NCLEX NCLEX-PN
Nclex Practice Questions 2024
1. While the client is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN), which lab test should be evaluated?
- A. Hemoglobin
- B. Creatinine
- C. Blood glucose
- D. White blood cell count
Correct answer: Blood glucose
Rationale: When a client is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN), monitoring blood glucose levels is crucial as TPN solutions contain high amounts of glucose. This monitoring helps prevent hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Evaluating hemoglobin (choice A) is not directly related to TPN administration. Creatinine (choice B) is more relevant for assessing kidney function. White blood cell count (choice D) is important for evaluating immune function and infection, but not specifically tied to TPN administration.
2. Which of the following injuries, presented by a client entering the Emergency Department, is the highest priority?
- A. open leg fracture
- B. open head injury
- C. stab wound to the chest
- D. traumatic amputation of a thumb
Correct answer: stab wound to the chest
Rationale: A stab wound to the chest is the highest priority injury. This type of injury can lead to lung collapse and mediastinal shift, potentially resulting in death if left untreated. Treating an obstructed airway or a chest wound takes precedence over addressing hemorrhage. The principle of ABC (airway, breathing, and circulation) guides care decisions in prioritizing life-threatening situations. An open leg fracture, open head injury, and traumatic amputation of a thumb, while serious, do not pose an immediate threat to life compared to a stab wound to the chest. An open leg fracture may lead to significant blood loss but is not immediately life-threatening. An open head injury requires assessment and intervention but does not impact airway, breathing, or circulation directly. Traumatic amputation of a thumb is a serious injury but can be managed after addressing more life-threatening conditions.
3. A client is admitted to the critical care unit after suffering from a massive cerebral vascular accident. The client’s vital signs include BP 160/110, HR 42, Cheyne-Stokes respirations. Based on this assessment, the nurse anticipates the client to be in which acid-base balance?
- A. Respiratory acidosis
- B. Respiratory alkalosis
- C. Metabolic acidosis
- D. Metabolic alkalosis
Correct answer: Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: In this scenario, the client is exhibiting Cheyne-Stokes respirations, which are characterized by periods of deep breathing alternating with apnea. This pattern indicates respiratory insufficiency, resulting in an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood. The elevated BP and slow heart rate further support the respiratory insufficiency, leading to respiratory acidosis. Therefore, the correct answer is Respiratory acidosis. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Respiratory alkalosis is characterized by decreased carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which is not indicated by the client's presentation. Metabolic acidosis results from conditions such as renal failure or diabetic ketoacidosis and is not the primary imbalance in this case. Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by elevated pH and bicarbonate levels, which are not present in the client's vital signs.
4. In an emergency situation where a client is unconscious and requires immediate surgery, what action is necessary with regard to informed consent?
- A. The healthcare team will proceed with the surgery as consent is not needed in emergencies.
- B. The healthcare team will wait until the client's family can be contacted for consent.
- C. The healthcare team will contact the hospital clergy to provide informed consent.
- D. The healthcare team will obtain consent from the client's legal guardian before proceeding.
Correct answer: The healthcare team will proceed with the surgery as consent is not needed in emergencies.
Rationale: In emergency situations where obtaining consent is not possible due to the client's condition, healthcare providers are allowed to perform life-saving procedures without informed consent. It is assumed that the client would want to receive necessary treatment to save their life. Therefore, the correct action is for the healthcare team to proceed with the surgery as consent is not needed. Waiting to contact the client's family for consent can delay life-saving treatment, risking the client's life. Contacting the hospital clergy for consent is unnecessary and can cause further delays. Obtaining consent from the client's legal guardian is not feasible in this critical situation and may lead to a delay in providing essential care.
5. To determine the standards of care for the institution, the nurse should consult?
- A. Organizational Chart
- B. Personnel policies
- C. Policies and procedure manual
- D. Job descriptions
Correct answer: Policies and procedure manual
Rationale: The correct answer is the 'Policies and procedure manual.' This manual outlines the policies and procedures that govern patient care within the institution, including the standards of care that healthcare providers are expected to follow. Consulting the policies and procedure manual ensures that the nurse is adhering to the established guidelines and protocols. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because although they are important documents within an institution, they do not specifically define the standards of care for patient management. The organizational chart illustrates the hierarchy of the institution, personnel policies outline rules related to employees, and job descriptions detail specific roles and responsibilities, none of which directly define patient care standards.
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