NCLEX NCLEX-RN
Exam Cram NCLEX RN Practice Questions
1. A 60-year-old patient has been treated for pneumonia for the past 6 weeks. The patient is seen today in the clinic for an unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds over the last 6 weeks. Which is an appropriate rationale for this patient’s weight loss?
- A. Chronic diseases such as hypertension do not usually cause weight loss.
- B. Weight loss is more likely due to underlying medical conditions than unhealthy eating habits.
- C. Unexplained weight loss often accompanies short-term illnesses.
- D. Weight loss is not typically caused by mental health dysfunctions.
Correct answer: Unexplained weight loss often accompanies short-term illnesses.
Rationale: Unexplained weight loss in a patient with pneumonia could indicate an underlying short-term illness or a chronic condition like endocrine disease, malignancy, depression, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia. Hypertension is not commonly associated with weight loss; it usually leads to weight gain due to fluid retention. Unhealthy eating habits are less likely to explain significant unexplained weight loss over a short period. Mental health dysfunctions can affect appetite but are not typically primary causes of significant unexplained weight loss.
2. The client believes that the illness is a punishment for sins. Which cultural health belief is the client communicating?
- A. Yin/Yang balance
- B. Biomedical belief
- C. Determinism belief
- D. Magicoreligious belief
Correct answer: Magicoreligious belief
Rationale: The client is communicating a magicoreligious belief by attributing the illness to punishment for sins. In this belief system, illness is seen as caused by supernatural forces or hexes, often related to spiritual or religious beliefs. The yin/yang balance belief system does not view illness as punishment but rather as an imbalance of opposing forces. Biomedical belief focuses on physical and biochemical processes as the cause of health and illness. Determinism belief revolves around outcomes being preordained and unchangeable, not related to punishment for sins.
3. The nurse is assessing an 8-year-old child whose growth rate measures below the third percentile for a child his age. He appears significantly younger than his stated age and is chubby with infantile facial features. Which condition does this child likely have?
- A. Acromegaly
- B. Marfan syndrome
- C. Hypopituitary dwarfism
- D. Achondroplastic dwarfism
Correct answer: Hypopituitary dwarfism
Rationale: Hypopituitary dwarfism is caused by a deficiency in growth hormone in childhood and results in a retardation of growth below the third percentile, delayed puberty, and other problems. The child’s appearance fits this description. Achondroplastic dwarfism is a genetic disorder resulting in characteristic deformities; Marfan syndrome is an inherited connective tissue disorder characterized by a tall, thin stature and other features. Acromegaly is the result of excessive secretion of growth hormone in adulthood which causes overgrowth of bone in the face, head, hands, and feet.
4. Which parental statement would the nurse recognize as the appropriate application of time-out when disciplining a 4-year-old?
- A. I send my child to their bedroom for misbehaving.
- B. We limit time-out to 4 minutes per incident.
- C. Putting my child in a dark closet for time-out is very effective.
- D. I explain the reason for the time-out before and after disciplining my child.
Correct answer: D: I explain the reason for the time-out before and after disciplining my child.
Rationale: The correct answer is to explain the reason for the time-out before and after disciplining the child. This approach reinforces the child’s association of the time-out with the undesirable behavior, helping the child learn to control those behaviors. Sending a child to their bedroom may lead to negative associations with bedtime or be ineffective if the child enjoys spending time in their bedroom. Time-out should ideally be limited to 1 minute per year of age, so a time-out for a 4-year-old should be limited to 4 minutes. Placing a child in a dark closet can create fear and damage the child’s trust in their parents as a source of safety, making it an inappropriate and harmful approach. Even if this method seems effective in the short term, the potential long-term consequences outweigh any immediate benefits.
5. A client diagnosed with sexual dysfunction states, 'Well, I guess my sex life is over.' Which response would the nurse use as a reply?
- A. 'I’m sorry to hear that.'
- B. 'Oh, you have a lot of good years left.'
- C. 'You are concerned about your sex life?'
- D. 'Have you asked your primary health care provider about that?'
Correct answer: 'You are concerned about your sex life?'
Rationale: The response 'You are concerned about your sex life?' explores the meaning of the statement and allows further expression of concern. It shows empathy and encourages the client to elaborate on their feelings. Choice A, 'I’m sorry to hear that,' does not prompt the client to share more about their concerns and may close off communication. Choice B, 'Oh, you have a lot of good years left,' lacks empathy and understanding of the client's emotions, diverting the focus from the client's feelings. Choice D, 'Have you asked your primary health care provider about that?' shifts the responsibility away from the nurse and may not address the client's emotional needs, potentially making them feel dismissed or embarrassed to seek help.
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