HCAL Exam 2 Practice Questions
(Diabetes, Questions from Exam 1)
Ideally, the goal of patient diabetes education is to:
a. Make all patients responsible for the management of their disease.
b. Involve the patient's family and significant others in the care of the patient.
c. Enable the patient to become the most active participant in the management of the diabetes.
d. Provide the patient with as much information as soon as possible to prevent complications of
diabetes. - Answer-ANS: C
enable the patient to become the most active participant in the management of diabetes
Cardiac monitoring is initiated for a patient in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The nurse recognizes that this
measure is important to identify
a. electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and dysrhythmias related to hypokalemia.
b. fluid overload resulting from aggressive fluid replacement.
c. the presence of hypovolemic shock related to osmotic diuresis.
d. cardiovascular collapse resulting from the effects of hyperglycemia. - Answer-ANS: A
,dysrhythmias related to hypokalemia
A 24 year old female complains of nervousness and palpitations after playing baseball at a local park. A
nurse is also present at the park and observes diaphoresis and tremors. The female acknowledges being
a diabetic. Which of the following is the most appropriate immediate action?
a. tell the female that she likely became too hot playing baseball.
b. administer 15g of rapid-acting sugar, such as fruit juice, regular soda, or life savers
c. activate the EMS system
d. ask the female is she has her self-monitoring blood glucose kit with her - Answer-ANS: B
administer 15g of rapid acting sugar, such as fruit juice, regular soda, or life savers
During the planning stage of a health teaching session for clients diagnosed with diabetes, the nurse
recognizes that the most common cause of death in people with diabetes is which of the following?
a. hyperglycemia
b. diabetic nephropathy
c. coronary artery disease
d. diabetic neuropathies - Answer-ANS: C
coronary artery disease
A 53-year-old male type II diabetic treated with an oral hypoglycemic agent is 2 days post-op open
cholecystectomy and insertion of T-tube. The client expresses concern that he has required insulin the
rest of his life. After the nurse provides an explanation of the insulin, which of the following statements
made by the client indicates an understanding?
a. "The stress of surgery has caused temporary increase in glucose."
b. "I won't know if I am going to be insulin dependent for a few more days."
,c. "I have to take insulin now that my gallbladder has been removed."
d. "I am taking insulin until my oral medication can be changed because it is not working." - Answer-
ANS: A
"The stress of surgery has caused temporary increase in glucose."
A 36 year old male presents with glucose of 620 mg/dL, arterial blood gases of pH 7.2, PC02 31, HCO3 13
mEq/L, and ketones are noted in the urine. The client is diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Which of the following admitting orders would the nurse question?
a. IV 0.9% saline at 500 cc/hour
b. monitor serum glucose every 30 mins
c. IV bolus with 20 units of NPH, then begin NPH insulin drip at 5 units/hr
d. cardiac monitor and VS every 15 mins - Answer-ANS: C
IV bolus with 20 units of NPH, then begin NPH insulin drip at 5 units/hr
A diabetic client describes tingling and decreased sensation in the lower extremities, and describes
having cold feet. For teaching the client potential complications related to diabetes, which of the
following is a priority diagnosis based on the provided info?
a. risk for impaired skin integrity
b. altered nutrition: more than body requirements
c. risk for infection
d. ineffective coping - Answer-ANS: A
risk for impaired skin integrity
A client with type I diabetes understands sick-day management of diabetes when which of the following
statements are made?
, a. "If I am unable to eat for more than 2 days, I will contact my HCP."
b. "I won't check my glucose level if I am sick and not eating, since my glucose won't increase."
c. "I will continue to take the usual amount of insulin prescribed, even if I am sick."
d. "I won't take my insulin if I am too sick to eat." - Answer-ANS: C
"I will continue to take the usual amount of insulin prescribed, even if I am sick."
A diabetic client arrives in the ER after a neighbor activated EMS because the client was found
unresponsive. The skin is dry, flushed, and warm. VS are BP 90/62, HR 126, RR 20 and unlabored, and T
of 102F. The glucose level is 980 mg/dL, plasma osmolarity is 350 mmol/L, and no abnormal ketones are
noted in the urine or plasma. The ABG reveal a pH of 7.40. Based on this assessment data, the nurse
suspects which of the following?
a. diabetic ketoacidosis
b. hypoglycemia
c. hyperglycemia
d. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) - Answer-ANS: D
hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
A nurse is evaluating a teaching plan on diabetic foot care. Which of the following statements made by
the client indicates an understanding of proper foot care?
a. "I will soak my feet in hot water daily to remove any calluses."
b. "I will use a heating pad on my feet if they swell."
c. "I will inspect my feet daily."
d. "I will rub my feet dry after getting them wet." - Answer-ANS: C
"I will inspect my feet daily."
(Diabetes, Questions from Exam 1)
Ideally, the goal of patient diabetes education is to:
a. Make all patients responsible for the management of their disease.
b. Involve the patient's family and significant others in the care of the patient.
c. Enable the patient to become the most active participant in the management of the diabetes.
d. Provide the patient with as much information as soon as possible to prevent complications of
diabetes. - Answer-ANS: C
enable the patient to become the most active participant in the management of diabetes
Cardiac monitoring is initiated for a patient in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The nurse recognizes that this
measure is important to identify
a. electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and dysrhythmias related to hypokalemia.
b. fluid overload resulting from aggressive fluid replacement.
c. the presence of hypovolemic shock related to osmotic diuresis.
d. cardiovascular collapse resulting from the effects of hyperglycemia. - Answer-ANS: A
,dysrhythmias related to hypokalemia
A 24 year old female complains of nervousness and palpitations after playing baseball at a local park. A
nurse is also present at the park and observes diaphoresis and tremors. The female acknowledges being
a diabetic. Which of the following is the most appropriate immediate action?
a. tell the female that she likely became too hot playing baseball.
b. administer 15g of rapid-acting sugar, such as fruit juice, regular soda, or life savers
c. activate the EMS system
d. ask the female is she has her self-monitoring blood glucose kit with her - Answer-ANS: B
administer 15g of rapid acting sugar, such as fruit juice, regular soda, or life savers
During the planning stage of a health teaching session for clients diagnosed with diabetes, the nurse
recognizes that the most common cause of death in people with diabetes is which of the following?
a. hyperglycemia
b. diabetic nephropathy
c. coronary artery disease
d. diabetic neuropathies - Answer-ANS: C
coronary artery disease
A 53-year-old male type II diabetic treated with an oral hypoglycemic agent is 2 days post-op open
cholecystectomy and insertion of T-tube. The client expresses concern that he has required insulin the
rest of his life. After the nurse provides an explanation of the insulin, which of the following statements
made by the client indicates an understanding?
a. "The stress of surgery has caused temporary increase in glucose."
b. "I won't know if I am going to be insulin dependent for a few more days."
,c. "I have to take insulin now that my gallbladder has been removed."
d. "I am taking insulin until my oral medication can be changed because it is not working." - Answer-
ANS: A
"The stress of surgery has caused temporary increase in glucose."
A 36 year old male presents with glucose of 620 mg/dL, arterial blood gases of pH 7.2, PC02 31, HCO3 13
mEq/L, and ketones are noted in the urine. The client is diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Which of the following admitting orders would the nurse question?
a. IV 0.9% saline at 500 cc/hour
b. monitor serum glucose every 30 mins
c. IV bolus with 20 units of NPH, then begin NPH insulin drip at 5 units/hr
d. cardiac monitor and VS every 15 mins - Answer-ANS: C
IV bolus with 20 units of NPH, then begin NPH insulin drip at 5 units/hr
A diabetic client describes tingling and decreased sensation in the lower extremities, and describes
having cold feet. For teaching the client potential complications related to diabetes, which of the
following is a priority diagnosis based on the provided info?
a. risk for impaired skin integrity
b. altered nutrition: more than body requirements
c. risk for infection
d. ineffective coping - Answer-ANS: A
risk for impaired skin integrity
A client with type I diabetes understands sick-day management of diabetes when which of the following
statements are made?
, a. "If I am unable to eat for more than 2 days, I will contact my HCP."
b. "I won't check my glucose level if I am sick and not eating, since my glucose won't increase."
c. "I will continue to take the usual amount of insulin prescribed, even if I am sick."
d. "I won't take my insulin if I am too sick to eat." - Answer-ANS: C
"I will continue to take the usual amount of insulin prescribed, even if I am sick."
A diabetic client arrives in the ER after a neighbor activated EMS because the client was found
unresponsive. The skin is dry, flushed, and warm. VS are BP 90/62, HR 126, RR 20 and unlabored, and T
of 102F. The glucose level is 980 mg/dL, plasma osmolarity is 350 mmol/L, and no abnormal ketones are
noted in the urine or plasma. The ABG reveal a pH of 7.40. Based on this assessment data, the nurse
suspects which of the following?
a. diabetic ketoacidosis
b. hypoglycemia
c. hyperglycemia
d. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) - Answer-ANS: D
hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
A nurse is evaluating a teaching plan on diabetic foot care. Which of the following statements made by
the client indicates an understanding of proper foot care?
a. "I will soak my feet in hot water daily to remove any calluses."
b. "I will use a heating pad on my feet if they swell."
c. "I will inspect my feet daily."
d. "I will rub my feet dry after getting them wet." - Answer-ANS: C
"I will inspect my feet daily."
