NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Prioritization Questions
1. A patient has acute bronchitis with a nonproductive cough and wheezes. Which topic should the nurse plan to include in the teaching plan?
- A. Purpose of antibiotic therapy
- B. Ways to limit oral fluid intake
- C. Appropriate use of cough suppressants
- D. Safety concerns with home oxygen therapy
Correct answer: Appropriate use of cough suppressants
Rationale: In acute bronchitis, which is often viral, cough suppressants can help manage the symptoms of a nonproductive cough. Antibiotics are not typically used in acute bronchitis unless there are systemic symptoms indicating a bacterial infection. Limiting oral fluid intake is not recommended; in fact, maintaining adequate hydration is important. Safety concerns with home oxygen therapy may not be directly relevant to the management of acute bronchitis.
2. When assessing a child admitted to the hospital with pyloric stenosis, which symptom would the nurse likely find when asking the parent about the child's symptoms?
- A. Watery diarrhea
- B. Projectile vomiting
- C. Increased urine output
- D. Vomiting large amounts of bile
Correct answer: Projectile vomiting
Rationale: In pyloric stenosis, hypertrophy of the circular muscles of the pylorus causes narrowing of the pyloric canal between the stomach and the duodenum. The hallmark symptom of pyloric stenosis is projectile vomiting, which is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents. Other common symptoms include irritability, hunger and crying, constipation, and signs of dehydration. Watery diarrhea (Choice A) is not a typical symptom of pyloric stenosis. Increased urine output (Choice C) is not directly associated with this condition. Vomiting large amounts of bile (Choice D) is not a characteristic symptom of pyloric stenosis; instead, the vomitus in pyloric stenosis is non-bilious.
3. A nurse has just started her rounds delivering medication. A new patient on her rounds is a 4-year-old boy who is non-verbal. This child does not have any identification on. What should the nurse do?
- A. Contact the provider
- B. Ask the child to write their name on paper
- C. Ask a coworker about the identification of the child
- D. Ask the father who is in the room the child’s name
Correct answer: Ask the father who is in the room the child’s name
Rationale: When encountering a non-verbal child without identification, it is appropriate for the nurse to ask the accompanying parent or guardian for the child's name. The father, being present in the room, can provide the necessary information. This ensures accurate identification to deliver the correct medication. Contacting the provider may cause unnecessary delays. Asking a non-verbal child to write their name is not feasible. Asking a coworker may not provide reliable identification as they may not have direct knowledge.
4. Based on Mr. C's assessment, which of the following nursing interventions is most appropriate?
- A. Elevate the lower extremities to 45 degrees to promote venous return
- B. Place Mr. C in the Trendelenburg position
- C. Administer total parenteral nutrition
- D. Monitor urine output
Correct answer: Monitor urine output
Rationale: In the context of Mr. C's assessment, the most appropriate nursing intervention is to monitor urine output. A client in hypovolemic shock may experience decreased urine output due to poor kidney perfusion. By monitoring urine output, the nurse can assess renal function and fluid status. Administering total parenteral nutrition (Choice C) is not indicated based on the information provided, as the priority is to stabilize the client's condition. Elevating the lower extremities (Choice A) may be helpful in some cases but is not the priority in this situation. Placing Mr. C in the Trendelenburg position (Choice B) is contraindicated in hypovolemic shock as it can worsen venous return and compromise cardiac output.
5. A 67-year-old male patient with acute pancreatitis has a nasogastric (NG) tube to suction and is NPO. Which information obtained by the nurse indicates that these therapies have been effective?
- A. Bowel sounds are present.
- B. Grey Turner sign resolves.
- C. Electrolyte levels are normal.
- D. Abdominal pain is decreased.
Correct answer: Abdominal pain is decreased.
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Abdominal pain is decreased.' In a patient with acute pancreatitis, the goal of using an NG tube for suction and keeping the patient NPO is to decrease the release of pancreatic enzymes and alleviate pain. Therefore, a decrease in abdominal pain would indicate the effectiveness of these therapies. Bowel sounds being present do not necessarily indicate treatment effectiveness, as they can still be present even if the therapies are not fully effective. Normal electrolyte levels are important but do not directly reflect the efficacy of NG suction and NPO status. The resolution of Grey Turner sign, a bruising over the flanks associated with pancreatitis, is a late and non-specific finding and waiting for it to resolve is not a reliable indicator of treatment effectiveness.
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