NCLEX-RN
Exam Cram NCLEX RN Practice Questions
1. The parents of a newborn with a cleft lip are concerned and ask the nurse when the lip will be repaired. With which statement should the nurse respond?
- A. Cleft lip cannot be repaired.
- B. Cleft-lip repair is usually performed by 6 months of age.
- C. Cleft-lip repair is usually performed during the first months of life.
- D. Cleft-lip repair is usually performed between 6 months and 2 years.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Cleft-lip repair is typically performed during the first few months of life to address functional and cosmetic concerns at an early stage. Early repair can enhance bonding and facilitate feeding. While revisions may be necessary later on, addressing the cleft lip early is essential. Option A is incorrect as cleft lip repair is a common surgical procedure. Option B is incorrect as repair is typically done earlier than 6 months for better outcomes. Option D is incorrect as the usual timing for repair is within the first months of life, not between 6 months and 2 years.
2. While receiving normal saline infusions to treat a GI bleed, the nurse notes that the patient's lower legs have become edematous and auscultates crackles in the lungs. What should the nurse do first?
- A. Stop the saline infusion immediately
- B. Notify the physician
- C. Elevate the patient's legs
- D. Continue the infusion, as these findings are normal
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to stop the saline infusion immediately. The patient is showing signs of fluid volume overload due to rapid fluid replacement, indicated by lower leg edema and lung crackles. Continuing the infusion could worsen the overload and potentially lead to complications. Notifying the physician is important but should come after stopping the infusion to address the immediate issue. Elevating the patient's legs may help with edema but is not the priority in this situation. Continuing the infusion when the patient is already showing signs of fluid overload is contraindicated and can be harmful.
3. When auscultating the patient's lungs during a shift assessment on a patient admitted in the early phase of heart failure, which finding would the nurse most likely hear?
- A. Continuous rumbling, snoring, or rattling sounds mainly on expiration
- B. Continuous high-pitched musical sounds on inspiration and expiration
- C. Discontinuous, high-pitched sounds of short duration heard on inspiration
- D. A series of long-duration, discontinuous, low-pitched sounds during inspiration
Correct answer: C
Rationale: In the early phase of heart failure, fine crackles are likely to be heard upon auscultation of the lungs. Fine crackles are characterized as discontinuous, high-pitched sounds of short duration heard on inspiration. Rhonchi are continuous rumbling, snoring, or rattling sounds mainly on expiration, which are often associated with airway secretions. Coarse crackles are a series of long-duration, discontinuous, low-pitched sounds during inspiration, typically indicating fluid in the alveoli. Wheezes are continuous high-pitched musical sounds on inspiration and expiration, commonly heard in conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, the correct choice is C, as it describes the expected lung sounds in a patient with early heart failure.
4. A patient with pneumonia has a fever of 101.4 F (38.6 C), a nonproductive cough, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. The patient complains of weakness, fatigue, and needs assistance to get out of bed. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse assign as the highest priority?
- A. Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
- B. Impaired transfer ability related to weakness
- C. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions
- D. Impaired gas exchange related to respiratory congestion
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Impaired gas exchange related to respiratory congestion.' While all the nursing diagnoses are relevant to the patient's condition, the priority should be given to impaired gas exchange due to the patient's low oxygen saturation level of 88%. This indicates a significant risk of hypoxia for all body tissues unless the gas exchange is improved. Addressing impaired gas exchange is crucial to ensure adequate oxygenation and prevent further complications. Hyperthermia, impaired transfer ability, and ineffective airway clearance are important concerns but addressing gas exchange takes precedence in this scenario.
5. A victim of domestic violence states, 'If I were better, I would not have been beaten.' Which feeling best describes what the victim may be experiencing?
- A. Fear
- B. Helplessness
- C. Self-blame
- D. Rejection
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is self-blame. In this scenario, the victim is attributing the abuse to their own inadequacies or faults, thinking that if they were different, the abuse would not occur. This is a common response seen in victims of domestic violence, where they wrongly internalize the blame for the abuser's actions. Fear (Choice A) is a valid emotion, but in this case, the victim is not expressing fear but rather self-blame. Helplessness (Choice B) is also a common feeling in victims of domestic violence, but in this specific statement, the victim is demonstrating self-blame. Rejection (Choice D) does not accurately reflect the victim's statement and emotional response in the given scenario.
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