PCC Practice Questions & Answers

PCC Practice Questions & Answers 1. What is the role of the Joint Commission in regard to patient assessment? The Joint Commission 1) States what assessments are collected by individuals with different credentials 2) Regulates the time frames for when assessments should be completed 3) Identifies how data are to be collected and documented 4) Sets standards for what and when to assess the patient ANS: 4 The Joint Commission sets detailed standards regarding what and when to assess but does not address credentials. Nurse practice acts specify what data are collected and by whom. Agency policy may set time frames for when assessments should be done and how they should be documented. Nursing knowledge identifies how data are to be collected. 2. Which of the following is an example of data that should be validated? 1) The clients weight measures 185 lb at the clinic. 2) The clients liver function test results are elevated. 3) The clients blood pressure is 160/94 mm Hg; he states that that is typical for him. 4) The client states she eats a low-sodium diet and reports eating processed food. ANS: 4 Validation should be done when the clients statements are inconsistent (processed foods are generally high in sodium). Validation is not necessary for laboratory data when you suspect an error has been made in the results. Personal information that patients might be embarrassed about, such as weight, is best validated with a scale. Previous Play Next Rewind 10 seconds Move forward 10 seconds Unmute 0:00 / 0:15 Full screen Brainpower Read More 3. Which of the following examples includes both objective and subjective data? 1) The clients blood pressure is 132/68 and her heart rate is 88. 2) The clients cholesterol is elevated, and he states he likes fried food. 3) The client states she has trouble sleeping and that she drinks coffee in the evening. 4) The client states he gets frequent headaches and that he takes aspirin for the pain. ANS: 2 Elevated cholesterol is objective, and states he likes fried food is subjective. Objective data can be observed by someone other than the patient (e.g., from physical assessments or lab and diagnostic tests). Subjective data are information given by the client. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements are both objective. States . . . trouble sleeping and . . . drinks coffee . . . are both subjective. States . . . frequent headaches and . . . takes aspirin . . . are both subjective. 4. The Joint Commission requires which type of assessment to be performed on all patients? 1) Functional ability 2) Pain 3) Cultural 4) Wellness ANS: 2 The Joint Commission requires that pain and nutrition assessment be performed on all patients. Other special needs assessments should be performed when cues indicate there are risk factors. 5. Which of the following is an example of an ongoing assessment? 1) Taking the patients temperature 1 hour after giving acetaminophen (Tylenol) 2) Examining the patients mouth at the time she complains of a sore throat 3) Requesting the patient to rate intensity on a pain scale with the first perception of pain 4) Asking the patient in detail how he will return to his normal exercise activities ANS: 1 An ongoing assessment occurs when a previously identified problem is being reassessedfor example, taking an hourly temperature when a patient has a fever. Examining the mouth is a focused assessment to explore the patients complaint of sore throat. Asking for a pain rating is a focused assessment at the first complaint of pain. A detailed interview about exercise is a special needs assessment; there is no way to know if it is initial or ongoing. 6. When should the nurse make systematic observations about a patient? 1) When the patient has specific complaints 2) With the first assessment of the shift 3) Each time the nurse gives medications to the patient 4) Each time the nurse interacts with the patient ANS: 4 The nurse should make observations about the patient each time she enters the room or interacts with the patient to gain ongoing data about the patient. 7. Which of the following is an example of an open-ended question? 1) Have you had surgery before? 2) When was your last menstrual period? 3) What happens when you have a headache? 4) Do you have a family history of heart disease? ANS: 3 Open-ended questions such as What happens when you have a headache? are broad so as to encourage the patient to elaborate. The questions about surgery, menstrual period, and family history can all be answered with a yes, no, or short, specific answer (a date). 8. Of the following recommended interviewing techniques, which one is the most basic? (That is, without that intervention, the others will all be less effective.) 1) Beginning with neutral topics 2) Individualizing your approach 3) Minimizing note taking 4) Using active listening ANS: 4 All are important techniques, but active listening focuses the attention on the patient and lets her know you are trying to understand her needs. The interviewer is more likely to get the patient to open up. Patients will forgive you for most errors in technique, but if they think you are not listening, that can negatively affect your relationship. 9. Which of the following is an example of the most basic motivation in Maslows hierarchy of needs? 1) Experiencing loving relationships 2) Having adequate housing 3) Receiving education 4) Living in a crime-free neighborhood ANS: 2 The most basic needs are centered on physiological survivalshelter (housing), food, and water. All other options are for higher needs. The order from most basic to highest level is physiologic, safety and security, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Loving relationships fall under the love and belonging category. Education is a form of self-actualization. Living in a crime-free neighborhood meets the need for safety and security. 10. What makes a nursing history different from a medical history? 1) A nursing history focuses on the patients responses to the health problem. 2) The same information is gathered; the difference is in who obtains the information. 3) A nursing history is gathered using a specific format. 4) A medical history collects more in-depth information. ANS: 1 A medical history focuses on the patients current and past medical/surgical problems. A nursing history focuses on the patients responses to and perception of the illness/injury or health problem, his coping ability, and resources and support. Nursing history formats vary depending on the patient, the agency, and the patients needs. Both nursing and medical histories typically use a specific format. A medical history does not necessarily contain more in-depth information. A nursing history can be in-depth, covering a wide range of topics, including biographical data, reason(s) patient is seeking healthcare, history of present illness, patients perception of health status and expectations for care, past medical history, use of complementary modalities, and review of functional ability associated with activities of daily living. Other topics might deal with nutrition, psychosocial needs, pain assessment, or other special needs topics. 11. Why is it important to obtain information about nutritional and herbal supplements as well as about complementary and alternative therapies? 1) To determine what type of therapies are acceptable to the client 2) To identify whether the client has a nutrition deficiency 3) To help you to understand cultural and spiritual beliefs 4) To identify potential interaction with prescribed medication and therapies ANS: 4 Herbs and nutritional supplements can interact with prescription medications, and complementary and alternative treatments can interfere with conventional therapies. Physical assessment and laboratory tests are needed to assess a nutritional deficiency. To identify cultural and spiritual beliefs and well as what therapies are acceptable to the client, you need more than just information about nutritional and herbal supplements. 12. What do the nursing assessment models have in common? 1) They assess and cluster data into model categories. 2) They organize assessment data according to body systems. 3) They specify use of the nursing process to collect data. 4) They are based on the ANA Standards of Care. ANS: 1 All the models categorize or cluster data into functional health patterns, domains, or categories. None of the assessment models clusters data according to body system. Assessment is the first step of the nursing process; the nurse does not use the entire nursing process in data collection. The ANA Standards of Care describe a competent level of clinical nursing practice based on the nursing process; nursing models are not based on the ANA Standards of Care. 13. Nondirective interviewing is a useful technique because it 1) Allows the nurse to have control of the interview 2) Is an efficient way to interview a patient 3) Facilitates open communication 4) Helps focus patients who are anxious ANS: 3 Nondirective interviewing helps build rapport and facilitates open communication. Because it puts the patient in control, it can be very time-consuming (inefficient) and produce information that is not relevant. Directive interviewing should be used to focus anxious patients. 14. A nursing instructor is guiding nursing students on best practices for interviewing patients. Which of the following comments by a student would indicate the need for further instruction? 1) My patient is a young adult, so I plan to talk to her without her parents in the room. 2) Because my patient is old enough to be my grandfather, I will call him Mr. 3) When reading my patients health record, I thought of a few questions to ask. 4) When I give my patient his pain medication, I will have time to ask questions. ANS: 4 A patient should be comfortable when interviewing. The pain medication should have time to work before considering interviewing the patient, so asking questions when giving the medication is not a good idea. It is appropriate to interview patients without family/friends around. In nearly every culture, calling a patient Mr. or Mrs. shows respect and is therefore correct. Reading the patients health record is appropriate preparation for an interview. 15. A patient comes to the urgent care clinic because he stepped on a rusty nail. What type of assessment would the nurse perform? 1) Comprehensive 2) Ongoing 3) Initial focused 4) Special needs ANS: 3 An initial focused assessment is performed during a first exam for specific abnormal findings. A comprehensive assessment is holistic and is usually done upon admission to a healthcare facility. An ongoing assessment follows up after an initial database is completed or a problem is identified. A special needs assessment is performed when there are cues that more in-depth assessment is needed.