NCLEX-RN
NCLEX-RN Exam Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
The client is admitted to the emergency room with shortness of breath, anxiety, and tachycardia. His ECG reveals atrial fibrillation with a ventricular response rate of 130 beats per minute. The doctor orders quinidine sulfate. While he is receiving quinidine, the nurse should monitor his ECG for:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Quinidine, an antiarrhythmic, can prolong the QT interval, increasing the risk of torsades de pointes. Monitoring the ECG for QT prolongation is critical. The other ECG changes are not specific to quinidine.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client with a history of a fractured pelvis who is in skeletal traction. The nurse should:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Monitoring for infection at pin sites prevents osteomyelitis in skeletal traction. Turning is limited, weights must hang freely, and lotion is unnecessary.
Question 3 of 5
Two weeks after a client's admission for depression, the physician orders a consult for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Which of the following conditions, if present, would be a contraindication for ECT?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A contraindication for ECT is a space-occupying lesion such as a brain tumor. During ECT, intracranial pressure increases.
Therefore, ECT would not be prescribed for a client whose intracranial pressure is already elevated.
Question 4 of 5
A 14-year-old boy has a head injury with laceration of his scalp over his ear. The nurse should call the physician to report:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This change in blood pressure may not be significant and does not indicate a widening pulse pressure, a late sign of increased ICP. It is important to continue to monitor for change in blood pressure. Acetaminophen may be ineffective in relieving headache after head injury. Stronger analgesics are contraindicated because they mask neurological signs and may depress the CNS. Pulse rates between 68 bpm and 76 bpm are within normal limits for a 14-year-old child. It is important to monitor for a consistent drop in pulse rate, which is a late sign of increasing ICP. An elevated temperature is abnormal and requires further assessment and medical intervention. The temperature may be unrelated to the head injury, but CNS infection is serious and difficult to control.
Question 5 of 5
A 9-month-old infant is being examined in the general pediatric clinic for a routine well-child checkup. His immunizations are up to date, and his mother reports that he has had no significant illnesses or injuries. Which of the following signs would lead the nurse to believe that he has had a cerebral injury?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Infants older than 6 months of age should not have significant head lag. This is a sign of cerebral injury and should be referred for further evaluation.