question 1 of 5
For each finding, click to specify whether the finding indicates that the client's status has improved or declined.
Correct Answer: A: Improved; B: Improved; C: Improved; D: Declined; E: Improved
Rationale: A: HR 90 (down from 110) indicates improved cardiovascular stability. B: RR 18 (down from 22) suggests improved respiratory status. C: SpO2 92% (up from 89%) indicates improved oxygenation. D: Decreased platelet count suggests a decline, possibly due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. E: Pain rated 3 (down from 7) indicates improved pain control.
Extract:
The nurse in the surgical unit is caring for a 57-year-old client who underwent an abdominal hysterectomy.
Progress Notes
1 Day Postoperative
0800:
The client underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy and tumor debulking 1 day ago for treatment of ovarian cancer. She has had four episodes of vomiting with bilious emesis over the past 12 hours, which have continued despite V antiemetic administration. The client has been receiving V broad-spectrum antibiotics since the procedure. The skin is warm. A low transverse abdominal incision is present; staples are clean and dry. Chest expansion is symmetric; respirations are unlabored: diminished breath sounds are auscultated in bilateral lower lobes. Radial pulses 2+ bilaterally, capillary refill <3 seconds in all four extremities; no peripheral edema is noted. The client reports frequent hot flashes occurring roughly every hour, starting last night. The abdomen is markedly distended and tender to palpation. Bowel sounds are absent in all four quadrants; the client reports no flatus. Urine is clear yellow with moderate output. The client reports incontinence with coughing or during episodes of vomiting.
Prescriptions
0820:
• 5% dextrose and 0.45% sodium chloride at 75 m/hr continuous
• 50% dextrose 25 mg IV push as needed for blood glucose <70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L)
• Ketorolac 15 mg IV push every 6 hours as needed for severe pain
• Ondansetron 8 mg PO every 8 hours as needed for nausea
• Pantoprazole 40 mg PO daily
• Potassium chloride 40 mEq/100 mL IVPB once
• Sips of clear liquids, advance diet as tolerated
Laboratory Results
Laboratory Test and Reference Range: 1 day postoperative
WBC count:
5000-10.000/mm3 (5-10 × 10%L): 12,000/mm3 (12 × 10°/L)
Urea nitrogen (BUN)
10-20 mg/dL (3.6-7.1 mmol/L): 24 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L)
Creatinine
Male: 0.6-1.2 mg/dL(53-106 umol/L):
1.6 mg/dL (141.4 pmol/L)
Female: 0.5-1.1 mg/dL (44-97 umol/L):
Potassium
3.5-5.0 mEq/L (3.5--5.0 mmol/L): 3.3 mEq/L (3.3 mmol/L)
Sodium
135-145 mEq/L (135-145 mmol/L): 137 mEq/L (137 mmol/L)
Blood glucose level
74-106 mg/dL (4.1-5.9 mmol/L): 75 mg/dL (4.2 mmol/L)
Question 2 of 5
The nurse has reviewed the information from the Prescriptions and Laboratory Results. The nurse is planning care with the registered nurse. Select 2 prescriptions the nurse should anticipate initiating first.
Correct Answer: A, F
Rationale: IV fluids (
A) are critical to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance, especially with vomiting and ileus. Potassium chloride (F) addresses the low potassium level (3.3 mEq/L). Dextrose is not needed with normal glucose (75 mg/dL). Ketorolac and ondansetron are as-needed, and pantoprazole is daily but less urgent. Clear liquids may exacerbate ileus.
Extract:
The nurse is caring for an 82-year-old client in the emergency department.
Nurses' Notes
0930:
The client reports shortness of breath and left-sided chest pain for 2 days. The client fractured the right femoral neck a month ago after a fall and decided against operative management. Since then, the client has been wheelchair dependent and takes acetaminophen for fracture pain management. The client was placed on continuous cardiac monitoring.
History and physical
Body System
Neurological
The client is awake, alert, and oriented to person, place, time, and situation; the client appears anxious
Pulmonary
Vital signs are RR 22, SpOz 89% on room air; bilateral breath sounds are clear; pain increases with inhalation; the client reports shortness of breath for the past 2 days; the client smoked 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 10 years.
Cardiovascular
Vital signs are T 99.8 F (37.7 C), P 110, BP 110/60; S1 and S2 are present; there are no murmurs, redness and edema of the right lower extremity are noted; sinus tachycardia is seen on the monitor, chest pain is reported as 7 on a scale of 0-10
Musculoskeletal
The client has osteoporosis, is wheelchair dependent, and is unable to bear weight on the right leg
Diagnostic Results
CT pulmonary angiography
1030: Pulmonary embolism is confirmed
Lower extremity doppler ultrasound
1100: Deep venous thrombosis is noted in the right lower extremity.
Question 3 of 5
For each finding, click to specify whether the finding indicates that the client's status has improved or declined.
| Finding | Improved | Declined |
|---|---|---|
| HR 90 | ||
| RR 18 | ||
| SpO2 92% on room air | ||
| Decreased platelet count | ||
| Pain rated as 3 on a scale of 0-10 |
Correct Answer: A: Improved; B: Improved; C: Improved; D: Declined; E: Improved
Rationale: A: HR 90 (down from 110) indicates improved cardiovascular stability. B: RR 18 (down from 22) suggests improved respiratory status. C: SpO2 92% (up from 89%) indicates improved oxygenation. D: Decreased platelet count suggests a decline, possibly due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. E: Pain rated 3 (down from 7) indicates improved pain control.
Extract:
The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a 62-year-old client.
History and Physical
Neurological
The client is alert and oriented to time, place, person, and situation; the client reports sudden-onset right-sided facial drooping, speech is slurred; positive right-sided arm drift is seen
Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat (EENT)
Bilateral pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation
Pulmonary
Vital signs: RR 16, SpO, 95% on room air, lung sounds are clear bilaterally
Cardiovascular
Vital signs: T 99 F (37.2 C), P 86, BP 166/90; S1 and S2 are heard on auscultation; no murmurs are noted; the client has a history of hypertension
Musculoskeletal
Right-sided lower extremity weakness is seen
Endocrine
The client has diabetes mellitus
Psychosocial
The client reports drinking one glass of wine each evening with dinner, no tobacco use, and a history of major depression; the client takes sertraline.
Laboratory Results
During Admission
Blood Chemistry.
Glucose: 72 mg/dL (4.0 mmol/L)
Sodium: 133 mEq/L (133 mEq/L)
Chloride: 101 mEq/L (101 mmol/L)
Potassium: 3.7 mEq/L (3.7 mmol/L)
Laboratory Test and Reference Range
Blood Chemistry.
Glucose 74-106 mg/dL (4.1-5.9 mmol/L)
Sodium 136-145 mEq/L (136-145 mmol/L)
Chloride 98-106 mEq/L(98-106 mmol/L)
Potassium 3.5-5.0 mEq/L (3.5-5.0 mmol/L
Diagnostic Results
Admission
CT scan of the head without contrast
1830:
No areas of hemorrhage are noted
Nurses’ notes
Intensive Care Unit
2100:
Tissue plasminogen activator infusion is complete.
2330:
The client suddenly has become combative and confused and is disoriented to person, place, and time. The client vomited once forcefully. Neurologic assessment shows confusion and right-sided weakness.
Vital signs: T 100 F (37.8 C), P 105, RR 18, BP 188/94, SpO2 96% on room air.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse has reviewed the information from the Nurses' Notes. Which of the following is the priority action?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The client's sudden change in mental status (combative, confused, disoriented) and vomiting after tissue plasminogen activator (tP
A) infusion suggest a possible intracranial hemorrhage, a known complication of tPA. A repeat CT scan is the priority to assess for this life-threatening condition.
Extract:
The nurse is caring for a client on the medical-surgical unit.
History
Admission
0500: The client is admitted with an abscess and cellulitis of the right leg. The abscess is noted on the lateral aspect of the right calf, with redness, swelling, and warmth extending from the knee to the ankle. The abscess was incised in the emergency department, and a moderate amount of purulent, yellowish-green drainage was noted. The leg was wrapped with gauze, and the client received the first dose of IV antibiotics and opioids for pain control.
The client reports chronic lower back pain and gastrosophageal reflux disease, and he was admitted to the hospital once last year for gastrointestinal bleeding. He is currently prescribed daily pantoprazole but takes it only a few times a week.
Vital signs: T 100.9 F (38.3 C), P 82, RR 14, BP 130/80, SpO, 95% on room air
Progress Notes
Medical-Surgical Unit
2300:
The client reports nausea, headache, and insomnia. The client is trembling, diaphoretic, and restless.
The client states, "I would sleep better if those mice and cats would stop climbing up and down the walls."
The upper portion of the clients dressing is saturated with yellowish-green drainage. The peripheral V was removed by the client, and dried blood is noted at the IV site. The IV catheter is on the floor. The client yelled and pushed the nurse's hands away during inspection of the IV site.
Vital signs: T 99 F (37.2 C), P 102, RR 18, BP 170/96, SpO≥ 95% on room air
Question 5 of 5
The client is preparing for discharge after treatment for cellulitis and alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The client expresses motivation to stop using alcohol and is prescribed naltrexone. Which of the following client statements indicate progress toward the goal of abstinence and long-term recovery? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A,B,E
Rationale: A: Acknowledging alcohol's negative impact shows insight. B: Joining a recovery program supports sobriety. E: Having a plan to manage cravings (e.g., calling a sponsor) indicates commitment. C is incorrect as it suggests continued drinking, and D blames others without addressing personal responsibility.