NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Exam Preview Answers
1. The healthcare professional is preparing to percuss the abdomen of a patient. What characteristic of the underlying tissue does percussion assess?
- A. Turgor
- B. Texture
- C. Density
- D. Consistency
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Percussion is a technique used to assess the density of underlying organs by producing sounds that help determine their location and size. Turgor, texture, and consistency are primarily assessed through palpation, not percussion. Turgor refers to skin elasticity, texture pertains to the feel of the tissue surface, and consistency relates to the firmness or resistance of the tissue.
2. The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient. What would the nurse do next?
- A. Auscultate over the area with a fetoscope.
- B. Use a goniometer to measure the pulsations.
- C. Use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area.
- D. Check for the presence of pulsations with a stethoscope.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: When a nurse is unable to palpate a radial pulse, the next step is to use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area. Doppler devices are specifically designed to augment pulse or blood pressure measurements. Auscultating with a fetoscope is used to listen to fetal heart tones and is not relevant in this scenario. Goniometers are used to measure joint range of motion and are not used to assess pulses. Stethoscopes are primarily used to auscultate breath, bowel, and heart sounds, not to check for pulsations in peripheral pulses. Therefore, the correct course of action when unable to palpate a pulse is to utilize a Doppler device to assess for pulsations in the radial pulse area.
3. All of the following factors may contribute to client falls EXCEPT:
- A. Contact dermatitis
- B. Urinary frequency
- C. Decreased visual acuity
- D. Confusion
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Client falls can result from various factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic factors include health conditions like urinary frequency, which increases the need for bathroom visits, decreased visual acuity, and confusion. These factors can directly contribute to an increased risk of falls. However, contact dermatitis does not directly lead to falls. Contact dermatitis is a skin condition caused by contact with irritants or allergens and does not inherently predispose individuals to falling. Therefore, among the given options, contact dermatitis is the only factor that is not directly associated with an increased risk of falls.
4. The nurse is discussing the term subculture with a student nurse. Which statement by the nurse would best describe subculture?
- A. "Fitting as many people as possible into the majority culture."?
- B. "Identifying small groups of people who do not want to be identified with the larger culture."?
- C. "Singling out groups of people who suffer differential and unequal treatment as a result of cultural variations."?
- D. "Recognizing groups of people within a culture with shared characteristics that are not common to all members of the culture."?
Correct answer: D
Rationale: A subculture refers to a group of people within a larger culture who share distinct beliefs, values, or attitudes that are not universal among all members of the larger culture. Subcultures can emerge based on factors such as ethnicity, religion, education, occupation, age, and gender. The correct answer describes the concept of a subculture accurately. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not capture the essence of a subculture. Fitting people into the majority culture, identifying small groups who distance themselves from the larger culture, or singling out individuals facing differential treatment do not define subculture. Subcultures represent specific groups with shared characteristics that differentiate them from the broader cultural norms.
5. To accurately assess a patient's respiration rate, which of the following methods would be BEST?
- A. Tell the patient, 'Please remain silent while I count your number of breaths.'
- B. Count respirations at the same time you are counting the pulse rate
- C. Count the pulse rate for one minute, then, while keeping your index fingers on the patient's radial artery, count the respirations for an additional minute.
- D. Count the patient's respiration rate, then take the patient's temperature, and then take the pulse rate.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The most accurate method to assess a patient's respiration rate is to count the breaths simultaneously while counting the pulse rate. This approach ensures that the patient is unaware of the specific focus on their breathing, preventing any conscious alteration in breathing patterns. Choice A is incorrect because informing the patient may lead to altered breathing as the patient may consciously change their breathing pattern. Choice C involves counting the pulse rate first, which is not necessary for assessing respiration rate. Choice D is incorrect as it includes unnecessary steps such as taking the patient's temperature before counting respiration rate, which adds no value to accurately assessing the respiration rate.
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