NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Exam Preview Answers
1. When percussing over the lungs of a 4-year-old child, the nurse hears bilateral loud, long, and low tones. How should the nurse proceed?
- A. Palpate over the area for increased pain and tenderness.
- B. Ask the child to take shallow breaths and percuss over the area again.
- C. Refer the child to a specialist because of an increased amount of air in the lungs.
- D. Consider this finding as normal for a child this age and proceed with the examination.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: In pediatric patients, loud, long, and low tones heard when percussing over the lungs are normal findings. These percussion notes are characteristic of a child's lung due to its thin chest wall and increased air content. It is unnecessary to palpate for pain and tenderness, ask the child to take shallow breaths and repeat the percussion, or refer the child to a specialist. Therefore, the correct action is to consider these findings as normal for the child's age and continue with the examination.
2. A client has just started a transfusion of packed red blood cells that a physician ordered. Which of the following signs may indicate a transfusion reaction?
- A. The client suddenly complains of back pain and has chills
- B. The client develops dependent edema in the extremities
- C. The client has a seizure
- D. The client's heart rate drops to 60 bpm
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is when the client suddenly complains of back pain and has chills. Signs of a transfusion reaction include back pain, chills, dizziness, increased temperature, and blood in the urine. These signs indicate a possible adverse reaction to the blood transfusion. Dependent edema in the extremities is not typically associated with a transfusion reaction. A seizure is not a common sign of a transfusion reaction unless it is due to severe complications. A decrease in heart rate to 60 bpm is not a typical sign of a transfusion reaction, but rather bradycardia may indicate other underlying conditions or medications.
3. In addition to standard precautions, the nurse caring for a patient with rubella would plan to implement what type of precautions?
- A. Droplet precautions
- B. Airborne precautions
- C. Contact precautions
- D. Universal precautions
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Rubella is an illness transmitted by large-particle droplets, so the nurse should implement droplet precautions in addition to standard precautions. Airborne precautions are used for diseases spread through small particles in the air, such as tuberculosis, varicella, and rubeola. Contact precautions are utilized for diseases transmitted by direct contact with the patient or their environment. Universal precautions and body substance isolations are part of the CDC's standard precautions recommendations, but do not specifically address the transmission route of rubella.
4. A student is late for an appointment and has rushed across campus to the health clinic. How should the nurse proceed?
- A. Allow 5 minutes for the student to relax and rest before checking their vital signs.
- B. Check the blood pressure in both arms, expecting a difference in the readings due to the recent exercise.
- C. Immediately monitor the student's vital signs upon arrival at the clinic and then 5 minutes later, recording any differences.
- D. Check the student's blood pressure in the supine position to provide a more accurate reading and allow the student to relax at the same time.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: To ensure an accurate blood pressure reading, it is important for the student to be in a relaxed state. Allowing at least a 5-minute rest period helps reduce anxiety and provides a valid blood pressure measurement. Checking the blood pressure in both arms is unnecessary unless there is a specific reason to suspect an issue, and recent exercise should not significantly impact the readings. Monitoring vital signs immediately upon arrival may not yield accurate results due to the rush and anxiety of the student. Checking blood pressure in the supine position is not necessary in this scenario and does not provide a more accurate reading.
5. A client is complaining of pain that starts in the shoulder and travels down the length of his arm. This type of pain is referred to as:
- A. Referred pain
- B. Superficial pain
- C. Radiating pain
- D. Precipitating pain
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Radiating pain is the correct term for pain that originates in one part of the body and extends to other related areas. In this scenario, the pain starting in the shoulder and traveling down the arm describes radiating pain. Referred pain (Choice A) is pain felt at a site different from the actual origin of the pain. Superficial pain (Choice B) is pain that arises from the skin or tissues just beneath it. Precipitating pain (Choice D) refers to pain that is triggered by specific actions or events, not the characteristic described in the question.
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