Chapter 13: Special Examinations and
Tests
Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts 12th Edition, Timby
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. When obtaining a capillary blood sample for blood glucose, the nurse will select the
puncture site to cause the least amount of discomfort, which is:
a. the end of the index finger.
b. the ball of the third finger.
c. at right angles to the fingerprint lines.
d. the ball of the thumb.
ANS: C
Using the right angle to the fingerprint lines places the puncture on the side of the
finger rather than on more sensitive areas.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: d 407, Skill 24-9 OBJ:
Theory #3 TOP: Capillary Blood Test KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
physiological adaptation
2. A patient asks why the blood glucose meter directions state to wipe away the first drop of
blood. The most informative response by the nurse would be:
a. This eliminates microorganisms from the sample.
b. The first drop is usually too small.
c. The first drop is usually contaminated.
d. The first drop has serous fluid that can dilute the specimen.
ANS: D
Some machines state to wipe away the first drop of blood, which often contains a
large portion of serous fluid that can dilute the specimen, causing a false result.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: d 407, Skill 24-9
OBJ: Theory #3 TOP: Blood Glucose Testing KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: physiological adaptation
3. A patient in the outpatient clinic has provided a urine sample. To perform a urine dipstick
test accurately, the nurse wets the dipstick and starts timing:
a. immediately.
b. after 5 seconds.
c. after 10 seconds.
d. after 30 seconds.
ANS: A
The stick is inserted into the urine specimen and removed quickly, and timing is
started immediately. It is tapped gently on the side of the container to remove excess
urine.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: d 409, Skill 24-3 OBJ:
Theory #3 TOP: Urine Dipstick Test KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
physiological adaptation
4. The nurse obtaining a wound culture would:
a. use clean gloves.
b. rotate the swab vigorously in the wound bed.
c. rinse the exudate on the swab with normal saline.
d. place the swab in the culture tube without touching the sides.
ANS: D
The nurse should use sterile gloves, rotate the swab gently in the wound bed, and
place it directly into the culture tube without touching the sides of the tube.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: d 425, Skill 24-5 OBJ:
Theory #3 TOP: Wound Culture KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective Care
Environment: safety and infection control
5. The patient who has just returned to the unit after an angiography test should be assessed
immediately for:
a. swelling of tongue.
b. pulmonary congestion.
c. bleeding at insertion site.
d. hypotension.
ANS: C
The insertion site is monitored for bleeding or formation of a hematoma.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: d 418 OBJ: Clinical Practice #1
TOP: Angiography KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective Care Environment:
safety and infection control
6. The nurse instructing a patient who is to have a Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) in 2 days
would tell the patient to avoid:
a. sexual intercourse.
b. douching
c. eating shellfish.
d. taking a bubble bath.
ANS: B
The patient who is to have a Pap smear should avoid douching or using any vaginal
medication that might interfere with the collection of the cells of the cervix.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: d 426, Skill 24-6 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #7 TOP: Pelvic Examination KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective Care
Environment
7. The statement made by a patient that would delay a scheduled CT scan would be:
a. I have terrible claustrophobia.
Tests
Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts 12th Edition, Timby
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. When obtaining a capillary blood sample for blood glucose, the nurse will select the
puncture site to cause the least amount of discomfort, which is:
a. the end of the index finger.
b. the ball of the third finger.
c. at right angles to the fingerprint lines.
d. the ball of the thumb.
ANS: C
Using the right angle to the fingerprint lines places the puncture on the side of the
finger rather than on more sensitive areas.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: d 407, Skill 24-9 OBJ:
Theory #3 TOP: Capillary Blood Test KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
physiological adaptation
2. A patient asks why the blood glucose meter directions state to wipe away the first drop of
blood. The most informative response by the nurse would be:
a. This eliminates microorganisms from the sample.
b. The first drop is usually too small.
c. The first drop is usually contaminated.
d. The first drop has serous fluid that can dilute the specimen.
ANS: D
Some machines state to wipe away the first drop of blood, which often contains a
large portion of serous fluid that can dilute the specimen, causing a false result.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: d 407, Skill 24-9
OBJ: Theory #3 TOP: Blood Glucose Testing KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: physiological adaptation
3. A patient in the outpatient clinic has provided a urine sample. To perform a urine dipstick
test accurately, the nurse wets the dipstick and starts timing:
a. immediately.
b. after 5 seconds.
c. after 10 seconds.
d. after 30 seconds.
ANS: A
The stick is inserted into the urine specimen and removed quickly, and timing is
started immediately. It is tapped gently on the side of the container to remove excess
urine.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: d 409, Skill 24-3 OBJ:
Theory #3 TOP: Urine Dipstick Test KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
physiological adaptation
4. The nurse obtaining a wound culture would:
a. use clean gloves.
b. rotate the swab vigorously in the wound bed.
c. rinse the exudate on the swab with normal saline.
d. place the swab in the culture tube without touching the sides.
ANS: D
The nurse should use sterile gloves, rotate the swab gently in the wound bed, and
place it directly into the culture tube without touching the sides of the tube.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: d 425, Skill 24-5 OBJ:
Theory #3 TOP: Wound Culture KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective Care
Environment: safety and infection control
5. The patient who has just returned to the unit after an angiography test should be assessed
immediately for:
a. swelling of tongue.
b. pulmonary congestion.
c. bleeding at insertion site.
d. hypotension.
ANS: C
The insertion site is monitored for bleeding or formation of a hematoma.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: d 418 OBJ: Clinical Practice #1
TOP: Angiography KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective Care Environment:
safety and infection control
6. The nurse instructing a patient who is to have a Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) in 2 days
would tell the patient to avoid:
a. sexual intercourse.
b. douching
c. eating shellfish.
d. taking a bubble bath.
ANS: B
The patient who is to have a Pap smear should avoid douching or using any vaginal
medication that might interfere with the collection of the cells of the cervix.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: d 426, Skill 24-6 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #7 TOP: Pelvic Examination KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective Care
Environment
7. The statement made by a patient that would delay a scheduled CT scan would be:
a. I have terrible claustrophobia.
