ATI RN
foundation of nursing questions and answers Questions
Question 1 of 9
An advanced practice nurse has performed a Rinne test on a new patient. During the test, the patient reports that air-conducted sound is louder than bone-conducted sound. How should the nurse best interpret this assessment finding?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: The patient's hearing is likely normal. This interpretation is based on the normal Rinne test result, where air-conducted sound is expected to be louder than bone-conducted sound. This finding indicates that the patient has intact air conduction and no significant conductive hearing loss. Option B is incorrect because tinnitus is not directly related to the Rinne test results. Option C is incorrect as otosclerosis would typically present with abnormal Rinne test results showing bone-conducted sound to be louder. Option D is incorrect as sensorineural hearing loss would not typically affect the Rinne test results in this way.
Question 2 of 9
A nurse is caring for an 87-year-old Mexican-American female patient who is in end-stage renal disease. The physician has just been in to see the patient and her family to tell them that nothing more can be done for the patient and that death is not far. The physician offers to discharge the patient home to hospice care, but the patient and family refuse. After the physician leaves, the patients daughter approaches you and asks what hospice care is. What would this lack of knowledge about hospice care be perceived as?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: A barrier to hospice care for this patient. The lack of knowledge about hospice care can be perceived as a barrier to accessing this type of care for the patient and her family. Understanding hospice care is crucial in making informed decisions about end-of-life care options. This lack of knowledge does not necessarily indicate lack of education (choice A), language barrier (choice B), or inability to grasp American concepts of health care (choice D), as hospice care is a universal concept that transcends cultural and educational backgrounds.
Question 3 of 9
You are caring for a patient who has just been told that her stage IV colon cancer has recurred and metastasized to the liver. The oncologist offers the patient the option of surgery to treat the progression of this disease. What type of surgery does the oncologist offer?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Palliative surgery. In this scenario, the patient's colon cancer has already progressed to stage IV with metastasis to the liver, indicating an advanced and incurable condition. Palliative surgery aims to alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and prolong survival without aiming for a cure. Reconstructive surgery (B) is typically done to restore form or function, which is not the primary goal in this case. Salvage surgery (C) is usually performed to rescue a situation where initial treatment has failed, which is not the case here. Prophylactic surgery (D) is preventive and is not appropriate in a situation where cancer is already present and advanced.
Question 4 of 9
A patient has been diagnosed with glaucoma and the nurse is preparing health education regarding the patients medication regimen. The patient states that she is eager to beat this disease and looks forward to the time that she will no longer require medication. How should the nurse best respond?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: In fact, glaucoma usually requires lifelong treatment with medications. 1. Glaucoma is a chronic condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure. 2. Lifelong treatment is usually necessary to manage intraocular pressure and prevent vision loss. 3. Stopping medication prematurely can lead to worsening of the condition. 4. Therefore, the nurse should educate the patient about the need for ongoing medication to manage glaucoma effectively. Summary: A: Incorrect. Having a positive attitude is beneficial, but it does not shorten the duration of glaucoma treatment. C: Incorrect. The target intraocular pressure is usually below 21 mm Hg, not 50 mm Hg. D: Incorrect. Glaucoma treatment is typically long-term, not limited to 6 months.
Question 5 of 9
The nurse is caring for a patient who is to begin receiving external radiation for a malignant tumor of the neck. While providing patient education, what potential adverse effects should the nurse discuss with the patient?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Impaired nutritional status. Radiation therapy to the neck can lead to mucositis, dysphagia, and taste changes, which can impair the patient's ability to eat and maintain adequate nutrition. This can lead to weight loss, weakness, and delayed wound healing. Discussing this potential adverse effect with the patient is crucial for proactive management. Choice B: Cognitive changes, and Choice C: Diarrhea are less likely to be direct adverse effects of radiation therapy to the neck. Cognitive changes are more commonly associated with brain radiation, while diarrhea is a more common side effect of abdominal radiation. Choice D: Alopecia is a side effect of chemotherapy, not radiation therapy. Radiation therapy does not typically cause hair loss unless it is in the treatment field. Therefore, discussing alopecia with the patient receiving radiation for a malignant neck tumor is not a priority.
Question 6 of 9
A patient has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is scheduled for brachytherapy next week. The patient and his wife are unsure of having the procedure because their daughter is 3 months pregnant. What is the most appropriate teaching the nurse should provide to this family?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because brachytherapy does not pose a risk to the patient's daughter or her unborn child. Brachytherapy involves placing radioactive sources inside or near the tumor, which does not make the patient radioactive. The radiation does not travel far and does not pose a risk to others. Therefore, the daughter and her infant are safe from any radiation exposure. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because there is no need for the patient to avoid contact with the baby after delivery, the brachytherapy is not contraindicated for safety reasons, and there is no requirement for the patient to avoid close contact with his daughter for 2 months.
Question 7 of 9
When assessing patient with nutritional needs, which patients will require follow-up from the nurse?(Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: A patient with infection taking tetracycline with milk. This is because tetracycline binds with the calcium in milk, reducing its absorption and effectiveness. The nurse should follow up to ensure the patient is not compromising the treatment. Choices B and C are incorrect because increasing fiber for irritable bowel syndrome and following a high-fiber diet for diverticulitis are appropriate interventions that do not require immediate follow-up. Choice D is incorrect because it is a routine part of managing enteral feedings to monitor gastric residuals, and does not necessarily require immediate follow-up unless there are specific concerns.
Question 8 of 9
A patient has come into the free clinic asking to be tested for HIV infection. The patient asks the nurse how the test works. The nurse responds that if the testing shows that antibodies to the AIDS virus are present in the blood, this indicates what?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: The patient has been infected with HIV. Antibodies to the AIDS virus in the blood indicate a past or current infection with HIV. This is because the body produces antibodies in response to the presence of the virus. A: The patient is immune to HIV is incorrect because antibodies indicate exposure, not immunity. B: The patient's immune system is intact is incorrect because the presence of antibodies does not necessarily reflect the overall functionality of the immune system. C: The patient has AIDS-related complications is incorrect because the presence of antibodies does not directly indicate the presence of AIDS-related complications.
Question 9 of 9
A student nurse is caring for a patient who has undergone a wide excision of the vulva. The student should know that what action is contraindicated in the immediate postoperative period?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Application of compression stockings. Immediately after a wide excision of the vulva, compression stockings should be avoided as they can increase the risk of blood clots. Placing the patient in a low Fowler's position helps with comfort and promotes healing. Ambulation to a chair aids in preventing complications like pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis. Providing a low-residue diet is appropriate postoperatively to prevent straining during bowel movements.