FREE Registered Nurse: Reduction of Risk Potential Questions and Answers

Question 1

At the local clinic, the healthcare provider is seeing four patients. Which of these people needs to have their risk for iron deficiency anemia identified by the healthcare professional?

Accepted Answer

The woman of childbearing age, reported a craving for ice.

Answer

Pica, which is a craving for non-nutritive substances like ice (pagophagia), dirt, or clay, is a classic symptom of iron deficiency anemia. While other patients listed may have risk factors for anemia, the reported craving for ice in a woman of childbearing age is a strong indicator specifically for iron deficiency anemia and warrants immediate investigation.

Question 2

Monitoring the patient's vital signs is crucial when a healthcare professional is treating a patient with a cardiac dysrhythmia.

Accepted Answer

sodium, potassium, and calcium

Answer

Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and calcium play critical roles in cardiac function, particularly in the electrical conduction system and myocardial contractility. Imbalances in these electrolytes can lead to various cardiac dysrhythmias. Therefore, monitoring their levels is crucial when caring for a patient with a cardiac dysrhythmia to guide treatment and prevent further complications.

Question 3

A patient arrives to the emergency room with a headache, disorientation, and a blood pressure of 180/130 mmHg. Which other observation supports the diagnosis of a hypertensive emergency?

Accepted Answer

Retinopathy

Answer

A hypertensive emergency is defined by severe hypertension (blood pressure typically >180/120 mmHg) accompanied by acute target organ damage. Retinopathy, which involves damage to the blood vessels in the retina, is a direct and visible sign of such acute end-organ damage caused by dangerously high blood pressure. This finding confirms the severity of the patient's condition and the need for immediate intervention.

Question 4

Which of the following would a healthcare professional anticipate when analyzing the arterial blood gases (ABGs) of a patient with a 20-year history of chronic bronchitis?

Accepted Answer

Respiratory acidosis, compensated

Answer

Chronic bronchitis leads to impaired gas exchange in the lungs, causing the body to retain carbon dioxide (CO2). This CO2 retention results in an elevated PaCO2 and a decreased pH, indicating respiratory acidosis. Over a 20-year history, the kidneys would have compensated by retaining bicarbonate (HCO3-), bringing the pH back towards a normal range, thus classifying it as compensated respiratory acidosis.

Question 5

The healthcare provider would most likely anticipate finding during an evaluation of a patient with acute bleeding

Accepted Answer

tachycardia

Answer

In acute bleeding, the body's initial compensatory mechanism for decreased blood volume and oxygen delivery is to increase the heart rate. Tachycardia helps maintain cardiac output and tissue perfusion in an attempt to counteract the blood loss. Hypotension would typically be a later sign, indicating that the body's compensatory mechanisms are failing.

Registered Nurse (RN) Practice Test

Registered Nurse (RN) Practice Test

FREE Registered Nurse: Reduction of Risk Potential Questions and Answers