lidocaine is a medication frequently ordered for the client experiencing

NCLEX-PN

PN Nclex Questions 2024

1. Lidocaine is a medication frequently ordered for the client experiencing

A. Atrial tachycardia
B. Ventricular tachycardia
C. Heart block
D. Ventricular bradycardia

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Lidocaine is used to treat ventricular tachycardia. This medication slowly exerts an antiarrhythmic effect by increasing the electrical stimulation threshold of the ventricles without depressing the force of ventricular contractions. It is not used for atrial arrhythmias; thus, answer A is incorrect. Answers C and D are incorrect because lidocaine does not slow the heart rate, so it is not used for heart block or bradycardia.

2. When supporting a family who has just experienced a sudden and unexpected death, the nurse needs to know:

A. that survivors have greater emotional turmoil and shock than when death is expected.
B. that survivors have less emotional turmoil and shock than when death is expected.
C. that survivors have the same emotional turmoil and shock as when death is expected.
D. that survivors have little emotional turmoil and shock because they were not there.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is that survivors have greater emotional turmoil and shock than when death is expected. Sudden death produces more emotional turmoil and shock in survivors compared to gradual, expected death. Survivors of sudden death do not have the opportunity to engage in anticipatory grief. The unexpectedness of sudden death is the most disturbing and unbalancing factor, leading to heightened emotional turmoil and shock. Choice B is incorrect as survivors of sudden death experience more emotional turmoil and shock. Choice C is incorrect because sudden death brings about a different level of emotional turmoil and shock. Choice D is incorrect as survivors of sudden and unexpected death still go through significant emotional distress.

3. Hormonal agents are used to treat some cancers. An example is:

A. thyroxine to treat thyroid cancer.
B. ACTH to treat adrenal carcinoma.
C. estrogen antagonists to treat breast cancer.
D. glucagon to treat pancreatic carcinoma.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Estrogen antagonists are commonly used to treat estrogen hormone-dependent cancers such as breast carcinoma. One well-known estrogen antagonist used in breast cancer therapy is Tamoxifen (Nolvadex). This drug, in combination with surgery and other chemotherapeutic drugs, reduces breast cancer recurrence by 30%. Estrogen antagonists can also be administered to prevent breast cancer in women who have a strong family history. Thyroxine is a thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism, not thyroid cancer. ACTH is an anterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands to release glucocorticoids; it does not treat adrenal cancer. Glucagon is a pancreatic alpha cell hormone that stimulates glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis; it does not treat pancreatic cancer.

4. An adolescent female reports being raped at a party where alcohol was served. The client admits to drinking alcohol before being raped by an acquaintance. The nurse should:

A. inform the client that because she is underage, she is not at fault for attending a party where alcohol was served.
B. ask the client if anyone witnessed the event because the client was intoxicated and might not remember it accurately.
C. inform the client that it was not her fault, and support the client through the physical examination.
D. question whether the woman had consensual sex and now just feels guilty.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In cases of rape, it is crucial to provide support and reassurance to the victim. The nurse should inform the client that it was not her fault and offer support through the physical examination. Blaming the victim, as in choice A, is inappropriate and can be damaging to the client's well-being. Choice B is not the priority at this moment; the immediate focus should be on supporting the client. Choice D is victim-blaming and implies doubt about the client's report, which is harmful and not supportive. It is essential to create a safe and supportive environment for the client to facilitate healing and recovery.

5. Narrow therapeutic index medications:

A. are drug formulations with limited pharmacokinetic variability.
B. have limited value and require no monitoring of blood levels.
C. have less than a twofold difference in minimum toxic levels and minimum effective concentration in the blood
D. have limited potency and side effects.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The therapeutic index is the ratio between the median lethal dose and median effective dose of a drug, indicating the safety margin. Narrow therapeutic index medications have a small difference between minimum toxic levels and minimum effective concentration in the blood, making them high-risk drugs that require close monitoring to avoid toxicity. Choice A is incorrect because pharmacokinetics refer to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination, not the therapeutic index. Choice B is incorrect because narrow therapeutic index drugs necessitate monitoring due to their narrow margin of safety. Choice D is incorrect because narrow therapeutic index drugs do not necessarily have limited potency but are characterized by a small window between efficacy and toxicity.