NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Exam Questions Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is performing an assessment on a client with a history of a thyroidectomy. Which finding suggests the client is experiencing hypocalcemia?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypocalcemia post-thyroidectomy (due to parathyroid damage) causes muscle twitching or tetany from low calcium levels. Nausea, chest pain, and fever are less specific.
Question 2 of 5
After the fetal activity test (nonstress test) is completed, the RN is looking at the test results on the monitor strip. The RN observes that the fetal heart accelerated 5 beats/min with each fetal movement. The accelerations lasted 15 seconds and occurred 3 times during the 20 minute test. The RN knows that these test results will be interpreted as:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A reactive nonstress test requires at least two accelerations of the fetal heart rate of at least 15 bpm, lasting 15 seconds, over a 20-minute period. The described results (5 bpm accelerations) do not meet the criteria, but the correct answer provided is A, indicating a possible error in the question's data. However, based on the provided answer, it is interpreted as reactive.
Question 3 of 5
The client's membranes rupture during labor. The fetal heart rate suddenly drops to 90 bpm. The nurse's first action should be to:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A sudden drop in fetal heart rate to 90 bpm after membrane rupture suggests possible umbilical cord prolapse or compression. Turning the client to her left side improves placental perfusion and may relieve cord compression. Oxygen and notifying the physician are secondary and increasing IV fluid is less urgent.
Question 4 of 5
In client teaching, the nurse should emphasize that fetal damage occurs more frequently with ingestion of drugs during:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The first trimester is the period of organogenesis, when the fetus is most susceptible to teratogenic effects of drugs.
Question 5 of 5
Which of the following is the best indicator of the diagnosis of HIV?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Western blot is the confirmatory test for HIV diagnosis, detecting specific antibodies with high specificity. ELISA is a screening test, while WBC and CBC are non-specific and not diagnostic for HIV.