CPN Study Questions 1-100
A 6-week-old male infant is brought into the ED by his mother. He has a weeklong history of
progressively worsening emesis that is projectile in nature. What is his most likely diagnosis?
A. Intussusception.
B. Appendicitis.
C. Pyloric stenosis.
D. Pancreatitis. correct answersC: Projectile vomiting in a 6 week-old male is the classic presentation for
pyloric stenosis,
obstruction of the pyloric sphincter between the gastric pylorus and the small intestine, caused by
hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the circular muscle of the pylorus, which obstructs the sphincter.
An 8-year-old male has contracted chicken pox (varicella virus). With which of the following
family members can the child have contact?
A. 20-year-old aunt on chemotherapy.
B. 35-year-old uncle with HIV.
C. 95-year-old grandfather on long-term steroid therapy.
D. 2-year-old brother who has never had varicella but has had the vaccine correct answersD: The 2-year-
old brother, who has had the vaccine, is likely immune to varicella, so contact
is safe. All of the other relatives have some form of immunosuppression from infection (HIV) or
medications (chemotherapy and steroids) and should avoid contact with the patient
A 5-year-old girl has a fever, headache, and complaints of a stiff neck. The physician suspects
bacterial meningitis. What is the best test culture site to detect the bacteria?
A. Lumbar puncture.
B. Clean catch urine.
C. Blood culture.
D. Nasal swab. correct answersA: Lumbar puncture is the method of choice for detecting the bacteria
causing bacterial
,meningitis and sending a sample for culture, as meningitis infects the meninges and bacteria is
present in the cerebrospinal fluid.
A 2-year-old child has severe dental caries in the upper and lower front teeth, posterior aspects.
What is the most likely cause for this type of caries?
A. Lack of fluoridation in the water.
B. Sleeping with water in a nighttime bottle.
C. Low carbohydrate diet.
D. Sleeping with sugared liquid in nighttime bottle correct answersD: Caries in the posterior front teeth is
a sign of sleeping with sugared drinks in the
nighttime bottle (such as juice) because fluid pools in the mouth when the child falls to sleep.
***Which of the following patients will likely need surgical correction of his/her fracture?***
A. 10-year-old with humeral head fracture.
B. 5-year-old with tuft fracture of the distal phalanx.
C. 4-year-old with tuft fracture of the toe.
D. 16-year-old with radial head fracture. correct answersA: Humeral head fractures usually need open
reduction and internal fixation to maintain
proper future functioning. Distal phalanx and toe fractures are treated with splints and fracture of
the radial head with a sling.
An infant with a chronic respiratory condition should be offered all of the following vaccines
EXCEPT:
A. Hepatitis A.
B. Hepatitis B.
C. Hepatitis C.
D. Influenza. correct answersC: A vaccine for Hepatitis C does not currently exist. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B
and influenza
vaccines are all recommended for the infant
,A 14-year-old boy with leukemia is receiving an IV infusion of packed red blood cells. The client
reports that he is feeling anxious and short of breath even though his respiratory rate is 24.
What should the nurse do in this situation?
A. Give a dose of ibuprofen (Motrin).
B. Give a dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol).
C. Give a dose of diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
D. Stop infusion and notify physician. correct answersD: Anxiety and the sensation of breathlessness are
signs of possible anaphylactic shock, a
reaction to the packed red blood cells, so the nurse should stop the infusion immediately and notify
the physician.
As part of counseling for a 7-year-old child with mild persistent asthma, the nurse tells the
client's family that the most reliable indicator of worsening asthma is:
A. Coughing.
B. Fever.
C. Decreased peak flow.
D. Fatigue. correct answersC: A decreased peak flow is the most reliable indicator that asthma may be
worsening. It is
therefore vital that the client's family know what the baseline is so that any deviation can be quickly
addressed. Coughing and fever may trigger asthma, so peak flows should be monitored. Fatigue
may result from poor oxygenation but alone it is not a reliable indicator of worsening asthma.
***A patient is experiencing dizziness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and nausea caused by
encephalitis. Which of the following descriptions most accurately describes the patient's
condition?***
A. metabolic acidosis
B. respiratory alkalosis
C. metabolic alkalosis
D. respiratory acidosis correct answersB: Respiratory alkalosis results from hyperventilation, during
which extra CO2 is excreted,
, causing a decrease in carbonic acid (H2CO3) concentration in the plasma. Symptoms include
tachycardia, arrhythmias, lightheadedness, nausea, and vomiting.
10-year-old male with sickle cell disease comes into the ED complaining of pain in his legs due
to a vaso-occlusive crisis. In addition to IV fluids, what is the other initial treatment for this
client?
A. Elevate legs.
B. Ace wrap to legs.
C. Nitroglycerine paste.
D. Pain medication. correct answersD: In addition to IV fluids, the other primary initial treatment for
sickle cell crisis resulting
in vascular occlusion is pain medication because pain is often severe. Other treatments include
oxygen, hydroxyurea (anti-sickling medication), blood transfusions if anemia is pronounced, and
antibiotics if the crisis was triggered by an infection.
14-year-old male with renal failure is given an arteriovenous fistula (shunt) for future dialysis.
How does the nurse assess the shunt post-operatively for patency?
A. Assess for bruit and thrill.
B. Monitor blood pressure on that arm.
C. Ease of venipuncture at shunt site.
D. Rate of flow during dialysis. correct answersA: The patency of an AV shunt is assured by assessing for
bruit and thrill. Continuous wave
Doppler ultrasound can also assess patency. Venipuncture and blood pressure measurements
should never be done on the arm with an AV shunt.
nurse is admitting a 16-year-old female to the mental health unit with a diagnosis of bulimia
and anorexia. What OTC medications should the client's belongings be screened for as they may
interfere with treatment?
A. Imodium.
A 6-week-old male infant is brought into the ED by his mother. He has a weeklong history of
progressively worsening emesis that is projectile in nature. What is his most likely diagnosis?
A. Intussusception.
B. Appendicitis.
C. Pyloric stenosis.
D. Pancreatitis. correct answersC: Projectile vomiting in a 6 week-old male is the classic presentation for
pyloric stenosis,
obstruction of the pyloric sphincter between the gastric pylorus and the small intestine, caused by
hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the circular muscle of the pylorus, which obstructs the sphincter.
An 8-year-old male has contracted chicken pox (varicella virus). With which of the following
family members can the child have contact?
A. 20-year-old aunt on chemotherapy.
B. 35-year-old uncle with HIV.
C. 95-year-old grandfather on long-term steroid therapy.
D. 2-year-old brother who has never had varicella but has had the vaccine correct answersD: The 2-year-
old brother, who has had the vaccine, is likely immune to varicella, so contact
is safe. All of the other relatives have some form of immunosuppression from infection (HIV) or
medications (chemotherapy and steroids) and should avoid contact with the patient
A 5-year-old girl has a fever, headache, and complaints of a stiff neck. The physician suspects
bacterial meningitis. What is the best test culture site to detect the bacteria?
A. Lumbar puncture.
B. Clean catch urine.
C. Blood culture.
D. Nasal swab. correct answersA: Lumbar puncture is the method of choice for detecting the bacteria
causing bacterial
,meningitis and sending a sample for culture, as meningitis infects the meninges and bacteria is
present in the cerebrospinal fluid.
A 2-year-old child has severe dental caries in the upper and lower front teeth, posterior aspects.
What is the most likely cause for this type of caries?
A. Lack of fluoridation in the water.
B. Sleeping with water in a nighttime bottle.
C. Low carbohydrate diet.
D. Sleeping with sugared liquid in nighttime bottle correct answersD: Caries in the posterior front teeth is
a sign of sleeping with sugared drinks in the
nighttime bottle (such as juice) because fluid pools in the mouth when the child falls to sleep.
***Which of the following patients will likely need surgical correction of his/her fracture?***
A. 10-year-old with humeral head fracture.
B. 5-year-old with tuft fracture of the distal phalanx.
C. 4-year-old with tuft fracture of the toe.
D. 16-year-old with radial head fracture. correct answersA: Humeral head fractures usually need open
reduction and internal fixation to maintain
proper future functioning. Distal phalanx and toe fractures are treated with splints and fracture of
the radial head with a sling.
An infant with a chronic respiratory condition should be offered all of the following vaccines
EXCEPT:
A. Hepatitis A.
B. Hepatitis B.
C. Hepatitis C.
D. Influenza. correct answersC: A vaccine for Hepatitis C does not currently exist. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B
and influenza
vaccines are all recommended for the infant
,A 14-year-old boy with leukemia is receiving an IV infusion of packed red blood cells. The client
reports that he is feeling anxious and short of breath even though his respiratory rate is 24.
What should the nurse do in this situation?
A. Give a dose of ibuprofen (Motrin).
B. Give a dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol).
C. Give a dose of diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
D. Stop infusion and notify physician. correct answersD: Anxiety and the sensation of breathlessness are
signs of possible anaphylactic shock, a
reaction to the packed red blood cells, so the nurse should stop the infusion immediately and notify
the physician.
As part of counseling for a 7-year-old child with mild persistent asthma, the nurse tells the
client's family that the most reliable indicator of worsening asthma is:
A. Coughing.
B. Fever.
C. Decreased peak flow.
D. Fatigue. correct answersC: A decreased peak flow is the most reliable indicator that asthma may be
worsening. It is
therefore vital that the client's family know what the baseline is so that any deviation can be quickly
addressed. Coughing and fever may trigger asthma, so peak flows should be monitored. Fatigue
may result from poor oxygenation but alone it is not a reliable indicator of worsening asthma.
***A patient is experiencing dizziness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and nausea caused by
encephalitis. Which of the following descriptions most accurately describes the patient's
condition?***
A. metabolic acidosis
B. respiratory alkalosis
C. metabolic alkalosis
D. respiratory acidosis correct answersB: Respiratory alkalosis results from hyperventilation, during
which extra CO2 is excreted,
, causing a decrease in carbonic acid (H2CO3) concentration in the plasma. Symptoms include
tachycardia, arrhythmias, lightheadedness, nausea, and vomiting.
10-year-old male with sickle cell disease comes into the ED complaining of pain in his legs due
to a vaso-occlusive crisis. In addition to IV fluids, what is the other initial treatment for this
client?
A. Elevate legs.
B. Ace wrap to legs.
C. Nitroglycerine paste.
D. Pain medication. correct answersD: In addition to IV fluids, the other primary initial treatment for
sickle cell crisis resulting
in vascular occlusion is pain medication because pain is often severe. Other treatments include
oxygen, hydroxyurea (anti-sickling medication), blood transfusions if anemia is pronounced, and
antibiotics if the crisis was triggered by an infection.
14-year-old male with renal failure is given an arteriovenous fistula (shunt) for future dialysis.
How does the nurse assess the shunt post-operatively for patency?
A. Assess for bruit and thrill.
B. Monitor blood pressure on that arm.
C. Ease of venipuncture at shunt site.
D. Rate of flow during dialysis. correct answersA: The patency of an AV shunt is assured by assessing for
bruit and thrill. Continuous wave
Doppler ultrasound can also assess patency. Venipuncture and blood pressure measurements
should never be done on the arm with an AV shunt.
nurse is admitting a 16-year-old female to the mental health unit with a diagnosis of bulimia
and anorexia. What OTC medications should the client's belongings be screened for as they may
interfere with treatment?
A. Imodium.
