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Details: Category: NCLEX CAT; Last Updated: July 10, 2026

1. A health care provider informs a client that a T-tube will be in place after an abdominal cholecystectomy and a choledochostomy. What should the nurse include in the preoperative teaching for this client regarding the primary reason why a T-tube is necessary?

Drains bile from the cystic duct.
Keeps the common bile duct patent.
Prevents abscess formation at the surgical site.
Provides a port for contrast dye in a cholangiogram.

2. In the immediate postoperative period after a gastrectomy, the client’s nasogastric tube is draining a light-red liquid. For how long should the nurse expect this type of drainage?

1 to 2 hours
3 to 4 hours
10 to 12 hours
24 to 48 hours

3. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a gastric bypass to treat morbid obesity. Which diet should the nurse teach the client to maintain because it will help minimize clinical manifestations of dumping syndrome?

Low-residue, bland diet
Small, frequent feeding schedule
Fluid intake less than half a quart
Low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet

4. An external monitor is placed on the abdomen of a client admitted in active labor. The nurse identifies that during each contraction, the fetal heart rate decelerates as the contraction peaks. What should the nurse do next?

Help the client to a knee-chest position to avoid cord compression.
Notify the health care provider because of possible head compression.
Monitor the fetal heart rate until it returns to baseline when the contraction ends.
Place the client in a semi-Fowler position to prevent compression of the vena cava.

5. A client who has had thoracic surgery is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). What should the nurse do after the chest tube is attached to a disposable plastic waterseal drainage system?

Ensure the security of the connections from the client to the drainage unit.
Empty the drainage container and measure and record the amount once a day.
Verify that there is vigorous bubbling in the wet suction control compartment.
Check that the fluid level in the water seal compartment increases with expiration.

2. Which clients health problem motivates the nurse to question a prescription for a beta blocker?

Heart failure
Hypertension
Sinus tachycardia
Coronary artery disease

3. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client who was beaten and sexually assaulted. Which is the nurse’s priority assessment?

The family’s feelings about the attack
The client’s feelings of social isolation
Disturbance in the client’s thought processes
The client’s ability to cope with the situation

4. A child with P-Thalassemia is receiving therapy that includes multiple blood transfusions. This child is at risk for developing which complication?

Serum hepatitis
Allergic response
Pulmonary edema
Hemolytic reaction

5. A client exhibits physical symptoms in response to stress. What nursing intervention may assist the client to reduce the use of physical symptoms as a response to stress?

Limit discussions about the problem.
Provide information regarding medical care.
Teach the client how to eliminate stress at home.
Assist the client in developing new coping mechanisms.

Details: Category: NCLEX CAT; Last Updated: July 10, 2026

1. A nurse is teaching a group of parents about child abuse. What definition of assault should the nurse include in the teaching plan?

Assault is a threat to do bodily harm to another person.
It is a legal wrong committed by one person against the property of another.
It is a legal wrong committed against the public that is punishable by state law.
Assault is the application of force to another person without lawful justification.

2. A nurse is explaining the nursing process to a nursing assistant. Which step of the nursing process should include interpretation of data collected about the client?

Analysis
Assessment
Nursing interventions
Proposed nursing care

3. When being interviewed for a position as a registered professional nurse, the applicant is asked to identify an example of an intentional tort. What is the appropriate response?

Negligence
Malpractice
Breach of duty
False imprisonment

4. A newly oriented home health nurse on a first visit checks the client’s vital signs and obtains a blood sample for an international normalization ratio (INR). After completion of these tasks, the client asks the nurse to straighten the blankets on the bed. What is the nurse’s most appropriate response?

“I would, but my back hurts today.”
“OK. It will be my good deed for the day.”
“Of course. I want to do whatever I can for you.”
“I would like to, but it is not in my job description.”

5. What is a basic concept associated with rehabilitation that the nurse should consider when formulating discharge plans for clients?

Rehabilitation needs are best met by the clients family and community resources.
Rehabilitation is a specialty area with unique methods for meeting clients’ needs.
Immediate or potential rehabilitation needs are exhibited by clients with health problems.
Clients who are returning to their usual activities follow ing hospitalization do not require rehabilitation.

Details: Category: NCLEX CAT; Last Updated: July 10, 2026

1. While awaiting the biopsy report before removal of a tumor, the client reports being afraid of a diagnosis of cancer. How should the nurse respond?

“Worrying is not going to help the situation.”
“Let’s wait until we hear what the biopsy report says.”
“It is very upsetting to have to wait for a biopsy report.”
“Operations are not performed unless there are no other options.”

2. A nurse explains to an obese client that the rapid weight loss during the first week after initiating a diet is because of fluid loss. The weight of extracellular body fluid is approximately 20% of the total body weight of an average individual. Which component of the extracellular fluid contributes the greatest proportion to this amount?

Plasma
Interstitial
Dense tissue
Body secretions

3. A client with a terminal illness reaches the stage of acceptance. How can the nurse best help the client during this stage?

Accept the client’s crying.
Encourage unrestricted family visits.
Explain details of the care being given.
Stay nearby without initiating conversation.

4. A physically ill client is being verbally aggressive to the nursing staff. What is the most appropriate initial nursing response?

Accept the client’s behavior.
Explore the situation with the client.
Withdraw from contact with the client.
Tell the client the reason for the staffs actions.

5. A client is hospitalized with a tentative diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. On admission the client asks the nurse, “Do you think I have anything serious, like cancer?” What is the nurse’s best reply?

“What makes you think you have cancer?”
“I don’t know if you do; let’s talk about it.”
“Why don’t you discuss this with your health care provider?”
“You needn’t worry now; we won’t know the answer for a few days.”

2. A nurse inspects a two-day-old intravenous site and identifies erythema, warmth, and mild edema. The client reports tenderness when the area is palpated. What should the nurse do first?

Irrigate the IV tubing.
Discontinue the infusion.
Slow the rate of the infusion.
Obtain a prescription for an analgesic.

3. A nurse is providing dietary instruction to a client with cardiovascular disease. Which dietary selection by the client indicates the need for further instruction?

Whole milk with oatmeal
Garden salad with olive oil
Tuna fish with a small apple
Soluble fiber cereal with skim milk

4. A nurse prepares a client for insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter. What information can be obtained from monitoring the pulmonary artery pressure?

Stroke volume
Venous pressure
Coronary artery patency
Left ventricular functioning

5. A client being treated for hypertension reports having a persistent hacking cough. What class of antihypertensive should the nurse identify as a possible cause of this response when reviewing a list of this client’s medications?

ACE inhibitors
Thiazide diuretics
Calcium channel blockers
Angiotensin receptor blockers

2. What clinical finding should the nurse expect when assessing a client who had a splenectomy?

Lung crackles
Pain on inspiration
Shortness of breath
Excessive secretions

3. A nurse is advising a client about the risks associated with failing to seek treatment for acute pharyngitis caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus. For what health problem is the client at risk?

Asthma
Anemia
Endocarditis
Reye syndrome

4. A nurse uses abdominal-thoracic thrusts (Heimlich maneu-ver) when an older adult in a senior center chokes on a piece of meat. Which volume of air is the basis for the efficacy of the abdominal thrusts to expel a foreign object in the larynx?

Tidal
Residual
Vital capacity
Inspiratory reserve

5. A client is started on a continuous infusion of heparin. Which finding does the nurse use to conclude that the intervention is therapeutic?

INR is between 2 and 3
PT is 2/2 times the control value
APTT is 2 times the control value
ACT is in the range of 70 and 120

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