Question 1

A patient with advanced cirrhosis is undergoing testing of complement C3 and complement C4 levels.Based on the patient's condition, which of the following results should the nurse expect?

Accepted Answer

The liver is responsible for producing complement proteins, including C3 and C4. In advanced cirrhosis, the liver function is impaired, resulting in decreased synthesis and secretion of complement proteins. Therefore, the nurse should expect decreased C3 and decreased C4 levels in this patient.

Question 2

The nurse is talking to a neighbor who reports sharp, burning abdominal pain between meals.The neighbor tells the nurse she is scheduled for an endoscopy the next week.Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should suggest asking the doctor about a urea breath test because this can confirm the presence of H. pylori, a common bacterial infection that can cause ulcer-like symptoms. Asking about family history or pain management does not address the possibility of an H. pylori infection. Asking about urination patterns is irrelevant to the complaint of abdominal pain.

Question 3

When teaching health promotion to a college-level class, a nurse should emphasize that women with no family history of breast cancer should have a mammogram annually or biannually starting:

Accepted Answer

The American Cancer Society recommends that all women start having mammograms annually or biannually between the ages of 40 to 50 years. It is important to note that women with a family history of breast cancer may need to start mammograms earlier and more frequently, based on individual risk factors.

Question 4

During a computed tomography angiography (CTA)scan, a patient complains of nausea.Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Instructing the patient to take slow, deep breaths can help alleviate nausea, which is a common side effect of contrast agents used during CTA scans. Administering an antianxiety agent or establishing an IV line may not address the specific symptom of nausea, and terminating the procedure may not be necessary if the patient's condition can be managed effectively.

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)of the chest in 1 hour.Which of the following interventions should take the highest priority?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring the patient has a functioning intravenous site is the highest priority before a MRI, as many MRIs require the administration of contrast material through an IV. It is important to ensure the IV is functioning properly to avoid delays or complications during the procedure. The other interventions listed are also important, but not the highest priority.

Question 6

A patient is suspected of having bacterial pneumonia.Which test would be most appropriate for helping diagnose this condition?

Accepted Answer

The most appropriate test for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia is a sputum culture, which can identify the specific bacteria causing the infection. Anal/genital cultures are used for diagnosing sexually transmitted infections, culture and smear tests are used for diagnosing tuberculosis, and blood cultures are not as reliable for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia as sputum cultures.

Question 7

A patient's laboratory test results indicate an increased level of serum cryoglobulin.Which of the following conditions is associated with this finding?

Accepted Answer

Serum cryoglobulin is typically associated with certain autoimmune or infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Sjogren's syndrome, as well as certain malignancies such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma. However, it can also be seen in some cases of Raynaud's phenomenon, a condition where there is abnormal narrowing of blood vessels in the fingers and toes, causing color changes and pain.

Question 8

A mother has brought her newborn into the emergency room with fears that the child may have been harmed by inhaling smoke from a campfire.The patient's laboratory test results indicate carbon monoxide saturation of hemoglobin of 12%.For a newborn, this finding may be best characterized as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A mother has brought her newborn into...

Question 9

A nurse is positioning a patient for a chest x-ray.How should the patient be positioned?

Accepted Answer

Standing is the most common position for a chest x-ray as it allows for the best view of the lungs and heart.

Question 10

A patient who was just rescued from a burning building is being treated for smoke inhalation.Which of the following tests would be most appropriate for determining the amount of toxin that is in the patient's blood as a result of this inhalation?

Accepted Answer

Carboxyhemoglobin level can be used to determine the amount of carbon monoxide in the patient's blood, which is a common toxin that can result from smoke inhalation.

Question 11

A nurse is preparing a patient for a scheduled capsule endoscopy.Which instructions should the nurse include?

Accepted Answer

Keeping the recording device attached for the entire time is important for accurate examination and diagnosis during capsule endoscopy.

Answer: A 
 Taking laxatives or bowel prep prior to the procedure can interfere with the examination and affect the accuracy of diagnosis.

Answer: C 
 Maintaining NPO status for 24 hours after ingesting the transmitter capsule is necessary to avoid interference during the examination.

Answer: D 
 It is not necessary to save stool when the capsule is excreted as the transmitter capsule is disposable and does not need to be returned to the provider.

Question 12

A nurse is preparing a patient for computed tomography (CT)of the pelvis with an IV ionic contrast medium.As the nurse questions the patient one final time regarding any contraindications, the patient mentions that she is a single kidney transplant recipient.The nurse immediately notifies the health-care provider that they need to cancel the procedure.What is the proper rationale behind the nurse's action?

Accepted Answer

Kidney transplant recipients are at greater risk for developing nephrotoxicity from the contrast media used in imaging procedures. This can lead to acute kidney injury or even failure, particularly in patients with only one functioning kidney. Therefore, the procedure needs to be cancelled to prevent harm to the patient.

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient scheduled for vertebroplasty.Which of the following statements by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

Asking about allergies to dye or other iodine products is important as these products are used during the vertebroplasty procedure. It is important to identify any potential allergic reactions or adverse reactions beforehand. A and D are not relevant to the procedure, and C may not provide any useful information for the patient or the procedure.

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a 44-year-old moderately obese woman admitted with sharp, stabbing abdominal pain that came on suddenly.Lab results indicate an amylase of 413 u/mL.Which of the following diagnostic procedures would the nurse anticipate?

Accepted Answer

A high amylase level indicates possible pancreatitis, which would be evaluated with ERCP to visualize the pancreas and bile ducts. Hysteroscopy and CT chest scan are not relevant to this presentation, and a liver-spleen scan would not be specific for pancreatitis.

Question 15

A patient's laboratory test results reveal an increase in ionized calcium.The nurse should most suspect increased activity in which of the following organs?

Accepted Answer

The parathyroid gland is responsible for regulating calcium levels in the body, so an increase in ionized calcium would indicate increased activity in the parathyroid gland. The thyroid gland is involved in regulating metabolism, the pancreas is involved in regulating blood sugar, and the liver has many functions, but none of these organs directly control calcium levels.

Question 16

A patient is preparing to undergo calcitonin and calcitonin stimulation tests.These tests are used primarily to diagnose and monitor the effectiveness of treatment for which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Calcitonin and calcitonin stimulation tests are used primarily to diagnose and monitor the effectiveness of treatment for medullary thyroid cancer, a type of thyroid cancer that arises from the parafollicular cells (C cells) that produce calcitonin. These tests are not used for leukemia, prostate cancer, or breast cancer.

Question 17

The nurse is caring for a 4-year-old who recently returned from a bronchoscopy to remove a swallowed nickel.Which of the following observations would require an immediate intervention?

Accepted Answer

Coughing up blood-tinged sputum could indicate bleeding, and immediate intervention is required. The other observations are potentially abnormal but do not require immediate intervention.

Question 18

Which of the following would be considered negligence in the care of a patient who had a cardiac catheterization?

Accepted Answer

Negligence refers to the failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in a similar situation. In this case, not conducting any further assessment after cardiac catheterization, specifically related to the patient's pedal pulses, could be seen as negligence as it could lead to undetected complications such as arterial occlusion or bleeding.

Answer: C
 Failing to report any changes in the sanguineous drainage from the site of a cardiac catheterization may be considered negligence. Monitoring the amount and appearance of drainage is crucial to the early detection of bleeding or hematoma formation, which are potential complications.

Answer: B and D
 Option B and D would not be considered negligence as they are appropriate interventions after cardiac catheterization. The patient needs to be adequately hydrated, and the site should be immobilized to prevent bleeding or hematoma formation.

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a patient after a transurethral prostatectomy that has orders for post-void residual via bladder scan *2.The patient asks, "Is this going to hurt?" Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

This response is the most informative and reassuring. It explains what the bladder scan does and that it does not involve any pain or discomfort. It also addresses the patient's underlying concern about potential pain.

Question 20

The nurse caring for a patient who is being sent home with a Holter monitor recognizes the need for further teaching by which of the following patient statements?

Accepted Answer

The patient statement "I will wear this during the day and take it off at night" indicates a misunderstanding of the instructions for using a Holter monitor, as it should be worn continuously for a period of time (usually 24-48 hours).

Quiz 3: Reviewers