IT Certification Guaranteed, The Easy Way!
NCLEX RN ACTUAL EXAM /RN NCLEX ACTUAL EXAM
COMPLETE 800 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
A client with cirrhosis of the liver becomes comatose and is started on neomycin 300 mg q6hvia
nasogastric tube. The rationale for this therapy is to:
A. Prevent systemic infection
B. Promote diuresis
C. Decrease ammonia formation
D. Acidify the small bowel
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) Neomycin is an antibiotic, but this is not the Rationale for administering it to a client in hepatic
coma. (B) Diuretics and salt-free albumin are used to promote diuresis in clients with cirrhosis of the
liver. (C) Neomycin destroys the bacteria in the intestines. It is the bacteria in the bowel that break
down protein into ammonia. (D) Lactulose is administered to create an acid environment in the
bowel. Ammonia leaves the blood and migrates to this acidic environment where it is trapped and
excreted.
NO.8 A 5-year-old has just had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Which of these nursing measures
should be included in the postoperative care?
A. Encourage the child to cough up blood if present.
B. Give warm clear liquids when fully alert.
C. Have child gargle and do toothbrushing to remove old blood.
D. Observe for evidence of bleeding.
Answer: D
Explanation:
(A) The nurse should discourage the child from coughing, clearing the throat, or putting objects in his
mouth. These may induce bleeding. (B) Cool, clear liquids may be given when child is fully alert.
Warm liquids may dislodge a blood clot. The nurse should avoid red- or brown-colored liquids to
distinguish fresh or old blood from ingested liquid should the child vomit. (C) Gargles and vigorous
toothbrushing could initiate bleeding. (D) Postoperative hemorrhage, though unusual, may occur.
The nurse should observe for bleeding by looking directly into the throat and for vomiting of bright
red blood, continuous swallowing, and changes in vital signs.
NO.9 An 80-year-old male client with a history of arteriosclerosis is experiencing severe pain in his
left leg that started approximately 20 minutes ago. When performing the admission assessment, the
1
, IT Certification Guaranteed, The Easy Way!
nurse would expect to observe which of the following:
A. Both lower extremities warm to touch with 2_pedal pulses
B. Both lower extremities cyanotic when placed in a dependent position
2
, IT Certification Guaranteed, The Easy Way!
C. Decreased or absent pedal pulse in the left leg
D. The left leg warmer to touch than the right leg
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) This statement describes a normal assessment finding of the lower extremities. (B) This
assessment finding reflects problems caused by venous insufficiency. (C) Decreased or absentpedal
pulses reflect a problem caused by arterial insufficiency. (D) The leg that is experiencing arterial
insufficiency would be cool to touch due to the decreased circulation.
NO.10 A 16-month-old infant is being prepared for tetralogy of Fallot repair. In the nursing
assessment, which lab value should elicit further assessment and requires notification of physician?
A. pH 7.39
B. White blood cell (WBC) count 10,000 WBCs/mm3
C. Hematocrit 60%
D. Bleeding time of 4 minutes
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) Normal pH of arterial blood gases for an infant is 7.35-7.45. (B) Normal white blood cell count in
an infant is 6,000-17,500 WBCs/mm3. (C) Normal hematocrit in infant is 28%-42%. A 60% hematocrit
may indicate polycythemia, a common complication of cyanotic heart disease. (D) Normal bleeding
time is 2-7 minutes.
NO.11 A male client is experiencing extreme distress. He begins to pace up and down the corridor.
What nursing intervention is appropriate when communicating with the pacing client?
A. Ask him to sit down. Speak slowly and use short, simple sentences.
B. Help him to recognize his anxiety.
C. Walk with him as he paces.
D. Increase the level of his supervision.
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) The nurse should not ask him to sit down. Pacing is the activity he has chosen to deal with his
anxiety. The nurse dealing with this client should speak slowly and with short, simplesentences. (B)
The client may already recognize the anxiety and is attempting to deal with it. (C) Walk with the client
as he paces. This gives support while he uses anxiety-generated energy. (D) Increasing the level of
supervision may be appropriate after he stops pacing. It would minimize self-injury and/or loss of
control.
NO.12 Prior to an amniocentesis, a fetal ultrasound is done in order to:
A. Evaluate fetal lung maturity
B. Evaluate the amount of amniotic fluid
C. Locate the position of the placenta and fetus
D. Ensure that the fetus is mature enough to perform the amniocentesis
Answer: C
3
, IT Certification Guaranteed, The Easy Way!
Explanation:
(A) Amniocentesis can be performed to assess for lung maturity. Fetal ultrasound can be used for
gestational dating, although it does not separately determine lung maturity. (B) Ultrasound can
evaluate amniotic fluid volume, which may be used to determine congenital anomalies. (C)
Amniocentesis involves removal of amniotic fluid for evaluation. The needle, inserted through the
abdomen, is guided by ultrasound to avoid needle injuries, and the test evaluates the position of the
placenta and the fetus. (D) Amniocentesis can be performed as early as the 15th-17th week of
pregnancy.
NO.1 A depressed client is seen at the mental health center for follow-up after an attempted suicide
1 week ago. She has taken phenelzine sulfate (Nardil), a monoamine oxidase
(MAO) inhibitor, for 7 straight days. She states that she is not feeling any better. The nurse explains
that the drug must accumulate to an effective level before symptoms are totally relieved. Symptom
relief is expected to occur within:
A. 10 days
B. 2-4 weeks
C. 2 months
D. 3 months
Answer: B
Explanation:
(A) This answer is incorrect. It can take up to 1 month for therapeutic effect of the medication.
(B) This answer is correct. Because MAO inhibitors are slow to act, it takes 2-4 weeks before
improvement of symptoms is noted.
(C) This answer is incorrect. It can take up to 1 month for therapeutic effect of the medication.
(D) This answer is incorrect. Therapeutic effects of the medication are noted within 1 month of drug
therapy.
NO.2 Cystic fibrosis is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. This means that:
A. Mothers carry the gene and pass it to their sons
B. Fathers carry the gene and pass it to their daughters
C. Both parents must have the disease for a child to have the disease
D. Both parents must be carriers for a child to have the disease
Answer: D
Explanation:
(A) Cystic fibrosis is not an X-linked or sex-linked disease. (B) The only characteristic on the Y
chromosome is the trait for hairy ears. (C) Both parents do not need to have the disease but must be
carriers. (D) If a trait is recessive, two genes (one from each parent) are necessary to produce an
affected child.
NO.3 A 24-year-old client presents to the emergency department protesting "I am God." The nurse
identifies this as a:
A. Delusion
1
NCLEX RN ACTUAL EXAM /RN NCLEX ACTUAL EXAM
COMPLETE 800 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
A client with cirrhosis of the liver becomes comatose and is started on neomycin 300 mg q6hvia
nasogastric tube. The rationale for this therapy is to:
A. Prevent systemic infection
B. Promote diuresis
C. Decrease ammonia formation
D. Acidify the small bowel
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) Neomycin is an antibiotic, but this is not the Rationale for administering it to a client in hepatic
coma. (B) Diuretics and salt-free albumin are used to promote diuresis in clients with cirrhosis of the
liver. (C) Neomycin destroys the bacteria in the intestines. It is the bacteria in the bowel that break
down protein into ammonia. (D) Lactulose is administered to create an acid environment in the
bowel. Ammonia leaves the blood and migrates to this acidic environment where it is trapped and
excreted.
NO.8 A 5-year-old has just had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Which of these nursing measures
should be included in the postoperative care?
A. Encourage the child to cough up blood if present.
B. Give warm clear liquids when fully alert.
C. Have child gargle and do toothbrushing to remove old blood.
D. Observe for evidence of bleeding.
Answer: D
Explanation:
(A) The nurse should discourage the child from coughing, clearing the throat, or putting objects in his
mouth. These may induce bleeding. (B) Cool, clear liquids may be given when child is fully alert.
Warm liquids may dislodge a blood clot. The nurse should avoid red- or brown-colored liquids to
distinguish fresh or old blood from ingested liquid should the child vomit. (C) Gargles and vigorous
toothbrushing could initiate bleeding. (D) Postoperative hemorrhage, though unusual, may occur.
The nurse should observe for bleeding by looking directly into the throat and for vomiting of bright
red blood, continuous swallowing, and changes in vital signs.
NO.9 An 80-year-old male client with a history of arteriosclerosis is experiencing severe pain in his
left leg that started approximately 20 minutes ago. When performing the admission assessment, the
1
, IT Certification Guaranteed, The Easy Way!
nurse would expect to observe which of the following:
A. Both lower extremities warm to touch with 2_pedal pulses
B. Both lower extremities cyanotic when placed in a dependent position
2
, IT Certification Guaranteed, The Easy Way!
C. Decreased or absent pedal pulse in the left leg
D. The left leg warmer to touch than the right leg
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) This statement describes a normal assessment finding of the lower extremities. (B) This
assessment finding reflects problems caused by venous insufficiency. (C) Decreased or absentpedal
pulses reflect a problem caused by arterial insufficiency. (D) The leg that is experiencing arterial
insufficiency would be cool to touch due to the decreased circulation.
NO.10 A 16-month-old infant is being prepared for tetralogy of Fallot repair. In the nursing
assessment, which lab value should elicit further assessment and requires notification of physician?
A. pH 7.39
B. White blood cell (WBC) count 10,000 WBCs/mm3
C. Hematocrit 60%
D. Bleeding time of 4 minutes
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) Normal pH of arterial blood gases for an infant is 7.35-7.45. (B) Normal white blood cell count in
an infant is 6,000-17,500 WBCs/mm3. (C) Normal hematocrit in infant is 28%-42%. A 60% hematocrit
may indicate polycythemia, a common complication of cyanotic heart disease. (D) Normal bleeding
time is 2-7 minutes.
NO.11 A male client is experiencing extreme distress. He begins to pace up and down the corridor.
What nursing intervention is appropriate when communicating with the pacing client?
A. Ask him to sit down. Speak slowly and use short, simple sentences.
B. Help him to recognize his anxiety.
C. Walk with him as he paces.
D. Increase the level of his supervision.
Answer: C
Explanation:
(A) The nurse should not ask him to sit down. Pacing is the activity he has chosen to deal with his
anxiety. The nurse dealing with this client should speak slowly and with short, simplesentences. (B)
The client may already recognize the anxiety and is attempting to deal with it. (C) Walk with the client
as he paces. This gives support while he uses anxiety-generated energy. (D) Increasing the level of
supervision may be appropriate after he stops pacing. It would minimize self-injury and/or loss of
control.
NO.12 Prior to an amniocentesis, a fetal ultrasound is done in order to:
A. Evaluate fetal lung maturity
B. Evaluate the amount of amniotic fluid
C. Locate the position of the placenta and fetus
D. Ensure that the fetus is mature enough to perform the amniocentesis
Answer: C
3
, IT Certification Guaranteed, The Easy Way!
Explanation:
(A) Amniocentesis can be performed to assess for lung maturity. Fetal ultrasound can be used for
gestational dating, although it does not separately determine lung maturity. (B) Ultrasound can
evaluate amniotic fluid volume, which may be used to determine congenital anomalies. (C)
Amniocentesis involves removal of amniotic fluid for evaluation. The needle, inserted through the
abdomen, is guided by ultrasound to avoid needle injuries, and the test evaluates the position of the
placenta and the fetus. (D) Amniocentesis can be performed as early as the 15th-17th week of
pregnancy.
NO.1 A depressed client is seen at the mental health center for follow-up after an attempted suicide
1 week ago. She has taken phenelzine sulfate (Nardil), a monoamine oxidase
(MAO) inhibitor, for 7 straight days. She states that she is not feeling any better. The nurse explains
that the drug must accumulate to an effective level before symptoms are totally relieved. Symptom
relief is expected to occur within:
A. 10 days
B. 2-4 weeks
C. 2 months
D. 3 months
Answer: B
Explanation:
(A) This answer is incorrect. It can take up to 1 month for therapeutic effect of the medication.
(B) This answer is correct. Because MAO inhibitors are slow to act, it takes 2-4 weeks before
improvement of symptoms is noted.
(C) This answer is incorrect. It can take up to 1 month for therapeutic effect of the medication.
(D) This answer is incorrect. Therapeutic effects of the medication are noted within 1 month of drug
therapy.
NO.2 Cystic fibrosis is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. This means that:
A. Mothers carry the gene and pass it to their sons
B. Fathers carry the gene and pass it to their daughters
C. Both parents must have the disease for a child to have the disease
D. Both parents must be carriers for a child to have the disease
Answer: D
Explanation:
(A) Cystic fibrosis is not an X-linked or sex-linked disease. (B) The only characteristic on the Y
chromosome is the trait for hairy ears. (C) Both parents do not need to have the disease but must be
carriers. (D) If a trait is recessive, two genes (one from each parent) are necessary to produce an
affected child.
NO.3 A 24-year-old client presents to the emergency department protesting "I am God." The nurse
identifies this as a:
A. Delusion
1
