Medical Tests CEN Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

Medical Tests CEN Online Questions & Answers

• Question 21:

  Which of the following would you expect to see with second- and third-degree burns in the emergent phase?

  A. Decreased heart rate
  B. Increased blood pressure
  C. Elevated hematocrit levels
  D. Increased urinary output
  C. Elevated hematocrit levels

  ---

  One would expect to find elevated hamatocrit levels in a patient in the emergent phase of second- or third- degree burns. 48 to 72 hours after injury, the emergent phase ends with the restoration of capillary permeability. Hemoconcentration from large fluid shifts leads to increased hematocrit.

• Question 22:

  Your patient has been admitted to the hospital with acute blindness. After many tests are run the physician can find no organic reason for the patient's blindness. You learn that the patient became blind after witnessing a serious car accident where several people were killed. What do you suspect is the cause of the patient's blindness?

  A. Psychosis
  B. Conversion disorder
  C. Dissociative disorder
  D. epression
  B. Conversion disorder

  ---

  The patient is suffering from conversion disorder. The patient has witnessed something so unbelievable that they have gone blind in order to deal with the conflict. Conversion disorder is when a patient has an alteration or loss of physical functioning that has not pathological cause.

• Question 23:

  You are caring for a patient who needs to go to surgery. The patient is unable to sign consent due to narcotic analgesic administration. Who should sign the consent for surgery?

  A. The family members should provide consent, and two witnesses will be necessary.
  B. A court order will be needed.
  C. The patient should go to surgery without consent.
  D. The hospital chaplain should sign consent.
  A. The family members should provide consent, and two witnesses will be necessary.

  ---

  The nurse should call the family and get consent for the procedure. The nurse will need to have two witnesses available to sign. In emergency cases the physician is allowed to take a patient to surgery without consent if every effort has been made to contact the family.

• Question 24:

  You are caring for a child with acute exacerbation of asthma. What would indicate a worsening of the condition?

  A. Increased wheezing
  B. Decreased wheezing
  C. Warm, dry skin
  D. A pulse rate of 90 beats per minute
  B. Decreased wheezing

  ---

  Decreased wheezing would indicate a worsening of the condition. This could indicate an inability of the child to move air. With treatment, increased wheezing would indicate an improvement in the child's condition.

• Question 25:

  What is the primary action of aminophylline (theophylline) when given for acute bronchitis?

  A. Promote expectoration.
  B. Suppress the cough.
  C. Relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial airway.
  D. Prevent infection.
  C. Relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial airway.

  ---

  Aminophylline relaxes the smooth muscle of the bronchial airway. Aminophylline is a bronchodilator. This allows the airway to open so that the patient is able to breathe easier.

• Question 26:

  You are caring for a child with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). You are preparing to give the child ribavirin (Virazole). Which route is most appropriate for administering this medication?

  A. Subcutaneous
  B. Intramuscular
  C. Oxygen tent
  D. Oral
  C. Oxygen tent

  ---

  An oxygen tent is the most appropriate route of administration for ribavirin (Virazole). This is an antiviral medication used mainly in children with severe RSV. It can also be administered through a hood or face mask.

• Question 27:

  The most appropriate action by the nurse who is preparing to communicate with an older patient who has hearing loss is:

  A. Stand in front of the patient.
  B. Exaggerate lip movements.
  C. Obtain a sign language interpreter.
  D. Pantomime and write the patient notes.
  A. Stand in front of the patient.

  ---

  The nurse should stand in front of the patient with hearing loss while trying to communicate with them. By standing in front of the patient and providing adequate lighting, the nurse insures that the patient can see the nurse clearly. If there is still difficulty communicating, then notes and pantomime can be used.

• Question 28:

  You determine that the patient you are caring for is having a transfusion reaction. You stop the blood immediately. Which action would you take next?

  A. Notify a physician.
  B. Determine the patient's white blood cell count.
  C. Administer normal saline at KVO.
  D. Administer normal saline bolus.
  C. Administer normal saline at KVO.

  ---

  The nurse should start normal saline at KVO for this patient to keep the IV open. Then the nurse should notify the physician of the reaction. The physician may order a white blood cell count or normal saline bolus, but the nurse should not initiate either without an order.

• Question 29:

  You are preparing to administer a rubella vaccination to a 2 day postpartum patient. Which of the following potential risks would you identify for this patient?

  A. Sunlight
  B. Scratching of the site
  C. Pregnancy within 2 to 3 months of vaccination
  D. Sexual intercourse with 2 to 3 months of vaccination
  C. Pregnancy within 2 to 3 months of vaccination

  ---

  The nurse would want to instruct the patient to avoid getting pregnant for the next 2 to 3 months. The rubella vaccination is a live virus that creates antibodies for immunity for 15 years. Sunlight is not issue for this vaccination. The patient may have some localized reaction to the vaccine, but it is mild and short lived.

• Question 30:

  You are on break in the nursing lounge when a nursing assistant enters to tell you that what she just heard about the secretary. She then proceeds to tell you that the secretary's husband is a drug addict and she needs to be watched very carefully on the unit. You ask her what makes her think the secretary might take drugs, and she states that she heard it from someone else. What legal tort has the nursing assistant violated?

  A. Slander
  B. Libel
  C. Assault
  D. Negligence
  A. Slander

  ---

  Slander is when something untrue is said about a person that results in injury to that person's good name. Libel would be when something untrue is written about a person that results in injury to the person's good name. The nursing assistant was spreading gossip, not fact, about the secretary, leading to injury to her good name.