2025: NCLEX-RN EXAM PREP THE MOST
COMPLETE GUIDE TO PASSING THE EXAM
ON YOUR FIRST TRY | INCLUDES 10 FULL-
LENGTH PRACTICE TESTS
,Question: 1
The nurse is caring for a client with a serum sodium concentration of 113 mEq/L (113 mmol/L). The nurse should
monitor the client for the development of which condition?
Options:
A) Headache
B) Confusion
C) Nausea
D) Hallucinations
Correct Response:
Confusion
Rationale:
Normal serum sodium: 135–145 mEq/L (135–145 mmol/L).
Hyponatremia: serum sodium < 135 mEq/L.
When sodium falls below 115 mEq/L, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure can develop,
including lethargy, confusion, muscle twitching, focal weakness, hemiparesis, papilledema, seizures,
and even death.
Other manifestations of hyponatremia include poor skin turgor, dry mucosa, headache, decreased saliva
production, orthostatic hypotension, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping.
Neurologic changes (altered mental status, status epilepticus, coma) stem from cellular swelling and
cerebral edema.
Hallucinations, by contrast, are more typically associated with hypernatremia, not hyponatremia.
Question:2
Which could be a potential cause of respiratory acidosis?
Vomiting
Hyperventilation
, Hypoventilation
Diarrhea
Correct Answer: Hypoventilation
Explanation:
Respiratory acidosis occurs when there is inadequate excretion of CO2CO2 due to insufficient ventilation
(hypoventilation). This leads to an accumulation of CO2CO2 in the blood, increasing carbonic acid levels.
Hypoventilation is typically associated with elevated PaCO2PaCO2 and decreased PaO2PaO2.
Key Points:
Hypoventilation is the primary cause of respiratory acidosis.
Other options (vomiting, hyperventilation, diarrhea) are unrelated or associated with other acid-base
imbalances.
Question: 3
The nurse is assigned to care for a client with a serum phosphorus concentration of 5.0 mg/dL (1.61 mmol/L).
The nurse anticipates that the client will also experience which electrolyte imbalance?
Hyperchloremia
Hyponatremia
Hypocalcemia
Hypermagnesemia