HAAD Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses Free Sample Questions

The patient's signs and symptoms—sudden hypotension, tachycardia, and unilateral absent breath sounds in the context of high PEEP—are classic indicators of a tension pneumothorax, a life-threatening complication of barotrauma. This condition causes mediastinal shift and cardiovascular collapse. The priority is to relieve the pressure in the pleural space immediately via needle thoracostomy, followed by chest tube insertion. Administering fluids or increasing FiO2 does not address the root cause and will not resolve the hemodynamic instability.

This is a primary prevention strategy as it aims to prevent the onset of diabetes by teaching healthy lifestyle habits to the general population.

Promoting regular physical activity is a key primary prevention strategy to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

This policy-level intervention promotes healthier eating habits from a young age, aiming to prevent the future development of chronic diseases like diabetes.

The assessment findings are classic signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity, which can lead to respiratory and cardiac arrest. The absolute first priority is to stop the infusion to prevent the patient's condition from worsening. After stopping the infusion, the nurse should then notify the provider and prepare to administer the antidote, calcium gluconate.

This statement is true. To ensure that the medication has time to be absorbed in the stomach and is not immediately removed by the suction, it is standard practice to stop the suction, administer the medication, and then clamp the NG tube for at least 30 to 60 minutes before resuming suction. This prevents the removal of the medication and ensures its therapeutic effect.

Patients with chronic COPD may rely on a hypoxic drive to breathe. Administering oxygen, even at low levels, can suppress this drive, leading to decreased respiratory rate, retention of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia), and subsequent CO2 narcosis. The clinical presentation of lethargy, confusion, and a decreased, shallow respiratory rate, despite an acceptable SpO2, is a classic sign of this complication. The other options are less likely to cause this specific pattern of respiratory depression.

The most critical step to prevent a hemolytic transfusion reaction is meticulous patient and blood product identification. This must be done by two licensed professionals at the patient's bedside, comparing the information on the blood bag tag with the patient's wristband and the transfusion order. This two-person check is a universal standard of care. While other actions are part of the process, this verification step is the most crucial safety check.

Immobilizing the injured limb in the position it was found is a critical first aid step for a suspected fracture. This prevents further injury to muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.

Applying a cold pack helps to reduce swelling and pain by causing vasoconstriction. This should be done over a cloth to protect the skin.

Healthy kidneys produce erythropoietin, a hormone that signals the bone marrow to make red blood cells. In ESRD, the damaged kidneys cannot produce enough erythropoietin, leading to anemia. Epoetin alfa is a synthetic form of this hormone that treats the anemia associated with chronic kidney disease.

This response is the most therapeutic. It validates the client's experience as real to them (without reinforcing the hallucination), presents reality calmly, and focuses on the underlying feeling of fear. This approach builds trust and opens the door for further conversation and coping strategies.

Fidelity refers to the principle of being faithful to one's commitments and promises. Nurses have a professional and ethical duty to protect their patients' private information. Breaching confidentiality is a violation of this trust and promise. While nonmaleficence (do no harm) could also apply, fidelity is the most direct principle related to keeping promises, including the implicit promise of confidentiality.