GPC F STUDY 174 QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Course
GPC F
1. Question: When assessing a patient for dehydration, which symptom would
indicate moderate to severe dehydration?
A) Moist mucous membranes
B) Capillary refill within 2 seconds
C) Tenting of the skin
D) Increased urine output
Answer: C) Tenting of the skin
Rationale: Tenting, or delayed skin recoil, is a classic sign of dehydration due to loss of skin
elasticity. It is more pronounced in moderate to severe dehydration. Moist mucous
membranes and increased urine output are indicative of proper hydration, while normal
capillary refill (within 2 seconds) suggests adequate blood volume.
2. Question: What is the primary reason for a nurse to perform a health
history review upon patient admission?
A) To create a rapport with the patient
B) To collect billing information
C) To identify potential health risks
D) To assess the patient’s cognitive skills
Answer: C) To identify potential health risks
Rationale: A comprehensive health history allows the nurse to identify any risk factors and
past health issues that may affect current care needs. While rapport-building is essential, it is
secondary to the identification of health risks.
3. Question: Which of the following is a critical element when documenting in
a patient’s chart?
A) Using subjective statements
B) Documenting in chronological order
C) Including personal opinions
D) Documenting only abnormal findings
Answer: B) Documenting in chronological order
,Rationale: Documentation must be chronological to ensure accurate tracking of patient status
and interventions. Only objective data should be included, avoiding personal opinions, while
all relevant findings, both normal and abnormal, should be documented.
4. Question: A nurse notices a patient has difficulty breathing when lying flat.
What is the appropriate term for this symptom?
A) Dyspnea
B) Orthopnea
C) Hyperventilation
D) Apnea
Answer: B) Orthopnea
Rationale: Orthopnea refers to shortness of breath (dyspnea) that occurs when a person is
lying flat, typically associated with conditions such as heart failure. Dyspnea is general
difficulty breathing, while apnea refers to a temporary cessation of breathing.
5. Question: Which of the following is a key consideration when preparing a
patient for a procedure involving local anesthesia?
A) Assessing the patient’s hydration status
B) Ensuring the patient is aware of fasting requirements
C) Reviewing allergies, especially to anesthesia
D) Administering a sedative 2 hours before the procedure
Answer: C) Reviewing allergies, especially to anesthesia
Rationale: Assessing allergies to anesthesia is critical to avoid adverse reactions. Hydration
and fasting requirements are typically less restrictive for local anesthesia, and sedatives are
not always necessary.
6. Question: In patient education about hypertension, which lifestyle
modification should the nurse emphasize?
A) Increasing sodium intake
B) Reducing physical activity
C) Increasing high-fat foods
D) Reducing salt intake
Answer: D) Reducing salt intake
,Rationale: Reducing salt intake helps to lower blood pressure and is a vital lifestyle
modification for hypertension management. High sodium intake can exacerbate hypertension,
while physical activity and a balanced diet are beneficial.
7. Question: A patient presents with pain radiating to the left arm and jaw,
nausea, and diaphoresis. What should the nurse suspect?
A) Stroke
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Anxiety attack
Answer: C) Myocardial infarction
Rationale: Symptoms like left arm and jaw pain, nausea, and diaphoresis are classic signs of
a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Recognizing these symptoms promptly is essential for
timely intervention.
8. Question: Which of the following is the most accurate way to assess pain in
a non-verbal patient?
A) Ask the patient’s family
B) Look for signs of discomfort
C) Use the FLACC scale
D) Administer a trial dose of pain medication
Answer: C) Use the FLACC scale
Rationale: The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is a validated tool for
assessing pain in non-verbal patients by observing behavior. Asking family can be helpful but
may not give a current pain level.
9. Question: A nurse identifies that a patient has a significant risk of falling.
What is an essential first step in fall prevention?
A) Placing the patient in a wheelchair
B) Applying restraints
C) Utilizing a fall risk assessment tool
D) Educating the family on fall prevention
Answer: C) Utilizing a fall risk assessment tool
, Rationale: The first step in preventing falls is to assess risk systematically using a fall risk
assessment tool. This helps guide specific interventions. Restraints are a last resort, and
education follows assessment.
10. Question: In what scenario should a nurse use standard precautions?
A) Only when there’s visible blood
B) With every patient contact
C) Only with patients who are known carriers of infection
D) Only when performing sterile procedures
Answer: B) With every patient contact
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patient interactions to prevent the spread of
infection, regardless of the patient’s diagnosis. This approach minimizes the risk of
transmission of pathogens.
11. Question: When preparing a sterile field, what action should the nurse
take if they accidentally touch the sterile area with a non-sterile object?
A) Continue with the procedure
B) Cover the contaminated area with sterile gauze
C) Discard and re-prepare the sterile field
D) Move the non-sterile object aside
Answer: C) Discard and re-prepare the sterile field
Rationale: Sterility must be maintained to prevent infection. Once a sterile field is
contaminated, it is no longer considered sterile, so the entire field must be re-prepared.
12. Question: Which of the following vital signs changes may indicate
hypovolemia in a patient?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Bradycardia
C) Decreased respiratory rate
D) Tachycardia
Answer: D) Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia (increased heart rate) can indicate hypovolemia as the body
compensates for low blood volume by increasing the heart rate to maintain adequate
circulation.
SOLUTIONS
Course
GPC F
1. Question: When assessing a patient for dehydration, which symptom would
indicate moderate to severe dehydration?
A) Moist mucous membranes
B) Capillary refill within 2 seconds
C) Tenting of the skin
D) Increased urine output
Answer: C) Tenting of the skin
Rationale: Tenting, or delayed skin recoil, is a classic sign of dehydration due to loss of skin
elasticity. It is more pronounced in moderate to severe dehydration. Moist mucous
membranes and increased urine output are indicative of proper hydration, while normal
capillary refill (within 2 seconds) suggests adequate blood volume.
2. Question: What is the primary reason for a nurse to perform a health
history review upon patient admission?
A) To create a rapport with the patient
B) To collect billing information
C) To identify potential health risks
D) To assess the patient’s cognitive skills
Answer: C) To identify potential health risks
Rationale: A comprehensive health history allows the nurse to identify any risk factors and
past health issues that may affect current care needs. While rapport-building is essential, it is
secondary to the identification of health risks.
3. Question: Which of the following is a critical element when documenting in
a patient’s chart?
A) Using subjective statements
B) Documenting in chronological order
C) Including personal opinions
D) Documenting only abnormal findings
Answer: B) Documenting in chronological order
,Rationale: Documentation must be chronological to ensure accurate tracking of patient status
and interventions. Only objective data should be included, avoiding personal opinions, while
all relevant findings, both normal and abnormal, should be documented.
4. Question: A nurse notices a patient has difficulty breathing when lying flat.
What is the appropriate term for this symptom?
A) Dyspnea
B) Orthopnea
C) Hyperventilation
D) Apnea
Answer: B) Orthopnea
Rationale: Orthopnea refers to shortness of breath (dyspnea) that occurs when a person is
lying flat, typically associated with conditions such as heart failure. Dyspnea is general
difficulty breathing, while apnea refers to a temporary cessation of breathing.
5. Question: Which of the following is a key consideration when preparing a
patient for a procedure involving local anesthesia?
A) Assessing the patient’s hydration status
B) Ensuring the patient is aware of fasting requirements
C) Reviewing allergies, especially to anesthesia
D) Administering a sedative 2 hours before the procedure
Answer: C) Reviewing allergies, especially to anesthesia
Rationale: Assessing allergies to anesthesia is critical to avoid adverse reactions. Hydration
and fasting requirements are typically less restrictive for local anesthesia, and sedatives are
not always necessary.
6. Question: In patient education about hypertension, which lifestyle
modification should the nurse emphasize?
A) Increasing sodium intake
B) Reducing physical activity
C) Increasing high-fat foods
D) Reducing salt intake
Answer: D) Reducing salt intake
,Rationale: Reducing salt intake helps to lower blood pressure and is a vital lifestyle
modification for hypertension management. High sodium intake can exacerbate hypertension,
while physical activity and a balanced diet are beneficial.
7. Question: A patient presents with pain radiating to the left arm and jaw,
nausea, and diaphoresis. What should the nurse suspect?
A) Stroke
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Anxiety attack
Answer: C) Myocardial infarction
Rationale: Symptoms like left arm and jaw pain, nausea, and diaphoresis are classic signs of
a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Recognizing these symptoms promptly is essential for
timely intervention.
8. Question: Which of the following is the most accurate way to assess pain in
a non-verbal patient?
A) Ask the patient’s family
B) Look for signs of discomfort
C) Use the FLACC scale
D) Administer a trial dose of pain medication
Answer: C) Use the FLACC scale
Rationale: The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is a validated tool for
assessing pain in non-verbal patients by observing behavior. Asking family can be helpful but
may not give a current pain level.
9. Question: A nurse identifies that a patient has a significant risk of falling.
What is an essential first step in fall prevention?
A) Placing the patient in a wheelchair
B) Applying restraints
C) Utilizing a fall risk assessment tool
D) Educating the family on fall prevention
Answer: C) Utilizing a fall risk assessment tool
, Rationale: The first step in preventing falls is to assess risk systematically using a fall risk
assessment tool. This helps guide specific interventions. Restraints are a last resort, and
education follows assessment.
10. Question: In what scenario should a nurse use standard precautions?
A) Only when there’s visible blood
B) With every patient contact
C) Only with patients who are known carriers of infection
D) Only when performing sterile procedures
Answer: B) With every patient contact
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patient interactions to prevent the spread of
infection, regardless of the patient’s diagnosis. This approach minimizes the risk of
transmission of pathogens.
11. Question: When preparing a sterile field, what action should the nurse
take if they accidentally touch the sterile area with a non-sterile object?
A) Continue with the procedure
B) Cover the contaminated area with sterile gauze
C) Discard and re-prepare the sterile field
D) Move the non-sterile object aside
Answer: C) Discard and re-prepare the sterile field
Rationale: Sterility must be maintained to prevent infection. Once a sterile field is
contaminated, it is no longer considered sterile, so the entire field must be re-prepared.
12. Question: Which of the following vital signs changes may indicate
hypovolemia in a patient?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Bradycardia
C) Decreased respiratory rate
D) Tachycardia
Answer: D) Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia (increased heart rate) can indicate hypovolemia as the body
compensates for low blood volume by increasing the heart rate to maintain adequate
circulation.
