NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Practice Questions With Rationale
1. A physician is explaining a procedure to a patient that may cure her recurring Staph infection. The doctor explains how the procedure is done, what to expect, the odds of the procedure curing the infection, and possible side effects and risks. The physician is:
- A. Preparing the patient to give informed consent.
- B. Protecting HIPAA by listing all the steps of the procedure with the risks involved.
- C. Not required to inform the patient of any alternative therapies.
- D. None of the above.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is preparing the patient to give informed consent. Giving informed consent is the process of providing a patient with all necessary information about a medical procedure, including how it's done, what to expect, the likelihood of success, and potential risks and side effects. This allows the patient to make an informed decision about their treatment. Protecting HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) involves safeguarding patient health information and is not directly related to the scenario described. It is important for physicians to inform patients of any alternative therapies available to them to ensure they have all relevant information to make a decision regarding their treatment. Therefore, choice C, 'Not required to inform the patient of any alternative therapies,' is incorrect. Choice D, 'None of the above,' is incorrect as the physician is indeed preparing the patient for informed consent.
2. Mrs. O is seen for follow-up after an episode of acute pancreatitis. Her physician orders a serum amylase level and the result is 200 U/L. Which of the following is a potential cause of this result?
- A. The client is pregnant
- B. The client has hypertension
- C. The client is in renal failure
- D. The client has pancreatitis
Correct answer: D
Rationale: An elevated serum amylase level after pancreatitis may indicate another attack of the condition. It is common to order serum amylase as part of routine follow-up after pancreatitis. Elevated levels can also be seen in related gastrointestinal conditions like cholecystitis or an intestinal blockage. Therefore, in this case, the most likely cause of the elevated serum amylase level is a recurrence or ongoing pancreatitis. The other options, including pregnancy, hypertension, and renal failure, are not typically associated with an elevated serum amylase level in the context of follow-up after acute pancreatitis.
3. Which of the following reasons would be legal when considering a patient's medical record?
- A. Allowing a patient's brother to view her chart to find out her birthdate and address so that he can mail her a card
- B. Not allowing a patient to view her own chart because the physician feels this information would be detrimental to her wellbeing
- C. Not allowing a patient to view her chart because she is behind on her payments
- D. All of the above are legal
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is not allowing a patient to view her own chart because the physician feels this information would be detrimental to her wellbeing. Physicians have a duty to withhold certain health information from patients if disclosing it could potentially harm the patient. In situations where revealing certain information may have a significantly negative impact on the patient's mental or physical health, healthcare providers have the legal right to withhold that information. Allowing a patient's brother to view her chart for non-medical reasons like sending a card is not a valid legal reason for disclosing patient information. Similarly, refusing access based on financial reasons is not a legal ground for restricting access to a patient's medical record as patient care should not be influenced by financial matters.
4. What consideration is important when caring for a female Muslim patient?
- A. Make eye contact
- B. Provide long-sleeved gowns or allow her to use her own
- C. Touch while talking
- D. Assign male caregivers when possible
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When caring for a female Muslim patient, providing long-sleeved gowns or allowing her to use her own clothing is crucial. Most Muslim women prefer to cover their whole body, even during examinations. Offering long gowns with long sleeves or allowing the patient to use her own clothing respects her cultural and religious preferences. Making eye contact is not a common practice in some Muslim cultures, so it's important to be mindful of this and respect the patient's preferences. Touching while talking may not be culturally appropriate for some Muslim patients, so it's best to avoid it unless necessary. Assigning female caregivers is often preferred to respect the patient's modesty and religious beliefs. If a male caregiver or physician needs to interact with the patient, the patient's husband may request to be present in the room.
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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