NCLEX-RN
Planning Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is preparing to admit a client from the postanesthesia care unit who has had microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve. Which equipment should the nurse ask the unlicensed assistive personnel to make sure is at the bedside when the client arrives?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The postoperative care of the client having microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve is the same as for the client undergoing craniotomy. This client requires hourly neurological assessment as well as monitoring of the cardiovascular and respiratory statuses.
Therefore, a flashlight and pulse oximetry are necessary items. Cardiac monitoring and padded bed rails are not indicated unless there is a special need based on a client history of cardiac disease or seizures, respectively. Suctioning is performed cautiously and only when necessary after craniotomy to avoid increasing the intracranial pressure.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is preparing a plan of care for a child diagnosed with leukemia who is beginning chemotherapy. Which intervention should the nurse include?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When the child is receiving chemotherapy, the nurse should assess the mouth and anus each shift for ulcers, erythema, or breakdown. The nurse should avoid taking rectal temperatures. Oral temperatures are also avoided if mouth ulcers are present. Axillary or temporal temperatures should be taken to prevent alterations in skin integrity. Bland, nonirritating foods and liquids should be provided to the child. Fresh fruits and vegetables need to be avoided because they can harbor organisms. Chemotherapy can cause neutropenia, and the child should be maintained on a low-bacteria diet if the white blood cell count is low. Meticulous mouth care should be performed, but the nurse should avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes and should use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is receiving a client from the emergency department who has a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome. The client's chief sign/symptom is an ascending paralysis that has reached the level of the waist. Which items should the nurse plan to have available for emergency use?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The client with Guillain-Barré syndrome is at risk for respiratory failure as a result of ascending paralysis. An intubation tray should be available for emergency use. Another complication of this syndrome is cardiac dysrhythmias, which necessitates the need for cardiac monitoring. Although some of the items in the remaining options may be kept at the bedside (e.g., pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff, flashlight), they are not necessarily needed for emergency use in this situation.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse preparing to admit a 7-month-old infant with febrile seizures should anticipate the need for which equipment when planning care for this infant?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Suctioning may be required during a seizure to remove secretions that obstruct the airway. An airway should also be readily available. During a seizure, the infant should be placed in a side-lying position, but should not be restrained. It is not necessary to place a code cart at the bedside, but a cart should be readily available on the nursing unit. A padded tongue blade should never be used; in fact, nothing should be placed in the mouth during a seizure.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse determines that a tuberculin skin test is positive. Which diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate will be prescribed to confirm a diagnosis tuberculosis (TB)?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Although the findings of the chest x-ray examination are important, it is not possible to make a diagnosis of TB solely on the basis of this examination because other diseases can mimic the appearance of TB. The demonstration of tubercle bacilli bacteriologically is essential for establishing a diagnosis. The microscopic examination of sputum for acid-fast bacilli is usually the first bacteriological evidence of the presence of tubercle bacilli. Options 3 and 4 will not diagnose TB.