Mrs. Santos, a 75-year old patient with type II diabetes is in emergency department with signs of hyperglycemic, hyperosmolar nonketotic (HHNK) coma. What assessment finding should the nurse expect?

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Question 1 of 9

Mrs. Santos, a 75-year old patient with type II diabetes is in emergency department with signs of hyperglycemic, hyperosmolar nonketotic (HHNK) coma. What assessment finding should the nurse expect?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: severe dehydration. In HHNK coma, the body tries to eliminate excess glucose through frequent urination, leading to dehydration. This results in decreased blood volume, causing hypotension and tachycardia. Signs include dry mucous membranes, poor skin turgor, and concentrated urine output. Fruity odor of the breath (A) is associated with diabetic ketoacidosis, not HHNK coma. Shallow, deep respirations (B) and profuse sweating (D) are not typically associated with HHNK coma.

Question 2 of 9

When the LPN is assisting the patient to use an incentive spirometer, which of the following actions by the patient indicates that the patient needs further teaching on how to use the spirometer?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because exhaling deeply before using the spirometer is incorrect. The purpose of the incentive spirometer is to encourage deep inhalation to improve lung function. Exhaling deeply before using the spirometer goes against this goal and may hinder the effectiveness of the device. Choices A, B, and C are all correct actions when using the spirometer. Taking two normal breaths helps to prepare the lungs, sitting upright optimizes lung expansion, and inhaling deeply to reach the target helps to improve lung ventilation.

Question 3 of 9

Which of the following parts of neuron transmits impulses away from the cell body?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Axon. The axon is the part of the neuron that transmits impulses away from the cell body towards other neurons, muscles, or glands. Its structure allows for the rapid transmission of electrical signals. Rationale: 1. Dendrites receive signals and transmit them towards the cell body, so A is incorrect. 2. Neurolemma is the outermost layer of a Schwann cell, not a part of the neuron responsible for transmitting impulses, so B is incorrect. 3. The synapse is the junction between two neurons where communication occurs, not a part of the neuron transmitting impulses, so D is incorrect.

Question 4 of 9

A patient expresses fear of going home and being alone. Vital signs are stable and the incision is nearly completely healed. What can the nurse infer from the subjective data?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: The patient is apprehensive about discharge. The rationale is that the patient's fear of going home and being alone indicates anxiety about leaving the hospital setting. This subjective data suggests that the patient may not feel ready for discharge despite stable vital signs and nearly healed incision. Choices A and B are incorrect because they assume the patient's readiness for self-care without considering emotional factors. Choice D is incorrect as there is no evidence provided that the surgery was unsuccessful.

Question 5 of 9

Which of the following is the most numerous type of white blood cell (WBC)?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Neutrophil. Neutrophils are the most numerous type of WBC, typically comprising 50-70% of total WBC count. They are key players in the body's immune response, phagocytizing pathogens. Basophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes are less numerous than neutrophils. Basophils are involved in allergic reactions, eosinophils combat parasitic infections, and lymphocytes play a critical role in adaptive immunity. However, in terms of sheer numbers, neutrophils outnumber the other types of WBC.

Question 6 of 9

The nurse is caring for a client with diabetes insipidus. The nurse should anticipate the administration of:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: vasopressin (Pitressin). In diabetes insipidus, there is a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which leads to excessive urination and thirst. Vasopressin is a synthetic form of ADH that helps regulate water balance by reducing urine output. Therefore, administering vasopressin would help manage the symptoms of diabetes insipidus. Insulin (A) is used for diabetes mellitus, not diabetes insipidus. Potassium chloride (B) is used to correct potassium imbalances, not specific to diabetes insipidus. Furosemide (Lasix) (C) is a diuretic that increases urine output, which would worsen the symptoms of diabetes insipidus.

Question 7 of 9

The nurse is reviewing a patient’s plan of care, which includes the nursing diagnostic statement, Impaired physical mobility related to tibial fracture as evidenced by patient’s inability to ambulate. Which part of the diagnostic statement does the nurse need to revise?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Collaborative problem. The nurse needs to revise this part of the diagnostic statement because impaired physical mobility related to tibial fracture is a nursing diagnosis, not a collaborative problem. Collaborative problems are issues that require both medical and nursing interventions, whereas nursing diagnoses are within the scope of nursing practice. The etiology identifies the cause of the problem (tibial fracture), the nursing diagnosis states the problem (impaired physical mobility), and the defining characteristic is the evidence that supports the diagnosis (inability to ambulate). Therefore, the nurse should revise the part stating collaborative problem as it does not align with the nature of the issue presented in the scenario.

Question 8 of 9

How many drops per minute should be delivered?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 17 drops per minute. To calculate the correct drip rate, you need to use the formula: (Volume to be infused in mL / Time in minutes) x Drop factor. In this case, if the volume to be infused is 100 mL and the time is 60 minutes with a drop factor of 20, the calculation would be: (100 / 60) x 20 = 33.33 drops per minute. Since we cannot deliver fractional drops, the closest whole number is 17 drops per minute. This ensures the correct delivery rate for the medication. Choice A (6 drops per minute) is incorrect as it would be too slow and may not deliver the medication effectively. Choice C (50 drops per minute) and Choice D (100 drops per minute) are incorrect as they would both deliver the medication too quickly, potentially causing harm to the patient. The correct answer, 17 drops per minute, ensures a safe and accurate delivery rate

Question 9 of 9

The nurse is caring for a client who’s hypoglycemic. This client will have a blood glucose level:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Below 70mg/dl. Hypoglycemia is defined as a blood glucose level below 70mg/dl. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include confusion, shakiness, and sweating. Treating hypoglycemia involves administering fast-acting carbohydrates. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they describe blood glucose levels that are within the normal or hyperglycemic range, which are not indicative of hypoglycemia. It is essential for the nurse to recognize and promptly address hypoglycemia to prevent serious complications.

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