Medical Tests CEN Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

Medical Tests CEN Online Questions & Answers

• Question 41:

  When caring for a patient what sign would indicate that he might have a basal skull fracture?

  A. The auditory canal has purulent drainage.
  B. The auditory canal has bloody or clear drainage.
  C. Epistaxis
  D. Periorbital edema
  B. The auditory canal has bloody or clear drainage.

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  A basal skull fracture would be indicated by bloody or clear drainage from the auditory canal. This indicates a cerebrospinal fluid leak from the fracture. This is a medical emergency and needs to be addressed by the physician immediately.

• Question 42:

  You are changing the tape on a tracheostomy tube when the patient coughs, and the tube becomes dislodged. The initial action of the nurse should be:

  A. Cover the site with a sterile dressing.
  B. Notify the physician.
  C. Grasp the retention sutures and spread the opening.
  D. Notify the respiratory therapist.
  C. Grasp the retention sutures and spread the opening.

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  The nurse should grasp the retention sutures and spread the opening of the site. If policy allows, the nurse would then reinsert the tracheostomy or notify the physician to come reinsert the tube. The nurse should be sure not to do anything that would block the airway until the tube is reinserted.

• Question 43:

  What nursing action would the nurse take when caring for a patient with enucleation with bright red drainage?

  A. Notify the physician.
  B. Continue to monitor the drainage.
  C. Document the finding.
  D. Mark the drainage on the dressing.
  A. Notify the physician.

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  The nurse's first priority would be to notify the physician. The presence of bright red drainage on the dressing is an indication of hemorrhage. The other options are inappropriate for this patient.

• Question 44:

  Your patient is receiving lithium carbonate (Lithobid). She reports to you that she is having loose, watery stools and difficulty walking. What do you suspect the patient's lithium level will be?

  A. 0.7 mEq/L
  B. 1 mEq/L
  C. 1.3 mEq/L
  D. 1.8 mEq/L
  D. 1.8 mEq/L

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  The nurse should expect the patient's lithium level to be 1.8 mEq/L. The normal lithium level is 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/ L. A lithium level of 1.8 mEq/L indicates a mild toxicity. Levels between 1.5 and 2.5 mEq/L would indicate symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia, incoordination, muscle twitching and slurred speech.

• Question 45:

  You are caring for a child who has HIV with a positive Mantoux test. The physician orders isoniazid (INH). You instruct the child's mother that the patient will have to take the medication for how long?

  A. 4 months
  B. 6 months
  C. 9 months
  D. 12 months
  D. 12 months

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  The child will need to take the medication for 12 months. A child with HIV would need to take the medication for longer to prevent latent infection from progressing to active infection. Children who are not immune compromised will need to take the drug for 2 to 4 months.

• Question 46:

  You are caring for a patient who has been taking methylergonovine maleate (Methergine) for postpartum hemorrhage. It is not helping to control the hemorrhage. What procedure will most likely be ordered for this patient?

  A. Dilatation and curettage
  B. Laparotomy
  C. Hysterotomy
  D. Hysterectomy
  A. Dilatation and curettage

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  The patient will most likely need a dilatation and curettage. This vaginal procedure is to remove retained tissue from the uterus. The other procedures would be inappropriate for this type of hemorrhage.

• Question 47:

  You are caring for child with bronchiolitis. Which of the following would be the most appropriate method of assessing this patient for dehydration?

  A. Intake and output
  B. Fontanels
  C. Mucous membranes
  D. Weight
  D. Weight

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  Weight is a good indication of this patient's fluid loss or gain. One kilogram of weight represents one liter of fluid loss or gain, which makes this a very reliable source for dehydration.

• Question 48:

  You have received reports on the patients that you are assigned to. After assessing each of your patients, which would you want to provide care for first?

  A. An ambulatory patient who will be discharged today
  B. A patient who has begun to run a fever and is anxious and diaphoretic
  C. A patient who will receive physical therapy today
  D. A patient who has been given pain medication
  B. A patient who has begun to run a fever and is anxious and diaphoretic

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  The patient who is now feverish, anxious and diaphoretic should be your first priority. This patient has the most immediate need. The other three patients do not have priority in the Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

• Question 49:

  You are caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who has come in with respiratory distress. The patient takes theophylline (Theo-Dur). A therapeutic level is drawn on the patient. You would know the patient needs to be educated on complying with medication if the therapeutic is what?

  A. 10 mcg/mL
  B. 12 mcg/mL
  C. 15 mcg/mL
  D. 18 mcg/mL
  A. 10 mcg/mL

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  The patient will need further education on the necessity of taking medications if the theophylline level is 10 mcg/mL. The therapeutic range is 10 to 20 mcg/mL. If the level is low, the patient will experience frequent exacerbations of the disease.

• Question 50:

  What is the proper technique for opening the airway on a trauma patient?

  A. Head tilt-chin lift
  B. Flexed position
  C. Modified head tilt-chin lift
  D. Jaw thrust maneuver
  D. Jaw thrust maneuver

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  To open the airway of any patient that might have a neck injury the nurse would perform a jaw thrust maneuver. All of the other options do not protect the neck from further injury.