Practice NCLEX EXAM free

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By nclexnursing

The 30 questions practice nclex exam free for your nursing board exam.

1. The patient presents to the clinic with a serum cholesterol of 275 mg/dL and is placed on rosuvastatin (Crestor). Which instruction should be given to the client?

  1. Report muscle weakness to the physician.
  2. Allow six months for the drug to take effect.
  3. Take the medication with fruit juice.
  4. Ask the doctor to perform a complete blood count before starting the medication.

2. The patient is admitted to the hospital with hypertensive crises. Diazoxide (Hyperstat) is ordered. During administration, the nurse should:

  1. Utilize an infusion pump
  2. Check the blood glucose level
  3. Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
  4. Cover the solution with foil

3. The 6-month-old patient with a ventral septal defect is receiving Digitalis for regulation of his heart rate. Which finding should be reported to the doctor?

  1. Blood pressure of 126/80
  2. Blood glucose of 110 mg/dL
  3. Heart rate of 60bpm
  4. Respiratory rate of 30 per minute

4. The patient admitted with angina is given a prescription for nitroglycerine. The patient should be instructed to:

  1. Replenish his supply every 3 months
  2. Take one every 15 minutes if pain occurs
  3. Leave the medication in the brown bottle
  4. Crush the medication and take with water

5. The patient is instructed regarding foods that are low in fat and cholesterol. Which diet selection is lowest in saturated fats?

  1. Macaroni and cheese
  2. Shrimp with rice
  3. Turkey breast
  4. Spaghetti

6. The patient is admitted with left-sided congestive heart failure. In assessing the patient for edema, the nurse should check the:

  1. Feet
  2. Neck
  3. Hands
  4. Sacrum

7. The nurse is checking the patient central venous pressure. The nurse should place the zero of the manometer at the:

  1. Phlebostatic axis
  2. PMI
  3. Erb’s point
  4. Tail of Spence

8. The physician orders lisinopril (Zestril) and furosemide (Lasix) to be administered concomitantly to the patient with hypertension. The nurse should:

  1. Question the order
  2. Administer the medications
  3. Administer separately
  4. Contact the pharmacy

9. The best method of evaluating the amount of peripheral edema is:

  1. Weighing the patient daily
  2. Measuring the extremity
  3. Measuring the intake and output
  4. Checking for pitting

10. A patient with vaginal cancer is being treated with a radioactive vaginal implant. The patient  husband asks the nurse if he can spend the night with his wife. The nurse should explain that:

  1. Overnight stays by family members is against hospital policy.
  2. There is no need for him to stay because staffing is adequate.
  3. His wife will rest much better knowing that he is at home.
  4. Visitation is limited to 30 minutes when the implant is in place.

11. The nurse is caring for a patient hospitalized with a facial stroke. Which diet selection would be suited to the client?

  1. Roast beef sandwich, potato chips, pickle spear, iced tea
  2. Split pea soup, mashed potatoes, pudding, milk
  3. Tomato soup, cheese toast, Jello, coffee
  4. Hamburger, baked beans, fruit cup, iced tea

12. The physician has prescribed Novolog insulin for a patient with diabetes mellitus. Which statement indicates that the patient knows when the peak action of the insulin occurs?

  1. “I will make sure I eat breakfast within 10 minutes of taking my insulin.”
  2.  “I will need to carry candy or some form of sugar with me all the time.”
  3. “I will eat a snack around three o’clock each afternoon.”
  4. “I can save my dessert from supper for a bedtime snack.”

13. The nurse is teaching basic infant care to a group of first-time parents. The nurse should explain that a sponge bath is recommended for the first 2 weeks of life because:

  1. New parents need time to learn how to hold the baby.
  2. The umbilical cord needs time to separate.
  3. Newborn skin is easily traumatized by washing.
  4. The chance of chilling the baby outweighs the benefits of bathing.

14. A patient with leukemia is receiving Trimetrexate. After reviewing the client’s chart, the physician orders Wellcovorin (leucovorin calcium). The rationale for administering leucovorin calcium to a patient receiving Trimetrexate is to:

  1. Treat iron-deficiency anemia caused by chemotherapeutic agents
  2. Create a synergistic effect that shortens treatment time
  3. Increase the number of circulating neutrophils
  4. Reverse drug toxicity and prevent tissue damage

15. A 4-month-old is brought to the well-baby clinic for immunization. In addition to the DPT and polio vaccines, the baby should receive:

  1. Hib titer
  2. Mumps vaccine
  3. Hepatitis B vaccine
  4. MMR

16. The physician has prescribed Nexium (esomeprazole) for a patient with erosive gastritis. The nurse should administer the medication:

  1. 30 minutes before meals
  2. With each meal
  3. In a single dose at bedtime
  4. 30 minutes after meals

17. A patient in the psychiatric unit is in an uncontrolled rage and is threatening other clients and staff. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?

  1. Call security for assistance and prepare to sedate the client.
  2. Tell the patient to calm down and ask him if he would like to play cards.
  3. Tell the patient that if he continues his behavior he will be punished.
  4.  Leave the patient alone until he calms down.

18. When the nurse checks the fundus of a patient on the first postpartum day, she notes that the fundus is firm, is at the level of the umbilicus, and is displaced to the right. The next action the nurse should take is to:

  1. Check the patient for bladder distention
  2. Assess the blood pressure for hypotension
  3. Determine whether an oxytocic drug was given
  4. Check for the expulsion of small clots

19. A patient is admitted to the hospital with a temperature of 99.8°F, complaints of blood-tinged hemoptysis, fatigue, and night sweats. The client’s symptoms are consistent with a diagnosis of:

  1. Pneumonia
  2. Reaction to antiviral medication
  3. Tuberculosis
  4. Superinfection due to low CD4 count

20. The patient is seen in the clinic for treatment of migraine headaches. The drug Imitrex (sumatriptan succinate) is prescribed for the patient. Which of the following in the patient history should be reported to the doctor?

  1. Diabetes
  2. Prinzmetal’s angina
  3. Cancer
  4. Cluster headaches

21. The patient with suspected meningitis is admitted to the unit. The doctor is performing an assessment to determine meningeal irritation and spinal nerve root inflammation. A positive Kernig’s sign is charted if the nurse notes:

  1. Pain on flexion of the hip and knee
  2. Nuchal rigidity on flexion of the neck
  3. Pain when the head is turned to the left side
  4. Dizziness when changing positions

22. The patient with Alzheimer’s disease is being assisted with activities of daily living when the nurse notes that the patient uses her toothbrush to brush her hair. The nurse is aware that the patient is exhibiting:

  1. Agnosia
  2. Apraxia
  3. Anomia
  4. Aphasia

23. The patient with dementia is experiencing confusion late in the afternoon and before bedtime. The nurse is aware that the patient is experiencing what is known as:

  1. Chronic fatigue syndrome
  2. Normal aging
  3. Sundowning
  4. Delusions

24. The patient with confusion says to the nurse, “I haven’t had anything to eat all day long. When are they going to bring breakfast?” The nurse saw the patient in the day room eating breakfast with other patients 30 minutes before this conversation. Which response would be best for the nurse to make?

  1. “You know you had breakfast 30 minutes ago.”
  2. “I am so sorry that they didn’t get you breakfast. I’ll report it to the charge nurse.”
  3. “I’ll get you some juice and toast. Would you like something else?”
  4. “You will have to wait a while; lunch will be here in a little while.”

25. The doctor has prescribed Exelon (rivastigmine) for the patient with Alzheimer’s disease. Which side effect is most often associated with this drug?

  1. Urinary incontinence
  2. Headaches
  3. Confusion
  4. Nausea

26. A nurse develops a plan of care for a patient following a lumbar puncture. Which interventions should be included in the plan? Select all that apply.

  1. Monitor the patient’s ability to void.
  2. Maintain the patient in a flat position.
  3. Restrict fluid intake for a period of 2 hours.
  4. Monitor the patient’s ability to move the extremities.
  5. Inspect the puncture site for swelling, redness, and drainage.
  6. Maintain the patient on a nothing-by-mouth (NPO) status for 24 hours.

27. A nurse employed in an emergency department is assigned to assist with the triage of patients  arriving to the emergency department for treatment on the evening shift. The nurse would assign the highest priority to which of the following patients?

  1. A patient complaining of muscle aches, a headache, and malaise
  2. A patient who twisted her ankle when she fell while rollerblading
  3. A patient with a minor laceration on the index finger sustained while cutting an eggplant
  4. A patient with chest pain who states that he just ate pizza that was made with a very spicy sauce

28. A nurse enters a patient’s  room and notes that the patient’s  lawyer is present and that the patient is preparing a living will. The living will requires that the patient’s signature be witnessed, and the patient asks the nurse to witness the signature. Which of the following is the appropriate nursing action?

  1. Decline to sign the will.
  2. Sign the will as a witness to the signature only.
  3. Call the hospital lawyer before signing the will.
  4. Sign the will, clearly identifying credentials and employment agency.

29. A nurse has reinforced instructions to the patient with hyperparathyroidism regarding home care measures related to exercise. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further instruction? Select all that apply.

  1. “I enjoy exercising but I need to be careful.”
  2. “I need to pace my activities throughout the day.”
  3. “I need to limit playing football to only the weekends.”
  4. “I should gauge my activity level by my energy level.”
  5. “I should exercise in the evening to encourage a good sleep pattern.”

30. A nurse in a medical unit is caring for a patient with heart failure. The patient suddenly develops extreme dyspnea, tachycardia, and lung crackles, and the nurse suspects pulmonary edema. The nurse immediately notifies the registered nurse and expects which interventions to be prescribed? Select all that apply.

  1. Administering oxygen
  2. Inserting a Foley catheter
  3. Administering furosemide (Lasix)
  4. Administering morphine sulfate intravenously
  5. Transporting the patient to the coronary care unit
  6. Placing the patient in a low Fowler’s side-lying position

Answers and Rationales

  1. Answer 1. The patient t taking antilipidemics should be encouraged to report muscle weakness because this is a sign of rhabdomyolysis. The medication takes effect within 1 month of beginning therapy, so answer 2 is incorrect. The medication should be taken with water because fruit juice, particularly grapefruit, can decrease the effectiveness, making answer 3 incorrect. Liver function studies should be checked before beginning the medication, not after the fact, making answer 4 incorrect.
  1. Answer 2. Hyperstat is given IV push for hypertensive crises, but it often causes hyperglycemia. The glucose level will drop rapidly when stopped. Answer A is incorrect because the hyperstat is given by IV push. The patient should be placed in a dorsal recumbent position, not a Trendelenburg position, as stated in answer C. Answer D is incorrect because the medication does not have to be covered with foil.
  1. Answer 3. A heart rate of 60 in the baby should be reported immediately. The dose should be held if the heart rate is below 100 bpm. The blood glucose, blood pressure, and respirations are within normal limits; thus answers 1,2, and 4 are incorrect.
  1. Answer 3. Nitroglycerine should be kept in a brown bottle (or even a special air- and water-tight, solid or plated silver or gold container) because of its instability and tendency to become less potent when exposed to air, light, or water. The supply should be replenished every 6 months, not 3 months, and one tablet should be taken every 5 minutes until pain subsides, so answers 1 and 2 are incorrect. If the pain does not subside, the patient should report to the emergency room. The medication should be taken sublingually and should not be crushed, as stated in answer 4.
  1. Answer 3. Turkey contains the least amount of fats and cholesterol. Liver, eggs, beef, cream sauces, shrimp, cheese, and chocolate should be avoided by the client; thus, answers 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect. The patient should bake meat rather than frying to avoid adding fat to the meat during cooking.
  1. Answer 2. The jugular veins in the neck should be assessed for distension. The other parts of the body will be edematous in right-sided congestive heart failure, not left-sided; thus, answers 1,3, and 4 are incorrect.
  1. Answer 1. The phlebostatic axis is located at the fifth intercostal space midaxillary line and is the correct placement of the manometer. The PMI or point of maximal impulse is located at the fifth intercostal space midclavicular line, so answer 2 is incorrect. Erb’s point is the point at which you can hear the valves close simultaneously, making answer 3 incorrect. The Tail of Spence (the upper outer quadrant) is the area where most breast cancers are located and has nothing to do with placement of a manometer; thus, answer 4 is incorrect.
  1. Answer 2. Zestril is an ACE inhibitor and is frequently given with a diuretic such as Lasix for hypertension. Answers 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect because the order is accurate. There is no need to question the order, administer the medication separately, or contact the pharmacy.
  1. Answer 2. The best indicator of peripheral edema is measuring the extremity. A paper tape measure should be used rather than one of plastic or cloth, and the area should be marked with a pen, providing the most objective assessment. Answer 1 is incorrect because weighing the patient will not indicate peripheral edema. Answer 3 is incorrect because checking the intake and output will not indicate peripheral edema. Answer 4 is incorrect because checking for pitting edema is less reliable than measuring with a paper tape measure.
  1. Answer 4. Clients with radium implants should have close contact limited to 30 minutes per visit. The general rule is limiting time spent exposed to radium, putting distance between people and the radium source, and using lead to shield against the radium. Teaching family members these principles is extremely important. Answers 1,2, and 3, are not empathetic and do not address the question; therefore, they are incorrect.
  1. Answer 2. The patient with a facial stroke will have difficulty swallowing and chewing, and the foods in answer B provide the least amount of chewing. The foods in answers 1, 3, and 4 would require more chewing and, thus, are incorrect.
  1. Answer 1 . Novolog insulin onsets very quickly, so food should be available within 10–15 minutes of taking the insulin. Answer B does not address a particular type of insulin, so it is incorrect. NPH insulin peaks in 8–12 hours, so a snack should be eaten at the expected peak time. It may not be 3 p.m. as stated in answer 3. Answer 4 is incorrect because there is no need to save the dessert until bedtime.
  1. Answer 2. The umbilical cord needs time to dry and fall off before putting the infant in the tub. Although answers 1, 3, and 4 might be important, they are not the primary answer to the question.
  1. Answer 4. Leucovorin is the antidote for Methotrexate and Trimetrexate which are folic acid antagonists. Leucovorin is a folic acid derivative. Answers 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect because Leucovorin does not treat iron deficiency, increase neutrophils, or have a synergistic effect.
  1. Answer 1. The Hemophilus influenza vaccine is given at 4 months with the polio vaccine. Answers 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect because these vaccines are given later in life.
  1. Answer 2. Proton pump inhibitors such as Nexium and Protonix should be taken with meals, for optimal effect. Histamine-blocking agents such as Zantac should be taken 30 minutes before meals, so answer 1 is incorrect. Tagamet can be taken in a single dose at bedtime, making answer 3 incorrect. Answer 4 does not treat the problem adequately and, therefore, is incorrect.
  1. Answer 1. If the patient is a threat to the staff and to other clients the nurse should call for help and prepare to administer a medication such as Haldol to sedate him. Answer 2 is incorrect because simply telling the patient to calm down will not work. Answer 3 is incorrect because telling the patient that if he continues he will be punished is a threat and may further anger him. Answer 4 is incorrect because if the patient is left alone he might harm himself.
  1. Answer 1. If the fundus of the patient is displaced to the side, this might indicate a full bladder. The next action by the nurse should be to check for bladder distention and catheterize, if necessary. The answers in 2, 3, and 4 are actions that relate to postpartum hemorrhage.
  1. Answer 3. A low-grade temperature, blood-tinged sputum, fatigue, and night sweats are symptoms consistent with tuberculosis. If the answer in A had said pneumocystis pneumonia, answer 1 would have been consistent with the symptoms given in the stem, but just saying pneumonia isn’t specific enough to diagnose the problem. Answers 2 and 4 are not directly related to the stem.
  1. Answer 2 . If the patient has a history of Prinzmetal’s angina, he should not be prescribed triptan preparations because they cause vasoconstriction and coronary spasms. There is no contraindication for taking triptan drugs in patients with diabetes, cancer, or cluster headaches making answers 1, 3, and 4 incorrect.
  1. Answer 1. Kernig’s sign is positive if pain occurs on flexion of the hip and knee. The Brudzinski reflex is positive if pain occurs on flexion of the head and neck onto the chest so answer B is incorrect. Answers C and D might be present but are not related to Kernig’s sign.
  1. Answer 2. Apraxia is the inability to use objects appropriately. Agnosia is loss of sensory comprehension, anomia is the inability to find words, and aphasia is the inability to speak or understand so answers 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect.
  1. Answer 3. Increased confusion at night is known as “sundowning” syndrome. This increased confusion occurs when the sun begins to set and continues during the night. Answer 1 is incorrect because fatigue is not necessarily present. Increased confusion at night is not part of normal aging; therefore, answer 2 is incorrect. A delusion is a firm, fixed belief; therefore, answer 4 is incorrect.
  1. Answer 3. The patient who is confused might forget that he ate earlier. Don’t argue with the client. Simply get him something to eat that will satisfy him until lunch. Answers 1 and 4 are incorrect because the nurse is dismissing the client. Answer B is validating the delusion.
  1. Answer 4. Nausea and gastrointestinal upset are very common in patients taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as Exelon. Other side effects include liver toxicity, dizziness, unsteadiness, and clumsiness. The patient might already be experiencing urinary incontinence or headaches, but they are not necessarily associated; and the patient with Alzheimer’s disease is already confused. Therefore, answers 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect.
  1. Answers 1, 2, 4, and 5. Following a lumbar puncture, the patient remains flat in bed for 6 to 24 hours, depending on the health care provider’s prescriptions. A liberal fluid intake (not NPO status) is encouraged to replace cerebrospinal fluid removed during the procedure, unless contraindicated by the patients condition. The nurse checks the puncture site for redness and drainage, and monitors the client’s ability to void and move the extremities.
  1. Answers 4. In an emergency department, triage involves classifying patients according to their need for care, and it includes establishing priorities of care. The type of illness, the severity of the problem, and the resources available govern the process. Patients  with trauma, chest pain, severe respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, limb amputation, or acute neurological deficits and those who sustained a chemical splash to the eyes are classified as emergent, and these clients are the number 1 priority. Patients with conditions such as simple fractures, asthma without respiratory distress, fever, hypertension, abdominal pain, or renal stones have urgent needs, and these patients are classified as the number 2 priority. Clients with conditions such as minor lacerations, sprains, or cold symptoms are classified as non urgent, and they are the number 3 priority.
  1. Answers 1. Living wills are required to be in writing and signed by the patient. The client’s signature either must be witnessed by specified individuals or notarized. Many states prohibit any employee from being a witness, including a nurse in a facility in which the patient is receiving care.
  1. Answers 3 and 5. The patient should be instructed to avoid high-impact activity or contact sports such as football. Exercising late in the evening may interfere with restful sleep. The patient with hyperparathyroidism should pace activities throughout the day and plan for periods of uninterrupted rest. The patient should plan for at least 30 minutes of walking each day to support calcium movement into the bones. The patient should be instructed to use energy level as a guide to activity.
  1. Answers 1, 2, 3, and 4. Pulmonary edema is a life-threatening event that can result from severe heart failure. In pulmonary edema the left ventricle fails to eject sufficient blood, and pressure increases in the lungs because of the accumulated blood. Oxygen is always prescribed, and the patient is placed in a high Fowler’s position to ease the work of breathing. Furosemide, a rapid-acting diuretic, will eliminate accumulated fluid. A Foley catheter is inserted to accurately measure output. Intravenously administered morphine sulfate reduces venous return (preload), decreases anxiety, and reduces the work of breathing. Transporting the patient to the coronary care unit is not a priority intervention. In fact, this may not be necessary at all if the patient’s response to treatment is successful.