Nursing Managing of Diabetes Sherpath
Exam Questions and Answers
Which action should the nurse take first when a patient's capillary blood glucose reading is 63 mg/dL?
Give the patient a snack that equals 15 g of carbohydrates.
*When a patient has symptoms of hypoglycemia, the nurse should give the patient 15 g of
carbohydrates to increase the blood glucose level.
After the initial assessment of a new patient, the nurse notices a fruity smell on the patient's breath
and rapid, deep breathing. Which actions should the nurse take to address these symptoms?
Notify the health care provider.
*The nurse should notify the health care provider of this finding because this patient is exhibiting
signs of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Check the patient's capillary glucose level.
*This patient is exhibiting signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, so the nurse should check the patient's
capillary glucose level.
A nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient with type 1 diabetes. Which assessment finding would
cause the nurse to implement interventions for hyperglycemia?
Dry mouth
*A dry mouth is a symptom of hyperglycemia. The nurse should intervene to decrease the patient's
blood sugar when a dry mouth has been noted.
A patient with type 2 diabetes calls the health care provider's office and reports having the flu. Which
instructions should the nurse give the patient?
"Continue taking your insulin and/or oral agent."
*When a patient with diabetes becomes ill, the blood glucose level increases. Therefore the nurse
should instruct the patient to continue taking insulin and/or an oral agent.
"Increase oral fluid intake to prevent dehydration."
*The nurse should instruct the patient to increase oral fluid intake to prevent dehydration, since the
patient has the flu.
"Increase your carbohydrate intake to prevent further nausea."
*The nurse should instruct the patient to increase intake of carbohydrates. Doing so will decrease
nausea.
Which statement made by a patient with new-onset type 1 diabetes indicates a need for further
education?
"I will use the pad of my finger to obtain blood for a blood glucose level."
*The patient should use the side of the finger, not the pad, to obtain blood for blood glucose
monitoring.
The home health nurse visits a patient with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Which patient finding
would prompt the nurse to provide further education?
Consistently skipping meals
Exam Questions and Answers
Which action should the nurse take first when a patient's capillary blood glucose reading is 63 mg/dL?
Give the patient a snack that equals 15 g of carbohydrates.
*When a patient has symptoms of hypoglycemia, the nurse should give the patient 15 g of
carbohydrates to increase the blood glucose level.
After the initial assessment of a new patient, the nurse notices a fruity smell on the patient's breath
and rapid, deep breathing. Which actions should the nurse take to address these symptoms?
Notify the health care provider.
*The nurse should notify the health care provider of this finding because this patient is exhibiting
signs of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Check the patient's capillary glucose level.
*This patient is exhibiting signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, so the nurse should check the patient's
capillary glucose level.
A nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient with type 1 diabetes. Which assessment finding would
cause the nurse to implement interventions for hyperglycemia?
Dry mouth
*A dry mouth is a symptom of hyperglycemia. The nurse should intervene to decrease the patient's
blood sugar when a dry mouth has been noted.
A patient with type 2 diabetes calls the health care provider's office and reports having the flu. Which
instructions should the nurse give the patient?
"Continue taking your insulin and/or oral agent."
*When a patient with diabetes becomes ill, the blood glucose level increases. Therefore the nurse
should instruct the patient to continue taking insulin and/or an oral agent.
"Increase oral fluid intake to prevent dehydration."
*The nurse should instruct the patient to increase oral fluid intake to prevent dehydration, since the
patient has the flu.
"Increase your carbohydrate intake to prevent further nausea."
*The nurse should instruct the patient to increase intake of carbohydrates. Doing so will decrease
nausea.
Which statement made by a patient with new-onset type 1 diabetes indicates a need for further
education?
"I will use the pad of my finger to obtain blood for a blood glucose level."
*The patient should use the side of the finger, not the pad, to obtain blood for blood glucose
monitoring.
The home health nurse visits a patient with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Which patient finding
would prompt the nurse to provide further education?
Consistently skipping meals
