NCLEX-PN
Nclex PN Questions and Answers
1. A nurse calls a health care provider to report that a client with congestive heart failure (CHF) is exhibiting dyspnea and worsening of wheezing. The health care provider, who is in a hurry because of a situation in the emergency department, gives the nurse a telephone prescription for furosemide (Lasix) but does not specify the route of administration. What is the appropriate action on the part of the nurse?
- A. Calling the health care provider who gave the telephone prescription to clarify the prescription
- B. Administering the medication orally and clarifying the prescription once the health care provider has finished caring for the client in the emergency department
- C. Calling the nursing supervisor for assistance in determining the route of administration
- D. Administering the medication intravenously because this route is generally used for clients with CHF
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Telephone prescriptions involve a health care provider dictating a prescribed therapy over the telephone to the nurse. The nurse must clarify the prescription by repeating it clearly and precisely to the health care provider. The nurse then writes the prescription on the health care provider's prescription sheet or enters it into the electronic medical record. It is crucial not to interpret an unclear prescription or administer a medication by a route that has not been expressly prescribed. In this case, the nurse should call the health care provider who gave the telephone prescription to clarify the prescription, ensuring the correct route of administration is specified. Options B, C, and D are incorrect because administering the medication without clarification, seeking assistance from the nursing supervisor, or choosing an arbitrary route of administration can compromise patient safety and violate medication administration protocols.
2. An advance directive is written and notarized according to law in the state of Colorado. This document is legal and binding:
- A. internationally.
- B. in the state of Colorado only.
- C. in the continental United States.
- D. in the county of origination only.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is 'in the state of Colorado only.' Advance directive protocols and documents are specific to each state's laws and regulations. Choice A is incorrect as advance directives are not universally recognized internationally. Choice C is incorrect as the legal validity of an advance directive is limited to the state in which it was created. Choice D is incorrect as the legal reach of an advance directive typically extends throughout the state of origination, not just the county.
3. Which of the following behaviors is least appropriate when dealing with fellow staff members?
- A. Provide positive feedback and constructive criticism
- B. Serve as a resource
- C. Only report conflicts that interfere with client care
- D. Provide input for performance evaluations
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The least appropriate behavior when dealing with fellow staff members is to only report conflicts that interfere with client care. This choice implies ignoring or neglecting other conflicts that may affect team dynamics and the work environment. It is crucial to address and report all conflicts, whether they impact client care directly or not, to maintain a harmonious and effective working relationship within the healthcare setting. Providing positive feedback, constructive criticism, serving as a resource, and offering input for performance evaluations are all important and appropriate behaviors that contribute to a supportive and professional work environment. By focusing solely on conflicts that interfere with client care, essential issues that influence teamwork and overall staff morale may be overlooked, potentially leading to a negative impact on the work environment.
4. An example of a process standard on a med-surg unit is:
- A. a procedure for changing IV tubing.
- B. a policy for staffing.
- C. the job description of the CEO (chief executive officer).
- D. a procedure for checking waveforms on a client being treated with an intra-aortic balloon pump.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Process standards define the actions and behaviors required by staff to provide care on a med-surg unit. A procedure for changing IV tubing is a critical psychomotor skill necessary for safe and effective patient care in this setting. Choice B, a policy for staffing, pertains more to organizational management rather than specific care processes on the unit. Choice C, the job description of the CEO, delineates the responsibilities of the organization's top executive and is not a process standard for frontline staff. Choice D, a procedure for checking waveforms on a client with an intra-aortic balloon pump, is more specific to a cardiac care unit and not typically performed on a med-surg unit.
5. A 51-year-old client with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease) is admitted to the hospital because his condition is deteriorating. The client tells the nurse that he wants a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. The nurse should provide the client with which information?
- A. Oral consent is not sufficient, and the client's request will be honored by all healthcare providers.
- B. Consent must be obtained from the family.
- C. The DNR request should be discussed with the healthcare provider, who will write the order.
- D. The healthcare provider makes the final decision about a DNR request.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: When a client requests a DNR order, the nurse should contact the healthcare provider so that the provider may discuss the request with the client. A DNR order should be written, not verbal, following agency and state guidelines. Therefore, the correct answer is that the DNR request should be discussed with the healthcare provider, who will write the order. Option A is incorrect as oral consent is not sufficient for a DNR order. Option B is incorrect because the client, not the family, has the authority to request a DNR order. Option D is incorrect because the healthcare provider discusses the request with the client but does not make the final decision.
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