NCLEX NCLEX-PN
Psychosocial Integrity Nclex PN Questions
1. Tricyclics (Antidepressants) can sometimes have which of the following adverse effects on patients diagnosed with depression?
- A. Shortness of breath
- B. Fainting
- C. Large intestine ulcers
- D. Distal muscular weakness
Correct answer: Fainting
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Fainting.' Tricyclic antidepressants can cause fainting and hypotension as adverse effects. Shortness of breath (Choice A) is not a common side effect of tricyclics. Large intestine ulcers (Choice C) are not typically associated with tricyclic antidepressants. Distal muscular weakness (Choice D) is not a common adverse effect of tricyclics but is commonly associated with other medications.
2. Which of the following situations requires nurse intervention?
- A. A certified nursing assistant states, 'The patient in 307 is not wearing gloves while shaving her legs.'
- B. A nursing assistant at the nursing station states, 'The patient in 307 has a respiratory rate of 16.'
- C. A nursing student in the cafeteria states, 'Dr. Jones told the patient in room 307 that she was going to die.'
- D. A certified nursing assistant states, 'Dr. Jones hasn’t made rounds this morning.'
Correct answer: A nursing student in the cafeteria states, 'Dr. Jones told the patient in room 307 that she was going to die.'
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Patient confidentiality must be maintained at all times to respect the patient's privacy and dignity. Disclosing sensitive information like a patient's prognosis in a public setting violates confidentiality and can cause distress. The nurse should intervene in this situation and educate the nursing student about the importance of not discussing confidential patient information in public. Choices A, B, and D do not involve breaching patient confidentiality and do not require immediate nurse intervention. Choice A focuses on infection control measures, choice B relates to clinical assessment, and choice D is about the doctor's rounds, which are not urgent matters requiring immediate intervention.
3. When reviewing a client's medical notes to confirm pregnancy, a nurse should look for which finding to determine that pregnancy is confirmed?
- A. Amenorrhea
- B. Thinning of the cervix
- C. Palpable fetal movement
- D. Positive result on a home urine test for pregnancy
Correct answer: Palpable fetal movement
Rationale: To confirm pregnancy, the presence of palpable fetal movement is a positive indicator. Palpable fetal movement is a certain sign of pregnancy, known as a fetal movement felt by the examiner. Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign of pregnancy as it is reported by the woman but is not confirmatory. Thinning of the cervix (Hegar sign) is a probable sign of pregnancy, which is not confirmatory. A positive result on a home urine test for pregnancy is also a probable indicator. However, a positive pregnancy test result can sometimes yield false-positive results due to various factors like medication, recent pregnancy, or errors in reading.
4. A one-month-old infant in the neonatal intensive care unit is dying. The parents request that the nurse administer an opioid analgesic to their infant, who is crying weakly. The infant’s heart rate is 68 beats per minute, and the respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute. The infant is on room air, and the oxygen saturation is 92%. The nurse’s response is based on which of the following principles?
- A. Providing analgesia during the last days and hours is an ethically appropriate nursing action.
- B. Withholding the opioid analgesia during the last days and hours is an ethical duty because administering it would represent assisted suicide.
- C. Administering analgesia during the last days and hours is the parents' ethical decision.
- D. Withholding the opioid analgesia is clinically appropriate because it will hasten the infant’s death.
Correct answer: Providing analgesia during the last days and hours is an ethically appropriate nursing action.
Rationale: All patients, regardless of age, have the right to die with dignity and be free from pain. In this case, the parents' request for an opioid analgesic to relieve the child's distress aligns with the principles of palliative care and ensuring comfort. Assisted suicide involves a conscious decision by the individual, which is not applicable to a 1-month-old infant. Both the nurse and the parents have an ethical duty to ensure the infant's comfort and well-being. Withholding opioid analgesia solely to hasten death is not appropriate, as providing pain relief is a crucial aspect of end-of-life care. Opioids can be administered to dying patients at any age to alleviate suffering without the intention of hastening death. Therefore, providing analgesia during the last days and hours is an ethically appropriate nursing action. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the decision to administer analgesia in this scenario is based on the best interest and comfort of the infant, not concerns about assisted suicide or hastening death. The ethical consideration is to provide compassionate care and alleviate suffering.
5. A nurse is caring for her clients when her new admit arrives on the unit. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
- A. Ask the nursing assistant to complete emptying the catheter bag and assess the new admission.
- B. Ask the nursing assistant to take vital signs on the new admit and begin the history until she can get there.
- C. Ask the graduate nurse on the floor to initiate the assessment process until she can get there.
- D. Ask the unit secretary to make the client and family comfortable until she can complete her present task.
Correct answer: Ask the graduate nurse on the floor to initiate the assessment process until she can get there.
Rationale: The most appropriate action for the nurse in this situation is to ask the graduate nurse on the floor to initiate the assessment process until she can arrive. Nursing assistants are not qualified to perform assessments, and the unit secretary's role does not involve client assessments. Delegating the assessment to the graduate nurse ensures that a qualified healthcare professional is evaluating the new admission, aligning with the nurse's responsibilities and providing appropriate care.
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