NCLEX questions

A nurse working in a hospital includes abdominal assessment as part of patient assessment. In which patients would a nurse expect to find decreased or absent bowel sounds after listening for 5 minutes? Select all that apply. a. A patient diagnosed with peritonitis b. A patient who is on prolonged bedrest c. A patient who has diarrhea d. A patient who has gastroenteritis e. A patient who has an early bowel obstruction f. A patient who has paralytic ileus caused by surgery

a, b, f. Decreased or absent bowel sounds—evidenced only after listening for 5 minutes (Hogan-Quigley, Palm, & Bickley, 2017)—signify the absence of bowel motility, commonly associated with peritonitis, paralytic ileus, and/or prolonged immobility. Hyperactive bowel sounds indicate increased bowel motility, commonly caused by diarrhea, gastroenteritis, or early bowel obstruction

A nurse is caring for a patient who has an NG tube in place for gastric decompression. Which nursing actions are appropriate when irrigating an NG tube connected to suction? Select all that apply. a. Draw up 30 mL of saline solution into the syringe. b. Unclamp the suction tubing near the connection site to instill solution. c. Place the tip of the syringe in the tube to gently insert saline solution. d. Place the syringe in the blue air vent of a Salem sump or double-lumen tube. e. After instilling irrigant, hold the end of the NG tube over an irrigation tray. f. Observe for return flow of NG drainage into an available container.

a, c, e, f. The nurse irrigating an NG tube connected to suction should draw up 30 mL of saline solution (or the amount indicated in the order or policy) into the syringe, clamp the suction tubing near the connection site to protect the patient from leakage of NG drainage, place the tip of the syringe in the tube to gently insert the saline solution, then place the syringe in the drainage port, not in the blue air vent of a Salem sump or double-lumen tube (the blue air vent acts to decrease pressure built up in the stomach when the Salem sump is attached to suction). After instilling irrigant, hold the end of the NG tube over an irrigation tray or emesis basin, and observe for return flow of NG drainage into an available container

A nurse caring for patients in an extended-care facility performs regular assessments of the patients' urinary functioning. Which patients would the nurse screen for urinary retention? Select all that apply. a. A 78-year-old male patient diagnosed with an enlarged prostate b. An 83-year-old female patient who is on bedrest c. A 75-year-old female patient who is diagnosed with vaginal prolapse d. An 89-year-old male patient who has dementia e. A 73-year-old female patient who is taking antihistamines to treat allergies f. A 90-year-old male patient who has difficulty walking to the bathroom

a, c, e. Urinary retention occurs when urine is produced normally but is not excreted completely from the bladder. Factors associated with urinary retention include medications such as antihistamines, an enlarged prostate, or vaginal prolapse. Being on bedrest, having dementia, and having difficulty walking to the bathroom may place patients at risk for urinary incontinence.

A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with bladder cancer who has a urinary diversion. Which actions would the nurse take when caring for this patient? Select all that apply. a. Measure the patient's fluid intake and output. b. Keep the skin around the stoma moist. c. Empty the appliance frequently. d. Report any mucus in the urine to the primary care provider. e. Encourage the patient to look away when changing the appliance. f. Monitor the return of intestinal function and peristalsis.

a, c, f. When caring for a patient with a urinary diversion, the nurse should measure the patient's fluid intake and output to monitor fluid balance, change the appliance frequently, monitor the return of intestinal function and peristalsis, keep the skin around the stoma dry, watch for mucus in the urine as a normal finding, and encourage the patient to participate in care and look at the stoma

The health care provider has ordered an indwelling catheter inserted in a hospitalized male patient. What consideration would the nurse keep in mind when performing this procedure? a. The male urethra is more vulnerable to injury during insertion. b. In the hospital, a clean technique is used for catheter insertion. c. The catheter is inserted 2 to 3 in into the meatus. d. Since it uses a closed system, the risk for UTI is absent

a. Because of its length, the male urethra is more prone to injury and requires that the catheter be inserted 6 to 8 in. This procedure requires surgical asepsis to prevent introducing bacteria into the urinary tract. The presence of an indwelling catheter places the patient at risk for a UTI.

A nurse is caring for an older adult who has constipation. Which laxative would be contraindicated for this patient? a. A saline osmotic laxative b. A bulk-forming laxative c. Methylcellulose d. A stool softener

a. Certain saline osmotic laxatives can lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances and should not be used in older adults or those with kidney or cardiac disease.

A patient who has pneumonia has had a fever for 3 days. What characteristics would the nurse anticipate related to the patient's urine output? a. Decreased and highly concentrated b. Decreased and highly dilute c. Increased and concentrated d. Increased and dilut

a. Fever and diaphoresis cause the kidneys to conserve body fluids. Thus, the urine is concentrated and decreased in amount

A nurse is preparing a hospitalized patient for a colonoscopy. Which nursing action is the recommended preparation for this test? a. Have the patient follow a low-fiber diet several days before the test. b. Have the patient take bisacodyl and ingest a gallon of bowel cleaner on day 1. c. Prepare the patient for the use of general anesthesia during the test. d. Explain that barium contrast mixture will be given to drink before the test.

a. If possible, a low-residue diet (low fiber) should be followed several days before the procedure. Most will maintain the low-residue diet; others may have full liquid diet the day before the procedure. There are multiple types of bowel preps for this procedure. The provider performing the procedure will decide which is best for the individual patient. The prep is usually given as a split dose, with half being given the night before and rest the morning of the procedure. It is recommended the second dose be given at least 5 hours and completed at least 2 hours before the study. There are some who may receive the prep the same day as the procedure, especially if the procedure is scheduled for later in the day. Conscious sedation, not general anesthesia, will be given for the colonoscopy. A chalky-tasting barium contrast mixture is given to drink before an upper gastrointestinal and small-bowel series of tests.

A nurse is caring for a patient who is taking phenazopyridine (a urinary tract analgesic). The patient questions the nurse: "My urine was bright orangish red today; is there something wrong with me?" What would be the nurse's best response? a. "This is a normal finding when taking phenazopyridine." b. "This may be a sign of blood in the urine." c. "This may be the result of an injury to your bladder." d. "This is a sign that you are allergic to the medication and must stop it."

a. Phenazopyridine, a urinary tract analgesic, can cause orange or orange-red urine; the patient needs to be aware of this.

A nurse is caring for a male patient who had a urinary sheath applied following hip surgery. What action would be a priority when caring for this patient? a. Preventing the tubing from kinking to maintain free urinary drainage b. Not removing the sheath for any reason c. Fastening the sheath tightly to prevent the possibility of leakage d. Maintaining bedrest at all times to prevent the sheath from slipping off

a. The catheter should be allowed to drain freely through tubing that is not kinked. It also should be removed daily to prevent skin excoriation and should not be fastened too tightly or restriction of blood vessels in the area is likely. Confining a patient to bedrest increases the risk for other hazards related to immobility

A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-surgical following an IPAA. For which adverse effect would the nurse monitor in this patient? a. Incontinence b. Constipation c. Electrolyte imbalances d. Infection

a. The outcomes for this IPAA surgery are not always ideal, and many patients experience decreased quality of life due to frequent defecation and fecal seepage and incontinence.

A nurse is assessing the abdomen of a patient who is experiencing frequent bouts of diarrhea. The nurse first observes the contour of the abdomen, noting any masses, scars, or areas of distention. What action would the nurse perform next? a. Auscultate the abdomen using an orderly clockwise approach in all abdominal quadrants. b. Percuss all quadrants of the abdomen in a systematic clockwise manner to identify masses, fluid, or air in the abdomen. c. Lightly palpate over the abdominal quadrants; first checking for any areas of pain or discomfort. d. Deeply palpate over the abdominal quadrants, noting muscular resistance, tenderness, organ enlargement, or masses.

a. The sequence for abdominal assessment proceeds from inspection, auscultation, percussion, and then palpation. Inspection and auscultation are performed before palpation because palpation may disturb normal peristalsis and bowel motility. Percussion and deep palpation are usually performed by advanced practice professionals

A nurse assesses the stool of patients who are experiencing gastrointestinal problems. In which patients would diarrhea be a possible finding? Select all that apply. a. A patient who is taking narcotics for pain b. A patient who is taking metformin for type 2 diabetes mellitus c. A patient who is taking diuretics d. A patient who is dehydrated e. A patient who is taking amoxicillin for an infection f. A patient taking over-the-counter antacids

b, e, f. Diarrhea is a potential adverse effect of treatment with amoxicillin clavulanate, metformin, or over-the-counter antacids. Narcotics, diuretics, and dehydration may lead to constipation

After surgery, a patient is having difficulty voiding. Which nursing action would most likely lead to an increased difficulty with voiding? a. Pouring warm water over the patient's fingers. b. Having the patient ignore the urge to void until her bladder is full. c. Using a warm bedpan when the patient feels the urge to void. d. Stroking the patient's leg or thigh.

b. Ignoring the urge to void makes urination even more difficult and should be avoided. The other activities are all recommended nursing activities to promote voiding.

For which patient would a nurse expect the primary care provider to order colostomy irrigation? a. A patient with IBS b. A patient with a left-sided end colostomy in the sigmoid colon c. A patient with post-radiation damage to the bowel d. A patient with Crohn's disease

b. Irrigations are used to promote regular evacuation of distal colostomies. Colostomy irrigation may be indicated in patients who have a left-sided end colostomy in the descending or sigmoid colon, are mentally alert, have adequate vision, and have adequate manual dexterity needed to perform the procedure. Contraindications include IBS, peristomal hernia, post-radiation damage to the bowel, diverticulitis, and Crohn's disease

A nurse caring for a patient's hemodialysis access documents the following: "5/10/20 0930 AV fistula patent in right upper arm. Area is warm to touch and edematous. Patient denies pain and tenderness. Positive bruit and thrill noted." Which documented finding would the nurse report to the primary care provider? a. Positive bruit noted. b. Area is warm to touch and edematous. c. Patient denies pain and tenderness. d. Positive thrill noted.

b. The nurse would report a site that is warm and edematous as this could be a sign of a site infection. The thrill and bruit are normal findings caused by arterial blood flowing into the vein. If these are not present, the access may be cutting off. No report of pain is a normal finding.

A nurse is ordered to catheterize a patient following surgery. Which nursing guideline would the nurse follow? a. The nurse would use different equipment for catheterization of male versus female patients. b. The nurse should use the smallest appropriate indwelling urinary catheter. c. The nurse should always sterilize the equipment prior to insertion. d. The nurse should choose a 12F, 5-mL or 10-mL balloon, unless ordered otherwise.

b. The smallest appropriate indwelling urinary catheter should be selected to aid in prevention of CAUTIs in the adult hospitalized patient (ANA, 2014; SUNA, 2015a). The equipment used for catheterization is usually prepackaged in a sterile, disposable tray and is the same for both male and female patients. Most kits already contain a standard-sized catheter. Catheters are graded on the French (F) scale according to lumen size, with 12 to 16F gauge commonly used (Bardsley, 2015a). A 14F, 5-mL or 10-mL balloon is usually appropriate, unless ordered otherwise (ANA).

A nurse is preparing a brochure to teach patients how to prevent UTIs. Which teaching points would the nurse include? Select all that apply. a. Wear underwear with a synthetic crotch b. Take baths rather than showers c. Drink 8 to 10 8-oz glasses of water per day d. Drink a glass of water before and after intercourse and void afterward e. Dry the perineal area after urination or defecation from the front to the back f. Observe the urine for color, amount, odor, and frequency

c, e, f. It is recommended that a healthy adult drink 8 to 10 8-oz glasses of fluid daily, dry the perineal area after urination or defecation from the front to the back, and observe the urine for color, amount, odor, and frequency. It is also recommended to wear underwear with a cotton crotch, take showers rather than baths, and drink two glasses of water before and after sexual intercourse and void immediately after intercourse

A nurse is administering a large-volume cleansing enema to a patient prior to surgery. Once the enema solution is introduced, the patient reports severe cramping. What nursing intervention would the nurse perform next based on this patient reaction? a. Elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees and reposition the rectal tube. b. Place the patient in a supine position and modify the amount of solution. c. Lower the solution container and check the temperature and flow rate. d. Remove the rectal tube and notify the primary care provider.

c. If the patient reports severe cramping with introduction of an enema solution, the nurse should lower the solution container and check the temperature and flow rate. If the solution is too cold or the flow rate too fast, severe cramping may occur. The head of the bed may be elevated 30 degrees for the patient's comfort if the patient needs to be placed on a bedpan in the supine position while receiving the enema.

A nurse is assisting a patient to empty and change an ostomy appliance. When the procedure is finished, the nurse notes that the stoma is protruding into the bag. What would be the nurse's first action in this situation? a. Reassure the patient that this is a normal finding with a new ostomy. b. Notify the primary care provider that the stoma is prolapsed. c. Have the patient rest for 30 minutes to see if the prolapse resolves. d. Remove the appliance and redo the procedure using a larger appliance

c. If the stoma is protruding into the bag after changing the appliance on an ostomy, the nurse should have the patient rest for 30 minutes. If the stoma is not back to normal size within that time, notify the health care provider. If the stoma stays prolapsed, it may twist, resulting in impaired circulation to the stoma.

A nurse is caring for an alert, ambulatory, older resident in a long-term care facility who voids frequently and has difficulty making it to the bathroom in time. Which nursing intervention would be most helpful for this patient? a. Teach the patient that incontinence is a normal occurrence with aging. b. Ask the patient's family to purchase incontinence pads for the patient. c. Teach the patient to perform PFMT exercises at regular intervals daily. d. Insert an indwelling catheter to prevent skin breakdown.

c. Kegel exercises may help a patient regain control of the micturition process. Incontinence is not a normal consequence of aging. Using absorbent products may remove motivation from the patient and caregiver to seek evaluation and treatment of the incontinence; they should be used only after careful evaluation by a health care provider. An indwelling catheter is the last choice of treatment.

A nurse is ordered to perform continuous irrigation for a patient with a long-term urinary catheter. What rationale would the nurse expect for this order? Irrigation of long-term urinary catheters is a routine order. Irrigation is recommended to prevent the introduction of pathogens into the bladder. A blood clot threatens to block the catheter. It is preferred to irrigate the catheter rather than increase fluid intake by the patient

c. The flushing of a tube, canal, or area with solution is called irrigation. Natural irrigation of the catheter through increased fluid intake by the patient is preferred. It is preferable to avoid catheter irrigation unless necessary to relieve or prevent obstruction (Gould et al., 2009; SUNA, 2015a). However, intermittent irrigation is sometimes prescribed to restore or maintain the patency of the drainage system. Sediment or debris, as well as blood clots, might block the catheter, preventing the flow of urine out of the catheter.

A patient has a fecal impaction. Which nursing action is correctly performed when administering an oil-retention enema for this patient? a. The nurse administers a large volume of solution (500 to 1,000 mL) b. The nurse mixes milk and molasses in equal parts for an enema c. The nurse instructs the patient to retain the enema for at least 30 minutes d. The nurse administers the enema while the patient is sitting on the toilet

c. The patient should be instructed to retain the enema solution for at least 30 minutes or as indicated in the manufacturer's instructions. The usual amount of solution administered with a retention enema is 150 to 200 mL for an adult. The milk and molasses mixture is a carminative enema that helps to expel flatus. The patient should be instructed to lie on the left side of the bed as dictated by patient condition and comfort

A nurse is performing digital removal of stool on a patient with a fecal impaction. During the procedure the patient tells the nurse she is feeling dizzy and nauseated, and then vomits. What should be the nurse's next action? a. Reassure the patient that this is a normal reaction to the procedure. b. Stop the procedure, prepare to administer CPR, and notify the primary care provider. c. Stop the procedure, assess vital signs, and notify the primary care provider. d. Stop the procedure, wait 5 minutes, and then resume the procedure

c. When a patient reports dizziness or lightheadedness and has nausea and vomiting during digital stool removal, the nurse should stop the procedure, assess heart rate and blood pressure, and notify the health care provider. The vagus nerve may have been stimulated.

A nurse caring for patients in a long-term care facility is often required to collect urine specimens from patients for laboratory testing. Which techniques for urine collection are performed correctly? Select all that apply. a. The nurse catheterizes a patient to collect a sterile urine sample for routine urinalysis. b. The nurse collects a clean-catch urine specimen in the morning from a patient and stores it at room temperature until an afternoon pick-up. c. The nurse collects a sterile urine specimen from the collection receptacle of a patient's indwelling catheter. d. The nurse collects about 3 mL of urine from a patient's indwelling catheter to send for a urine culture. e. The nurse collects a urine specimen from a patient with a urinary diversion by catheterizing the stoma. f. The nurse discards the first urine of the day when performing a 24-hour urine specimen collection on a patient.

d, e, f. A urine culture requires about 3 mL of urine, whereas routine urinalysis requires at least 10 mL of urine. The preferred method of collecting a urine specimen from a urinary diversion is to catheterize the stoma. For a 24-hour urine specimen, the nurse should discard the first voiding, then collect all urine voided for the next 24 hours. A sterile urine specimen is not required for a routine urinalysis. Urine chemistry is altered after urine stands at room temperature for a long period of time. A specimen from the collecting receptacle (drainage bag) may not be fresh urine and could result in an inaccurate analysis.

A nurse prepares to assist a patient with a newly created ileostomy. Which recommended patient teaching points would the nurse stress? Select all that apply. a. "When you inspect the stoma, it should be dark purple-blue." b. "The size of the stoma will stabilize within 2 weeks." c. "Keep the skin around the stoma site clean and moist." d. "The stool from an ileostomy is normally liquid." e. "You should eat dark-green vegetables to control the odor of the stool." f. "You may have a tendency to develop food blockages."

d, e, f. Ileostomies normally have liquid, foul-smelling stool. The nurse should encourage the intake of dark-green vegetables because they contain chlorophyll, which helps to deodorize the feces. Patients with ileostomies need to be aware they may experience a tendency to develop food blockages, especially when high-fiber foods are consumed. The stoma should be dark pink to red and moist. Stoma size usually stabilizes within 4 to 6 weeks, and the skin around the stoma site (peristomal area) should be kept clean and dry

A nurse is scheduling tests for a patient who has been experiencing epigastric pain. The health care provider ordered the following tests: (a) barium enema, (b) fecal occult blood test, (c) endoscopic studies, and (d) upper gastrointestinal series. Which is the correct order in which the tests would normally be performed? a. c, b, d, a b. d, c, a, b c. a, b, d, c d. b, a, d, c

d. A fecal occult blood test should be done first to detect gastrointestinal bleeding. Barium studies should be performed next to visualize gastrointestinal structures and reveal any inflammation, ulcers, tumors, strictures, or other lesions. A barium enema and routine radiography should precede an upper gastrointestinal series because retained barium from an upper gastrointestinal series could take several days to pass through the gastrointestinal tract and cloud anatomic detail on the barium enema studies. Noninvasive procedures usually take precedence over invasive procedures, such as endoscopic studies, when sufficient diagnostic data can be obtained from them

A nurse is changing the stoma appliance on a patient's ileal conduit. Which characteristic of the stoma would alert the nurse that the patient is experiencing ischemia? a. The stoma is hard and dry. b. The stoma is a pale pink color. c. The stoma is swollen. d. The stoma is a purple-blue color

d. A purple-blue stoma may reflect compromised circulation or ischemia. A pale stoma may indicate anemia. The stoma may be swollen at first, but that condition should subside with time. A normal stoma should be moist and dark pink to red in color

A nurse is planning a bowel-training program for a patient with frequent constipation. What is a recommended intervention? a. Using a diet that is low in bulk b. Decreasing fluid intake to 1,000 mL c. Administering an enema once a day to stimulate peristalsis d. Monitoring bowel movements

d. For a bowel-training program to be effective, the nurse should monitor bowel movements including frequency, consistency, shape, volume and color, as appropriate, monitor bowel sounds, teach patient about specific foods that are assistive in promoting bowel regularity, ensure privacy, and encourage adequate fluid intake.

Data must be collected to evaluate the effectiveness of a plan to reduce urinary incontinence in an older adult. Which information is least important for the evaluation process? a. The incontinence pattern b. State of physical mobility c. Medications being taken d. Age of the patient

d. Incontinence is not a natural consequence of the aging process. All the other factors are necessary information for the care plan.