NCLEX RN Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5.
A 16-year-old student has a long history of bronchial asthma and has experienced several severe asthmatic attacks during the school year. The school nurse is required to administer 0.2 mL of 1/1000 solution of epinephrine SC during an asthma attack. How does the school nurse evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention?
A. Increased pulse rate
B. Increased expectorate of secretions
C. Decreased inspiratory difficulty
D. Increased respiratory rate
Explanation: A side effect of epinephrine is fatal ventricular fibrillation owing to its effects on cardiac stimulation. Medications used to treat asthma are designed to decrease bronchospasm, not to increase expectorate of secretions. Epinephrine decreased inspiratory difficulty by stimulating α-, β1, and β2-receptors causing sympathomimetic stimulation (e.g., bronchodilation). The person with asthma fights to inspire sufficient air thus increasing respiratory rate.
Question 2 of 5.
A client is diagnosed with stage II Hodgkin's lymphoma. The nurse recognizes that the client has involvement:
A. In a single lymph node or single site
B. In more than one node or single organ on the same side of the diaphragm
C. In lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm
D. In disseminated organs and tissues
Explanation: Stage II Hodgkin's lymphoma involves two or more lymph nodes or a single organ on the same side of the diaphragm, per the Ann Arbor staging system.
Question 3 of 5.
When caring for a client with an anterior cervical discectomy, the nurse should give priority to assessing for post-operative bleeding. The nurse should pay particular attention to:
A. Drainage on the surgical dressing
B. Complaints of neck pain
C. Bleeding from the mouth
D. Swelling in the posterior neck
Explanation: Swelling in the posterior neck may indicate a hematoma, which can compress the airway or spinal cord, making it a priority assessment post-cervical discectomy.
Question 4 of 5.
Which of the following combinations of foods is appropriate for an eight-month-old infant?
A. Cocoa-flavored cereal, orange juice, and strained meat
B. Graham crackers, strained prunes, and pudding
C. Rice cereal, bananas, and strained carrots
D. Mashed potatoes, strained beets, and whole milk
Explanation: Rice cereal, bananas, and strained carrots are developmentally appropriate, easily digestible foods for an eight-month-old, unlike the other options, which include choking hazards or inappropriate items like whole milk.
Question 5 of 5.
A client with HELLP syndrome is admitted to the labor and delivery unit for observation. The nurse knows that the client will have elevated:
A. Serum glucose levels
B. Liver enzymes
C. Pancreatic enzymes
D. Plasma protein levels
Explanation: HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets) is characterized by elevated liver enzymes, reflecting liver dysfunction.