NCLEX-RN
Exam Cram NCLEX RN Practice Questions
1. Which of these specific measurements is the best index of a child's general health?
- A. Body mass index
- B. Height and weight
- C. Head circumference
- D. Chest circumference
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Height and weight are the most accurate measurements to assess a child's general health. These measurements reflect the physical growth and development of the child, indicating overall health status. Choices C and D, head circumference and chest circumference, are important measurements for specific assessments but do not provide as comprehensive an overview of general health as height and weight. Body mass index (BMI) is a calculation based on height and weight, making height and weight more direct and primary indicators of a child's health compared to BMI.
2. Over a patient's lifespan, how does the pulse rate change?
- A. starts out fast and decreases as the patient ages.
- B. starts out slower and increases as the patient ages.
- C. varies from slow to fast throughout the lifespan.
- D. stays consistent from birth to death.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is that the pulse rate starts out fast and decreases as the patient ages. In infants, the normal pulse rate is around 140 beats per minute, which then falls to an average of 80 beats per minute in adults. As individuals age, their pulse rate tends to decrease due to changes in cardiovascular function. Choice B is incorrect as the pulse rate typically decreases with age, rather than increases. Choice C is incorrect as there is a general trend of decreasing pulse rate as individuals age, rather than a continuous variation. Choice D is incorrect as the pulse rate does change over a patient's lifespan, starting fast in infants and decreasing as they age.
3. The nurse is preparing to assess a patient’s abdomen by palpation. How should the nurse proceed?
- A. Avoid palpating reportedly “tender” areas as this may cause pain.
- B. Palpate tender areas quickly to minimize patient discomfort.
- C. Initiate the assessment with deep palpation while encouraging the patient to relax and take deep breaths.
- D. Begin the assessment with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to acclimate the patient to touch.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct approach is to begin the assessment with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to acclimate the patient to touch. This allows the nurse to first assess surface features before proceeding to deeper palpation. Starting with light palpation also helps the patient become more comfortable with being touched, creating a smoother examination experience. Palpating tender areas quickly, as suggested in choice B, can increase patient discomfort. Deep palpation, as in choice C, is typically performed after light palpation to avoid discomfort and ensure proper assessment. Avoiding palpation of tender areas first, as in choice A, helps prevent causing unnecessary pain and should be done towards the end of the assessment.
4. During a work shift, how can a nurse best demonstrate the dynamic nature of the nursing process?
- A. Collaborating with the client to establish healthcare goals
- B. Reviewing the client's medical record history
- C. Explaining the purpose of administered medications to the client
- D. Rapidly resetting priorities for client care based on changes in the client's condition
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The nursing process is dynamic as it involves adapting to the changing health status of the client. Rapidly resetting priorities for client care based on changes in the client's condition exemplifies this dynamic nature by responding promptly to evolving circumstances. Collaborating with the client to establish healthcare goals (Option A), reviewing the client's medical record history (Option B), and explaining the purpose of administered medications to the client (Option C) are all essential nursing actions but do not directly showcase the dynamic nature of the nursing process.
5. What is the anatomic structure located in the middle of the heart that separates the right and left ventricles?
- A. Septum
- B. Sputum
- C. Separator
- D. None of the above
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is the septum. The septum is a structure located in the middle of the heart that separates the right and left ventricles. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the separation between the two ventricles to ensure efficient blood flow. The other choices, 'Sputum' and 'Separator,' are incorrect as they do not refer to the anatomic structure in the heart that serves this specific function. 'Sputum' is a term used to describe phlegm or mucus, not an anatomical structure, and 'Separator' is a generic term that does not specifically identify the cardiac structure mentioned in the question.
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