NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Prioritization Questions
1. A pregnant woman who is 36 weeks' pregnant and has hepatitis B is being informed by a nurse. Which of the following statements from the client indicates understanding of this condition?
- A. Now I know my baby will need a cesarean section.
- B. My baby will need two shots soon after birth.
- C. I will not be able to breastfeed.
- D. My baby's father does not need testing; I know I am the one with hepatitis.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is 'My baby will need two shots soon after birth.' A baby born to a mother with hepatitis B should receive two injections soon after birth to reduce the risk of contracting the disease. Within the first 12 hours post-birth, the baby should receive the first hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) for additional protection. Option A is incorrect because the need for a cesarean section is not directly related to the mother's hepatitis B status. Option C is incorrect as breastfeeding can be safe if managed properly. Option D is incorrect as the baby's father should also be tested for hepatitis B to prevent transmission to the newborn.
2. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient experiencing a migraine headache?
- A. Acute pain related to biologic and chemical factors
- B. Anxiety related to change in or threat to health status
- C. Hopelessness related to deteriorating physiological condition
- D. Risk for side effects related to medical therapy
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The priority nursing diagnosis for a patient experiencing a migraine headache is 'Acute pain related to biologic and chemical factors.' Migraine headaches are characterized by severe throbbing pain, often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound. Addressing the acute pain is crucial to improve the patient's comfort and quality of life. Choices B, C, and D are not the priority nursing diagnoses for a patient with a migraine headache. Anxiety, hopelessness, and risk for side effects may not be as urgent as managing the acute pain associated with a migraine.
3. A patient with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is receiving nifedipine (Procardia). Which assessment would best indicate to the nurse that the patient's condition is improving?
- A. Blood pressure (BP) is less than 140/90 mm Hg.
- B. Patient reports decreased exertional dyspnea
- C. Heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats/minute
- D. Patient's chest x-ray indicates clear lung fields
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is for the patient to report decreased exertional dyspnea. In idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), exertional dyspnea is a significant symptom indicating disease severity. Improvement in this symptom suggests that the medication, nifedipine, is effective in managing the condition. While nifedipine can affect blood pressure (choice A) and heart rate (choice C), these parameters are not specific indicators for monitoring IPAH improvement. Choice D, clear lung fields on the chest x-ray, does not directly correlate with the effectiveness of therapy for IPAH. Therefore, the most relevant assessment to monitor improvement in a patient with IPAH receiving nifedipine is a decrease in exertional dyspnea.
4. Which of the following is NOT a warning sign that compensatory mechanisms in a patient in shock are failing?
- A. Increasing heart rate above normal for the patient's age.
- B. Absent peripheral pulses
- C. Decreasing level of consciousness
- D. Increasing blood pressure
Correct answer: D
Rationale: In a patient in shock, increasing blood pressure is not a sign that compensatory mechanisms are failing. As shock progresses and compensatory mechanisms fail, systolic blood pressure will decrease, leading to hypotension, which is a late and ominous sign in these patients. Therefore, choices A, B, and C are warning signs of failing compensatory mechanisms in shock: an increasing heart rate above normal, absent peripheral pulses, and decreasing level of consciousness, respectively. An increasing blood pressure is not indicative of compensatory failure in shock; instead, it may be a sign of compensatory mechanisms still trying to maintain perfusion pressure.
5. While planning care for a 2-year-old hospitalized child, which situation would the nurse expect to most likely affect the behavior?
- A. Strange bed and surroundings
- B. Separation from parents
- C. Presence of other toddlers
- D. Unfamiliar toys and games
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Separation from parents.' Separation anxiety is most evident from 6 months to 30 months of age and is the greatest stress imposed on a toddler by hospitalization. If separation is avoided, young children have a tremendous capacity to withstand other stress. The other choices, such as 'Strange bed and surroundings,' 'Presence of other toddlers,' and 'Unfamiliar toys and games,' may also have an impact on the child, but separation from parents is typically the most significant factor affecting behavior in a hospitalized 2-year-old.
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