CELBAN Reading Comprehension 3

Question 1

A laboratory report reads: 'Serum potassium 2.9 mEq/L (Reference: 3.5–5.0 mEq/L). Patient is on digoxin 0.125 mg daily.' Why is this lab result particularly significant for this patient?

Accepted Answer

Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity and cardiac arrhythmias

Answer

Hypokalemia potentiates digoxin toxicity by increasing cardiac sensitivity to the drug, raising the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias.

Question 2

A patient's chart states: 'Allergies: Penicillin — anaphylaxis.' The physician orders 'Cephalexin 500 mg PO QID.' Based on this information, what should the nurse do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Contact the prescribing physician to clarify the order given the documented allergy

Answer

Cephalosporins share a beta-lactam ring with penicillin and carry a cross-reactivity risk; a documented anaphylaxis history requires clarification before administration.

Question 3

A clinical guideline passage reads: 'In patients with suspected sepsis, the Sepsis-3 criteria define sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is used to quantify organ dysfunction.' Which set of findings would MOST suggest sepsis per this definition?

Accepted Answer

Suspected infection plus acute change in SOFA score of ≥2 points

Answer

Sepsis-3 criteria define sepsis as suspected infection plus acute SOFA score increase of ≥2 indicating organ dysfunction.

Question 4

A patient education brochure about insulin states: 'Rapid-acting insulins (e.g., lispro, aspart) should be given 0–15 minutes before meals. Regular insulin should be given 30 minutes before meals. Long-acting insulins (e.g., glargine) are given once daily at the same time and have no peak.' A patient asks why their glargine is given at bedtime every day. What is the BEST explanation?

Accepted Answer

Once-daily dosing at a consistent time maintains steady basal insulin coverage without peaks

Answer

Glargine provides peakless, 24-hour basal coverage; consistent once-daily timing ensures stable blood glucose levels without pronounced peaks.

Question 5

A nursing research article states: 'A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered the gold standard for evaluating clinical interventions. Unlike cohort studies, RCTs use random allocation to minimize selection bias and confounding variables.' A nurse is evaluating two studies: one RCT and one retrospective chart review on the same topic. Which provides stronger evidence for practice change?

Accepted Answer

The RCT because random allocation reduces bias and strengthens causal inference

Answer

RCTs are the gold standard for evaluating interventions because randomization minimizes confounding and selection bias, providing stronger causal evidence.

(CELBAN) Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses Practice Test

(CELBAN) Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses Practice Test

CELBAN Reading Comprehension 3