Download MCQ for Nursing Students 6

MCQ for Nursing Students 6
1. A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of midsternal chest pain. Which of
the following nursing action should take priority?
A. A complete history with emphasis on preceding events.
B. An electrocardiogram.
C. Careful assessment of vital signs.
D. Chest exam with auscultation.
The answer is C.
Careful assessment of vital signs.
The priority nursing action for a patient arriving at the ED in distress is always assessment
of vital signs. This indicates the extent of physical compromise and provides a baseline
by which to plan further assessment and treatment. A thorough medical history,
including onset of symptoms, will be necessary and it is likely that an electrocardiogram
will be performed as well, but these are not the first priority. Similarly, chest exam with
auscultation may offer useful information after vital signs are assessed.
2. A patient has been hospitalized with pneumonia and is about to be discharged. A nurse
provides discharge instructions to a patient and his family. Which misunderstanding by the
family indicates the need for more detailed information?
A. The patient may resume normal home activities as tolerated but should avoid
physical exertion and get adequate rest.
B. The patient should resume a normal diet with emphasis on nutritious, healthy
foods.
C. The patient may discontinue the prescribed course of oral antibiotics once the
symptoms have completely resolved.
D. The patient should continue use of the incentive spirometer to keep airways open
and free of secretions.
The answer is C. The patient may discontinue the prescribed course of oral antibiotics
once the symptoms have completely resolved.
It is always critical that patients being discharged from the hospital take prescribed
medications as instructed. In the case of antibiotics, a full course must be completed
even after symptoms have resolved to prevent incomplete eradication of the organism
and recurrence of infection. The patient should resume normal activities as tolerated, as
well as a nutritious diet. Continued use of the incentive spirometer after discharge will
speed recovery and improve lung function.
3. A nurse is caring for an elderly Vietnamese patient in the terminal stages of lung cancer. Many
family members are in the room around the clock performing unusual rituals and bringing ethnic
foods. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Restrict visiting hours and ask the family to limit visitors to two at a time.
B. Notify visitors with a sign on the door that the patient is limited to clear fluids only
with no solid food allowed.
C. If possible, keep the other bed in the room unassigned to provide privacy and
comfort to the family.
D. Contact the physician to report the unusual rituals and activities.
The answer is C. If possible, keep the other bed in the room unassigned to provide privacy
and comfort to the family.
When a family member is dying, it is most helpful for nursing staff to provide a culturally
sensitive environment to the degree possible within the hospital routine. In the Vietnamese
culture, it is important that the dying be surrounded by loved ones and not left alone.
Traditional rituals and foods are thought to ease the transition to the next life. When
possible, allowing the family privacy for this traditional behavior is best for them and the
patient. Answers A, B, and D are incorrect because they create unnecessary conflict with the
patient and family.
4. The charge nurse on the cardiac unit is planning assignments for the day. Which of the
following is the most appropriate assignment for the float nurse that has been reassigned
from labor and delivery?
A. A one-week postoperative coronary bypass patient, who is being evaluated for
placement of a pacemaker prior to discharge.
B. A suspected myocardial infarction patient on telemetry, just admitted from the
Emergency Department and scheduled for an angiogram.
C. A patient with unstable angina being closely monitored for pain and medication
titration.
D. A postoperative valve replacement patient who was recently admitted to the unit
because all surgical beds were filled.
The answer is
4. Answer: A. A one-week postoperative coronary bypass patient, who is being
evaluated for placement of a pacemaker prior to discharge.
The charge nurse planning assignments must consider the skills of the staff and the needs of the patients.
The labor and delivery nurse who is not experienced with the needs of cardiac patients should be
assigned to those with the least acute needs. The patient who is one-week post-operative and nearing
discharge is likely to require routine care. A new patient admitted with suspected MI and scheduled for
angiography would require continuous assessment as well as coordination of care that is best carried
out by experienced staff. The unstable patient requires staff that can immediately identify symptoms
and respond appropriately. A postoperative patient also requires close monitoring and cardiac
experience.
5. A newly diagnosed 8-year-old child with type I diabetes mellitus and his mother are
receiving diabetes education prior to discharge. The physician has prescribed Glucagon for emergency use.
The mother asks the purpose of this medication. Which of the following statements by the nurse is correct?
A. Glucagon enhances the effect of insulin in case the blood sugar remains high one
hour after injection.
B. Glucagon treats hypoglycemia resulting from insulin overdose.
C. Glucagon treats lipoatrophy from insulin injections.
D. Glucagon prolongs the effect of insulin, allowing fewer injections.
The answer is B.
Glucagon treats hypoglycemia resulting from insulin overdose.
Glucagon is given to treat insulin overdose in an unresponsive patient. Following
Glucagon administration, the patient should respond within 15-20 minutes at which
time oral carbohydrates should be given. Glucagon reverses rather than enhances or
prolongs the effects of insulin. Lipoatrophy refers to the effect of repeated insulin
injections on subcutaneous fat.
6. An infant with congestive heart failure is receiving diuretic therapy at home. Which of the
following symptoms would indicate that the dosage may need to be increased?
A. Sudden weight gain.
B. Decreased blood pressure.
C. Slow, shallow breathing.
D. Bradycardia.
The answer is A.
Sudden weight gain.
Weight gain is an early symptom of congestive heart failure due to accumulation of fluid.
When diuretic therapy is inadequate, one would expect an increase in blood pressure,
tachypnea, and tachycardia to result.
7. A patient taking Dilantin (phenytoin) for a seizure disorder is experiencing breakthrough
seizures. A blood sample is taken to determine the serum drug level. Which of the following
would indicate a sub-therapeutic level?
A. 15 mcg/mL.
B. 4 mcg/mL.
C. 10 mcg/dL.
D. 5 mcg/dL.
The answer is B.
4 mcg/mL.
The therapeutic serum level for Dilantin is 10 – 20 mcg/mL. A level of 4 mcg/mL is
subtherapeutic and may be caused by patient non-compliance or increased metabolism
of the drug. A level of 15 mcg/mL is therapeutic. Choices C and D are expressed in
mcg/dL, which is the incorrect unit of measurement.
8. A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of back pain. He reports taking at
least 3 acetaminophen tablets every three hours for the past week without relief. Which of the
following symptoms suggests acetaminophen toxicity?
A. Tinnitus.
B. Diarrhea.
C. Hypertension.
D. Hepatic damage.
The answer is D.
Hepatic damage.
Acetaminophen in even moderately large doses can cause serious liver damage that may
result in death. Immediate evaluation of liver function is indicated with consideration of
N-acetylcysteine administration as an antidote. Tinnitus is associated with aspirin
overdose, not acetaminophen. Diarrhea and hypertension are not associated with
acetaminophen.
9. A nurse is caring for a cancer patient receiving subcutaneous morphine sulfate for pain. Which
of the following nursing actions is most important in the care of this patient?
A. Monitor urine output.
B. Monitor respiratory rate.
C. Monitor heart rate.
D. Monitor temperature.
The answer is B.
Monitor respiratory rate.
Morphine sulfate can suppress respiration and respiratory reflexes, such as cough. Patients
should be monitored regularly for these effects to avoid respiratory
compromise. Morphine sulfate does not significantly affect urine output, heart rate, or
body temperature.
10. A patient arrives at the emergency department with severe lower leg pain after a fall in a touch
football game. Following routine triage, which of the following is the appropriate next step in
assessment and treatment?
A. Apply heat to the painful area.
B. Apply an elastic bandage to the leg.
C. X-ray the leg.
D. Give pain medication.
The answer is C.
X-ray the leg.
Following triage, an x-ray should be performed to rule out fracture. Ice, not heat, should be
applied to a recent sports injury. An elastic bandage may be applied and pain
medication given once fracture has been excluded.
11. A nurse caring for several patients on the cardiac unit is told that one is scheduled for
implantation of an automatic internal cardioverter-defibrillator. Which of the following patients
is most likely to have this procedure?
A. A patient admitted for myocardial infarction without cardiac muscle damage.
B. A post-operative coronary bypass patient, recovering on schedule.
C. A patient with a history of ventricular tachycardia and syncopal episodes.
D. A patient with a history of atrial tachycardia and fatigue.
The answer is C. A patient with a history of ventricular tachycardia and syncopal episodes.
An automatic internal cardioverter-defibrillator delivers an electric shock to the heart to
terminate episodes of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. This is necessary in
a patient with significant ventricular symptoms, such as tachycardia resulting in syncope. A
patient with myocardial infarction that resolved with no permanent cardiac damage would
not be a candidate. A patient recovering well from coronary bypass would not need the
device. Atrial tachycardia is less serious and is treated conservatively with medication and
cardioversion as a last resort.
12. A patient is scheduled for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan for suspected
lung cancer. Which of the following is a contraindication to the study for this patient?
A. The patient is allergic to shellfish.
B. The patient has a pacemaker.
C. The patient suffers from claustrophobia.
D. The patient takes antipsychotic medication.
The answer is B.
The patient has a pacemaker.
The implanted pacemaker will interfere with the magnetic fields of the MRI scanner and
may be deactivated by them. Shellfish/iodine allergy is not a contraindication because
the contrast used in MRI scanning is not iodine-based. Open MRI scanners and antianxiety medications are available for patients with claustrophobia. Psychiatric
medication is not a contraindication to MRI scanning.
13. A nurse calls a physician with the concern that a patient has developed a pulmonary
embolism. Which of the following symptoms has the nurse most likely observed?
A. The patient is somnolent with decreased response to the family.
B. The patient suddenly complains of chest pain and shortness of breath.
C. The patient has developed a wet cough and the nurse hears crackles on
auscultation of the lungs.
D. The patient has a fever, chills, and loss of appetite.
The answer is B.
breath.
The patient suddenly complains of chest pain and shortness of
Typical symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain, shortness of breath, and
severe anxiety. The physician should be notified immediately. A patient with pulmonary
embolism will not be sleepy or have a cough with crackles on exam. A patient with
fever, chills and loss of appetite may be developing pneumonia.
14. A patient comes to the emergency department with abdominal pain. Work-up reveals the
presence of a rapidly enlarging abdominal aortic aneurysm. Which of the following actions
should the nurse expect?
A. The patient will be admitted to the medicine unit for observation and medication.
B. The patient will be admitted to the day surgery unit for sclerotherapy.
C. The patient will be admitted to the surgical unit and resection will be scheduled.
D. The patient will be discharged home to follow-up with his cardiologist in 24 hours.
The answer is C.
scheduled.
The patient will be admitted to the surgical unit and resection will be
A rapidly enlarging abdominal aortic aneurysm is at significant risk of rupture and should
be resected as soon as possible. No other appropriate treatment options currently exist.
15. A patient with leukemia is receiving chemotherapy that is known to depress bone marrow. A
CBC (complete blood count) reveals a platelet count of 25,000/microliter. Which of the following
actions related specifically to the platelet count should be included on the nursing care plan?
A. Monitor for fever every 4 hours.
B. Require visitors to wear respiratory masks and protective clothing.
C. Consider transfusion of packed red blood cells.
D. Check for signs of bleeding, including examination of urine and stool for blood.
The answer is D. Check for signs of bleeding, including examination of urine and
stool for blood.
A platelet count of 25,000/microliter is severely thrombocytopenic and should prompt the
initiation of bleeding precautions, including monitoring urine and stool for evidence of
bleeding. Monitoring for fever and requiring protective clothing are indicated to
prevent infection if white blood cells are decreased. Transfusion of red cells is indicated
for severe anemia.
16. A patient is undergoing the induction stage of treatment for leukemia. The nurse teaches
family members about infectious precautions. Which of the following statements by family
members indicates that the family needs more education?
A. We will bring in books and magazines for entertainment.
B. We will bring in personal care items for comfort.
C. We will bring in fresh flowers to brighten the room.
D. We will bring in family pictures and get well cards.
The answer is C.
We will bring in fresh flowers to brighten the room.
During induction chemotherapy, the leukemia patient is severely immunocompromised
and at risk of serious infection. Fresh flowers, fruit, and plants can carry microbes and
should be avoided. Books, pictures, and other personal items can be cleaned with
antimicrobials before being brought into the room to minimize the risk of
contamination.
17. A nurse is caring for a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Which of the
following is the most likely age range of the patient?
A. 3-10 years.
B. 25-35 years.
C. 45-55 years.
D. over 60 years.
The answer is A.
3-10 years.
The peak incidence of ALL is at 4 years (range 3-10). It is uncommon after the mid-teen
years. The peak incidence of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is 45-55 years. The
peak incidence of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) occurs at 60 years. Two-thirds of
cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) occur after 60 years.
18. A patient is admitted to the oncology unit for diagnosis of suspected Hodgkin’s disease.
Which of the following symptoms is typical of Hodgkin’s disease?
A. Painful cervical lymph nodes.
B. Night sweats and fatigue.
C. Nausea and vomiting.
D. Weight gain.
The answer is B.
Night sweats and fatigue.
Symptoms of Hodgkin’s disease include night sweats, fatigue, weakness, and tachycardia.
The disease is characterized by painless, enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Weight loss
occurs early in the disease. Nausea and vomiting are not typically symptoms of
Hodgkin’s disease.
19. The Hodgkin’s disease patient described in the question above undergoes a lymph node
biopsy for definitive diagnosis. If the diagnosis of Hodgkin’s disease were correct, which of the
following cells would the pathologist expect to find?
A. Reed-Sternberg cells.
B. Lymphoblastic cells.
C. Gaucher’s cells.
D. Rieder’s cells
The answer is A.
Reed-Sternberg cells.
A definitive diagnosis of Hodgkin’s disease is made if Reed-Sternberg cells are found on
pathologic examination of the excised lymph node. Lymphoblasts are immature cells
found in the bone marrow of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Gaucher’s
cells are large storage cells found in patients with Gaucher’s disease. Rieder’s cells are
myeloblasts found in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia.
20. A patient is about to undergo bone marrow aspiration and biopsy and expresses fear
and anxiety about the procedure. Which of the following is the most effective nursing response?
A. Warn the patient to stay very still because the smallest movement will increase her
pain.
B. Encourage the family to stay in the room for the procedure.
C. Stay with the patient and focus on slow, deep breathing for relaxation.
D. Delay the procedure to allow the patient to deal with her feelings.
The answer is C.
Stay with the patient and focus on slow, deep breathing for relaxation.
Slow, deep breathing is the most effective method of reducing anxiety and stress. It reduces the
level of carbon dioxide in the brain to increase calm and relaxation. Warning the patient to
remain still will likely increase her anxiety. Encouraging family members to stay with the
patient may make her worry about their anxiety as well as her own. Delaying the procedure
is unlikely to allay her fears.