NCLEX-PN National Council Licensure Examination: Complete Guide to Exam Format,
Test Plan, Question Types, CAT Scoring, Study Strategies, Practice Questions, and
Practical Nurse Licensure Success
NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses) is the required
licensure exam for LPN/LVN candidates. This comprehensive guide explains NCLEX-PN
exam format, computerized adaptive testing (CAT), test plan categories, question types,
scoring system, eligibility requirements, registration process, study resources, preparation
strategies, and expert tips to pass the NCLEX-PN on your first attempt.
NCLEX-PN,
NCLEX PN exam,
NCLEX-PN National Council Licensure Examination,
NCLEX-PN meaning,
Airway – Obstruction and Asthma
Which of the following types of asthma involves an acute asthma attack brought on by an upper
respiratory infection?
Emotional
Extrinsic
Intrinsic
Mediated
Ans-5. 1. Intrinsic asthma doesn’t have an easily identifiable allergen and can be triggered by the
common cold. Asthma caused be emotional reasons is considered to be in the extrinsic category.
Extrinsic asthma is caused by dust, molds, and pets; easily identifiable allergens. Mediated asthma
doesn’t exist.
,6. A client with acute asthma showing inspiratory and expiratory wheezes and a decreased expiratory
volume should be treated with which of the following classes of medication right away?
Beta-adrenergic blockers
Bronchodilators
Inhaled steroids
Oral steroids
Ans-6. 2. Bronchodilators are the first line of treatment for asthma because bronchoconstriction is the
cause of reduced airflow. Beta-adrenergic blockers aren’t used to treat asthma and can cause
bronchoconstriction. Inhaled or oral steroids may be given to reduce the inflammation but aren’t used
for emergency relief.
7. A 19-year-old comes into the emergency department with acute asthma. His respiratory rate is 44
breaths/minute, and he appears to be in acute respiratory distress. Which of the following actions
should be taken first?
Take a full medication history
Give a bronchodilator by nebulizer
Apply a cardiac monitor to the client
Provide emotional support to the client.
Ans-7. 2. The client is having an acute asthma attack and needs to increase oxygen delivery to the lung
and body. Nebulized bronchodilators open airways and increase the amount of oxygen delivered. First
resolve the acute phase of the attack ad how to prevent attacks in the future. It may not be necessary to
place the client on a cardiac monitor because he’s only 19-years-old, unless he has a past medical
history of cardiac problems.
An elderly client with pneumonia may appear with which of the following symptoms first?
Altered mental status and dehydration
fever and chills
Hemoptysis and dyspnea
Pleuretic chest pain and cough
Ans-1. 1. Fever, chills, hemoptysis, dyspnea, cough, and pleuric chest pain are the common symptoms of
pneumonia, but elderly clients may first appear with only an altered mental status and dehydration due
to a blunted immune response.
,2. Which of the following pathophysiological mechanisms that occurs in the lung parenchyma allows
pneumonia to develop?
Atelectasis
Bronchiectasis
Effusion
Inflammation
Ans-2. 4. the most common feature of all types of pneumonia is an inflammatory pulmonary response to
the offending organism or agent. Atelectasis and bronchiectasis indicate a collapse of a portion of the
airway that doesn’t occur with pneumonia. An effusion is an accumulation of excess pleural fluid in the
pleural space, which may be a secondary response to pneumonia.
3. A 7-year-old client is brought to the E.R. He’s tachypneic and afebrile and has a respiratory rate of 36
breaths/minute and a nonproductive cough. He recently had a cold. From his history, the client may
have which of the following?
Acute asthma
Bronchial pneumonia
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Emphysema
Ans-3. 1. Based on the client’s history and symptoms, acute asthma is the most likely diagnosis. He’s
unlikely to have bronchial pneumonia without a productive cough and fever and he’s too young to have
developed COPD or emphysema.
4. Which of the following assessment findings would help confirm a diagnosis of asthma in a client
suspected of having the disorder?
Circumoral cyanosis
Increased forced expiratory volume
Inspiratory and expiratory wheezing
Normal breath sounds
Ans-4. 3. Inspiratory and expiratory wheezes are typical findings in asthma. Circumoral cyanosis may be
present in extreme cases of respiratory distress. The nurse would expect the client to have a decreased
forced expiratory volume because asthma is an obstructive pulmonary disease. Breath sounds will be
“tight” sounding or markedly decreased; they won’t be normal.
, 5.
8. A 58-year-old client with a 40-year history of smoking one to two packs of cigarettes a day has a
chronic cough producing thick sputum, peripheral edema, and cyanotic nail beds. Based on this
information, he most likely has which of the following conditions?
Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Asthma
Chronic obstructive bronchitis
Emphysema
Ans-8. 3. Because of his extensive smoking history and symptoms, the client most likely has chronic
obstructive bronchitis. Clients with ARDS have acute symptoms of and typically need large amounts of
oxygen. Clients with asthma and emphysema tend not to have a chronic cough or peripheral edema.
9. The term “blue bloater” refers to which of the following conditions?
Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Asthma
Chronic obstructive bronchitis
Emphysema
Ans-9. 3. Clients with chronic obstructive bronchitis appear bloated; they have large barrel chests and
peripheral edema, cyanotic nail beds and, at times, circumoral cyanosis. Clients with ARDS are acutely
short of breath and frequently need intubation for mechanical ventilation and large amounts of oxygen.
Clients with asthma don’t exhibit characteristics of chronic disease, and clients with emphysema appear
pink and cachectic (a state of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting).
10. The term “pink puffer” refers to the client with which of the following conditions?
ARDS
Asthma
Chronic obstructive bronchitis
Emphysema
Ans-10. 4. Because of the large amount of energy it takes to breathe, clients with emphysema are
usually cachectic. They’re pink and usually breathe through pursed lips, hence the term “puffer”. Clients
Test Plan, Question Types, CAT Scoring, Study Strategies, Practice Questions, and
Practical Nurse Licensure Success
NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses) is the required
licensure exam for LPN/LVN candidates. This comprehensive guide explains NCLEX-PN
exam format, computerized adaptive testing (CAT), test plan categories, question types,
scoring system, eligibility requirements, registration process, study resources, preparation
strategies, and expert tips to pass the NCLEX-PN on your first attempt.
NCLEX-PN,
NCLEX PN exam,
NCLEX-PN National Council Licensure Examination,
NCLEX-PN meaning,
Airway – Obstruction and Asthma
Which of the following types of asthma involves an acute asthma attack brought on by an upper
respiratory infection?
Emotional
Extrinsic
Intrinsic
Mediated
Ans-5. 1. Intrinsic asthma doesn’t have an easily identifiable allergen and can be triggered by the
common cold. Asthma caused be emotional reasons is considered to be in the extrinsic category.
Extrinsic asthma is caused by dust, molds, and pets; easily identifiable allergens. Mediated asthma
doesn’t exist.
,6. A client with acute asthma showing inspiratory and expiratory wheezes and a decreased expiratory
volume should be treated with which of the following classes of medication right away?
Beta-adrenergic blockers
Bronchodilators
Inhaled steroids
Oral steroids
Ans-6. 2. Bronchodilators are the first line of treatment for asthma because bronchoconstriction is the
cause of reduced airflow. Beta-adrenergic blockers aren’t used to treat asthma and can cause
bronchoconstriction. Inhaled or oral steroids may be given to reduce the inflammation but aren’t used
for emergency relief.
7. A 19-year-old comes into the emergency department with acute asthma. His respiratory rate is 44
breaths/minute, and he appears to be in acute respiratory distress. Which of the following actions
should be taken first?
Take a full medication history
Give a bronchodilator by nebulizer
Apply a cardiac monitor to the client
Provide emotional support to the client.
Ans-7. 2. The client is having an acute asthma attack and needs to increase oxygen delivery to the lung
and body. Nebulized bronchodilators open airways and increase the amount of oxygen delivered. First
resolve the acute phase of the attack ad how to prevent attacks in the future. It may not be necessary to
place the client on a cardiac monitor because he’s only 19-years-old, unless he has a past medical
history of cardiac problems.
An elderly client with pneumonia may appear with which of the following symptoms first?
Altered mental status and dehydration
fever and chills
Hemoptysis and dyspnea
Pleuretic chest pain and cough
Ans-1. 1. Fever, chills, hemoptysis, dyspnea, cough, and pleuric chest pain are the common symptoms of
pneumonia, but elderly clients may first appear with only an altered mental status and dehydration due
to a blunted immune response.
,2. Which of the following pathophysiological mechanisms that occurs in the lung parenchyma allows
pneumonia to develop?
Atelectasis
Bronchiectasis
Effusion
Inflammation
Ans-2. 4. the most common feature of all types of pneumonia is an inflammatory pulmonary response to
the offending organism or agent. Atelectasis and bronchiectasis indicate a collapse of a portion of the
airway that doesn’t occur with pneumonia. An effusion is an accumulation of excess pleural fluid in the
pleural space, which may be a secondary response to pneumonia.
3. A 7-year-old client is brought to the E.R. He’s tachypneic and afebrile and has a respiratory rate of 36
breaths/minute and a nonproductive cough. He recently had a cold. From his history, the client may
have which of the following?
Acute asthma
Bronchial pneumonia
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Emphysema
Ans-3. 1. Based on the client’s history and symptoms, acute asthma is the most likely diagnosis. He’s
unlikely to have bronchial pneumonia without a productive cough and fever and he’s too young to have
developed COPD or emphysema.
4. Which of the following assessment findings would help confirm a diagnosis of asthma in a client
suspected of having the disorder?
Circumoral cyanosis
Increased forced expiratory volume
Inspiratory and expiratory wheezing
Normal breath sounds
Ans-4. 3. Inspiratory and expiratory wheezes are typical findings in asthma. Circumoral cyanosis may be
present in extreme cases of respiratory distress. The nurse would expect the client to have a decreased
forced expiratory volume because asthma is an obstructive pulmonary disease. Breath sounds will be
“tight” sounding or markedly decreased; they won’t be normal.
, 5.
8. A 58-year-old client with a 40-year history of smoking one to two packs of cigarettes a day has a
chronic cough producing thick sputum, peripheral edema, and cyanotic nail beds. Based on this
information, he most likely has which of the following conditions?
Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Asthma
Chronic obstructive bronchitis
Emphysema
Ans-8. 3. Because of his extensive smoking history and symptoms, the client most likely has chronic
obstructive bronchitis. Clients with ARDS have acute symptoms of and typically need large amounts of
oxygen. Clients with asthma and emphysema tend not to have a chronic cough or peripheral edema.
9. The term “blue bloater” refers to which of the following conditions?
Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Asthma
Chronic obstructive bronchitis
Emphysema
Ans-9. 3. Clients with chronic obstructive bronchitis appear bloated; they have large barrel chests and
peripheral edema, cyanotic nail beds and, at times, circumoral cyanosis. Clients with ARDS are acutely
short of breath and frequently need intubation for mechanical ventilation and large amounts of oxygen.
Clients with asthma don’t exhibit characteristics of chronic disease, and clients with emphysema appear
pink and cachectic (a state of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting).
10. The term “pink puffer” refers to the client with which of the following conditions?
ARDS
Asthma
Chronic obstructive bronchitis
Emphysema
Ans-10. 4. Because of the large amount of energy it takes to breathe, clients with emphysema are
usually cachectic. They’re pink and usually breathe through pursed lips, hence the term “puffer”. Clients
