NCLEX-RN Practice Quiz Test Bank #3
(75 Questions)
NCLEXRN-03-001
Question Tag: Parkinson’s disease
Question Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment, Management of
Care
A patient with Parkinson’s disease has a nursing diagnosis of Impaired Physical
Mobility related to neuromuscular impairment. You observe a nursing assistant
performing all of these actions. For which action must you intervene?
A. The NA assists the patient to ambulate to the bathroom and back to
bed.
B. The NA reminds the patient not to look at his feet when he is walking.
C. The NA performs the patient’s complete bath and oral care.
D. The NA sets up the patient’s tray and encourages the patient to feed
himself.
Correct Answer: C. The NA performs the patient’s complete bath and oral
care.
The nursing assistant should assist the patient with morning care as needed, but
the goal is to keep this patient as independent and mobile as possible.
Option A: Assisting the patient to ambulate prevents incidences of fall and
injury.
Option B: Reminding the patient not to look at his feet while walking
maintains the client’s independence while keeping him safe.
Option D: Encouraging the patient to feed himself is an appropriate goal
of maintaining independence.
,NCLEXRN-03-002
Question Tag: low back pain
Question Category: Health Promotion and Maintenance
The nurse is preparing to discharge a patient with chronic low back pain. Which
statement by the patient indicates that additional teaching is necessary?
A. “I will avoid exercise because the pain gets worse.”
B. “I will use heat or ice to help control the pain.”
C. “I will not wear high-heeled shoes at home or work.”
D. “I will purchase a firm mattress to replace my old one.”
Correct Answer: A. “I will avoid exercise because the pain gets worse.”
Exercises are used to strengthen the back, relieve pressure on compressed nerves
and protect the back from re-injury. Doing exercises to strengthen the lower back
can help alleviate and prevent lower back pain. It can also strengthen the core,
leg, and arm muscles. According to researchers, exercise also increases blood
flow to the lower back area, which may reduce stiffness and speed up the healing
process.
Option B: Ice and heat application are appropriate interventions for back
pain. Applying ice or a reusable gel pack constricts blood vessels and
reduces swelling around the injury. This is particularly useful for conditions,
like a sprained ankle, that cause significant swelling. Heat has the opposite
effect, increasing blood flow to the area. This relaxes muscle fibers, which
can help when the client experiences spasms or stiffness.
Option C: People with chronic back pain should avoid wearing high-heeled
shoes at all times. The normal s-curve of the spine acts as a cushion or
spring, reducing stress on the vertebrae. When wearing high heels, the
shape of the spine is altered and the client doesn’t get that same shock
absorption as she walks, which, over time, can lead to uneven wear on the
cartilage discs, joints and ligaments of the back.
Option D: A firm mattress prevents lower back pain. Sleeping on a
mattress that is too firm can cause aches and pains on pressure points. A
medium-firm mattress may be more comfortable because it allows the
, shoulder and hips to sink in slightly. Patients who want a firmer mattress
for back support can get one with thicker padding for greater comfort.
NCLEXRN-03-003
Question Tag: Spinal cord injury
Question Category: Physiological Integrity, Physiological Adaptation
A patient with a spinal cord injury (SCI) complains about a severe throbbing
headache that suddenly started a short time ago. Assessment of the patient
reveals increased blood pressure (168/94) and decreased heart rate (48/minute),
diaphoresis, and flushing of the face and neck. What action should you take first?
A. Administer the ordered acetaminophen (Tylenol).
B. Check the Foley tubing for kinks or obstruction.
C. Adjust the temperature in the patient’s room.
D. Notify the physician about the change in status.
Correct Answer: B. Check the Foley tubing for kinks or obstruction.
These signs and symptoms are characteristic of autonomic dysreflexia, a
neurologic emergency that must be promptly treated to prevent a hypertensive
stroke. The cause of this syndrome is noxious stimuli, most often a distended
bladder or constipation, so checking for poor catheter drainage, bladder
distention, or fecal impaction is the first action that should be taken.
Option C: Adjusting the room temperature may be helpful, since too cool
a temperature in the room may contribute to the problem.
Option A: Tylenol will not decrease the autonomic dysreflexia that is
causing the patient’s headache.
Option D: Notification of the physician may be necessary if nursing actions
do not resolve symptoms.
, NCLEXRN-03-004
Question Tag: Neurologic unit
Question Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment, Management of
Care
Which patient should you, as charge nurse, assign to a new graduate RN who is
orienting to the neurologic unit?
A. A 28-year-old newly admitted patient with spinal cord injury.
B. A 67-year-old patient with a stroke 3 days ago and left-sided weakness.
C. An 85-year-old dementia patient to be transferred to long-term care
today.
D. A 54-year-old patient with Parkinson’s who needs assistance with
bathing.
Correct Answer: B. A 67-year-old patient with stroke 3 days ago and left-
sided weakness.
The new graduate RN who is oriented to the unit should be assigned stable, non-
complex patients, such as the patient with stroke.
Option A: The newly admitted SCI should be assigned to experienced
nurses. Most cases of SCI take place when trauma breaks and squeezes the
vertebrae, or the bones of the back. This, in turn, damages the axons—the
long nerve cell “wires” that pass through vertebrae, carrying signals
between the brain and the rest of the body. The axons might be crushed or
completely severed by this damage. Someone with injury to only a few
axons might be able to recover completely from their injury. On the other
hand, a person with damage to all axons will most likely be paralyzed in the
areas below the injury.
Option C: A patient for transfer should be assigned to a nurse who has
experience in the process of transferring patients.
Option D: The patient with Parkinson’s disease needs assistance with
bathing, which is best delegated to the nursing assistant.
(75 Questions)
NCLEXRN-03-001
Question Tag: Parkinson’s disease
Question Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment, Management of
Care
A patient with Parkinson’s disease has a nursing diagnosis of Impaired Physical
Mobility related to neuromuscular impairment. You observe a nursing assistant
performing all of these actions. For which action must you intervene?
A. The NA assists the patient to ambulate to the bathroom and back to
bed.
B. The NA reminds the patient not to look at his feet when he is walking.
C. The NA performs the patient’s complete bath and oral care.
D. The NA sets up the patient’s tray and encourages the patient to feed
himself.
Correct Answer: C. The NA performs the patient’s complete bath and oral
care.
The nursing assistant should assist the patient with morning care as needed, but
the goal is to keep this patient as independent and mobile as possible.
Option A: Assisting the patient to ambulate prevents incidences of fall and
injury.
Option B: Reminding the patient not to look at his feet while walking
maintains the client’s independence while keeping him safe.
Option D: Encouraging the patient to feed himself is an appropriate goal
of maintaining independence.
,NCLEXRN-03-002
Question Tag: low back pain
Question Category: Health Promotion and Maintenance
The nurse is preparing to discharge a patient with chronic low back pain. Which
statement by the patient indicates that additional teaching is necessary?
A. “I will avoid exercise because the pain gets worse.”
B. “I will use heat or ice to help control the pain.”
C. “I will not wear high-heeled shoes at home or work.”
D. “I will purchase a firm mattress to replace my old one.”
Correct Answer: A. “I will avoid exercise because the pain gets worse.”
Exercises are used to strengthen the back, relieve pressure on compressed nerves
and protect the back from re-injury. Doing exercises to strengthen the lower back
can help alleviate and prevent lower back pain. It can also strengthen the core,
leg, and arm muscles. According to researchers, exercise also increases blood
flow to the lower back area, which may reduce stiffness and speed up the healing
process.
Option B: Ice and heat application are appropriate interventions for back
pain. Applying ice or a reusable gel pack constricts blood vessels and
reduces swelling around the injury. This is particularly useful for conditions,
like a sprained ankle, that cause significant swelling. Heat has the opposite
effect, increasing blood flow to the area. This relaxes muscle fibers, which
can help when the client experiences spasms or stiffness.
Option C: People with chronic back pain should avoid wearing high-heeled
shoes at all times. The normal s-curve of the spine acts as a cushion or
spring, reducing stress on the vertebrae. When wearing high heels, the
shape of the spine is altered and the client doesn’t get that same shock
absorption as she walks, which, over time, can lead to uneven wear on the
cartilage discs, joints and ligaments of the back.
Option D: A firm mattress prevents lower back pain. Sleeping on a
mattress that is too firm can cause aches and pains on pressure points. A
medium-firm mattress may be more comfortable because it allows the
, shoulder and hips to sink in slightly. Patients who want a firmer mattress
for back support can get one with thicker padding for greater comfort.
NCLEXRN-03-003
Question Tag: Spinal cord injury
Question Category: Physiological Integrity, Physiological Adaptation
A patient with a spinal cord injury (SCI) complains about a severe throbbing
headache that suddenly started a short time ago. Assessment of the patient
reveals increased blood pressure (168/94) and decreased heart rate (48/minute),
diaphoresis, and flushing of the face and neck. What action should you take first?
A. Administer the ordered acetaminophen (Tylenol).
B. Check the Foley tubing for kinks or obstruction.
C. Adjust the temperature in the patient’s room.
D. Notify the physician about the change in status.
Correct Answer: B. Check the Foley tubing for kinks or obstruction.
These signs and symptoms are characteristic of autonomic dysreflexia, a
neurologic emergency that must be promptly treated to prevent a hypertensive
stroke. The cause of this syndrome is noxious stimuli, most often a distended
bladder or constipation, so checking for poor catheter drainage, bladder
distention, or fecal impaction is the first action that should be taken.
Option C: Adjusting the room temperature may be helpful, since too cool
a temperature in the room may contribute to the problem.
Option A: Tylenol will not decrease the autonomic dysreflexia that is
causing the patient’s headache.
Option D: Notification of the physician may be necessary if nursing actions
do not resolve symptoms.
, NCLEXRN-03-004
Question Tag: Neurologic unit
Question Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment, Management of
Care
Which patient should you, as charge nurse, assign to a new graduate RN who is
orienting to the neurologic unit?
A. A 28-year-old newly admitted patient with spinal cord injury.
B. A 67-year-old patient with a stroke 3 days ago and left-sided weakness.
C. An 85-year-old dementia patient to be transferred to long-term care
today.
D. A 54-year-old patient with Parkinson’s who needs assistance with
bathing.
Correct Answer: B. A 67-year-old patient with stroke 3 days ago and left-
sided weakness.
The new graduate RN who is oriented to the unit should be assigned stable, non-
complex patients, such as the patient with stroke.
Option A: The newly admitted SCI should be assigned to experienced
nurses. Most cases of SCI take place when trauma breaks and squeezes the
vertebrae, or the bones of the back. This, in turn, damages the axons—the
long nerve cell “wires” that pass through vertebrae, carrying signals
between the brain and the rest of the body. The axons might be crushed or
completely severed by this damage. Someone with injury to only a few
axons might be able to recover completely from their injury. On the other
hand, a person with damage to all axons will most likely be paralyzed in the
areas below the injury.
Option C: A patient for transfer should be assigned to a nurse who has
experience in the process of transferring patients.
Option D: The patient with Parkinson’s disease needs assistance with
bathing, which is best delegated to the nursing assistant.
