NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Exam Preview Answers
1. The nurse is examining a 2-year-old child and asks, "May I listen to your heart now?"? Which critique of the nurse's technique is most accurate?
- A. Asking questions may enhance the child's autonomy.
- B. Asking the child for permission helps develop a sense of trust.
- C. This question is an inappropriate statement because children at this age like to have choices.
- D. Children at this age like to say, "No."? The examiner should not offer a choice when no choice is available.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Children at the age of 2 often like to assert their independence by saying "No."? In situations where there is actually no choice available, offering a false choice can lead to a lack of trust. It is important not to offer a choice when there isn't one, as doing so may undermine trust. While asking for permission can enhance autonomy and trust, offering a limited option like, "Shall I listen to your heart next or your tummy?"? may be a better approach. Therefore, the correct critique of the nurse's technique in this scenario is that children at this age tend to say "No,"? so the examiner should avoid offering a choice when there isn't a real alternative.
2. A client has applied a cold pack to their arm to help decrease swelling and inflammation after an injury. Which of the following signs indicates that the cold pack should be removed?
- A. The skin on the arm appears mottled
- B. The cold pack has been in place for 10 minutes
- C. The client complains of feeling nauseated
- D. The capillary refill in the area distal to the arm is 2 seconds
Correct answer: A
Rationale: When using a cold pack for therapeutic purposes, it is essential to monitor the site to prevent tissue damage. Prolonged use of cold therapy can lead to pale, mottled skin with a bluish appearance. This change in skin color indicates poor circulation, and the cold pack should be removed immediately to prevent tissue injury. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the duration of cold pack application, client complaints of nausea, and capillary refill time do not specifically indicate the need for the cold pack to be removed due to potential tissue damage.
3. How does the procedure for taking a pulse rate on an infant differ from an adult?
- A. Pulse rates are taken on infants using a different method.
- B. The apical pulse method is used on infants.
- C. Pulse rates on infants are taken with a sphygmomanometer.
- D. Pulse rates on infants are taken apically in the third intercostal space.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: The apical pulse method is used on infants. This method involves placing a stethoscope in the fifth intercostal space, mid-clavicular line, and counting the beats for a full minute. It is a preferred method for infants due to their small size and the difficulty in palpating peripheral pulses accurately. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Choice A is incorrect as pulse rates are indeed taken on infants, albeit using a different method. Choice C is incorrect as a sphygmomanometer is typically used for measuring blood pressure, not pulse rates. Choice D is incorrect as pulse rates on infants are usually taken apically in the fifth intercostal space, not the third.
4. When should you wear gloves?
- A. preparing infant formula for a newborn baby
- B. transferring breast milk into a baby bottle
- C. knocking on a patient's door
- D. opening a patient's door
Correct answer: B
Rationale: You must wear gloves when transferring breast milk into a baby bottle because breast milk is considered a bodily fluid. It is essential to avoid direct contact to prevent contamination. When preparing infant formula, gloves are not required as formula is not a bodily fluid. Knocking on or opening a patient's door does not involve direct contact with bodily fluids, so gloves are unnecessary in those situations.
5. While auscultating heart sounds, the nurse hears a murmur. Which of these instruments would be used to assess this murmur?
- A. Electrocardiogram
- B. Bell of the stethoscope
- C. Diaphragm of the stethoscope
- D. Palpation with the nurse's palm of the hand
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct instrument to assess a murmur while auscultating heart sounds is the bell of the stethoscope. An electrocardiogram is used to measure the heart's electrical activity, not to assess murmurs. Palpation with the nurse's palm of the hand is a method to assess pulses or textures, not heart murmurs. The diaphragm of the stethoscope is typically used for high-pitched sounds like breath, bowel, and normal heart sounds, whereas the bell is more suitable for soft, low-pitched sounds such as murmurs or extra heart sounds.
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