RPN - Registered Practical Nurse Care of Chronic Illness Questions and Answers

Question 1

An RPN is conducting a home care visit for a client with chronic heart failure (CHF).
The client reports a weight gain of 2 kg in the past two days and feeling more short of breath than usual.
What is the RPN's priority action?

Accepted Answer

Recognize the signs of fluid retention and notify the primary care provider or case manager immediately.

Answer

Advise the client to reduce their sodium intake and continue monitoring at home.

Answer

Instruct the client to elevate their legs and increase their fluid intake.

Answer

Document the findings and schedule a follow-up visit for the following week.

Question 2

When providing foot care education to a client with type 2 diabetes, which of the following instructions is most crucial for the RPN to emphasize?

Accepted Answer

Visually inspect the entire surface of both feet every day.

Answer

Soak feet in hot water for 20 minutes daily to soften the skin.

Answer

Apply moisturizing lotion between the toes to prevent dryness.

Answer

Trim toenails with a curved edge to match the shape of the toe.

Question 3

A client with advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is being introduced to a palliative approach to care. Which statement by the RPN best describes the primary goal of this approach?

Accepted Answer

"Our main goal is to improve your quality of life by managing symptoms like breathlessness and fatigue."

Answer

"We will now stop all treatments aimed at your breathing and focus only on comfort."

Answer

"This means you will be transferred to a hospice facility for end-of-life care."

Answer

"The focus will be on aggressive new treatments to try and reverse the lung damage."

Question 4

The RPN's role in supporting self-management for a client with a chronic illness, such as arthritis, primarily involves which of the following activities?

Accepted Answer

Collaborating with the client to set realistic goals and provide health teaching.

Answer

Developing a strict daily schedule for the client to follow without deviation.

Answer

Making all health-related decisions on behalf of the client.

Answer

Performing all complex care tasks to prevent client error.

Question 5

An RPN is caring for a client with stable COPD who suddenly reports increased dyspnea, increased sputum production, and a change in sputum color from clear to yellow. The RPN should recognize these signs as indicative of what condition?

Accepted Answer

An acute exacerbation of COPD.

Answer

A normal variation of the client's chronic condition.

Answer

An allergic reaction to their medication.

Answer

The initial onset of pneumonia.

Question 6

An RPN is reinforcing teaching with an older adult client who has osteoarthritis and reports chronic knee pain. Which non-pharmacological pain management strategy is most appropriate for the RPN to suggest?

Accepted Answer

Applying a warm compress to the affected knee.

Answer

Maintaining complete bed rest for several days.

Answer

Starting a high-impact aerobic exercise program.

Answer

Vigorously massaging the joint to increase circulation.

An RPN is conducting a home care visit for a client with chronic heart failure (CHF).The client reports a weight gain of 2 kg in the past two days and feeling more short of breath than usual.What is the RPN's priority action?

An RPN is conducting a home care visit for a client with chronic heart failure (CHF).
The client reports a weight gain of 2 kg in the past two days and feeling more short of breath than usual.
What is the RPN's priority action?