acute/chronic conditions
A nurse is assessing a patient with severe nutritional deficiency. Which findings suggest complications related to malnutrition?
A. Delayed wound healing
B. Redness over bony prominences
C. Increased muscle mass
D. Pressure ulcers
E. Dry, brittle hair
a,b,d,e
A patient prescribed warfarin asks about safety precautions.
Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. Use a razor blade for shaving
B. Avoid routine blood testing
C. Use an electric razor to reduce bleeding risk
D. Stop the medication if bruising occurs
C. Use an electric razor to reduce bleeding risk
A nurse prepares medications for a patient and performs the three checks during medication administration.
Which action occurs during the first check?
A. Checking medications against the MAR at the bedside
B. Matching medications to the MAR when retrieving them
C. Reviewing medication orders with the provider
D. Documenting medication administration
B. Matching medications to the MAR when retrieving them
A nurse is monitoring a patient receiving promethazine for persistent nausea. Which adverse effect is most important for the nurse to monitor?
A. Increased appetite
B. CNS depression
C. Hyperactivity
D. Hypertension
B. CNS depression
A nurse is assessing a patient for malnutrition. Which assessment finding most strongly supports this diagnosis?
A. Muscle wasting and sunken cheeks
B. Increased adipose tissue around the abdomen
C. Blood pressure of 130/82 mmHg
D. BMI of 26
A. Muscle wasting and sunken cheeks
Which action best demonstrates the nurse’s professional role in the acute care setting?
A. Limiting communication to only the physician
B. Independently managing all aspects of patient care
C. Coordinating with multiple health care professionals
D. Delegating all patient care tasks to assistive personnel
C. Coordinating with multiple health care professionals
A patient’s urinalysis shows the following:
Positive nitrites
Positive leukocyte esterase
Large amount of WBCs
Cloudy urine
Which interpretations by the nurse are correct?
Select all that apply.
A. Findings suggest urinary tract infection
B. Antibiotic therapy may be required
C. The findings indicate dehydration
D. A urine culture and sensitivity may be ordered
E. The findings indicate normal kidney function
a,b,d
A nurse is reviewing medication information for a drug with a half-life of 8 hours.
Which statement best describes half-life?
A. The time required for peak drug concentration
B. The time required for the drug level to decrease by 50%
C. The time required for a drug to be absorbed
D. The time required to reach therapeutic range
B. The time required for the drug level to decrease by 50%
A patient with severe vomiting begins showing signs of tachycardia, hypotension, and low urine output. Which complication should the nurse suspect?
A. Septic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Cardiogenic shock
D. Neurogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
A nurse reviews a patient's lab results to evaluate nutritional status. Which test is most sensitive for identifying protein malnutrition?
A. CBC
B. Albumin
C. Nitrogen balance study
D. Prealbumin
D. Prealbumin
Which actions are essential for effective charting and documentation?
Select all that apply.
A. Recording patient care interventions
B. Ensuring accurate communication among healthcare providers
C. Omitting minor patient changes
D. Supporting continuity of care
E. Documenting only physician actions
a,b,d
A patient with a severe infection has a CBC showing elevated WBCs with increased immature neutrophils (bands).
Which interpretation by the nurse is correct?
A. The immune system is suppressing infection
B. The body is releasing immature neutrophils to fight infection
C. The patient is developing anemia
D. The patient is experiencing dehydration
B. The body is releasing immature neutrophils to fight infection
A nurse reviews laboratory results and notes a medication is highly bound to albumin in the bloodstream.
Which statement best describes the implication of this finding?
A. The drug easily leaves the bloodstream and enters tissues
B. The drug cannot diffuse out of blood vessels while bound to albumin
C. The drug is immediately metabolized in the liver
D. The drug is rapidly excreted in urine
B. The drug cannot diffuse out of blood vessels while bound to albumin
A patient hospitalized with severe vomiting has the following findings:
HR 122 bpm
BP 88/54 mmHg
Urine output 15 mL/hr
Cool extremities
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Encourage oral fluid intake
B. Document the findings and reassess in 30 minutes
C. Establish or verify adequate IV access for fluid resuscitation
D. Provide patient education on nausea triggers
C. Establish or verify adequate IV access for fluid resuscitation
A patient with obesity is prescribed a GLP-1 receptor agonist such as semaglutide. Which nursing considerations are appropriate?
A. Monitor for hypoglycemia
B. Expect daily or weekly subcutaneous injections
C. Monitor for increased glucagon secretion
D. Monitor glucose levels
E. Educate the patient about escalating doses
a,b,d,e
A nurse caring for a patient with a complex chronic condition must coordinate multiple services prior to discharge.
Which nursing action is most important to ensure continuity of care?
A. Completing documentation at the end of the shift
B. Coordinating with the interdisciplinary healthcare team
C. Providing patient education only
D. Delegating discharge tasks to assistive personnel
B. Coordinating with the interdisciplinary healthcare team
A hospitalized patient has the following hemoglobin results:
Day 1: 15.6 g/dL
Day 2: 12.8 g/dL
Day 3: 10.9 g/dL
Day 4: 8.5 g/dL
Which interpretation by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. The patient is becoming dehydrated
B. The patient may be experiencing active bleeding
C. The patient is improving clinically
D. The values are within normal fluctuation
B. The patient may be experiencing active bleeding
A nurse is administering a medication with a narrow therapeutic index, such as digoxin or lithium.
Which nursing action is most important when administering this type of medication?
A. Administer the medication quickly to prevent delays in therapy
B. Monitor serum drug levels closely
C. Give the medication with food to reduce nausea
D. Avoid educating the patient about adverse effects
B. Monitor serum drug levels closely
A nurse is caring for a patient actively vomiting. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Place the patient in a supine position
B. Provide a cold compress
C. Position the patient upright or turn them to the side
D. Encourage deep breathing exercises
C. Position the patient upright or turn them to the side
A patient is prescribed dronabinol to help with nutritional intake. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?
A. Administer the medication 1 hour before lunch and dinner
B. Administer the medication at bedtime only
C. Give the medication with IV fluids
D. Hold the medication if the patient has nausea
A. Administer the medication 1 hour before lunch and dinner
) A nurse is caring for a patient with severe malnutrition. Which complication should the nurse monitor most closely?
a. Glycemic emergencies
B. Seasonal allergies
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Kidney stones
a. Glycemic emergencies
A patient admitted with sepsis has the following CBC results:
WBC: 19,500/mm³
Bands: elevated
Platelets: 78,000/mm³
Hemoglobin: 13 g/dL
Which assessment finding should the nurse prioritize?
A. Petechiae on the patient’s arms
B. Patient reports mild headache
C. Patient reports decreased appetite
D. Slightly elevated temperature
A. Petechiae on the patient’s arms
A nurse reviews a patient’s medication list and recognizes factors that may increase the risk of drug–drug interactions.
Which situations could alter drug effects?
Select all that apply.
A. Two medications competing for the same metabolic pathway
B. A medication altering the absorption of another drug
C. Drugs producing a combined toxic effect
D. Two drugs producing a unique response when taken together
E. A medication being taken at the same time every day
a,b,c,d
A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing nausea related to motion sickness. Which medication would be most appropriate?
A. Ondansetron
B. Scopolamine
C. Dimenhydrinate
D. Metoclopramide
C. Dimenhydrinate
A patient admitted with suspected malnutrition has the following lab results. Which finding should the nurse report first?
A. Albumin 3.3 g/dL
B. Prealbumin 4 mg/dL
C. Hemoglobin 11.8 g/dL
D. Sodium 137 mEq/L
B. Prealbumin 4 mg/dL