Starlen College

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Sample questions from Starlen College

This material has 90 questions with answers and rationales. Here are the first 5.

1. 1.At change of shift on a medical-surgical unit, an RN receives report on four clients. Which client should the RN assess first?

   • A.A 54-year-old with pneumonia whose temperature is 38.1 C (100.6 F)
   • B.A 43-year-old 1 day after surgery reporting incisional pain of 6/10
   • C.A 68-year-old 2 hours after thyroidectomy who has new inspiratory stridor
   • D.A 72-year-old with chronic kidney disease who is waiting for discharge teaching

   Rationale: New stridor after thyroid surgery can indicate airway obstruction from edema or a hematoma and requires immediate assessment and intervention. Fever, discharge teaching, and expected postoperative pain are important but do not take precedence over a threatened airway. Prioritize airway, breathing, and circulation when deciding which client to assess first.

2. 2.In a skilled nursing facility, an RN is assigning tasks to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and an assistive personnel (AP). Which task is appropriate to delegate to the AP?

   • A.Obtain routine vital signs for a stable client
   • B.Evaluate a new admission's swallowing ability
   • C.Teach a client how to use an inhaler
   • D.Assess a client reporting new chest discomfort

   Rationale: Obtaining routine vital signs for a stable client is a predictable task that can be delegated to trained AP. Initial assessment, evaluation, and teaching require nursing judgment and remain the RN's responsibility. The RN should give clear instructions about reporting abnormal values and follow up on the results.

3. 3.A provider prescribes a medication dose that appears substantially higher than the usual range for a 9-year-old client. The child is stable, and the medication has not been prepared. What should the nurse do first?

   • A.Give half the prescribed dose and document the change
   • B.Ask another nurse to administer the dose
   • C.Ask the child's parent whether the dose seems correct
   • D.Hold the medication and clarify the prescription with the provider

   Rationale: The nurse should withhold a potentially unsafe dose and clarify the prescription with the prescriber before administration. Asking another nurse or the parent does not resolve the prescribing concern, and independently changing the dose is outside the nurse's role. Medication safety requires verification when an order appears inappropriate.

4. 4.During an outpatient visit, a 61-year-old client with limited English proficiency needs to discuss a new cancer diagnosis. Which actions should the nurse take? Select all that apply.

   • A.Document the interpreter's identifying information per policy
   • B.Pause often and use short, plain-language statements
   • C.Arrange for a qualified medical interpreter
   • D.Speak directly to the client while the interpreter translates
   • E.Ask the client's adult child to interpret sensitive information

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.

5. 5.In an emergency department, a 35-year-old client with a minor ankle sprain is waiting when a client with sudden facial droop and slurred speech arrives. Which action should the triage nurse take?

   • A.Place both clients in the waiting room and reassess in 30 minutes
   • B.Immediately assess the client with facial droop and slurred speech
   • C.Ask the client with ankle pain to decide who should be seen first
   • D.Complete the ankle client's discharge instructions first

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.