Nursing Question Bank

Read the Nursing Question Bank sample questions

1. 1.A 6-year old is admitted with a diagnosis of childhood autism. Which behavior is most typical of the child with autism?

   • A.A willingness to talk to strangers
   • B.A disinterest in inanimate objects
   • C.Engaging in ritualistic behaviorCorrect
   • D.A dislike of music

   Why: Children with autism characteristically show restricted, repetitive, and ritualistic behaviors and a need for sameness. They typically avoid social interaction with strangers, may be intensely attached to inanimate objects, and do not uniformly dislike music.

2. 2.The nurse is caring for a client hospitalized with bipolar disorder, manic phase who is taking Eskalith (lithium carbonate). Which of the following snacks would be best for the client?

   • A.Potato chips
   • B.Diet cola
   • C.An apple
   • D.A milkshakeCorrect

   Why: During the manic phase clients are too restless to sit and eat, so finger foods/portable high-calorie snacks like a milkshake meet their high energy needs while they remain active. A milkshake provides calories and protein without requiring the client to stop moving.

3. 3.A client scheduled for a femoral popliteal bypass is to be assigned to a semiprivate room. Which client would be the most suitable roommate for the client with a femoral popliteal bypass graft?

   • A.A client with a pituitary tumor
   • B.A client with respiratory sarcoidosis
   • C.A client with a diabetic ulcer
   • D.A client with a closed fracture of femurCorrect

   Why: A femoral-popliteal bypass client is at high infection risk, so the roommate must have no infection. The client with a closed femur fracture has intact skin and no infectious process, whereas a diabetic ulcer is an infection source; pituitary tumor and sarcoidosis pose other concerns but infection control is the priority.

4. 4.A client hospitalized with severe depression and suicidal ideation refuses to talk with the nurse. The nurse recognizes that the suicidal client has difficulty:

   • A.Expressing feelings of low self-worth
   • B.Discussing remorse and guilt for actions
   • C.Displaying dependence on others
   • D.Expressing anger toward othersCorrect

   Why: Suicidal, depressed clients characteristically turn anger inward rather than expressing it outward; difficulty expressing anger toward others is central to the dynamics of depression and suicide risk. Helping the client externalize anger appropriately is therapeutic.

5. 5.The nurse is caring for a client with a fiberglass cast applied to a distal fracture of the right tibia. The client should be able to bear weight on the cast within

   • A.10 minutes
   • B.30 minutesCorrect
   • C.3 hours
   • D.24 hours

   Why: Fiberglass casts dry quickly and can typically bear weight within about 20-30 minutes, unlike plaster casts which require 24-72 hours to fully dry. Thirty minutes is the expected interval before weight-bearing on a fiberglass cast.

6. 6.A client is to be discharged following the removal of a cataract on the right eye. The nurse should tell the client to

   • A.Wear the metal eye shield only during waking hours.
   • B.Report any eye pain to the doctor immediatelyCorrect
   • C.Refrain from using a pillow under his head.
   • D.Avoid wearing dark glasses inside

   Why: After cataract surgery, sudden or increasing eye pain may indicate increased intraocular pressure or hemorrhage and must be reported immediately. The eye shield is worn at night/naps, and the client should avoid activities that raise intraocular pressure.

7. 7.The physician has prescribed Elavil(amitriptyline) for a client with depression. The nurse should continue to monitor the client's mood because the maximal effects of tricyclic antidepressant medication does not occur for:

   • A.48–72 hours
   • B.5–7 days
   • C.2–4 weeks
   • D.3–6 monthsCorrect

   Why: Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline require 2-4 weeks for the full therapeutic (mood-elevating) effect to appear. The nurse must continue monitoring and reinforce adherence during this latency period, watching for increased suicide risk as energy returns before mood lifts.

8. 8.A client receiving HTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) is instructed to increase her dietary intake of potassium. The best snack for the client requiring increased potassium is:

   • A.A pear
   • B.An apple
   • C.An orange
   • D.A bananaCorrect

   Why: Hydrochlorothiazide is a potassium-wasting diuretic, so clients are encouraged to eat potassium-rich foods. A banana is among the highest-potassium snacks listed, making it the best choice to replace losses.

9. 9.The physician has ordered a low-magnesium diet for a client with end-stage renal failure. Which of the following diet selections should be removed from the client's meal tray?

   • A.Fruit compote
   • B.Spinach saladCorrect
   • C.Baked potato
   • D.Custard

   Why: Spinach is high in magnesium, so it should be removed from a low-magnesium diet ordered in end-stage renal failure where magnesium is poorly excreted. The other selections are comparatively low in magnesium.

10. 10.A client with bipolar disorder receives Eskalith (lithium carbonate) bid. Which observation is associated with lithium toxicity?

    • A.Hyporeflexia
    • B.Akathesia
    • C.AtaxiaCorrect
    • D.Petechiae

    Why: Early lithium toxicity presents with neuromuscular signs including ataxia, coarse tremor, slurred speech, and GI upset. Ataxia is the classic finding indicating toxicity; lithium levels and dosing should be reassessed.