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NCLEX-RN Exam Questions - Part 42

Jenny Clarke

Mon, 20 Jan 2025

1. A client calls the prenatal clinic to schedule an appointment. She states she has missed three menstrual periods and thinks she might be pregnant. During her first visit to the prenatal clinic, it is confirmed that she is pregnant. The registered nurse (RN) learns that her last menstrual period began on June 10. According toNgeles rule, the estimated date of confinement is:

A) March 17
B) June 3
C) August 30
D) January 10



2. At 16 weeks gestation, a pregnant client is admitted to the maternity unit to have a McDonald procedure (cerclage) done. She tells the RN who is admitting her to the unit that her physician had explained what this procedure was, but that she did not understand. The RN explains to the client that the purpose for this procedure is to:

A) Reinforce an incompetent cervix
B) Repair the amniotic sac
C) Evaluate cephalopelvic disproportion
D) Dilate the cervix



3. A pregnant client continues to visit the clinic regularly during her pregnancy. During one of her visits while lying supine on the examining table, she tells the RN that she is becoming light-headed. The RN notices that the client has pallor in her face and is perspiring profusely.The first intervention the RN should initiate is to:

A) Place the examining table in the Trendelenburg position
B) Assess the client to see if she is having vaginal bleeding
C) Obtain the client - s vital signs immediately
D) Help the client to a sitting position



4. At 30 weeks gestation, a client is admitted to the unit in premature labor. Her contractions are every 5 minutes and last 60 seconds, her cervix is closed, and the suture placed around her cervix during her 16th week of gestation, when she had the MacDonald procedure, can still be felt by the physician. The amniotic sac is still intact. She is very concerned about delivering prematurely. She asks the RN, 'What is the greatest risk to my baby if it is born prematurely?' The RN - s answer should be:

A) Hyperglycemia
B) Hypoglycemia
C) Lack of development of the intestines
D) Lack of development of the lungs



5. At 30 weeks gestation, a client is admitted to the unit in premature labor. Her physician orders that an IV be started with 500 mL D5W mixed with 150 mg of ritodrine stat. The RN prepares the IV solution with the medication. The RN knows that clients receiving the medication ritodrine IV should be observed closely for which one of the following side effects:

A) Hypoglycemia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Tachycardia
D) Increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin



1. Right Answer: A
Explanation: (A) Using Ngeles rule, count back 3 calendar months from the first day of the last menstrual period. The answer is March 10. Then add 7 days and 1 year, which would be March 17 of the following year. (B, C, D) This date is incorrect.

2. Right Answer: A
Explanation: (A) The treatment most commonly uses the Shirodkar-Barter procedure (McDonald procedure) or cerclage to enforce the weakened cervix by encircling it with a suture at the level of the internal os. (B) There is no known procedure that is used to repair the amniotic sac. (C) Cephalopelvic disproportion is evaluated later in pregnancy. It is not related to this procedure. (D) No procedure is done to dilate the cervix at 16 weeks gestation unless the pregnancy is to be terminated.

3. Right Answer: D
Explanation: (A) This position would cause the gravid uterus to bear the increased pressure of the vena cava, which could lead to maternal hypotension, in turn causing the client to continue to have pallor and to feel light-headed. (B) This would not be the first intervention the RN should initiate. TheRN should understand the supine position and its effect on the gravid uterus and vena cava. (C) The RNs first intervention should be one that helps to alleviate the clients symptoms. Obtaining her vital signs will not alleviate her symptoms. (D) This would move the gravid uterus off of the clients vena cava, which would alleviate the maternal hypotension that is the cause of her symptoms.

4. Right Answer: D
Explanation: (A) Any infant would be at risk for hyperglycemia because the infants liver is missing the islets of Langerhans, which secrete insulin to break down glucose for cellular use. Prematurity is not an added risk for hyperglycemia. (B) Both premature and mature infants can be at risk for hypoglycemia if their mother had gestational diabetes during pregnancy or entered the pregnancy with diabetes mellitus. These infants are exposed to high levels of maternal glucose while in utero, which causes the islets of Langerhans in the infants liver to produce insulin. After birth when the umbilical cord is severed, the generous amount of maternal blood glucose is eliminated; however, there is continued islet cell hyperactivity in the infants liver, which can lead to excessive insulin levels and depleted blood glucose. (C) Mature infants are born with an immature GI system. The nervous control of the stomach is incomplete at birth, salivary glands are immature at birth, and the intestinal tract is sterile. This is not the greatest risk to the premature infant. (D) Infants born before 37 weeks gestation are at greatest risk for an insufficient amount of surfactant in the alveoli system of the lungs. Surfactant helps to prevent lung collapse and ensures stability of the respiratory system so that the infant can maintain his own respirations once the umbilical cord is severed at birth.

5. Right Answer: C
Explanation: (A) Ritodrine is a sympathomimetic 2-adrenergic agonist that can cause an elevation of blood glucose and plasma insulin in pregnant women. Hyperglycemia can occur in women with abnormal carbohydrate metabolism because of their inability to release more insulin. (B) Hypokalemia can occur resulting from the action of the _-mimetics. It results from a displacement of the extracellular potassium into the intracellular space. (C) Ritodrine causes vasodilation of vessel walls, which can lead to hypotension. The body compensates by increasing heart rate and pulse pressure. (D) There is a lowering of serum iron resulting from the action of _- mimetics to activate hematopoiesis.

80% DISCOUNT: NCLEX-RN PRACTICE EXAMS

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