NCLEX NCLEX-RN
Exam Cram NCLEX RN Practice Questions
1. Which of the following is TRUE about shock?
- A. A patient with severe shock does not always have an abnormally low blood pressure.
- B. Confusion and deteriorating mentation are indicative of hypotensive shock.
- C. Patients with compensated shock may not be able to maintain a normal blood pressure.
- D. A normal blood pressure does not imply that the patient is stable.
Correct answer: B: Confusion and deteriorating mentation are indicative of hypotensive shock.
Rationale: Confusion and deteriorating mentation are indeed indicative of hypotensive shock. It is important to note that a patient with hypotensive shock will likely exhibit deteriorating mental status. Choice A is incorrect because a patient in severe shock may not always have an abnormally low blood pressure, making it an unreliable indicator of shock severity. Choice C is incorrect because patients with compensated shock may present with normal blood pressure but still have inadequate tissue perfusion. Choice D is incorrect because a normal blood pressure does not guarantee the patient's stability, especially in cases of shock where tissue perfusion may be compromised despite normal blood pressure readings.
2. A 55-year-old patient admitted with an abrupt onset of jaundice and nausea has abnormal liver function studies, but serologic testing is negative for viral causes of hepatitis. Which question by the nurse is most appropriate?
- A. Is there any history of IV drug use?
- B. Do you use any over-the-counter drugs?
- C. Are you taking corticosteroids for any reason?
- D. Have you recently traveled to a foreign country?
Correct answer: Do you use any over-the-counter drugs?
Rationale: The most appropriate question for the nurse to ask in this scenario is whether the patient uses any over-the-counter drugs. The patient's symptoms, negative serologic testing for viral hepatitis, and sudden onset of symptoms point towards toxic hepatitis, which can be triggered by commonly used over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol). Asking about IV drug use is relevant for viral hepatitis, not toxic hepatitis. Inquiring about recent travel to a foreign country is more pertinent to potential exposure to infectious agents causing viral hepatitis. Corticosteroid use is not typically associated with the symptoms described in the case.
3. When considering the concepts related to blood pressure, which statement best describes the concept of mean arterial pressure (MAP)?
- A. MAP is the pressure of the arterial pulse.
- B. MAP reflects the stroke volume of the heart.
- C. MAP is the pressure forcing blood into the tissues, averaged over the cardiac cycle.
- D. MAP is an average of the systolic and diastolic blood pressures and reflects tissue perfusion.
Correct answer: C: MAP is the pressure forcing blood into the tissues, averaged over the cardiac cycle.
Rationale: Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) is the pressure that forces blood into the tissues, averaged over the cardiac cycle. It is not the pressure of the arterial pulse (Choice A), nor does it directly reflect the stroke volume of the heart (Choice B). While MAP involves systolic and diastolic pressures, it is not simply an average of these two values as diastole lasts longer. Instead, MAP is closer to diastolic pressure plus one third of the pulse pressure. The best description of MAP is that it represents the pressure forcing blood into the tissues, averaged over the cardiac cycle.
4. To prevent a Valsalva maneuver in a client recovering from an acute myocardial infarction, the nurse would:
- A. Assist the client in using the bedside commode.
- B. Administer stool softeners daily as prescribed.
- C. Administer antidysrhythmics prn as ordered.
- D. Maintain the client on strict bed rest.
Correct answer: Administer stool softeners daily as prescribed.
Rationale: Administering stool softeners daily is crucial to prevent straining during defecation, which can lead to the Valsalva maneuver. Straining can increase intrathoracic pressure, decrease venous return to the heart, and reduce cardiac output, potentially worsening the client's condition. If constipation occurs, the use of laxatives may be necessary to avoid straining. Administering antidysrhythmics on an as-needed basis is not indicated for preventing the Valsalva maneuver; they are used to manage dysrhythmias. Strict bed rest is not necessary and may lead to complications such as deconditioning, DVT, and respiratory issues in the absence of specific medical indications.
5. A 30-year-old woman has recently moved to the United States with her husband. They are living with the woman’s sister until they can get a home of their own. When company arrives to visit the woman’s sister, the woman feels suddenly shy and retreats to the back bedroom to hide until the company leaves. She explains that her reaction to guests is simply because she does not know how to speak “perfect English.” What is this woman likely experiencing?
- A. Culture shock
- B. Cultural taboos
- C. Cultural unfamiliarity
- D. Culture disorientation
Correct answer: Culture shock
Rationale: The woman in the scenario is likely experiencing culture shock. Culture shock is a term used to describe the state of disorientation or inability to respond to the behavior of a different cultural group due to sudden strangeness, unfamiliarity, and incompatibility with the individual’s perceptions and expectations. In this case, the woman's feelings of shyness and retreating due to not feeling confident in speaking 'perfect English' align with symptoms of culture shock. The other choices are incorrect: Cultural taboos refer to behaviors or actions that are prohibited within a particular culture; cultural unfamiliarity suggests a lack of knowledge about a specific culture, which is not the case here; and culture disorientation is not a commonly used term in cultural psychology, making it an incorrect option.
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