Question 1

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

A) Thyroid 
B) Parathyroid 
C) Pancreas 
D) Liver

Question 2

The nurse is providing care for a 94-year-old woman in a long-term care facility that is followed by hospice.The resident becomes agitated and confused, insisting that "Someone has stolen my bingo money." Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Accepted Answer

A) Collect a urine specimen. 
B) Check the patient's pulse oximeter reading. 
C) Call a family member to visit the woman. 
D) Notify the hospice nurse that the patient's condition has changed.

Question 3

The nurse is caring for a patient with jaundice and an elevated bilirubin level.Which of the following tests would not be contraindicated for this patient?

Accepted Answer

A) Oral cholangiography 
B) IV cholangiography 
C) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) 
D) Hepatobiliary scan

Question 4

A nurse is reviewing a patient's health history and interviewing the patient in preparation for an abdominal computed tomography (CT)scan.Which of the following conditions would contraindicate this procedure for this client? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A) Pregnancy 
B) Claustrophobia 
C) Aortic aneurysm 
D) Pheochromocytoma 
E) Gastrointestinal bleeding and obstruction

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient whose magnetic resonance imaging revealed a torn rotator cuff.Which of the following interventions is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A) Support the patient's wrist with a metal brace. 
B) Place the patient's arm in a sling. 
C) Teach the patient to use a three-point walk with crutches. 
D) Wrap the patient's ankle with an Ace bandage.

Question 6

A patient is preparing to undergo computed tomography (CT)colonoscopy.Which of the following are advantages of CT colonoscopy over conventional colonoscopy? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A) It is less invasive. 
B) It requires no recovery time. 
C) It allows polyp removal and biopsies of tissue. 
D) There is no need to cleanse the bowel before the examination. 
E) It may be performed on patients with bleeding disorders.

Question 7

The nurse would question an order for a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA)for which of the following individuals?

Accepted Answer

A) A 65-year-old man whose blood urea nitrogen = 38 mg/dL 
B) A 71-year-old woman whose triglycerides = 145 mg/dL 
C) A 52-year-old woman whose prothrombin time = 12 seconds 
D) A 66-year-old man whose prostate specific antigen (PS
A) = 14 ng/mL

Question 8

A patient with jaundice needs to undergo a procedure that allows direct visualization of the biliary and pancreatic ducts for assessment of possible occlusions or strictures.A less invasive approach is preferred.Which of the following procedures would be most appropriate for this patient?

Accepted Answer

A) Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PT
C)  
B) Oral cholecystography 
C) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) 
D) IV cholangiography

Question 9

A patient is preparing to undergo diagnostic imaging to determine the presence of kidney stones.Which of the following signs and symptoms should the nurse look for that would tend to confirm the presence of kidney stones? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A) Report of pain 
B) Restlessness 
C) Grimace 
D) Low blood pressure 
E) Sleepiness

Question 10

A middle-aged woman admitted to the hospital for chest pain is frustrated that an echocardiogram is planned and wants to go home after serial enzymes ruled out an acute myocardial infarction.Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

A) "Don't you want to know what is causing your chest pain?" 
B) "If you have a family history of cardiac problems, then you should have these tests done; otherwise we can discharge you." 
C) "I can hear how frustrated you are.Is there a specific reason you want to leave the hospital?" 
D) "You're not a prisoner here; I'll call your doctor and tell him you are leaving the hospital against medical advice."

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a patient with diabetic retinopathy.Which of the following procedures would best help determine the progression of the disease?

Accepted Answer

A) Refraction test 
B) Positron emission tomography of the brain 
C) Otoscope examination 
D) Fundus photography

Question 12

The nurse is providing care for a patient undergoing sialography.Which of the following statements indicates the need for further instruction?

Accepted Answer

A) "The biggest complication of this procedure is an allergy to the dye." 
B) "My throat will be numb after the procedure, and I have to wait until that goes away before trying to eat or drink." 
C) "I will need to remove my dentures or other removable bridgework prior to the test." 
D) "The doctor will have me swallow dye so he can take pictures of my throat."

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

A) "You will be amazed how much taller you are when you get back from this procedure." 
B) "Do you have any allergy to dye or other iodine products?" 
C) "Has anyone else in your family had this procedure done?" 
D) "Do you use a walker to help get around?"

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a patient who has returned from a liver and spleen scan.Results of the test read, "Greater uptake of radionuclide in the spleen than in the liver." Which of the following conclusions can the nurse draw from these results?

Accepted Answer

A) The patient has a liver mass. 
B) The patient has diverticulitis. 
C) The patient has portal hypertension. 
D) The patient has a gall stone.

Question 15

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

A) "I need to do this to check if you have any leftover urine in your bladder." 
B) "This doesn't hurt; it uses sound waves to make a picture of the urine in your bladder." 
C) "No one has every complained before.I'm pretty good at this." 
D) "The test helps your health-care provider know if all of the cancer is gone."

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

A) Anal/genital culture, bacteria 
B) Culture and smear, mycobacteria 
C) Blood culture, bacteria 
D) Sputum culture, bacteria

Question 17

A nurse is responsible for transporting a patient to and from the radiology department of the hospital for a computed tomography scan of the biliary tract and liver.Which of the following actions could protect the nurse from radiation exposure during the visit? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A) Wear a badge to record the level of radiation exposure. 
B) Wear a protective lead apron. 
C) Stand behind a shield. 
D) Avoid wearing any jewelry. 
E) Leave the area during the procedure.

Question 18

When a nurse is collecting blood, which step is essential when collecting a specimen in a light-blue-top (citrate)tube?

Accepted Answer

A) Always fill completely. 
B) Collect last if multiple tubes will be collected. 
C) Fill only half full. 
D) Shake vigorously as soon as tube is filled.

Question 19

Analysis of a newborn's cord blood specimen following Coombs' direct antiglobulin testing (DAT)indicates red blood cell (RBC)agglutination of 3+.However, the health-care provider is concerned that the result may be a false positive.Which of the following factors could lead to a false positive? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A) ABO hemolytic disease 
B) Acetaminophen use 
C) Presence of Wharton's jelly in the specimen 
D) Use of a tube method for DAT 
E) Presence of cold agglutinins in the specimen

Question 20

A patient who is undergoing diagnostic imaging to detect the presence of kidney stones has a fever.Which of the following interventions should the nurse take specifically related to this finding? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A) Administer prescribed medication for pain. 
B) Monitor urinary output. 
C) Assess urine color and odor. 
D) Assess for a family history of renal stones. 
E) Obtain urine culture and sensitivity.

Exam 3: Reviewers