NCLEX-PN
NCLEX PN Test Questions with NGN Questions
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 1 of 5
The nurse has reviewed the information from the Laboratory Results. The client is transferred to an inpatient care facility. Which of the following orders should the nurse expect for the client? Select all that apply
Correct Answer: A,B,C,G
Rationale: Management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DK
A) initially focuses on IV fluid resuscitation to reverse hypovolemia and then correction of
hyperglycemia, electrolyte abnormalities, and acid-base imbalance. Appropriate interventions include:
• Continuous insulin IV infusion to correct hyperglycemia. IV insulin has a more rapid onset of action than subcutaneous insulin, whic
allows faster and more precise management of the blood glucose level (Option 1).
• Continuous cardiac monitoring to detect dyshythmias related to metabolic acidosis or electrolyte abnormalities (Option 2).
• Hourly finger-stick blood glucose level checks to monitor for treatment effectiveness and detect any hypoglycemia related to the
insulin infusion (Option 3).
• Isotonic IV fluid (eg, 0.9% sodium chloride) to replace fluid losses and strict intake and output monitoring to evaluate the
effectiveness of fluid resuscitation and monitor for signs of acute kidney injury (Option 6).
• Frequent monitoring of arterial blood gas levels and electrolyte levels.
Extract:
History and Physical
Body System
Findings
General
Client reports a 1-week history of general malaise, fever and chills, night sweats, fatigue, and
poor appetite. Client has poorly controlled hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and mitral
valve prolapse and regurgitation.
Eye, Ear, Nose, and
Throat (EENT)
Poor dental hygiene. Client reports having 2 teeth extracted 3 weeks ago.
Pulmonary
Vital signs are RR 18 and SpO, 96% on room air. Lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally.
Cardiovascular
Vital signs are T 100.4 F (38 C), P 105, and BP 140/82. Sinus tachycardia with occasional
premature ventricular contractions on cardiac monitor. S1 and S2 heard on auscultation with
loud systolic murmur at the apex. Peripheral pulses 2+; no edema noted.
Integumentary
Small, erythematous macular lesions on both palms. Thin, brown longitudinal lines on several
nail beds.
Question 2 of 5
Complete the following sentence/sentences by choosing from the list of options. The nurse recognizes that the client is most likely experiencing ----------interventions to prevent ---------
Correct Answer: F,B
Rationale: The nurse recognizes that the client is most likely experiencing infective endocarditis (lE) and should prioritize interventions
to prevent systemic emboli.
The client is most likely experiencing IE based on the history of a recent dental procedure and clinical findings of infection (eg,
fever, flu-like symptoms), microemboli (eg, splinter hemorrhages, Janeway lesions), and cardiac murmur. In addition to
microemboli, larger pieces of vegetation can break off the heart valve and embolize to various organs, causing life-threatening
complications (eg, stroke, spleen/kidney infarction).
Extract:
History and Physical
Body System,Findings
General
Client has history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diverticulosis, and
osteoarthritis; Helicobacter pylori infection 2 years ago; client reports taking over-the-counter
ibuprofen every 8 hours for left knee pain for the past 2 weeks; daily medications include aspirin,
carvedilol, lisinopril, and atorvastatin
Neurological
Alert and oriented to person, place, time, and situation
Pulmonary
Vital signs: RR 20, SpO 96% on room air, lung sounds clear bilaterally; no shortness of breath;
client smokes 1 pack of cigarettes per day and smokes marijuana 1 or 2 times weekly
Cardiovascular
Vital signs: P 110, BP 90/62; no chest pain; S1 and S2 heard on auscultation; peripheral pulses
2+; client states feeling lightheaded and reports passing out about 1 hour ago
Gastrointestinal
Abdominal pain rated as 4 on a scale of 0-10; one episode of hematemesis; two episodes of
large, black, liquid stools in the morning
Musculoskeletal
Examination of the knees shows crepitus that is worse on the left; no swelling, warmth, or
erythema; range of motion is normal
Psychosocial
Client reports drinking 1 or 2 glasses of wine per day
Question 3 of 5
For each finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the disease process of acute upper gastrointestinal bleed or acute lower gastrointestinal bleed. Each finding may support more than one disease process.
| Finding | Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed | Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleed |
|---|---|---|
| Melena | ||
| NSAID use | ||
| Hematemesis | ||
| History of diverticulosis | ||
| History of Helicobacter pylori infection |
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Upper gastrointestinal (Gl) bleeding can occur in the esophagus (eg, esophageal varices or in the stomach and duodenum
(eg, peptic ulcer). Findings associated with upper GI bleeding include the following:
• Melena (ie, dark, tarry stools) is due to the release of iron (heme) as blood passes through the entire GI tract and
hemoglobin becomes partially digested
• NSAID use increases the risk of peptic ulcer formation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-1, an enzyme that helps protect the
stomach lining and promote platelet aggregation.
• Hematemesis (ie, vomiting blood) is due to the presence of blood in the upper GI tract (eg, esophagus, stomach,
duodenum); the blood usually has a coffee ground appearance due to digestion by gastric acid
• Helicobacter pylori infection increases gastric secretions, promoting peptic ulcer formation.
Lower Gl bleeding occurs in structures past the duodenum (eg, small and large intestine, rectum, anus) and is commonly
associated with inflammatory (eg, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis) or vascular (eg, hemorrhoids) conditions.
Diverticulosis is a condition where diverticula (ie, hollow outpouchings from the intestine) develop, usually in the large
intestine and occasionally in the small intestine. Diverticula weaken the intestinal wall and increase the risk for GI bleeding.
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.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is reinforcing teaching to the client and the parents about management of type 1 diabetes mellitus and prescribed insulin therapy. For each potential instruction, click to specify whether the instruction is appropriate or not appropriate to include in the teaching
| Potential Instruction | Appropriate | Not Appropriate |
|---|---|---|
| Track carbohydrate intake | ||
| Rotate insulin injection sites | ||
| Wear a medical alert bracelet | ||
| Demonstrate insulin injections on a doll | ||
| Store unopened insulin vials at room temperature |
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by insulin deficiency and management requires insulin therapy for blood glucose
control. The nurse should provide dietary teaching and instructions for insulin administration. Appropriate instructions to
include in the teaching include:
• Track carbohydrate intake to guide insulin administration and maintain blood glucose levels. Exogenous insulin
administration increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Carbohydrate intake should be relatively consistent each day to avoid
hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
• Rotate insulin injection sites to prevent tissue scarring or loss of subcutaneous tissue (ie, lipoatrophy).
• Wear a medical alert bracelet to indicate type 1 DM in the event of hypoglycemia and unconsciousness.
• Demonstrate insulin injections on a doll before performing injections on the child to help prepare the client and family.
Insulin vials that remain unopened should be stored in the refrigerator until opened and can be used up to the expiration date.
Once opened, the vial can be stored at room temperature for approximately 1 month. Injections are less painful when the vial
is stored at room temperature, and lipodystrophy is less likely. Storing the unopened vials at room temperature is not
appropriate to include in the teaching