Question 1

The nurse is aware that a patient who is to have a colonoscopy is requested to stop taking drugs that contain iron for ______ days prior to the test.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is aware that a patient...

Question 2

The nurse is aware that the medical record of a patient going for a cardiac catheterization should have: (Select all that apply.)
A) a signed consent form.
B) a complete history and physical examination.
C) evidence of the initiation of NPO status at least 2 hours prior.
D) evidence of patient education done before the consent form is signed.
E) report of kidney function tests.
F) administration of ordered preoperative medications.

Accepted Answer

Patient education must be done before a signed consent form is initiated. A complete history and physical examination is done and NPO status is initiated at least 6 hours prior to the procedure. The patient is also given ordered preoperative medications.

Question 3

A patient is having an MRI for a knee injury. During the test, he complains of burning in his upper thigh and swelling. Which of the following is the most probable cause of this complaint?
A) Fluid is trapped in the leg due to the dependent positioning.
B) Discomfort most likely related to injury in the knee.
C) Trace metals in ink from a tattoo on the thigh.
D) Discomfort indicates an emergency and requires discontinuation of the MRI.

Accepted Answer

Patients with tattoos occasionally report burning or swelling of the tattooed area as some inks contain traces of metal. The patient must inform the MRI technician of any tattoos, and if they experience any burning feeling during the procedure.

Question 4

A patient in the outpatient clinic has provided a urine sample. To perform a urine dipstick test accurately, the nurse wets the dipstick and starts timing:
A) immediately.
B) after 5 seconds.
C) after 10 seconds.
D) after 30 seconds.

Accepted Answer

The stick is inserted into the urine specimen and removed quickly, and timing is started immediately. It is tapped gently on the side of the container to remove excess urine.

Question 5

A major concern for an 86-year-old patient who has been NPO for 8 hours prior to a diagnostic test would be:
A) fatigue.
B) circulatory status.
C) hydration status.
D) nutritional status.

Accepted Answer

An older adult who is kept on an NPO status for prolonged periods of time are susceptible to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Question 6

The nurse is to collect a sample of blood for a laboratory test. Arrange the sequence of a phlebotomy. (Separate letters by a comma and space as follows: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.)
A) Place vacutainer tube inside holder.
B) Press tube stopper onto needle.
C) Puncture site.
D) Apply tourniquet and cleanse site.
E) Label tube.
F) Fill tube completely.
G) Loosen tourniquet and apply pressure to site.
H) Perform hand hygiene and apply gloves.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is to collect a sample...

Question 7

The nurse informs the patient who is to have an electroencephalogram (EEG) that the technician will try to stimulate seizure activity by asking the patient to: (Select all that apply.)
A) close his eyes.
B) hyperventilate.
C) breathe in a rapid shallow fashion.
D) hold a flashing light over his face.
E) submerge his hands in cold water.

Accepted Answer

During an EEG, abnormal brain activity can be stimulated by the patient being requested to hyperventilate, breathe rapidly with shallow breaths, and respond to a flashing light over his face.

Question 8

The primary care provider has ordered the collection of a 24-hour urine specimen. The nurse's instructions to the patient for proper collection of the urine specimen include: (Select all that apply.)
A) keep the container refrigerated as needed.
B) empty the bladder into the toilet and begin timing the collection.
C) void a small amount of urine after external genitalia are cleansed.
D) keep the container on ice if instructed to do so.
E) save only the first voiding in the morning.

Accepted Answer

When a 24-hour urine specimen is collected, the patient should be instructed to empty the bladder into the toilet and begin timing the collection of the specimen; to add all urine to the collection container for the next 24 hours; to keep the container on ice or refrigerated; and when the 24 hours are up, to empty the bladder and add the urine to the collection container and then seal it and send it to the laboratory.

Question 9

The statement made by a patient that would delay a scheduled CT scan would be:
A) "I have terrible claustrophobia."
B) "I have just been started on metformin."
C) "I am allergic to penicillin."
D) "I have an implanted pacemaker."

Accepted Answer

Metformin should be discontinued before the test with an iodine-based contrast medium because metformin significantly alters renal function.

Question 10

The nurse instructing a patient who is to have a Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) in 2 days would tell the patient to avoid:
A) sexual intercourse.
B) douching.
C) eating shellfish.
D) taking a bubble bath.

Accepted Answer

The patient who is to have a Pap smear should avoid douching or using any vaginal medication that might interfere with the collection of the cells of the cervix.

Question 11

The patient who has just returned to the unit after an angiography test should be assessed immediately for:
A) swelling of tongue.
B) pulmonary congestion.
C) bleeding at insertion site.
D) hypotension.

Accepted Answer

The insertion site is monitored for bleeding or formation of a hematoma.

Question 12

The nurse obtaining a wound culture would:
A) use clean gloves.
B) rotate the swab vigorously in the wound bed.
C) rinse the exudate on the swab with normal saline.
D) place the swab in the culture tube without touching the sides.

Accepted Answer

The nurse should use sterile gloves, rotate the swab gently in the wound bed, and place it directly into the culture tube without touching the sides of the tube.

Question 13

The nurse evaluates a prothrombin time (PT/INR) for a patient who is taking heparin. The nurse's initial action should be to:
A) document the findings in the medical record.
B) notify the laboratory that they have made an error.
C) check the primary care provider's order.
D) notify the primary care provider of the laboratory finding.

Accepted Answer

Check the primary care provider's orders to determine what test was ordered. If the PT/INR was ordered, confer with the charge nurse or primary care provider as to the intent. The PT/INR measures the effectiveness of the drug warfarin (Coumadin), not heparin. A partial thromboplastin is the test used to evaluate the effectiveness of heparin.

Question 14

The nurse is aware that patients who are not candidates for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) include patients with: (Select all that apply.)
A) a hip prosthesis.
B) bleeding tendencies.
C) allergy to iodine.
D) cardiac pacemakers.
E) previous radiological treatment.

Accepted Answer

Patients with prosthetic hips and knees, implanted pacemakers, or metal clips or staples are not candidates for an MRI because of the magnetic field the test creates.

Quiz 24: Diagnostic Tests and Specimen Collection

The nurse is aware that a patient who is to have a colonoscopy is requested to stop taking drugs that contain iron for ______ days prior to the test.

The nurse is aware that the medical record of a patient going for a cardiac catheterization should have: (Select all that apply.)

A patient is having an MRI for a knee injury. During the test, he complains of burning in his upper thigh and swelling. Which of the following is the most probable cause of this complaint?

A patient in the outpatient clinic has provided a urine sample. To perform a urine dipstick test accurately, the nurse wets the dipstick and starts timing:

A major concern for an 86-year-old patient who has been NPO for 8 hours prior to a diagnostic test would be:

The nurse informs the patient who is to have an electroencephalogram (EEG) that the technician will try to stimulate seizure activity by asking the patient to: (Select all that apply.)

The primary care provider has ordered the collection of a 24-hour urine specimen. The nurse's instructions to the patient for proper collection of the urine specimen include: (Select all that apply.)

The statement made by a patient that would delay a scheduled CT scan would be:

The nurse instructing a patient who is to have a Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) in 2 days would tell the patient to avoid:

The patient who has just returned to the unit after an angiography test should be assessed immediately for:

The nurse obtaining a wound culture would:

The nurse evaluates a prothrombin time (PT/INR) for a patient who is taking heparin. The nurse's initial action should be to:

The nurse is aware that patients who are not candidates for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) include patients with: (Select all that apply.)