1. A nurse is assessing a client with a suspected myocardial
infarction (MI). Which finding would be most indicative of an MI?
A. Severe sharp chest pain that radiates to the left shoulder
B. Shortness of breath with a productive cough
C. Gradual onset of bilateral lower leg edema
D. Sudden dizziness with no associated chest pain
Answer: A) Severe sharp chest pain that radiates to the left
shoulder
Rationale: A common symptom of myocardial infarction is chest
pain that radiates to the left shoulder or arm. This is due to
ischemia affecting the heart muscle.
2. A patient with a history of chronic pancreatitis is at increased
risk for which of the following complications?
A. Diabetes mellitus
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Asthma
Answer: A) Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: Chronic pancreatitis can damage the pancreas' ability
to secrete insulin, leading to insulin resistance and an increased
risk of diabetes mellitus.
3. A patient with a diagnosis of schizophrenia may experience
which of the following symptoms?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Extreme fatigue
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Chronic cough
Answer: A) Auditory hallucinations
Rationale: Schizophrenia is often associated with psychotic
,symptoms, including auditory hallucinations, delusions, and
disorganized thinking.
4. What is a common complication of untreated hyperthyroidism?
A. Heart failure
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Myxedema coma
Answer: A) Heart failure
Rationale: Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to tachycardia and
increased cardiac workload, which can eventually result in heart
failure.
5. A patient with acute blood loss from a traumatic injury may
experience which of the following?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Increased heart rate
Answer: D) Increased heart rate
Rationale: Acute blood loss leads to a decrease in circulating
blood volume, which triggers compensatory tachycardia
(increased heart rate) to maintain cardiac output.
6. A patient with diabetes mellitus presents with polyuria,
polydipsia, and weight loss. What condition might these
symptoms indicate?
A. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
B. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Hypertension
Answer: A) Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Rationale: DKA occurs when insulin deficiency causes increased
, glucose production and fat breakdown, leading to ketosis and
elevated blood glucose levels, which cause symptoms like
polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss.
7. Which of the following is a common sign of hypovolemic
shock?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Warm skin
D. Hypertension
Answer: B) Tachycardia
Rationale: In hypovolemic shock, blood volume decreases, and the
body compensates by increasing the heart rate (tachycardia) to
maintain blood flow to vital organs.
8. 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).
9. A patient with acute bacterial meningitis is likely to experience
which of the following?
A. Increased thirst and urination
B. Severe headache and neck stiffness
C. Joint pain and swelling
D. Abdominal pain and bloating
Answer: B) Severe headache and neck stiffness
infarction (MI). Which finding would be most indicative of an MI?
A. Severe sharp chest pain that radiates to the left shoulder
B. Shortness of breath with a productive cough
C. Gradual onset of bilateral lower leg edema
D. Sudden dizziness with no associated chest pain
Answer: A) Severe sharp chest pain that radiates to the left
shoulder
Rationale: A common symptom of myocardial infarction is chest
pain that radiates to the left shoulder or arm. This is due to
ischemia affecting the heart muscle.
2. A patient with a history of chronic pancreatitis is at increased
risk for which of the following complications?
A. Diabetes mellitus
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Asthma
Answer: A) Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: Chronic pancreatitis can damage the pancreas' ability
to secrete insulin, leading to insulin resistance and an increased
risk of diabetes mellitus.
3. A patient with a diagnosis of schizophrenia may experience
which of the following symptoms?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Extreme fatigue
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Chronic cough
Answer: A) Auditory hallucinations
Rationale: Schizophrenia is often associated with psychotic
,symptoms, including auditory hallucinations, delusions, and
disorganized thinking.
4. What is a common complication of untreated hyperthyroidism?
A. Heart failure
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Myxedema coma
Answer: A) Heart failure
Rationale: Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to tachycardia and
increased cardiac workload, which can eventually result in heart
failure.
5. A patient with acute blood loss from a traumatic injury may
experience which of the following?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Increased heart rate
Answer: D) Increased heart rate
Rationale: Acute blood loss leads to a decrease in circulating
blood volume, which triggers compensatory tachycardia
(increased heart rate) to maintain cardiac output.
6. A patient with diabetes mellitus presents with polyuria,
polydipsia, and weight loss. What condition might these
symptoms indicate?
A. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
B. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Hypertension
Answer: A) Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Rationale: DKA occurs when insulin deficiency causes increased
, glucose production and fat breakdown, leading to ketosis and
elevated blood glucose levels, which cause symptoms like
polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss.
7. Which of the following is a common sign of hypovolemic
shock?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Warm skin
D. Hypertension
Answer: B) Tachycardia
Rationale: In hypovolemic shock, blood volume decreases, and the
body compensates by increasing the heart rate (tachycardia) to
maintain blood flow to vital organs.
8. 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).
9. A patient with acute bacterial meningitis is likely to experience
which of the following?
A. Increased thirst and urination
B. Severe headache and neck stiffness
C. Joint pain and swelling
D. Abdominal pain and bloating
Answer: B) Severe headache and neck stiffness
