NCLEX RN Free Practice Questions
Question 1 of 5.
A 71-year-old client fell and injured her left leg while cooking in the kitchen. Her husband calls the ambulance, and she is taken to the emergency department at a local hospital. X-ray reports confirm that she has an intertrochanteric fracture of the left femur. Her left leg will require skeletal traction initially and then surgery. The nurse knows that this type of traction will be used:
A. By inserting pins to provide steady pull on the bone
B. To suspend the leg in a sling without pull on the extremity
C. Intermittently to place a pull over the pelvis and lower spine
D. With weights at both ends of the bed to maintain pull on the upper extremity
Explanation: Skeletal traction is the application of traction directly to bone with the use of pins and wires or tongs for the purpose of providing a strong, steady, continuous longitudinal pull on the bone. It is indicated for preoperative immobilization and positioning of hip and femur fractures. A type of skeletal traction (balanced suspension with a Thomas splint and Pearson attachment) uses a sling to support the extremity, but it also uses weights to provide a strong, steady continuous pull on the extremity. A sling is used instead of pins. Pelvic traction provides an intermittent pull over the pelvis and bone, whereas skeletal traction is continuous. Pelvic traction does not use pins. Skeletal traction uses weights at the end of the bed to provide a continuous pull on long bones. Weights are not applied to both ends of the bed.
Question 2 of 5.
The nurse is preparing to administer an injection to a six-month-old when she notices a white dot in the infant's right pupil. The nurse should:
A. Report the finding to the physician immediately.
B. Record the finding and give the infant's injection.
C. Recognize that the finding is a variation of normal.
D. Check both eyes for the presence of the red reflex.
Explanation: A white dot in the pupil (leukocoria) may indicate retinoblastoma or other serious conditions, requiring immediate reporting to the physician for evaluation.
Question 3 of 5.
A client with paranoid schizophrenia has an order for Thorazine (chlorpromazine) 400 mg orally twice daily. Which of the following symptoms should be reported to the physician immediately?
A. Fever, sore throat, weakness
B. Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
C. Lethargy, slurred speech, thirst
D. Fatigue, drowsiness, photosensitivity
Explanation: Fever, sore throat, and weakness may indicate agranulocytosis, a serious side effect of chlorpromazine requiring immediate medical attention.
Question 4 of 5.
The physician has ordered a paracentesis for a client with severe abdominal ascites. Before the procedure, the nurse should:
A. Provide the client with a urinal
B. Prep the area by shaving the abdomen
C. Encourage the client to drink extra fluids
D. Request an ultrasound of the abdomen
Explanation: Providing a urinal ensures the bladder is empty, reducing the risk of bladder puncture during paracentesis, a priority before the procedure.
Question 5 of 5.
A new mother tells the nurse that she is getting a new microwave so that her husband can help prepare the baby's feedings. The nurse should:
A. Explain that a microwave should never be used to warm the baby's bottles.
B. Tell the mother that microwaving is the best way to prevent bacteria in the formula.
C. Tell the mother to shake the bottle vigorously for one minute after warming in the microwave.
D. Instruct the parents to always leave the top of the bottle open while microwaving so heat can escape.
Explanation: Microwaving baby bottles can cause uneven heating, leading to burns, so it should be avoided; warming under running water or in a bottle warmer is safer.
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