CLC Practice Exam QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS A
GRADED
Course
Certified Lactation Consultant
1. A 65-year-old patient is admitted with confusion, dehydration, and a
urinary tract infection (UTI). Which lab result would the nurse expect to see?
A. Decreased serum sodium
B. Elevated white blood cell (WBC) count
C. Increased potassium level
D. Decreased hematocrit
Answer: B. Elevated white blood cell (WBC) count
Rationale: A UTI often causes an increase in WBCs due to infection. Confusion and
dehydration in the elderly may be secondary to infection. Sodium and potassium changes are
less directly linked to UTIs, though dehydration may cause elevated hematocrit.
2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen therapy at 4L/min via nasal cannula. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Continue the oxygen as prescribed.
B. Increase oxygen to 6L/min if the patient shows signs of dyspnea.
C. Decrease the oxygen to 2L/min to prevent CO2 retention.
D. Call the provider to change the oxygen delivery to a mask.
Answer: C. Decrease the oxygen to 2L/min to prevent CO2 retention
Rationale: Patients with COPD are at risk of retaining CO2 when given high levels of
oxygen. Reducing the oxygen flow to 2L/min helps maintain adequate oxygenation while
preventing hypercapnia.
3. Which action by the nurse best prevents a catheter-associated urinary tract
infection (CAUTI)?
A. Irrigating the catheter once per shift
B. Using sterile gloves when inserting the catheter
C. Emptying the drainage bag every 8 hours
D. Removing the catheter as soon as possible
Answer: D. Removing the catheter as soon as possible
,Rationale: Early removal of the catheter significantly reduces the risk of CAUTI. While
sterile technique during insertion is important, prolonged catheter use increases infection risk
regardless of sterility during placement.
4. A patient on IV heparin therapy for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has a
partial thromboplastin time (PTT) of 90 seconds. What is the appropriate
nursing action?
A. Stop the heparin infusion immediately.
B. Continue the infusion and monitor the PTT.
C. Increase the heparin infusion rate.
D. Administer protamine sulfate.
Answer: A. Stop the heparin infusion immediately.
Rationale: A PTT of 90 seconds is elevated, placing the patient at increased risk of bleeding.
Heparin should be stopped, and protamine sulfate may be administered if indicated to reverse
heparin's effects.
5. A nurse is educating a patient about their new prescription for metoprolol.
Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will check my pulse before taking this medication."
B. "If my blood pressure is normal, I can skip the dose."
C. "I should not suddenly stop taking this medication."
D. "This medication may make me feel tired at first."
Answer: B. "If my blood pressure is normal, I can skip the dose."
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker and should not be skipped based on normal blood
pressure readings. Regular dosing is important to maintain therapeutic levels and avoid
complications such as rebound hypertension.
6. A patient is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. Which finding would
indicate the patient is experiencing digoxin toxicity?
A. Visual disturbances such as halos
B. Increased heart rate
C. Elevated potassium levels
D. Diarrhea
Answer: A. Visual disturbances such as halos
, Rationale: Digoxin toxicity often presents with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and
visual disturbances (e.g., halos, blurred vision). Monitoring of digoxin levels and renal
function is important to prevent toxicity.
7. The nurse notes that a patient with diabetes has a blood glucose level of 50
mg/dL. The patient is alert but reports feeling shaky. What is the appropriate
nursing intervention?
A. Administer 50% dextrose intravenously.
B. Give the patient 4 oz of orange juice.
C. Administer 10 units of insulin.
D. Call the provider for further orders.
Answer: B. Give the patient 4 oz of orange juice.
Rationale: A blood glucose of 50 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia. The patient is alert, so oral
glucose (such as orange juice) is appropriate. IV dextrose is reserved for patients who cannot
tolerate oral intake.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient for fluid volume overload. Which of the
following findings is consistent with this condition?
A. Hypotension
B. Weight loss
C. Bounding pulse
D. Dry mucous membranes
Answer: C. Bounding pulse
Rationale: Fluid volume overload presents with symptoms such as a bounding pulse, edema,
hypertension, and weight gain. Hypotension and dry mucous membranes are typically
associated with fluid volume deficit.
9. The nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day one after
abdominal surgery. Which intervention best prevents postoperative
pneumonia?
A. Restricting fluid intake
B. Encouraging use of an incentive spirometer
C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Keeping the patient on bed rest
Answer: B. Encouraging use of an incentive spirometer
GRADED
Course
Certified Lactation Consultant
1. A 65-year-old patient is admitted with confusion, dehydration, and a
urinary tract infection (UTI). Which lab result would the nurse expect to see?
A. Decreased serum sodium
B. Elevated white blood cell (WBC) count
C. Increased potassium level
D. Decreased hematocrit
Answer: B. Elevated white blood cell (WBC) count
Rationale: A UTI often causes an increase in WBCs due to infection. Confusion and
dehydration in the elderly may be secondary to infection. Sodium and potassium changes are
less directly linked to UTIs, though dehydration may cause elevated hematocrit.
2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen therapy at 4L/min via nasal cannula. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Continue the oxygen as prescribed.
B. Increase oxygen to 6L/min if the patient shows signs of dyspnea.
C. Decrease the oxygen to 2L/min to prevent CO2 retention.
D. Call the provider to change the oxygen delivery to a mask.
Answer: C. Decrease the oxygen to 2L/min to prevent CO2 retention
Rationale: Patients with COPD are at risk of retaining CO2 when given high levels of
oxygen. Reducing the oxygen flow to 2L/min helps maintain adequate oxygenation while
preventing hypercapnia.
3. Which action by the nurse best prevents a catheter-associated urinary tract
infection (CAUTI)?
A. Irrigating the catheter once per shift
B. Using sterile gloves when inserting the catheter
C. Emptying the drainage bag every 8 hours
D. Removing the catheter as soon as possible
Answer: D. Removing the catheter as soon as possible
,Rationale: Early removal of the catheter significantly reduces the risk of CAUTI. While
sterile technique during insertion is important, prolonged catheter use increases infection risk
regardless of sterility during placement.
4. A patient on IV heparin therapy for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has a
partial thromboplastin time (PTT) of 90 seconds. What is the appropriate
nursing action?
A. Stop the heparin infusion immediately.
B. Continue the infusion and monitor the PTT.
C. Increase the heparin infusion rate.
D. Administer protamine sulfate.
Answer: A. Stop the heparin infusion immediately.
Rationale: A PTT of 90 seconds is elevated, placing the patient at increased risk of bleeding.
Heparin should be stopped, and protamine sulfate may be administered if indicated to reverse
heparin's effects.
5. A nurse is educating a patient about their new prescription for metoprolol.
Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will check my pulse before taking this medication."
B. "If my blood pressure is normal, I can skip the dose."
C. "I should not suddenly stop taking this medication."
D. "This medication may make me feel tired at first."
Answer: B. "If my blood pressure is normal, I can skip the dose."
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker and should not be skipped based on normal blood
pressure readings. Regular dosing is important to maintain therapeutic levels and avoid
complications such as rebound hypertension.
6. A patient is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. Which finding would
indicate the patient is experiencing digoxin toxicity?
A. Visual disturbances such as halos
B. Increased heart rate
C. Elevated potassium levels
D. Diarrhea
Answer: A. Visual disturbances such as halos
, Rationale: Digoxin toxicity often presents with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and
visual disturbances (e.g., halos, blurred vision). Monitoring of digoxin levels and renal
function is important to prevent toxicity.
7. The nurse notes that a patient with diabetes has a blood glucose level of 50
mg/dL. The patient is alert but reports feeling shaky. What is the appropriate
nursing intervention?
A. Administer 50% dextrose intravenously.
B. Give the patient 4 oz of orange juice.
C. Administer 10 units of insulin.
D. Call the provider for further orders.
Answer: B. Give the patient 4 oz of orange juice.
Rationale: A blood glucose of 50 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia. The patient is alert, so oral
glucose (such as orange juice) is appropriate. IV dextrose is reserved for patients who cannot
tolerate oral intake.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient for fluid volume overload. Which of the
following findings is consistent with this condition?
A. Hypotension
B. Weight loss
C. Bounding pulse
D. Dry mucous membranes
Answer: C. Bounding pulse
Rationale: Fluid volume overload presents with symptoms such as a bounding pulse, edema,
hypertension, and weight gain. Hypotension and dry mucous membranes are typically
associated with fluid volume deficit.
9. The nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day one after
abdominal surgery. Which intervention best prevents postoperative
pneumonia?
A. Restricting fluid intake
B. Encouraging use of an incentive spirometer
C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Keeping the patient on bed rest
Answer: B. Encouraging use of an incentive spirometer
