Deck 25: Diagnostic Tests

Question 1

A nurse is preparing to discharge a patient from telemetry to allow the patient to take a shower. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A) Instruct the patient to keep the telemetry patches in place.
B) Inform the patient not to apply lotion or powder on her chest after the shower.
C) Notify the monitor technician that telemetry will be turned off.
D) Ask the patient if she has a history of falls in the bathroom.

Answer 1

Notify the monitor technician that telemetry will be turned off.

Question 2

While preparing for a paracentesis, which of the following positions should a nurse assist the patient to assume?

A) Prone
B) Side lying with knees flexed
C) Side lying with knees extended
D) Semi-Fowler

Answer 2

Semi-Fowler

Question 3

While setting up a telemetry monitor with five wires, a nurse recognizes that the ground wire is best placed in which of the following locations?

A) On the left upper thigh
B) On the abdomen
C) On the upper chest near the right shoulder
D) On the center of the chest

Answer 3

On the center of the chest

Question 4

A nurse is providing instructions for a patient who is to begin wearing a Holter monitor. Which of the following statements indicates further teaching is necessary?

A) "I should press this button if I feel any chest pain or pressure."
B) "I need to write down what I eat each day."
C) "I should make notes about the activities I'm doing while I wear the monitor."
D) "I'll wear this for 2 days so the doctor can be sure to capture anything that may be going on."

Question 5

A patient is told that a baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) is necessary before surgery. Which of the following instructions by the nurse is best?

A) "You will need to have nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours before the test."
B) "The test involves attaching 10 small electrodes to your chest, arms, and legs to measure electrical impulses of your heart."
C) "After they attach a number of wires to your body, you will feel a small jolt of electricity."
D) "You will not be able to drive for at least 6 hours after the test, so it is important to have someone along with you to provide transportation."

Question 6

A nurse notes a patient's total protein values are much lower than normal. Which of the following symptoms would the nurse expect to be present?

A) Edema
B) Dry mucous membranes
C) Poor skin turgor
D) Pallor

Question 7

A nurse is providing care for a patient who just underwent a screening colonoscopy in which no abnormalities were noted. Which of the following would indicate the need for additional discharge teaching?

A) "Since I'm over 60, I need to have this done every 3 to 5 years."
B) "I can resume my normal diet once I return home."
C) "The test results mean the doctor didn't see any colon cancer."
D) "You still need to monitor me for a while before I can go home."

Question 8

Which of the following would most likely indicate a viral infection?

A) Decreased eosinophil count
B) Elevated lymphocyte count
C) Elevated platelet count
D) Decreased neutrophil count

Question 9

A nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for a computed tomography (CT) scan with dye. Which of the following assessments by the nurse is most important?

A) Complete blood cell count to determine presence of anemia
B) Allergy history to determine whether the patient is allergic to antibiotics
C) Medication history to identify any over-the-counter medications the patient takes
D) Laboratory values to determine creatinine and glomerular filtration rate

Question 10

A nurse is caring for a patient who asks, "The doctor said I have leucopenia. What does that mean?" Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?

A) "That means your white blood cell count is higher than normal."
B) "You have a lot of white blood cells that are very immature, so your risk for infection is high."
C) "It means your body is building new white blood cells to fight infection."
D) "Your risk for infection is higher than normal because your body doesn't have many white blood cells."

Question 11

A nurse is providing care for a patient with a low hemoglobin level. Which of the following nursing diagnoses should be included in the plan of care?

A) Alteration in skin integrity
B) Risk for infection
C) Altered tissue perfusion
D) Alteration in nutrition: less than body requirements

Question 12

A nurse is caring for a patient returning from a femoral arteriogram. Which of the following nursing actions would be included in the plan of care?

A) Cough and deep breathing exercises hourly $\times$ 4
B) Sequential compression devices on bilateral lower extremities
C) Bedrest for at least 6 hours with the involved leg straight
D) Post-procedure enema every 12 hours $\times$ 2

Question 13

A nurse is providing care for a patient returning from an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Which of the following observations would be most concerning to the nurse?

A) Respirations are 16 at rest.
B) Patient complains of shoulder pain that increases with movement.
C) Patient requests antacid for symptoms of heartburn.
D) Nurse discovers the patient eating lunch.

Question 14

A nurse would inform which of the following patients that multiple loud clicks and knocks might be heard during their diagnostic test?

A) An 84-year-old having an electrocardiogram (ECG)
B) A 72-year-old having a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI)
C) A 55-year-old having a chest x-ray (CXR)
D) A 48-year-old having a lumbar puncture

Question 15

A student nurse is caring for a patient with bacterial meningitis. Which of the following laboratory results may be expected and would indicate a left shift in the differential?

A) The number of banded neutrophils is higher than normal.
B) The number of eosinophils is higher than normal.
C) The number of lymphocytes is higher than normal.
D) The number of monocytes is higher than normal.

Question 16

A telemetry monitor technician notifies a nurse that the patient in room 223 has a poor tracing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A) Move the code cart closer to the patient's room.
B) Go to the patient's room and check the patient's status.
C) Instruct the technician to call a code.
D) Report to the nursing station to view the tracing.

Question 17

Which of the following tests would be ordered to identify abnormal electrical conduction in the heart?

A) Electroencephalogram (EEG)
B) Cardiac stress test
C) Cardiac catheterization
D) Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Question 18

A nurse is caring for a patient scheduled for an electroencephalography. Which of the following actions taken by the nurse is best?

A) Assess vital signs.
B) Determine whether the patient has an allergy to shellfish.
C) Identify what medications the patient is currently taking.
D) Instruct the patient to wash her hair.

Question 19

While participating in morning rounds, a physician mentions needing an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The nurse recognizes that this laboratory result will require which of the following?

A) A 24-hour urine collection
B) A creatinine result
C) A total protein value
D) The patient's body weight

Question 20

The nurse is caring for a patient with hepatitis who states, "I look like a pumpkin, my skin is so orange." Which of the following statements by the nurse is best?

A) "Your skin is orange because of excess bilirubin in your skin. It will improve as you get better."
B) "Don't worry about it, you don't really look all that bad. I've certainly seen people look a lot worse than this."
C) "Your body can't process red blood cells, and the pigments have leeched into your skin. It may be better after you get a transfusion."
D) "Your skin pigments are affected by your high fever, making you appear that color. When your fever goes down, it will fade."

Question 21

Which of the following interventions are included as part of a glucose tolerance test?

A) Blood samples are collected at various intervals.
B) The patient is connected to numerous electrodes.
C) The patient ingests concentrated glucose syrup.
D) Urine samples are collected at various intervals.
E) The patient remains NPO except for water during the test.

Question 22

Which of the following could be diagnosed using angiography?

A) Aneurysms
B) Deep vein thrombosis
C) Esophageal stricture
D) Abdominal aortic aneurysm
E) Carotid blockage

Question 23

A student nurse notes a physician order for an electrolyte panel. Which of the following results would the student expect to be included?

A) Magnesium
B) Protein
C) Phosphate
D) Uric acid
E) Potassium

Question 24

A patient arrives in the emergency department having a severe allergic reaction to bee stings. A nurse identifies that this type of anaphylactic reaction will cause an increase in

A) Eosinophil levels.
B) Basophil levels.
C) Monocyte levels.
D) Neutrophil levels.

Question 25

While a student is providing care for a patient who recently received a barium enema, a nursing instructor recognizes teaching has been effective if which of the following was observed?

A) The patient remains flat in bed.
B) The patient increases his fluid intake.
C) The student checks blood glucose levels every hour.
D) The student measures the patient's abdominal girth.

Question 26

Which of the following is a nursing responsibility for most diagnostic tests?

A) Determining the need for NPO status
B) Monitoring for complications
C) Obtaining written consent
D) Notifying the physician of abnormal results
E) Deciding which tests should be ordered

Question 27

A doctor orders a complete blood cell count for a patient. The results include a breakdown of the total white blood cell (WBC) count into percentages of five different types of white cells. The nurse identifies this as

A) A left shift.
B) A right shift.
C) A differential.
D) Leukocytosis.

Question 28

A patient is admitted with possible congestive heart failure. A nurse identifies that a blood test that could confirm this condition would be a

A) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) test.
B) Serum creatinine test.
C) Blood glucose test.
D) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test.

Question 29

A nurse recognizes that which of the following could interfere with a clear visualization of a cardiac waveform?

A) An electrode is not adhering to the chest wall.
B) The battery pack is running low.
C) There is a poor connection from an electrode wire to the battery pack.
D) The patient has a fever.
E) The patient is very thin.

Question 30

A nurse is assisting with a thoracentesis. In preparation, the nurse should position the patient in the

A) Semi-Fowler position.
B) Supine position.
C) Side-lying position.
D) Orthopneic position.

Question 31

A patient's test results indicate an A₁C measurement of 6.2%. A nurse identifies that the patient is at risk for

A) Pancreatic disease.
B) Jaundice.
C) Diabetes.
D) Impaired kidney function.

Question 32

Which of the following diagnostic procedures may be ordered for a patient with a suspected brain tumor?

A) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
B) An electroencephalogram (EEG)
C) A lumbar puncture
D) A glucose tolerance test
E) Paracentesis

Question 33

While reviewing medications taken by a patient scheduled to have a bone marrow aspirate, a nurse would be most concerned if the patient reported taking which of the following?

A) Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
B) Tylenol (acetaminophen)
C) Gas X (simethicone)
D) Prilosec (omeprazole)

Question 34

A patient is admitted with possible kidney stones. A nurse identifies that the test used to evaluate renal structure and function that can also be used to detect an obstruction is

A) Arteriography
B) An intravenous pyelogram
C) Thoracentesis
D) A lumbar puncture

Question 35

A patient's urinalysis detects the presence of ketones. A nurse identifies that this may be an indication of

A) Bacterial infection.
B) Dehydration.
C) Diabetes mellitus.
D) Renal disease.
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.

Question 36

A physician would like to test a patient with possible heart failure for a defective heart valve, the volume of blood that is pumped from the heart with each heartbeat, and any enlargement of the heart wall muscles. The nurse should arrange for

A) Arteriography.
B) A computed tomography (CT) scan.
C) An echocardiogram.
D) Electrocardiography.

Question 37

Place the following nursing interventions related to bone marrow aspiration in the correct order.(Enter the number of each step in the proper sequence, do not use commas).
1. Hold pressure to site for 5 minutes.
2. Assist patient to assume side-lying position.
3. Set up sterile field.
4. Raise bed to working height.
5. Send specimens to the laboratory.
6. Assess for allergy to prep or local anesthetic.

Question 38

While caring for a patient who just underwent a paracentesis, a nurse would be most concerned by which of the following findings?

A) Patient reports itching at the puncture site.
B) Blood pressure is 92/60 mm Hg.
C) Oxygen saturation is 94%.
D) Blood sugar is 102.

Question 39

A nurse is preparing a patient for arteriography. Before administering the contrast medium, the nurse should ask the patient if they are allergic to

A) Iodine.
B) Radiopaque dye.
C) Shellfish.
D) All of the above.