Adult Health Comprehensive Exam
practice questions
Which action by the nurse working with a client best demonstrates respect for
autonomy?
a. Asks if the client has questions before signing a consent.
b. Gives the client accurate information when questioned. c. Keeps the promises made
to the client and family.
d. Treats the client fairly compared to other clients - ANSWER...-a. Asks if the client has
questions before signing a consent.
A nurse is working with an older client admitted with mild dehydration. What teaching
does the nurse provide to best address this issue?
a. "Cut some sodium out of your diet."
b. "Dehydration can cause incontinence."
c. "Have something to drink every 1 to 2 hours."
d. "Take your diuretic in the morning." - ANSWER...-c. "Have something to drink every 1
to 2 hours."
A nurse assesses clients at a family practice clinic for risk factors that could lead to
dehydration. Which client is at greatest risk for dehydration?
a. A 36 year old who is prescribed long-term steroid therapy.
b. A 55 year old who recently received intravenous fluids. c. A 76 year old who is
cognitively impaired.
d. An 83 year old with congestive heart failure - ANSWER...-c. A 76 year old who is
cognitively impaired.
A nurse is caring for an older client who exhibits dehydration-induced confusion. Which
intervention by the nurse is best?
a. Measure intake and output every 4 hours.
b. Assess client further for fall risk.
c. Increase the IV flow rate to 250 mL/hr.
d. Place the client in a high-Fowler position - ANSWER...-b. Assess client further for fall
risk.
dehydration leads to poor cerebral function causing hypoxia causing confusion causing
risk for falls
A nurse is evaluating a client who is being treated for dehydration. Which assessment
result does the nurse correlate with a therapeutic response to the treatment plan?
a. Increased respiratory rate from 12 to 22 breaths/min
,b. Decreased skin turgor on the client's posterior hand and forehead
c. Increased urine specific gravity from 1.012 to 1.030 g/mL
d. decreased orthostatic changes when standing - ANSWER...-d. decreased orthostatic
changes when standing
The nurse is caring for a client who has fluid overload. What action by the nurse takes
priority?
a. Administer high-ceiling (loop) diuretics.
b. Assess the client's lung sounds every 2 hours.
c. Place a pressure-relieving overlay on the mattress.
d. Weigh the client daily at the same time on the same scale - ANSWER...-b. Assess
the client's lung sounds every 2 hours.
why? pulmonary edema
A nurse assesses a client who is admitted for treatment of fluid overload. Which signs
and symptoms does the nurse expect to find? (Select all that apply.)
a. Increased pulse rate
b. Distended neck veins
c. Decreased blood pressure
d. Warm and pink skin
e. Skeletal muscle weakness
f. Visual disturbances - ANSWER...-a. Increased pulse rate
b. Distended neck veins
e. Skeletal muscle weakness
f. Visual disturbances
A nurse develops a plan of care for an older client who has a fluid overload. What
interventions will the nurse include in this client's care plan? (Select all that apply.)
a. Calculate pulse pressure with each blood pressure reading.
b. Assess skin turgor using the back of the client's hand.
c. Assess for pitting edema in dependent body areas.
d. Monitor trends in the client's daily weights.
e. Assist the client to change positions frequently.
f. Teach client and family how to read food labels for sodium. - ANSWER...-a. Calculate
pulse pressure with each blood pressure reading.
c. Assess for pitting edema in dependent body areas.
d. Monitor trends in the client's daily weights.
e. Assist the client to change positions frequently.
f. Teach client and family how to read food labels for sodium.
A preoperative nurse is reviewing morning laboratory values on four clients waiting for
surgery. Which result warrants immediate communication with the surgical team?
a. Creatinine: 1.2 mg/dL (106.1 umol/L)
b. Hemoglobin: 14.8 mg/dL (148 mmol/L)
c. Potassium: 2.9 mEq/L (2.9 mmol/L)
, d. Sodium: 134 mEq/L (134 mmol/L) - ANSWER...-c. Potassium: 2.9 mEq/L (2.9
mmol/L)
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has the following laboratory results: potassium 2.4
mEq/L (2.4 mmol/L), magnesium 1.8 mEq/L (0.74 mmol/L), calcium 8.5 mEq/L (2.13
mmol/L), and sodium 144 mEq/L (144 mmol/L). Which assessment does the nurse
complete first?
a. Depth of respirations
b. Bowel sounds
c. Grip strength
d. Electrocardiography - ANSWER...-a. Depth of respirations
10. A nurse cares for a client who has a serum potassium of 6.5 mEq/L (6.5 mmol/L)
and is exhibiting cardiovascular changes. Which intervention will the nurse implement
first?
a. Prepare to administer patiromer by mouth.
b. Provide a heart-healthy, low-potassium diet.
c. Prepare to administer dextrose 20% and 10 units of regular insulin IV push.
d. Prepare the client for hemodialysis treatment. - ANSWER...-c. Prepare to administer
dextrose 20% and 10 units of regular insulin IV push.
Insulin will decrease serum potassium
A new nurse is preparing to administer IV potassium to a client with hypokalemia. What
action indicates the nurse needs to review this procedure?
a. Notifies the pharmacy of the IV potassium order.
b. Assesses the client's IV site every hour during infusion. c. Sets the IV pump to deliver
30 mEq of potassium an hour.
d. Double-checks the IV bag against the order with the precepting nurse. - ANSWER...-
c. Sets the IV pump to deliver 30 mEq of potassium an hour.
max is 20 mEq/hr
A nurse assesses a client who is prescribed furosemide for hypertension. For which
acid-base imbalance does the nurse assess to prevent complications of this therapy? a.
Respiratory acidosis
b. Respiratory alkalosis
c. Metabolic acidosis
d. Metabolic alkalosis - ANSWER...-d. Metabolic alkalosis
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate metabolic alkalosis. What
action would the nurse take?
a. Monitor daily hemoglobin and hematocrit values.
b. Administer furosemide intravenously.
c. Encourage the client to take deep breaths.
practice questions
Which action by the nurse working with a client best demonstrates respect for
autonomy?
a. Asks if the client has questions before signing a consent.
b. Gives the client accurate information when questioned. c. Keeps the promises made
to the client and family.
d. Treats the client fairly compared to other clients - ANSWER...-a. Asks if the client has
questions before signing a consent.
A nurse is working with an older client admitted with mild dehydration. What teaching
does the nurse provide to best address this issue?
a. "Cut some sodium out of your diet."
b. "Dehydration can cause incontinence."
c. "Have something to drink every 1 to 2 hours."
d. "Take your diuretic in the morning." - ANSWER...-c. "Have something to drink every 1
to 2 hours."
A nurse assesses clients at a family practice clinic for risk factors that could lead to
dehydration. Which client is at greatest risk for dehydration?
a. A 36 year old who is prescribed long-term steroid therapy.
b. A 55 year old who recently received intravenous fluids. c. A 76 year old who is
cognitively impaired.
d. An 83 year old with congestive heart failure - ANSWER...-c. A 76 year old who is
cognitively impaired.
A nurse is caring for an older client who exhibits dehydration-induced confusion. Which
intervention by the nurse is best?
a. Measure intake and output every 4 hours.
b. Assess client further for fall risk.
c. Increase the IV flow rate to 250 mL/hr.
d. Place the client in a high-Fowler position - ANSWER...-b. Assess client further for fall
risk.
dehydration leads to poor cerebral function causing hypoxia causing confusion causing
risk for falls
A nurse is evaluating a client who is being treated for dehydration. Which assessment
result does the nurse correlate with a therapeutic response to the treatment plan?
a. Increased respiratory rate from 12 to 22 breaths/min
,b. Decreased skin turgor on the client's posterior hand and forehead
c. Increased urine specific gravity from 1.012 to 1.030 g/mL
d. decreased orthostatic changes when standing - ANSWER...-d. decreased orthostatic
changes when standing
The nurse is caring for a client who has fluid overload. What action by the nurse takes
priority?
a. Administer high-ceiling (loop) diuretics.
b. Assess the client's lung sounds every 2 hours.
c. Place a pressure-relieving overlay on the mattress.
d. Weigh the client daily at the same time on the same scale - ANSWER...-b. Assess
the client's lung sounds every 2 hours.
why? pulmonary edema
A nurse assesses a client who is admitted for treatment of fluid overload. Which signs
and symptoms does the nurse expect to find? (Select all that apply.)
a. Increased pulse rate
b. Distended neck veins
c. Decreased blood pressure
d. Warm and pink skin
e. Skeletal muscle weakness
f. Visual disturbances - ANSWER...-a. Increased pulse rate
b. Distended neck veins
e. Skeletal muscle weakness
f. Visual disturbances
A nurse develops a plan of care for an older client who has a fluid overload. What
interventions will the nurse include in this client's care plan? (Select all that apply.)
a. Calculate pulse pressure with each blood pressure reading.
b. Assess skin turgor using the back of the client's hand.
c. Assess for pitting edema in dependent body areas.
d. Monitor trends in the client's daily weights.
e. Assist the client to change positions frequently.
f. Teach client and family how to read food labels for sodium. - ANSWER...-a. Calculate
pulse pressure with each blood pressure reading.
c. Assess for pitting edema in dependent body areas.
d. Monitor trends in the client's daily weights.
e. Assist the client to change positions frequently.
f. Teach client and family how to read food labels for sodium.
A preoperative nurse is reviewing morning laboratory values on four clients waiting for
surgery. Which result warrants immediate communication with the surgical team?
a. Creatinine: 1.2 mg/dL (106.1 umol/L)
b. Hemoglobin: 14.8 mg/dL (148 mmol/L)
c. Potassium: 2.9 mEq/L (2.9 mmol/L)
, d. Sodium: 134 mEq/L (134 mmol/L) - ANSWER...-c. Potassium: 2.9 mEq/L (2.9
mmol/L)
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has the following laboratory results: potassium 2.4
mEq/L (2.4 mmol/L), magnesium 1.8 mEq/L (0.74 mmol/L), calcium 8.5 mEq/L (2.13
mmol/L), and sodium 144 mEq/L (144 mmol/L). Which assessment does the nurse
complete first?
a. Depth of respirations
b. Bowel sounds
c. Grip strength
d. Electrocardiography - ANSWER...-a. Depth of respirations
10. A nurse cares for a client who has a serum potassium of 6.5 mEq/L (6.5 mmol/L)
and is exhibiting cardiovascular changes. Which intervention will the nurse implement
first?
a. Prepare to administer patiromer by mouth.
b. Provide a heart-healthy, low-potassium diet.
c. Prepare to administer dextrose 20% and 10 units of regular insulin IV push.
d. Prepare the client for hemodialysis treatment. - ANSWER...-c. Prepare to administer
dextrose 20% and 10 units of regular insulin IV push.
Insulin will decrease serum potassium
A new nurse is preparing to administer IV potassium to a client with hypokalemia. What
action indicates the nurse needs to review this procedure?
a. Notifies the pharmacy of the IV potassium order.
b. Assesses the client's IV site every hour during infusion. c. Sets the IV pump to deliver
30 mEq of potassium an hour.
d. Double-checks the IV bag against the order with the precepting nurse. - ANSWER...-
c. Sets the IV pump to deliver 30 mEq of potassium an hour.
max is 20 mEq/hr
A nurse assesses a client who is prescribed furosemide for hypertension. For which
acid-base imbalance does the nurse assess to prevent complications of this therapy? a.
Respiratory acidosis
b. Respiratory alkalosis
c. Metabolic acidosis
d. Metabolic alkalosis - ANSWER...-d. Metabolic alkalosis
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate metabolic alkalosis. What
action would the nurse take?
a. Monitor daily hemoglobin and hematocrit values.
b. Administer furosemide intravenously.
c. Encourage the client to take deep breaths.
