NCLEX NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Actual Exam Test Bank
1. Which of the following questions is considered open-ended?
- A. What time did you last take your medications?
- B. Are you feeling okay right now?
- C. Please describe your symptoms.
- D. What day are you available for a follow-up appointment?
Correct answer: Please describe your symptoms.
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Please describe your symptoms.' This question is considered open-ended because it encourages the respondent to provide a detailed and descriptive answer, fostering a more elaborate response. Open-ended questions are designed to prompt thoughtful and detailed responses. Choice A is a closed-ended question since it seeks a specific time for the medication intake. Choice B is also closed-ended as it can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no,' limiting the response. Choice D is closed-ended as it requests a specific day for the follow-up appointment, restricting the range of possible responses.
2. The nurse receives change-of-shift report on the following four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
- A. A 23-year-old patient with cystic fibrosis who has pulmonary function testing scheduled
- B. A 46-year-old patient on bed rest who is complaining of sudden onset of shortness of breath
- C. A 77-year-old patient with tuberculosis (TB) who has four antitubercular medications due in 15 minutes
- D. A 35-year-old patient who was admitted the previous day with pneumonia and has a temperature of 100.2 F (37.8 C)
Correct answer: A 46-year-old patient on bed rest who is complaining of sudden onset of shortness of breath
Rationale: The correct answer is the 46-year-old patient on bed rest who is complaining of sudden onset of shortness of breath. Patients on bed rest who are immobile are at high risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Sudden onset of shortness of breath in a patient with a DVT suggests a pulmonary embolism, which requires immediate assessment and action such as oxygen administration to maintain adequate oxygenation. The other patients should also be assessed as soon as possible, but they do not present with an immediate life-threatening condition that requires urgent intervention like the patient experiencing sudden shortness of breath.
3. The nurse is examining a 2-year-old child and asks, “May I listen to your heart now?” Which critique of the nurse’s technique is most accurate?
- A. Asking questions may enhance the child’s autonomy.
- B. Asking the child for permission helps develop a sense of trust.
- C. This question is an inappropriate statement because children at this age like to have choices.
- D. Children at this age like to say, “No.” The examiner should not offer a choice when no choice is available.
Correct answer: Children at this age like to say, “No.” The examiner should not offer a choice when no choice is available.
Rationale: Children at the age of 2 often like to assert their independence by saying “No.” In situations where there is actually no choice available, offering a false choice can lead to a lack of trust. It is important not to offer a choice when there isn't one, as doing so may undermine trust. While asking for permission can enhance autonomy and trust, offering a limited option like, “Shall I listen to your heart next or your tummy?” may be a better approach. Therefore, the correct critique of the nurse’s technique in this scenario is that children at this age tend to say “No,” so the examiner should avoid offering a choice when there isn't a real alternative.
4. A 28-month-old toddler is admitted to the pediatric unit with suspected meningitis. A few hours later the mother tells the nurse, 'I have to leave now, but whenever I try to go, my child gets upset, and then I start to cry.' Which is the best action by the nurse?
- A. Walking the mother to the elevator
- B. Encouraging the mother to spend the night
- C. Staying with the child while the mother leaves
- D. Telling the mother to wait until the child falls asleep
Correct answer: Staying with the child while the mother leaves
Rationale: The best action for the nurse in this situation is to stay with the child while the mother leaves. By doing so, the nurse can provide comfort and reassurance to both the child and the mother. This approach acknowledges the mother's need to leave while ensuring the child is not left alone and is supported during the separation. Walking the mother to the elevator does not address the child's emotional needs and may not provide adequate support. Encouraging the mother to spend the night is not necessary and may not be feasible for her. Telling the mother to wait until the child falls asleep is not recommended as it may create a sense of dishonesty and uncertainty for the child, who should be aware of the mother's departure and reassured that she will return.
5. Your elderly patient has a temperature of 98.5 degrees. Is there anything else that a nurse should do, in addition to documenting this temperature?
- A. No, this temperature is within normal limits.
- B. No, this temperature is normally hyperthermic.
- C. Yes, this temperature is highly hyperthermic.
- D. Yes, this temperature is highly hypothermic.
Correct answer: No, this temperature is within normal limits.
Rationale: No, there is nothing else that a nurse should do. A temperature of 98.5 degrees for an elderly patient falls within normal limits. Other choices are incorrect because the temperature is not hyperthermic (abnormally high) or hypothermic (abnormally low), making choices B, C, and D inaccurate responses in this scenario.
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