1. What is a common sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in
older adults?
A. Fever and chills
B. Confusion and delirium
C. Painful urination
D. Excessive thirst
Answer: B) Confusion and delirium
Rationale: In older adults, UTIs may present with atypical
symptoms such as confusion, delirium, or agitation, rather than
the typical symptoms of fever and dysuria.
2. A patient with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) is at increased risk for which of the following?
A. Infection
B. Weight loss
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Stroke
Answer: A) Infection
Rationale: SLE is an autoimmune disorder that affects the immune
system, leaving the patient at higher risk for infections due to
immunosuppressive therapy and the disease itself.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with hyperkalemia. What is the
most concerning sign of this condition?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Shortness of breath
C. Diarrhea
D. Nausea
Answer: A) Muscle weakness
Rationale: Hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness and
potentially life-threatening arrhythmias due to its effect on the
,electrical conductivity of the heart.
4. What condition is characterized by the failure of the heart to
pump effectively, leading to inadequate tissue perfusion?
A. Stroke
B. Coronary artery disease (CAD)
C. Heart failure
D. Hypertension
Answer: C) Heart failure
Rationale: Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump
blood efficiently, leading to reduced perfusion of tissues and
organs.
5. Which of the following is a primary complication of untreated
hypertension?
A. Diabetes
B. Stroke
C. Asthma
D. Hyperthyroidism
Answer: B) Stroke
Rationale: Untreated hypertension can cause damage to blood
vessels, increasing the risk of a stroke due to the development of
atherosclerosis or rupture of a weakened vessel.
6. What is the main cause of type 2 diabetes?
A. Insulin resistance
B. Insulin deficiency
C. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
D. Excessive glucagon secretion
Answer: A) Insulin resistance
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by insulin
resistance, where the body’s cells do not respond effectively to
insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.
, 7. In which condition would you expect to find a low white blood
cell (WBC) count?
A. Viral infection
B. Leukemia
C. Bacterial infection
D. Bone marrow suppression
Answer: D) Bone marrow suppression
Rationale: Bone marrow suppression, often caused by
chemotherapy or certain diseases, can result in low WBC counts
(leukopenia).
8. Which of the following lab findings is typically seen in a patient
with acute renal failure (ARF)?
A. Increased serum creatinine
B. Decreased serum potassium
C. Decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D. Decreased urine output (oliguria)
Answer: A) Increased serum creatinine
Rationale: In acute renal failure, the kidneys' ability to excrete
waste products diminishes, leading to an increase in serum
creatinine levels.
9. A patient is being treated for acute pancreatitis. What is a
common complication of this condition?
A. Renal failure
B. Chronic diarrhea
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Gallstones
Answer: A) Renal failure
Rationale: Acute pancreatitis can lead to systemic complications,
including renal failure, due to inflammation and the release of
digestive enzymes into the bloodstream.
older adults?
A. Fever and chills
B. Confusion and delirium
C. Painful urination
D. Excessive thirst
Answer: B) Confusion and delirium
Rationale: In older adults, UTIs may present with atypical
symptoms such as confusion, delirium, or agitation, rather than
the typical symptoms of fever and dysuria.
2. A patient with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) is at increased risk for which of the following?
A. Infection
B. Weight loss
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Stroke
Answer: A) Infection
Rationale: SLE is an autoimmune disorder that affects the immune
system, leaving the patient at higher risk for infections due to
immunosuppressive therapy and the disease itself.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with hyperkalemia. What is the
most concerning sign of this condition?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Shortness of breath
C. Diarrhea
D. Nausea
Answer: A) Muscle weakness
Rationale: Hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness and
potentially life-threatening arrhythmias due to its effect on the
,electrical conductivity of the heart.
4. What condition is characterized by the failure of the heart to
pump effectively, leading to inadequate tissue perfusion?
A. Stroke
B. Coronary artery disease (CAD)
C. Heart failure
D. Hypertension
Answer: C) Heart failure
Rationale: Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump
blood efficiently, leading to reduced perfusion of tissues and
organs.
5. Which of the following is a primary complication of untreated
hypertension?
A. Diabetes
B. Stroke
C. Asthma
D. Hyperthyroidism
Answer: B) Stroke
Rationale: Untreated hypertension can cause damage to blood
vessels, increasing the risk of a stroke due to the development of
atherosclerosis or rupture of a weakened vessel.
6. What is the main cause of type 2 diabetes?
A. Insulin resistance
B. Insulin deficiency
C. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
D. Excessive glucagon secretion
Answer: A) Insulin resistance
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by insulin
resistance, where the body’s cells do not respond effectively to
insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.
, 7. In which condition would you expect to find a low white blood
cell (WBC) count?
A. Viral infection
B. Leukemia
C. Bacterial infection
D. Bone marrow suppression
Answer: D) Bone marrow suppression
Rationale: Bone marrow suppression, often caused by
chemotherapy or certain diseases, can result in low WBC counts
(leukopenia).
8. Which of the following lab findings is typically seen in a patient
with acute renal failure (ARF)?
A. Increased serum creatinine
B. Decreased serum potassium
C. Decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D. Decreased urine output (oliguria)
Answer: A) Increased serum creatinine
Rationale: In acute renal failure, the kidneys' ability to excrete
waste products diminishes, leading to an increase in serum
creatinine levels.
9. A patient is being treated for acute pancreatitis. What is a
common complication of this condition?
A. Renal failure
B. Chronic diarrhea
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Gallstones
Answer: A) Renal failure
Rationale: Acute pancreatitis can lead to systemic complications,
including renal failure, due to inflammation and the release of
digestive enzymes into the bloodstream.