Chapter 34: Diagnostic Testing

Chapter 34: Diagnostic Testing

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. The nurse is caring for a patient who states that he has been taking his medications and following his diabetic diet carefully. Which test result indicates to the nurse that the patient has not been compliant with the treatment plan?

ANS:  A

Hemoglobin A_1C levels indicate the patient’s average blood sugar levels for the past few weeks. A normal value is 3% to 6%; in well-controlled diabetics, the value is 7% to 11%. A level of 16% indicates that the patient’s blood sugar has been elevated for the last few weeks and he has not been compliant with the prescribed treatment plan.

DIF:    Applying        REF:   p. 776            TOP:   Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Adaptation

NOT:  Concepts: Glucose Regulation

2. The nurse is caring for an elderly patient with dementia. Which laboratory finding indicates to the nurse that that patient is often forgetting to eat meals?

ANS:  D

Albumin level is an indicator of the patient’s protein intake and nutritional status. Normal albumin level is 3.3 to 5.5 g/dL. A very low albumin level of 1.4 g/dL indicates to the nurse that the patient has not been eating well and missing meals.

DIF:    Applying        REF:   p. 772 | p. 778                                 TOP:   Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs Category: Management of Care       NOT:  Concepts: Nutrition

3. The nurse is caring for a patient who has a deep leg wound that is badly infected. Which laboratory test results will the nurse expect to find in the patient’s chart?

ANS:  A

C-reactive protein is an indicator of inflammation, tissue damage, and infection within the body. Creatinine is an indicator of kidney function, and bilirubin is an indicator of liver function. Prothrombin time indicates clotting ability of the blood, particularly when the patient is taking warfarin (Coumadin).

DIF:    Applying        REF:   pp. 775-777 | p. 779                         TOP:   Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Adaptation

NOT:  Concepts: Infection

4. The nurse is caring for a patient who has a bleeding gastric ulcer. How will the nurse expect the patient’s stool to appear?

ANS:  C

Bleeding within the upper GI tract will cause stools to appear black and tarry with a foul odor as the blood is digested by the lower GI tract. Bleeding within the lower GI tract presents with soft stools that have bright red streaks. Watery stool with particles of food is indicative of gastroenteritis. Hard lumps that are difficult to pass indicate constipation, often from medications or lack of fiber in the diet.

DIF:    Applying        REF:   p. 780            TOP:   Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Adaptation

NOT:  Concepts: Elimination