NCLEX-RN
Safe and Effective Care Environment NCLEX RN Questions
1. What is the proper personal protective equipment necessary for collecting a sputum specimen?
- A. Gloves and face mask
- B. Level Three Biocontainment uniforms
- C. Eye protection and shoe covers
- D. Splash shield and face mask
Correct answer: A
Rationale: When collecting a sputum specimen, it is crucial to protect against potential airborne droplets that may spread disease. The best personal protective equipment for this task includes gloves and a face mask. Gloves help prevent the spread of contaminants through hand contact, while a face mask protects the respiratory tract from inhaling infectious agents. Choice B, Level Three Biocontainment uniforms, is excessive and unnecessary for routine sputum specimen collection. Choice C, eye protection and shoe covers, does not address the specific risks associated with sputum collection. Choice D, splash shield and face mask, provides additional protection that is not typically required for sputum specimen collection, making it less appropriate than gloves and a face mask.
2. Which of the following questions is considered open-ended?
- A. What time did you last take your medications?
- B. Are you feeling okay right now?
- C. Please describe your symptoms.
- D. What day are you available for a follow-up appointment?
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Please describe your symptoms.' This question is considered open-ended because it encourages the respondent to provide a detailed and descriptive answer, fostering a more elaborate response. Open-ended questions are designed to prompt thoughtful and detailed responses. Choice A is a closed-ended question since it seeks a specific time for the medication intake. Choice B is also closed-ended as it can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no,' limiting the response. Choice D is closed-ended as it requests a specific day for the follow-up appointment, restricting the range of possible responses.
3. A 1-month-old infant has a head measurement of 34 cm and a chest circumference of 32 cm. Based on the interpretation of these findings, what action would the nurse take?
- A. Refer the infant to a physician for further evaluation.
- B. Consider these findings normal for a 1-month-old infant.
- C. Expect the chest circumference to be greater than the head circumference.
- D. Ask the parent to return in 2 weeks to re-evaluate the head and chest circumferences.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In infants, a normal head measurement is approximately 32 to 38 cm, and it is usually around 2 cm larger than the chest circumference. These measurements vary with age; between 6 months and 2 years, both measurements are approximately the same, and after age 2 years, the chest circumference becomes greater than the head circumference. Given that the 1-month-old infant's head measurement is within the typical range and slightly larger than the chest circumference, the nurse should consider these findings normal. There is no indication to refer the infant for further evaluation or to have the parent return for re-evaluation in 2 weeks, as these measurements fall within the expected parameters for a 1-month-old infant.
4. The Atlas and the Axis are:
- A. found in the vertebrae.
- B. described as being cervical.
- C. the first two bones that form the column for the spine on the superior aspect.
- D. All of the above.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The Atlas and the Axis are the first two cervical vertebrae, designated as C1 and C2. The Atlas (C1) supports the skull, while the Axis (C2) allows for rotation of the skull. Therefore, all the statements in choices A, B, and C are correct, making 'All of the above' the correct answer. Choice A is correct as the Atlas and Axis are indeed found in the vertebrae. Choice B is correct as they are the first two cervical vertebrae. Choice C is correct as these bones form the superior aspect of the spine.
5. A healthcare professional realizes after a patient has left the office that they forgot to document the patient's complaint of a sore throat. Which of the following choices would BEST correct the error?
- A. Pull out that page of the chart and rewrite it with the correct information.
- B. Put one line through the original Chief Complaint, write 'ERROR,' your initials, and today's date. Make the correction by rewriting the Chief Complaint with the correct information.
- C. Go to the next available line of the SOAP notes. Write the current date, then write 'Late Entry.' Place the date and time when the patient stated they had a sore throat. Sign and date the entry.
- D. All of the above are incorrect.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: When adding information to a patient's chart after the encounter, using the term 'Late Entry' is essential. This clearly indicates that the information was added after the fact and helps to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the medical record. Option A is incorrect because removing a page from the chart and rewriting it can lead to inaccuracies and is not a recommended practice for correcting errors. Option B suggests marking the original Chief Complaint as an error, which may not be clear to future readers of the chart and could lead to confusion. Option D is incorrect as it dismisses the correct approach outlined in Option C, which is the best way to handle the situation of missed documentation during a patient encounter.
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