NCLEX-RN Practice Test #12 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A young adult is 20 years old and has been recently admitted to the hospital. According to Erikson, which of the following stages is the adult in?

Trust vs. mistrust
Initiative vs. guilt
Autonomy vs. shame
Intimacy vs. isolation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Intimacy vs. isolation

According to Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, the 'Intimacy vs. Isolation' stage typically occurs in early adulthood, roughly ages 19 to 40. During this stage, individuals focus on forming close, intimate relationships and developing a sense of commitment and love. A 20-year-old would be squarely within this developmental period, navigating the challenges of forming meaningful connections.

Question 2: A nurse is making rounds taking vital signs. Which of the following vital signs is abnormal?

11-year-old male: 90 BPM, 22 RPM, 100/70 mmHg
13-year-old female: 105 BPM, 22 RPM, 105/50 mmHg (Correct answer)
5-year-old male: 102 BPM, 24 RPM, 90/65 mmHg
6-year-old female: 100 BPM, 26 RPM, 90/70 mmHg

Correct answer: 13-year-old female: 105 BPM, 22 RPM, 105/50 mmHg

Normal heart rate for a 13-year-old is typically 60-100 BPM. A heart rate of 105 BPM is considered elevated (tachycardia) for this age group, making it an abnormal finding. While respiratory rate and blood pressure values provided are generally within normal limits for a 13-year-old, the elevated heart rate indicates a physiological deviation requiring further assessment.

Question 3: A 34-year-old female has recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She has also recently discovered that she is pregnant. Which of the following is the only immunoglobulin that will provide protection to the fetus in the womb?

IgA
IgD
IgE
IgG (Correct answer)

Correct answer: IgG

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the only class of antibodies that can cross the placental barrier from the mother to the fetus. This passive immunity provides crucial protection to the newborn against various pathogens during the first few months of life. The other immunoglobulins (IgA, IgD, IgE) do not cross the placenta, so IgG is solely responsible for this prenatal protection.

Question 4: A patient’s chart indicates a history of meningitis. Which of the following would you not expect to see with this patient if this condition were acute?

Increased appetite (Correct answer)
Vomiting
Fever
Poor tolerance of light

Correct answer: Increased appetite

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Acute symptoms typically include fever, headache, stiff neck, photophobia (poor tolerance of light), nausea, and vomiting. An increased appetite is not a characteristic symptom of acute meningitis; in fact, patients often experience anorexia due to the systemic illness and discomfort.

Question 5: A parent calls the pediatric clinic and is frantic about the bottle of cleaning fluid her child drank 20 minutes. Which of the following is the most important instruction the nurse can give the parent?

This too shall pass
Take the child immediately to the ER
Contact the Poison Control Center quickly (Correct answer)
Give the child syrup of ipecac

Correct answer: Contact the Poison Control Center quickly

In cases of suspected poisoning, the most crucial first action is to contact the Poison Control Center immediately. They are experts in toxicology and can provide specific, evidence-based instructions tailored to the type and amount of substance ingested, the child's age, and current symptoms. Their guidance is essential for safe and effective management and often supersedes general advice or self-treatment.

Question 6: A 20-year-old female attending college is found unconscious in her dorm room. She has a fever and a noticeable rash. She has just been admitted to the hospital. Which of the following tests is most likely to be performed first?

Blood sugar check
CT scan
Blood cultures (Correct answer)
Arterial blood gases (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Blood cultures

A young adult with fever, rash, and unconsciousness suggests a severe infection, possibly meningitis or sepsis, which are medical emergencies. Obtaining blood cultures is a critical first step to identify the causative organism before administering antibiotics. This allows for targeted treatment and is essential for guiding medical management in a potentially life-threatening situation, as prompt identification can significantly impact outcomes.

Question 7: A nurse is administering a shot of Vitamin K to a 30-day-old infant. Which of the following target areas is the most appropriate?

Gluteus maximus
Gluteus minimus
Vastus lateralis (Correct answer)
Vastus medialis

Correct answer: Vastus lateralis

For infants and young children, the vastus lateralis muscle in the thigh is the preferred site for intramuscular injections, such as Vitamin K. This muscle is well-developed and provides a large, safe area for injection, minimizing the risk of damage to nerves or blood vessels. Other sites, like the gluteal muscles, are not fully developed in infants and carry a higher risk of injury.

Question 8: A patient asks a nurse, “My doctor recommended I increase my intake of folic acid. What type of foods contain the highest concentration of folic acids?”

Green vegetables and liver (Correct answer)
Yellow vegetables and red meat
Carrots
Milk

Correct answer: Green vegetables and liver

Folic acid (folate) is a B vitamin essential for cell growth and development, particularly important during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. Excellent dietary sources of folic acid include leafy green vegetables (like spinach, kale, broccoli), liver, fortified cereals, and legumes. Therefore, recommending green vegetables and liver provides accurate guidance for increasing folic acid intake.

Question 9: A nurse is reviewing a patient’s past medical history (PMH). The history indicates the patient has photosensitive reactions to medications. Which of the following drugs is associated with photosensitive reactions? Select all that apply:

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) (Correct answer)
Isotretinoin (Accutane) (Correct answer)
Sulfonamide (Correct answer)
Norfloxacin (Noroxin) (Correct answer)
Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim (Bactrim) (Correct answer)
Nitro-Dur patch

Correct answer: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic known to cause photosensitivity reactions, making the skin more susceptible to sunburn and rash upon exposure to sunlight or UV light. Patients taking this medication should be advised to use sun protection, wear protective clothing, and avoid prolonged sun exposure. This is a crucial teaching point to prevent adverse dermatological effects.

Question 10: Which level is characteristic of the strength of the evidence provided by the results of a quasi-experimental study?

Level I
Level II
Level III (Correct answer)
Level IV

Correct answer: Level III

In evidence-based practice hierarchies, quasi-experimental studies typically provide Level III evidence. This level indicates evidence obtained from well-designed quasi-experimental studies, which involve an intervention but lack random assignment or a control group. While valuable, they are considered less robust than randomized controlled trials (Level II) but stronger than descriptive studies (Level IV) or expert opinion (Level V).

Question 11: A researcher wants to discover why patients of certain ethnic backgrounds are reluctant to ask for pain medication. Because there are little data in the literature on this topic, the researcher designs a study to explore the relationships between cultural belief systems, the experience of pain, and the effective use of medication to relieve pain. The researcher plans to use the findings of this study to formulate hypotheses for a future study. What is a characteristic of this study?

It is a quasi-experimental study.
It will lead to level II data.
It has a directional hypothesis.
It is a hypothesis-generating study. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It is a hypothesis-generating study.

The researcher is exploring a topic with little existing data to formulate hypotheses for future studies, which is characteristic of a hypothesis-generating study. This approach, often qualitative or exploratory in nature, aims to identify patterns, relationships, and potential variables. The goal is to discover potential relationships that can then be tested with more rigorous, hypothesis-driven research designs, rather than testing pre-existing ones.

Question 12: The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable would be considered to be the dependent variable?

Degree of treatment received (Correct answer)
Age of the patient
Type of cancer being treated
Use of inpatient treatment

Correct answer: Degree of treatment received

In a research hypothesis, the dependent variable is the outcome or effect that is being measured and is presumed to be influenced by another variable. In the hypothesis 'Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women,' the 'degree of treatment received' is the outcome that is hypothesized to change based on the patient's age. Therefore, it is the dependent variable.

Question 13: The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable would be considered to be the independent variable?

Degree of treatment received
Age of the patient (Correct answer)
Type of cancer being treated
Use of inpatient treatment

Correct answer: Age of the patient

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher, or that naturally varies and is presumed to cause or influence changes in the dependent variable. In the hypothesis 'Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women,' the 'age of the patient' is the characteristic that is hypothesized to influence the type of treatment received. Thus, age is the independent variable.

Question 14: The following are considered steps in the qualitative research process, except?

Literature review
Hypothesis (Correct answer)
Sample
Data collection

Correct answer: Hypothesis

Qualitative research aims to explore and understand complex phenomena, experiences, and meanings from the perspective of participants. Unlike quantitative research, it typically does not start with a pre-defined hypothesis to be tested. Instead, qualitative studies are guided by broad research questions that allow for emergent themes and deeper insights.

Question 15: Which of the following could be considered the “context” of a study? Select all that apply.

Cultural understandings and beliefs of study participants (Correct answer)
The physical setting of the study (Correct answer)
The sample selected for the study
The number of subjects in the study

Correct answer: Cultural understandings and beliefs of study participants

The 'context' of a study refers to the surrounding circumstances, environment, and conditions that can influence the research and its findings. This includes the cultural understandings and beliefs of participants, which shape their experiences and perspectives. The physical setting where the study takes place also profoundly impacts the data collected and the interpretation of results, making both A and B correct.

Question 16: Which beliefs guide the constructivist paradigm? Select all that apply.

There are multiple realities. (Correct answer)
The truth is objective.
Context does not matter as much as truth.
The participant (subject) is an active part of the study (Correct answer)

Correct answer: There are multiple realities.

The constructivist paradigm posits that reality is not objective or singular, but rather is subjectively constructed by individuals based on their experiences and perceptions. This means there are multiple realities, each unique to an individual's interpretation. Consequently, the participant's subjective experience and active role in shaping their reality are central to this paradigm.

NCLEX-RN Practice Test #12

A young adult is 20 years old and has been recently admitted to the hospital.
According to Erikson, which of the following stages is the adult in?