Medical Tests CEN Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

Medical Tests CEN Online Questions & Answers

• Question 171:

  You have delegated care of a patient in restraints to a nursing assistant. How often should the nursing assistant assess skin integrity for this patient?

  A. Every 30 minutes
  B. Every 2 hours
  C. Every 3 hours
  D. Every 4 hours
  A. Every 30 minutes

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  The nursing assistant should assess the patient's skin integrity every 30 minutes for as long as the patient is in restraints. In order to delegate this task to the nursing assistant the nurse must insure that the nursing assistant is clear on what care the patient requires.

• Question 172:

  You are caring for a patient with frostbite on the hand. What assessment finding do you expect to find on the hand?

  A. Edema in the nailbeds with fiery red skin
  B. The hand is pink and edematous.
  C. Erythematous rash and black fingertips
  D. Decreased sensitivity to touch with white color to the skin
  D. Decreased sensitivity to touch with white color to the skin

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  The hand would have decreased or nonexistent sensitivity to touch with a white or blue color to the skin. The skin may also be hard and cold. Tissue edema, blisters and flushing of the skin may occur as the hand begins to thaw.

• Question 173:

  You are caring for a patient who is being prepared for surgery. The patient has a history of alcohol abuse. Which of the following would the patient be at risk for because of the alcohol abuse?

  A. Impaired liver metabolism
  B. Hyperviaminosis
  C. Central nervous system stimulation
  D. Hypermagnesemia
  A. Impaired liver metabolism

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  A patient with a history of alcohol abuse would be at risk for impaired liver function. This is a concern for the patient going to surgery because of the medications the patient will be administered in surgery. These medications could have increased effectiveness if they are not metabolized properly in the liver, as the patient may not be able to filter them out.

• Question 174:

  Which of the following orders would the physician prescribe for the patient with retinal detachment?

  A. Bathroom privileges
  B. Head of bed up 45 degrees
  C. Eye patch to affected eye
  D. Dark glasses to read or watch television
  C. Eye patch to affected eye

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  The physician would order an eye patch to the affected eye. This decreases movement of the eye and prevents further damage to the eye. The physician may limit activity until the eye can be repaired.

• Question 175:

  Which IV fluids would you need to hang with a transfusion?

  A. Lactated ringers
  B. Dextrose 5% and normal saline 0.9%
  C. Dextrose 5% and normal saline 0.45%
  D. Normal saline 0.9%
  D. Normal saline 0.9%

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  The nurse should hang normal saline 0.9% with a transfusion. All other options are contraindicated due to clotting and hemolysis. Normal saline is the only option that can be hung with a transfusion.

• Question 176:

  Your patient has come into the emergency department with a self-inflicted wrist laceration that has severe bleeding. You have begun to apply pressure to the wound. What would your immediate priority be?

  A. See to the patient's need for psychiatric evaluation.
  B. Lower the patient's body temperature to decrease circulation.
  C. Place the extremity below the level of the heart.
  D. Monitor the patient for signs of shock.
  D. Monitor the patient for signs of shock.

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  The nurse would need to monitor this patient for hypovalemic shock. Symptoms of shock would include tachycardia, cool, clammy skin and a change in level of consciousness. Hypovolemia leads to vasoconstriction and shunting of blood to central circulation. The patient will need to have a psychiatric evaluation, but it is not priority.

• Question 177:

  You are caring for a patient who is being admitted to the psychiatric unit. Which of the following would present the most concern to the nurse?

  A. Presence of bruises on the patients body
  B. Reports by the patient that they can't eat or sleep
  C. Reports by the patient of suicidal thoughts
  D. Significant other's disapproval of treatment
  C. Reports by the patient of suicidal thoughts

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  The nurse would be most concerned if the patient reports suicidal thoughts. When the patient reports suicidal thoughts, the physician should be notified. The nurse should plan to have the patient under complete supervision until further notice, for the protection of the patient.

• Question 178:

  You are working in the Emergency department when you receive a call from a mother who says her three- year-old has ingested furniture polish. What should you tell the mother to do first?

  A. Induce vomiting.
  B. Bring the child to the emergency department.
  C. Call an ambulance.
  D. Call the poison control center.
  D. Call the poison control center.

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  The mother needs to call the poison control center first. The poison control center will advise the mother what to do from there. Do not induce vomiting unless poison control says to do so. Poison control may advise that the mother bring the child to the emergency department; if so then the mother should call the ambulance.

• Question 179:

  You are caring for a postpartum mother who is in hypovalemic shock from hemorrhage. What would you expect to be the priority for this patient?

  A. Oxygen at 3 to 4 liters
  B. Oxytocic drug via IV
  C. Heart rate every 5 minutes
  D. Increase IV fluid rate
  D. Increase IV fluid rate

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  A patient in hypovalemic shock would benefit most from increasing IV fluids. Increasing the IV fluids helps to replace the fluids lost by the patient during the hemorrhage. Blood products may also be necessary but may take a while to obtain. Oxygen and oxytocic drugs will also be required but are not the priority for this patient.

• Question 180:

  You are delegating to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to wound care on a patient. The LPN has never performed this type of wound care before. What component of delegation have you neglected?

  A. Authority
  B. Competency
  C. Communication
  D. Responsibility
  B. Competency

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  You neglected to ensure that the LPN was competent to perform this skill. Therefore the RN must complete the care herself or find someone else who is competent to do so.