NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Practice Questions With Rationale
1. You are caring for a Hispanic patient who is scheduled for surgery in the morning. A member of the surgery staff is in a hurry when she visits the patient to obtain surgical consent. You know that the patient speaks limited English and can see that he does not really understand what's being said. What is the most appropriate next action?
- A. Call a family member to interpret
- B. Consult the hospital translator to assist
- C. Allow the consent to be signed
- D. Ask the staff member to come back later
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Consulting the hospital translator is the most reliable means of ensuring accuracy in the information that the patient is receiving. Family members can be helpful, but they may have difficulty understanding the medical procedures well enough to explain them accurately and may misinterpret the message. Relying on family members could lead to misunderstandings or miscommunication. Allowing the consent to be signed without ensuring the patient's full understanding could pose risks to the patient's well-being. Asking the staff member to come back later delays the essential communication process needed before surgery. Therefore, consulting the hospital translator is the best course of action to ensure clear and accurate communication, especially in critical healthcare decisions like surgical consent.
2. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to maintain the patency of a client's nasogastric tube?
- A. Maintain a constant connection to low-intermittent suction
- B. Irrigate the tube as per physician's order
- C. Suction the mouth and nose every shift
- D. Perform a daily fecal occult blood sample
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to irrigate the tube as per physician's order. A client with a nasogastric tube is at risk of the tube kinking or clotting off, which can lead to complications such as abdominal distention or vomiting. To ensure the patency of the tube, the nurse should follow the physician's orders and facility policy to irrigate the tube with water or a solution as needed. Maintaining a constant connection to low-intermittent suction (Choice A) is not typically done to maintain tube patency. Suctioning the mouth and nose every shift (Choice C) is not directly related to maintaining nasogastric tube patency. Performing a daily fecal occult blood sample (Choice D) is unrelated to maintaining the patency of a nasogastric tube.
3. Mary T. was admitted to a nursing home on May 1st. On July 4th, she was diagnosed with a skin infection. This infection is considered a ________________ infection.
- A. nosocomial
- B. systemic
- C. resident flora
- D. resident aura
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'nosocomial.' A nosocomial infection is defined as one that is not present upon admission to a healthcare facility but instead occurs during the patient's stay. In this case, since Mary was diagnosed with a skin infection after being admitted to the nursing home, it is considered a nosocomial infection. Nosocomial infections are a significant concern in healthcare settings, and infection control measures are in place to prevent their spread. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. 'Systemic' refers to a condition affecting the entire body, not specific to a healthcare setting. 'Resident flora' and 'resident aura' are not commonly used terms in healthcare and do not relate to infections acquired in healthcare facilities.
4. A patient in the cardiac unit is concerned about the risk factors associated with atherosclerosis. Which of the following are hereditary risk factors for developing atherosclerosis?
- A. Family history of heart disease
- B. Overweight
- C. Smoking
- D. Age
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A family history of heart disease is an inherited risk factor for developing atherosclerosis. This factor is not modifiable through lifestyle changes. Studies have shown that having a first-degree relative with heart disease significantly increases the individual's risk of developing atherosclerosis. Overweight, smoking, and age are not hereditary risk factors for atherosclerosis. Overweight and smoking are lifestyle-related risk factors, while age is a non-modifiable risk factor that increases with time but is not directly inherited.
5. A child has recently been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The parents are receiving genetic counseling prior to planning another pregnancy. Which of the following statements includes the most accurate information?
- A. Duchenne is an X-linked recessive disorder, so daughters have a 50% chance of being carriers and sons a 50% chance of developing the disease.
- B. Duchenne is an X-linked recessive disorder, so both daughters and sons have a 50% chance of developing the disease.
- C. Each child has a 1 in 4 (25%) chance of developing the disorder.
- D. Sons only have a 1 in 4 (25%) chance of developing the disorder.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is that Duchenne is an X-linked recessive disorder, meaning the affected gene is located on one of the two X chromosomes of a female carrier. If a son receives the X chromosome bearing the gene, he will develop the disease, giving him a 50% chance of being affected. Daughters, on the other hand, are not affected by Duchenne but have a 50% chance of being carriers since they inherit one copy of the defective gene from the mother. The other X chromosome is inherited from the father, who cannot be a carrier. Therefore, choice A is accurate. Choice B is incorrect because daughters do not develop the disease, and sons have a 50% chance of developing, not both having a 50% chance. Choice C is incorrect as it does not consider the X-linked inheritance pattern of Duchenne. Choice D is inaccurate as it incorrectly states that only sons have a 25% chance of developing the disorder, omitting the carrier status of daughters.
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