Fundamentals Of Nursing NCLEX Quiz 9

1.

Critical thinking and the nursing process have which of the following in common? Both:

A.

Are important to use in nursing practice
B.

Use an ordered series of steps
C.

Are patient-specific processes
D.

Were developed specifically for nursing

Correct Answer
A. Are important to use in nursing practice

Explanation
Nurses make many decisions: some require using the nursing process. whereas others are not client related but require critical thinking. The nursing process has specific steps; critical thinking does not. Neither is linear. Critical thinking applies to any discipline.

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2.

In which step of the nursing process does the nurse analyze data and identify client problems?

A.

Assessment
B.

Diagnosis
C.

Planning outcomes
D.

Evaluation

Correct Answer
B. Diagnosis

Explanation
In the assessment phase. the nurse gathers data from many sources for analysis in the diagnosis phase. In the diagnosis phase. the nurse identifies the client’s health status. In the planning outcomes phase. the nurse formulates goals and outcomes. In the evaluation phase. which occurs after implementing interventions. the nurse gathers data about the client’s responses to nursing care to determine whether client outcomes were met.

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3.

In which phase of the nursing process does the nurse decide whether her actions have successfully treated the client’s health problem?

A.

Assessment
B.

Diagnosis
C.

Planning outcomes
D.

Evaluation

Correct Answer
D. Evaluation

Explanation
In the assessment phase. the nurse gathers data from many sources for analysis in the diagnosis phase. In the diagnosis phase. the nurse identifies the client’s health status. In the planning outcomes phase. the nurse and client decide on goals they want to achieve. In the intervention planning phase. the nurse identifies specific interventions to help achieve the identified goal. During the implementation phase. the nurse carries out the interventions or delegates them to other health care team members. During the evaluation phase. the nurse judges whether her actions have been successful in treating or preventing the identified client health problem.

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4.

What is the most basic reason that self-knowledge is important for nurses? Because it helps the nurse to:

A.

Identify personal biases that may affect his thinking and actions
B.

Identify the most effective interventions for a patient
C.

Communicate more efficiently with colleagues. patients. and families
D.

Learn and remember new procedures and techniques

Correct Answer
A. Identify personal biases that may affect his thinking and actions

Explanation
The most basic reason is that self-knowledge directly affects the nurse’s thinking and the actions he chooses. Indirectly. thinking is involved in identifying effective interventions. communicating. and learning procedures. However. because identifying personal biases affects all the other nursing actions. it is the most basic reason.

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5.

Arrange the steps of the nursing process in the sequence in which they generally occur (A. Assessment|B. Evaluation|C. Planning outcomes|D. Planning interventions|E. Diagnosis)

A.

E. B. A. D. C
B.

A. B. C. D. E
C.

A. E. C. D. B
D.

D. A. B. E. C

Correct Answer
C. A. E. C. D. B

Explanation
Logically. the steps are assessment. diagnosis. planning outcomes. planning interventions. and evaluation. Keep in mind that steps are not always performed in this order. depending on the patient’s needs. and that steps overlap.

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6.

How are critical thinking skills and critical thinking attitudes similar? Both are:

A.

Influences on the nurse’s problem solving and decision making
B.

Like feelings rather than cognitive activities
C.

Cognitive activities rather than feelings
D.

Applicable in all aspects of a person’s life

Correct Answer
A. Influences on the nurse’s problem solving and decision making

Explanation
Cognitive skills are used in complex thinking processes. such as problem solving and decision making. Critical thinking attitudes determine how a person uses her cognitive skills. Critical thinking attitudes are traits of the mind. such as independent thinking. intellectual curiosity. intellectual humility. and fair-mindedness. to name a few. Critical thinking skills refer to the cognitive activities used in complex thinking processes. A few examples of these skills involve recognizing the need for more information. recognizing gaps in one’s own knowledge. and separating relevant from irrelevant data. Critical thinking. which consists of intellectual skills and attitudes. can be used in all aspects of life.

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7.

The nurse is preparing to admit a patient from the emergency department. The transferring nurse reports that the patient with chronic lung disease has a 30+ year history of tobacco use. The nurse used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day at one time and worked very hard to quit smoking. She immediately thinks to herself. “I know I tend to feel negatively about people who use tobacco. especially when they have a serious lung condition; I figure if I can stop smoking. they should be able to. I must remember how physically and psychologically difficult that is. and be very careful not to let be judgmental of this patient.” This best illustrates:

A.

Theoretical knowledge
B.

Self-knowledge
C.

Using reliable resources
D.

Use of the nursing process

Correct Answer
B. Self-knowledge

Explanation
Personal knowledge is self-understanding—awareness of one’s beliefs. values. biases. and so on. That best describes the nurse’s awareness that her bias can affect her patient care. Theoretical knowledge consists of information. facts. principles. and theories in nursing and related disciplines; it consists of research findings and rationally constructed explanations of phenomena. Using reliable resources is a critical thinking skill. The nursing process is a problem-solving process consisting of the steps of assessing. diagnosing. planning outcomes. planning interventions. implementing. and evaluating. The nurse has not yet met this patient. so she could not have begun the nursing process.

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8.

Which organization’s standards require that all patients be assessed specifically for pain?

A.

American Nurses Association (ANA)
B.

State nurse practice acts
C.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
D.

The Joint Commission

Correct Answer
D. The Joint Commission

Explanation
The Joint Commission has developed assessment standards. including that all clients be assessed for pain. The ANA has developed standards for clinical practice. including those for assessment. but not specifically for pain. State nurse practice acts regulate nursing practice in individual states. The NCSBN asserts that the scope of nursing includes a comprehensive assessment but does not specifically include pain.

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9.

Which of the following is an example of data that should be validated?

A.

The urinalysis report indicates there are white blood cells in the urine.
B.

The client states she feels feverish; you measure the oral temperature at 98°F.
C.

The client has clear breath sounds; you count a respiratory rate of 18.
D.

The chest x-ray report indicates the client has pneumonia in the right lower lobe.

Correct Answer
B. The client states she feels feverish; you measure the oral temperature at 98°F.

Explanation
Validation should be done when subjective and objective data do not make sense. For instance. it is inconsistent data when the patient feels feverish and you obtain a normal temperature. The other distractors do not offer conflicting data. Validation is not usually necessary for laboratory test results.

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10.

Which of the following is an example of appropriate behavior when conducting a client interview?

A.

Recording all the information on the agency-approved form during the interview
B.

Asking the client. “Why did you think it was necessary to seek health care at this time?”
C.

Using precise medical terminology when asking the client questions
D.

Sitting. facing the client in a chair at the client’s bedside. using active listening

Correct Answer
D. Sitting. facing the client in a chair at the client’s bedside. using active listening

Explanation
Active listening should be used during an interview. The nurse should face the patient. have relaxed posture. and keep eye contact. Asking “why” may make the client defensive. Note-taking interferes with eye contact. The client may not understand medical terminology or health care jargon.

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