NCSBN ON-LINE REVIEW NCLEX EXAM
1.A client has been hospitalized after an automobile accident. A full leg cast was applied in the
emergency room. The
... [Show More] most important reason for the nurse to elevate the casted leg is to
A) Promote the client's comfort
B) Reduce the drying time
C) Decrease irritation to the skin D) Improve venous return
D: Improve venous return. Elevating the leg both improves venous return and reduces swelling. Client
comfort will be improved as well.
2. The nurse is reviewing with a client how to collect a clean catch urine specimen. What is the
appropriate sequence to teach the client?
A) Clean the meatus, begin voiding, then catch urine stream
B) Void a little, clean the meatus, then collect specimen
C) Clean the meatus, then urinate into container
D) Void continuously and catch some of the urine
A: Clean the meatus, begin voiding, then catch urine stream. A clean catch urine is difficult to obtain
and requires clear directions. Instructing the client to carefully clean the meatus, then void naturally
with a steady stream prevents surface bacteria from contaminating the urine specimen. As starting
and stopping flow can be difficult, once the client begins voiding it’s best to just slip the container into
the stream. Other responses do not reflect correct technique
3. Following change-of-shift report on an orthopedic unit, which client should the nurse see first?
A) 16 year-old who had an open reduction of a fractured wrist 10 hours ago
B) 20 year-old in skeletal traction for 2 weeks since a motor cycle accident
C) 72 year-old recovering from surgery after a hip replacement 2 hours ago
D) 75 year-old who is in skin traction prior to planned hip pinning surgery.
C: Look for the client who has the most imminent risks and acute vulnerability. The client who
returned from surgery 2 hours ago is at risk for life threatening hemorrhage and should be seen first.
The 16 year-old should be seen next because it is still the first post-op day. The 75 year-old is
potentially vulnerable to age-related physical and cognitive consequences in skin traction should be
seen next. The client who can safely be seen last is the 20 year-old who is 2 weeks post-injury.
4. A client with Guillain Barre is in a nonresponsive state, yet vital signs are stable and breathing is
independent. What should the nurse document to most accurately describe the client's condition?
A) Comatose, breathing unlabored
B) Glascow Coma Scale 8, respirations regular
C) Appears to be sleeping, vital signs stable
D) Glascow Coma Scale 13, no ventilator required
B: Glascow Coma Scale 8, respirations regular. The Glascow Coma Scale provides a standard reference
for assessing or monitoring level of consciousness. Any score less than 13 indicates a neurological
impairment. Using the term comatose provides too much room for interpretation and is not very
precise.
5. When caring for a client receiving warfarin sodium (Coumadin), which lab test would the nurse
monitor to determine therapeutic response to the drug?
A) Bleeding time
B) Coagulation time
C) Prothrombin time
D) Partial thromboplastin time
C: Prothrombin time. Coumadin is ordered daily, based on the client''s prothrombin time (PT). This
test evaluates the adequacy of the extrinsic system and common pathway in the clotting cascade;
Coumadin affects the Vitamin K dependent clotting factors.
6.A client with moderate persistent asthma is admitted for a minor surgical procedure. On
admission the peak flow meter is measured at 480 liters/minute. Post-operatively the client is
complaining of chest tightness. The peak flow has dropped to 200 liters/minute. What should the nurse
do first?
A) Notify both the surgeon and provider
B) Administer the prn dose of albuterol
C) Apply oxygen at 2 liters per nasal cannula
D) Repeat the peak flow reading in 30 minutes
B: Administer the prn dose of albuterol. Peak flow monitoring during exacerbations of asthma is
recommended for clients with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma to determine the severity of the
exacerbation and to guide the treatment. A peak flow reading of less than 50% of the client''s baseline
reading is a medical alert condition and a short-acting beta-agonist must be taken immediately.
7.A client had 20 mg of Lasix (furosemide) PO at 10 AM. Which would be essential for the nurse to
include at the change of shift report?
A) The client lost 2 pounds in 24 hours
B) The client’s potassium level is 4 mEq/liter.
C) The client’s urine output was 1500 cc in 5 hours
D) The client is to receive another dose of Lasix at 10 PM
C: The client’s urine output was 1500 cc in 5 hours. Although all of these may be correct information
to include in report, the essential piece would be the urine output.
8.A client has been tentatively diagnosed with Graves' disease (hyperthyroidism). Which of these
findings noted on the initial nursing assessment requires quick intervention by the nurse?
A) a report of 10 pounds weight loss in the last month
B) a comment by the client "I just can't sit still."
C) the appearance of eyeballs that appear to "pop" out of the client's eye sockets
D) a report of the sudden onset of irritability in the past 2 weeks
C: the appearance of eyeballs that appear to "pop" out of the client''s eye sockets. Exophthalmos or
protruding eyeballs is a distinctive characteristic of Graves'' Disease. It can result in corneal abrasions
with severe eye pain or damage when the eyelid is unable to blink down over the protruding eyeball.
Eye drops or ointment may be needed.
9. The nurse has performed the initial assessments of 4 clients admitted with an acute episode of
asthma. Which assessment finding would cause the nurse to call the provider immediately?
A) prolonged inspiration with each breath
B) expiratory wheezes that are suddenly absent in 1 lobe
C) expectoration of large amounts of purulent mucous
D) appearance of the use of abdominal muscles for breathing
B: expiratory wheezes that are suddenly absent in 1 lobe. Acute asthma is characterized by expiratory
wheezes caused by obstruction of the airways. Wheezes are a high pitched musical sounds produced
by air moving through narrowed airways. Clients often associate wheezes with the feeling of tightness
in the chest. However, sudden cessation of wheezing is an ominous or bad sign that indicates an
emergency -- the small airways are now collapsed.
10. During the initial home visit, a nurse is discussing the care of a client newly diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease with family members. Which of these interventions would be most helpful at this
time?
A) leave a book about relaxation techniques
B) write out a daily exercise routine for them to assist the client to do
C) list actions to improve the client's daily nutritional intake
D) suggest communication strategies
D: suggest communication strategies. Alzheimer''s disease, a progressive chronic illness, greatly
challenges caregivers. The nurse can be of greatest assistance in helping the family to use
communication strategies to enhance their ability to relate to the client. By use of select verbal and
nonverbal communication strategies the family can best support the client’s strengths and cope with
any aberrant behavior.
11. An 80 year-old client admitted with a diagnosis of possible cerebral vascular accident has had a
blood pressure from 160/100 to
180/110 over the past 2 hours. The nurse has also noted increased lethargy. Which assessment finding
should the nurse report immediately to the provider?
A) Slurred speech
B) Incontinence
C) Muscle weaknessD) Rapid pulse
A: Slurred speech. Changes in speech patterns and level of conscious can be indicators of continued
intracranial bleeding or extension of the stroke. Further diagnostic testing may be indicated.
12. A school-aged child has had a long leg (hip to ankle) synthetic cast applied 4 hours ago. Which
statement from the parent indicates that teaching has been inadequate?
A) "I will keep the cast uncovered for the next day to prevent burning of the skin."
B) "I can apply an ice pack over the area to relieve itching inside the cast."
C) "The cast should be propped on at least 2 pillows when my child is lying down."
D) "I think I remember that my child should not stand until after 72 hours."
D: "I think I remember that my child should not stand until after 72 hours.". Synthetic casts will
typically set up in 30 minutes and dry in a few hours. Thus, the client may stand within the initial 24
hours. With plaster casts, the set up and drying time, especially in a long leg cast which is thicker than
an arm cast, can take up to 72 hours. Both types of casts give off a lot of heat when drying and it is
preferable to keep the cast uncovered for the first 24 hours. Clients may complain of a chill from the
wet cast and therefore can simply be covered lightly with a sheet or blanket. Applying ice is a safe
method of relieving the itching.
13. Which blood serum finding in a client with diabetic ketoacidosis alerts the nurse that immediate
action is required?
A) pH below 7.3
B) Potassium of 5.0
C) HCT of 60
D) Pa O2 of 79%
C: HCT of 60. This high hematocrit is indicative of severe dehydration which requires priority
attention in diabetic ketoacidosis. Without sufficient hydration, all systems of the body are at risk
for hypoxia from a lack of or sluggish circulation. In the absence of insulin, which facilitates the
transport of glucose into the cell, the body breaks down fats and proteins to supply energy
ketones, a by-product of fat metabolism. These accumulate causing metabolic acidosis (pH <
7.3), which would be the second concern for this client. The potassium and PaO2 levels are near
normal.
14. The nurse is preparing a client with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) for a Venous Doppler
evaluation. Which of the following would be necessary for preparing the client for this test?
A) Client should be NPO after midnight
B) Client should receive a sedative medication prior to the test
C) Discontinue anti-coagulant therapy prior to the test
D) No special preparation is necessary
D: No special preparation is necessary. This is a non-invasive procedure and does not require
preparation other than client education.
15. A client is admitted with infective endocarditis (IE). Which finding would alert the nurse to a
complication of this condition?
A) dyspnea
B) heart murmur
C) macular rashD) Hemorrhage
B: heart murmur. Large, soft, rapidly developing vegetations attach to the heart valves. They have a
tendency to break off, causing emboli and leaving ulcerations on the valve leaflets. These emboli
produce findings of cardiac murmur, fever, anorexia, malaise and neurologic sequelae of emboli.
Furthermore, the vegetations may travel to various organs such as spleen, kidney, coronary artery,
brain and lungs, and obstruct blood flow.
16. The nurse explains an autograft to a client scheduled for excision of a skin tumor. The nurse
knows the client understands the procedure when the client says, "I will receive tissue from
A) a tissue bank."
B) a pig."
C) my thigh."
D) synthetic skin."
C: my thigh.". Autografts are done with tissue transplanted from the client''s own skin.
17.A client is admitted to the emergency room following an acute asthma attack. Which of the
following assessments would be expected by the nurse?
A) Diffuse expiratory wheezing
B) Loose, productive cough
C) No relief from inhalantD) Fever and chills
A: Diffuse expiratory wheezing. In asthma, the airways are narrowed, creating difficulty getting air in.
A wheezing sound results.
18. A client has been admitted with a fractured femur and has been placed in skeletal traction.
Which of the following nursing interventions should receive priority?
A) Maintaining proper body alignment
B) Frequent neurovascular assessments of the affected leg
C) Inspection of pin sites for evidence of drainage or inflammation
D) Applying an over-bed trapeze to assist the client with movement in bed
B: Frequent neurovascular assessments of the affected leg. The most important activity for the nurse
is to assess neurovascular status. Compartment syndrome is a serious complication of fractures.
Prompt recognition of this neurovascular problem and early intervention may prevent permanent
limb damage.
19. The nurse is assigned to care for a client who had a myocardial infarction (MI) 2 days ago. The
client has many questions about this condition. What area is a priority for the nurse to discuss at this
time?
A) Daily needs and concerns
B) The overview cardiac rehabilitation
C) Medication and diet guidelineD) Activity and rest guidelines
A: Daily needs and concerns. At 2 days post-MI, the client’s education should be focused on the
immediate needs and concerns for the day.
20. A 3 year-old child is brought to the clinic by his grandmother to be seen for "scratching his
bottom and wetting the bed at night." Based on these complaints, the nurse would initially assess for
which problem?
A) allergies
B) scabies
C) regression
D) pinworms
D: pinworms. Signs of pinworm infection include intense perianal itching, poor sleep patterns, general
irritability, restlessness, bed-wetting, distractibility and short attention span. Scabies is an itchy skin
condition caused by a tiny, eight-legged burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei . The presence of the
mite leads to intense itching in the area of its burrows.
21. The nurse is caring for a newborn with tracheoesophageal fistula. Which nursing diagnosis is a
priority?
A) Risk for dehydration
B) Ineffective airway clearance
C) Altered nutritionD) Risk for injury
B: Ineffective airway clearance. The most common form of TEF is one in which the proximal
esophageal segment terminates in a blind pouch and the distal segment is connected to the trachea or
primary bronchus by a short fistula at or near the bifurcation. Thus, a priority is maintaining an open
airway, preventing aspiration. Other nursing diagnoses are then addressed.
22. The nurse is developing a meal plan that would provide the maximum possible amount of iron
for a child with anemia. Which dinner menu would be best?
A) Fish sticks, french fries, banana, cookies, milk
B) Ground beef patty, lima beans, wheat roll, raisins, milk
C) Chicken nuggets, macaroni, peas, cantaloupe, milk
D) Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, apple slices, milk
B: Ground beef patty, lima beans, wheat roll, raisins, milk. Iron rich foods include red meat, fish, egg
yolks, green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and dried fruits such as raisins. This dinner is the
best choice: It is high in iron and is appropriate for a toddler.
23. The nurse admitting a 5 month-old who vomited 9 times in the past 6 hours should observe for
signs of which overall imbalance?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Some increase in the serum hemoglobin
D) A little decrease in the serum potassium
B: Metabolic alkalosis. Vomiting causes loss of acid from the stomach. Prolonged vomiting can result
in excess loss of acid and lead to metabolic alkalosis. Findings include irritability, increased activity,
hyperactive reflexes, muscle twitching and elevated pulse. Options C and D are correct answers but
not the best answers since they are too general.
24. A two year-old child is brought to the provider's office with a chief complaint of mild diarrhea
for two days. Nutritional counseling by the nurse should include which statement?
A) Place the child on clear liquids and gelatin for 24 hours
B) Continue with the regular diet and include oral rehydration fluids
C) Give bananas, apples, rice and toast as tolerated
D) Place NPO for 24 hours, then rehydrate with milk and water
B: Continue with the regular diet and include oral rehydration fluids. Current recommendations for
mild to moderate diarrhea are to maintain a normal diet with fluids to rehydrate.
25. The nurse is teaching parents about the appropriate diet for a 4 month-old infant with
gastroenteritis and mild dehydration. In addition to oral rehydration fluids, the diet should include
A) formula or breast milk
B) broth and tea
C) rice cereal and apple juice
D) gelatin and ginger ale
A: formula or breast milk. The usual diet for a young infant should be followed.
26. A child is injured on the school playground and appears to have a fractured leg. The first action
the school nurse should take is
A) call for emergency transport to the hospital
B) immobilize the limb and joints above and below the injury
C) assess the child and the extent of the injuryD) apply cold compresses to the injured area
C: assess the child and the extent of the injury. When applying the nursing process, assessment is the
first step in providing care. The "5 Ps" of vascular impairment can be used as a guide (pain, pulse,
pallor, paresthesia, paralysis).
27. The mother of a 3 month-old infant tells the nurse that she wants to change from formula to
whole milk and add cereal and meats to the diet. What should be emphasized as the nurse teaches
about infant nutrition?
A) Solid foods should be introduced at 3-4 months
B) Whole milk is difficult for a young infant to digest
C) Fluoridated tap water should be used to dilute milk
D) Supplemental apple juice can be used between feedings
B: Whole milk is difficult for a young infant to digest. Cow''s milk is not given to infants younger than 1
year because the tough, hard curd is difficult to digest. In addition, it contains little iron and creates a
high renal solute load.
28. The nurse is preparing a handout on infant feeding to be distributed to families visiting the
clinic. Which notation should be included in the teaching materials?
A) Solid foods are introduced one at a time beginning with cereal
B) Finely ground meat should be started early to provide iron
C) Egg white is added early to increase protein intake
D) Solid foods should be mixed with formula in a bottle
A: Solid foods are introduced one at a time beginning with cereal. Solid foods should be added one at
a time between 4-6 months. If the infant is able to tolerate the food, another may be added in a week.
Iron fortified cereal is the recommended first food.
29. The nurse planning care for a 12 year-old child with sickle cell disease in a vaso-occlusive crisis of
the elbow should include which one of the following as a priority?
A) Limit fluids
B) Client controlled analgesia
C) Cold compresses to elbow
D) Passive range of motion exercise
B: Client controlled analgesia. Management of a sickle cell crisis is directed towards supportive and
symptomatic treatment. The priority of care is pain relief. In a 12 year-old child, client controlled
analgesia promotes maximum comfort.
30. The nurse is performing a physical assessment on a toddler. Which of the following actions
should be the first?
A) Perform traumatic procedures
B) Use minimal physical contact
C) Proceed from head to toe
D) Explain the exam in detail
B: Use minimal physical contact. The nurse should approach the toddler slowly and use minimal physical
contact initially so as to gain the toddler''s cooperation. Be flexible in the sequence of the exam, and
give only brief simple explanations just prior to the action.
31. What finding signifies that children have attained the stage of concrete operations (Piaget)?
A) Explores the environment with the use of sight and movement
B) Thinks in mental images or word pictures
C) Makes the moral judgment that "stealing is wrong"
D) Reasons that homework is time-consuming yet necessary
C: Makes the moral judgment that "stealing is wrong". The stage of concrete operations is depicted by
logical thinking and moral judgments.
32. The mother of a child with a neural tube defect asks the nurse what she can do to decrease the
chances of having another baby with a neural tube defect. What is the best response by the nurse?
A) "Folic acid should be taken before and after conception."
B) "Multivitamin supplements are recommended during pregnancy."
C) "A well balanced diet promotes normal fetal development."
D) "Increased dietary iron improves the health of mother and fetus."
A: "Folic acid should be taken before and after conception.". The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends that all childbearing women increase folic acid from dietary sources and/or supplements.
There is evidence that increased amounts of folic acid prevents neural tube defects.
33. The provider orders Lanoxin (digoxin) 0.125 mg PO and furosemide 40 mg every day. Which of
these foods would the nurse reinforce for the client to eat at least daily?
A) Spaghetti
B) Watermelon
C) Chicken
D) Tomatoes
B: Watermelon. Watermelon is high in potassium and will replace potassium lost by the diuretic. The
other foods are not high in potassium.
34. While teaching the family of a child who will take phenytoin (Dilantin) regularly for seizure
control, it is most important for the nurse to teach them about which of the following actions?
A) Maintain good oral hygiene and dental care
B) Omit medication if the child is seizure free
C) Administer acetaminophen to promote sleepD) Serve a diet that is high in iron
A: Maintain good oral hygiene and dental care. Swollen and tender gums occur often with use of
phenytoin. Good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist should be emphasized.
35. The nurse is offering safety instructions to a parent with a four month-old infant and a four yearold
child. Which statement by the parent indicates understanding of appropriate precautions to take
with the children?
A) "I strap the infant car seat on the front seat to face backwards."
B) "I place my infant in the middle of the living room floor on a blanket to play with my four yearold
while I make supper in the kitchen."
C) "My sleeping baby lies so cute in the crib with the little buttocks stuck up in the air while the
four year-old naps on the sofa."
D) "I have the four year-old hold and help feed the four month-old a bottle in the kitchen while I
make supper."
D: The infant seat is to be placed on the rear seat. Small children and infants are not to be left
unsupervised.
36. The nurse admits a 7 year-old to the emergency room after a leg injury. The x-rays show a femur
fracture near the epiphysis. The parents ask what will be the outcome of this injury. The appropriate
response by the nurse should be which of these statements?
A) "The injury is expected to heal quickly because of thin periosteum."
B) "In some instances the result is a retarded bone growth."
C) "Bone growth is stimulated in the affected leg."
D) "This type of injury shows more rapid union than that of younger children."
B: "In some instances the result is a retarded bone growth.". An epiphyseal [Show Less]