NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Exam Preview Answers Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
After a symptom is recognized, the first effort at treatment is often self-treatment. Which of the following statements is true about self-treatment?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: After a symptom is identified, the first effort at treatment is often self-treatment. The availability of over-the-counter medications, the relatively high literacy level of Americans, and the influence of the internet and mass media in communicating health-related information to the general population have contributed to the high percentage of cases of self-treatment. Health care providers are recognizing the value of a wide variety of alternative, complementary, and traditional interventions. Many self-treatments, such as over-the-counter medications, are effective. Self-treatment is not always less expensive.
Choice A is incorrect as health care providers are recognizing the value of self-treatment.
Choice B is incorrect because self-treatment can be effective in many cases.
Choice C is incorrect as self-treatment is not always less expensive; it depends on the specific treatment being used.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient’s abdomen by palpation. How should the nurse proceed?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct approach is to begin the assessment with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to acclimate the patient to touch. This allows the nurse to first assess surface features before proceeding to deeper palpation. Starting with light palpation also helps the patient become more comfortable with being touched, creating a smoother examination experience. Palpating tender areas quickly, as suggested in choice B, can increase patient discomfort. Deep palpation, as in choice C, is typically performed after light palpation to avoid discomfort and ensure proper assessment. Avoiding palpation of tender areas first, as in choice A, helps prevent causing unnecessary pain and should be done towards the end of the assessment.
Question 3 of 5
The healthcare provider is reviewing theories of illness. The germ theory, which states that microscopic organisms such as bacteria and viruses are responsible for specific disease conditions, is a basic belief of which theory of illness?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Biomedical. Among the biomedical explanations for disease is the germ theory, which states that microscopic organisms such as bacteria and viruses are responsible for specific disease conditions. The naturalistic or holistic perspective holds that the forces of nature must be kept in natural balance. The magicoreligious perspective holds that supernatural forces dominate and cause illness or health.
Therefore, options A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not align with the germ theory explanation provided in the question.
Question 4 of 5
The instructor is teaching a class on basic assessment skills. Which of the following statements is true regarding the stethoscope and its use?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The stethoscope does not magnify sound but effectively blocks out extraneous room noises. The correct orientation of the earpieces is with the slope pointing forward toward the examiner's nose, not posteriorly. The tubing length of a stethoscope should ideally be between 14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 cm) to avoid sound distortion. Using tubing longer than this range can distort sound. Both the fit and quality of the stethoscope are crucial for accurate auscultation and assessment, highlighting their significance in clinical practice.
Therefore, the correct answer is that the stethoscope blocks out extraneous room noise but does not magnify sound.
Question 5 of 5
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect the examiner and the patient against the spread of infection. Which of these statements describes the most appropriate action the nurse would take when performing a physical examination?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most appropriate action for the nurse to take when performing a physical examination is to wash their hands before and after every physical patient encounter. This practice helps prevent the spread of infection. Hands should also be washed after contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions, and after contact with any equipment contaminated with body fluids. It is crucial to wash hands after removing gloves, even if the gloves appear intact.
Choice A is incorrect because washing hands after removing gloves is necessary to ensure thorough hygiene.
Choice C is incorrect because hands should be washed before and after every patient encounter, not just before examining each body system.
Choice D is incorrect because gloves should be worn when there is potential contact with body fluids, but they do not need to be worn throughout the entire examination.