Nursing: Exam 4 (version 2) Review Questions & Answers_ Latest
2026-2027.
1. A nurse is assessing sleep patterns in a 74-year-old client who resides in an assisted living facility.
Which of the following is a normal age-related change in sleep patterns that the nurse should expect
in this client?
A) Both the time spent in bed and the actual time spent asleep increase.
B) The amount of deep non-REM stage sleep increases, while time in bed decreases.
C) The time spent in bed decreases, and the actual time spent asleep increases.
D) The time spent in bed increases, but the actual time spent asleep decreases.
Correct Answer: D) The time spent in bed increases, but the actual time spent asleep decreases.
Rationale: Normal aging is associated with more time spent in bed but less actual sleep time.
2. An older adult client complains of restless nights and frequent waking. When teaching the client
about age-related physiological changes during sleep, which statement should the nurse include?
A) The amount of leg movement during sleep naturally increases throughout life.
B) Nocturnal leg movements are only present in clients with diagnosed peripheral vascular disease.
C) Older adults experience a complete absence of rapid eye movement (REM) cycles.
D) Leg movement during sleep decreases with age as nerve conduction slows.
Correct Answer: A) The amount of leg movement during sleep naturally increases throughout life.
Rationale: The test bank identifies increased leg movement during sleep as an age-related change.
3. The nurse is providing education to an older adult client on non-pharmacological interventions to
promote healthy sleep. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A) Encourage maintaining a consistent sleep-wake cycle and minimizing daytime naps.
B) Take a short 1-hour nap in the late afternoon to compensate for night waking.
C) Engage in vigorous cycling or weightlifting right before bedtime to induce fatigue.
D) Increase caffeine intake slightly in the evening to prevent early bedtime awakening.
Correct Answer: A) Encourage maintaining a consistent sleep-wake cycle and minimizing daytime naps.
Rationale: A consistent sleep-wake schedule and fewer daytime naps support healthier nighttime sleep.
4. The nurse is developing a plan of care to promote healthy sleep for an older adult client admitted to
an acute care unit. Which nursing action is a priority?
A) Encourage the client to participate in high-intensity exercise in the hallway before bedtime.
B) Perform hourly vital sign checks and blood draws to monitor clinical status.
C) Cluster nursing care at night to decrease noise and minimize sleep disruptions.
D) Keep the room brightly lit throughout the night to promote the client's circadian rhythm.
Correct Answer: C) Cluster nursing care at night to decrease noise and minimize sleep disruptions.
Rationale: Clustering nighttime care reduces noise and interruptions that fragment sleep.
5. The nurse in a long-term care facility is caring for a client with advanced Alzheimer's disease who
is walking the hallways at night. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Instruct the client to return to bed and apply a bed alarm.
B) Request a prescription for physical restraints to prevent wandering.
C) Administer a prescribed PRN dose of zolpidem immediately.
D) Assess the client for the presence of pain or discomfort.
Correct Answer: D) Assess the client for the presence of pain or discomfort.
, Rationale: Pain or discomfort can drive nighttime wandering, so assessment comes before restraints or
sedatives.
6. What is the best nursing intervention to improve sleep quality for a client newly admitted to an
assisted living facility or long-term care setting?
A) Keep a television turned on in the client's room all night for white noise.
B) Administer an over-the-counter sleep aid at 8:00 PM nightly.
C) Encourage the client to carry out their normal bedtime routine that they have at home.
D) Assess the client's cognitive function hourly throughout the night.
Correct Answer: C) Encourage the client to carry out their normal bedtime routine that they have at
home.
Rationale: Maintaining the client’s familiar bedtime routine can reduce disruption from a new environment.
7. An older adult client presents to the clinic with complaints of persistent fatigue. Which set of
symptoms reported during morning assessments should lead the nurse to suspect obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA)?
A) Ringing in the ears, daytime hyperactivity, and visual floaters.
B) Leg numbness, morning hypertension, and peripheral edema.
C) Morning headaches, complaints of morning insomnia, and daytime drowsiness.
D) Coughing up pink frothy sputum, night sweats, and chest pain.
Correct Answer: C) Morning headaches, complaints of morning insomnia, and daytime drowsiness.
Rationale: Morning headaches, insomnia complaints, and daytime drowsiness are the symptom cluster linked
with OSA in this item.
8. The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). What is the primary
underlying physiological mechanism that the nurse should associate with this condition?
A) Ischemia to the legs.
B) Peripheral microvascular thrombosis due to warfarin therapy.
C) Loss of voluntary muscle atonia during dreaming.
D) Excessive accumulation of calcium deposits in the joint cartilage.
Correct Answer: A) Ischemia to the legs.
Rationale: The test bank presents ischemia to the legs as the underlying mechanism associated with RLS.
9. A client is newly diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). Which physiological risk factors
and lifestyle habits should the nurse assess for?
A) Hypercalcemia, low BMI, high-protein diet, and regular low-intensity exercise.
B) Iron deficiency, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), diabetes, increased BMI, and caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco
use.
C) Vitamin A deficiency, hypotension, high-purine diet, and use of antihistamines.
D) Pancytopenia, severe damage to the cardiac system, and a history of biological terrorism exposure.
Correct Answer: B) Iron deficiency, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), diabetes, increased BMI, and
caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco use.
Rationale: Iron deficiency, ESRD, diabetes, higher BMI, and stimulant or substance use are listed risk factors
for RLS.
10. The nurse is planning care for a client with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) who has difficulty
falling asleep. Which interventions should the nurse include?
A) Administer alendronate (Fosamax) at bedtime and instruct the client to lie flat.
B) Apply cold compresses to the lower extremities and administer colchicine.
C) Administer gabapentin before bedtime as prescribed and encourage lower extremity stretching techniques.
D) Encourage 30 minutes of high-intensity bicycling right before bedtime.
Correct Answer: C) Administer gabapentin before bedtime as prescribed and encourage lower extremity
stretching techniques.
, Rationale: Gabapentin at bedtime plus lower-extremity stretching is the intervention pair identified for RLS.
11. The nurse is assessing a 62-year-old male client who presents with violent nocturnal dream
enactment, including punching and kicking. Which sleep disorder should the nurse suspect?
A) Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder (Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder).
B) Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder.
C) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
D) Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS).
Correct Answer: B) Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder.
Rationale: Violent dream enactment with punching or kicking is characteristic of REM sleep behavior disorder.
12. A client with REM sleep behavior disorder is being discharged. Which pharmacological treatment
and discharge teaching are critical for client safety?
A) Prescription of alendronate and remaining upright for 30 to 60 minutes.
B) Prescription of zolpidem and keeping a television on during the night.
C) Prescription of clonazepam and implementation of home safety measures.
D) Prescription of gabapentin and performing lower extremity stretches before bed.
Correct Answer: C) Prescription of clonazepam and implementation of home safety measures.
Rationale: Clonazepam and home safety measures address both symptom control and injury prevention in
REM sleep behavior disorder.
13. A client is scheduled for an evaluation of sleep disturbances. What diagnostic tool should the
nurse instruct the client to use for 2 to 3 weeks prior to evaluation?
A) A sleep diary.
B) A daily scale for recording morning blood pressure.
C) A continuous pulse oximeter.
D) An electroencephalogram (EEG) log.
Correct Answer: A) A sleep diary.
Rationale: A sleep diary records patterns over time and is used before formal sleep evaluation.
14. Which of the following statements regarding Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is correct based
on physiological characteristics?
A) REM sleep is highly associated with limb ischemia and restless leg movements.
B) REM sleep is the longest phase of sleep in older adults and occurs immediately upon falling asleep.
C) REM sleep is characterized by an increase in voluntary muscle atonia and is not linked to dreaming.
D) REM sleep occurs within 90 minutes of sleep onset and is linked to dreaming and memory consolidation.
Correct Answer: D) REM sleep occurs within 90 minutes of sleep onset and is linked to dreaming and
memory consolidation.
Rationale: REM sleep occurs after sleep onset and is associated with dreaming and memory consolidation.
15. A client presents with low-grade fever, joint pain, frequently changes positions, and wakes up
during the night. The nurse should recognize these signs as common clinical manifestations of which
condition?
A) Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
B) Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma).
C) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
D) Osteoarthritis.
Correct Answer: D) Osteoarthritis.
Rationale: The item identifies the described nighttime joint pain and low-grade fever pattern with osteoarthritis.
16. An older adult client is prescribed zolpidem at bedtime for transient insomnia. What is the priority
nursing intervention after administering this medication?
A) Implement safety measures, including bed and chair alarms, and place the call light within reach.