Clinical nursing worksheet with answers

Free printable Clinical nursing worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

If a blood pressure cuff is too small for the patient's arm, the reading will tend to be:

  1. AImpossible to obtain
  2. BFalsely high
  3. CAccurate
  4. DFalsely low
2.Easy

A key nursing measure to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infection is:

  1. ARemoving the catheter as soon as it is no longer needed
  2. BDisconnecting the bag frequently
  3. CChanging the catheter every day
  4. DKeeping the drainage bag above the level of the patient's bladder
3.Easy

What is the normal pH range of arterial blood?

  1. A6.85–6.95
  2. B7.35–7.45
  3. C7.55–7.65
  4. D7.00–7.10
4.Medium

How does ulcerative colitis differ from Crohn's disease?

  1. AUlcerative colitis can affect any part of the gut from mouth to anus
  2. BUlcerative colitis typically causes patchy "skip" lesions
  3. CUlcerative colitis affects only the colon, continuously from the rectum
  4. DUlcerative colitis always affects the full thickness of the bowel wall
5.Medium

During a red cell transfusion, when are serious acute reactions most likely to start?

  1. AAfter the third unit only
  2. BAbout 24 hours later
  3. CIn the first 15 minutes
  4. DOnly after the unit has finished
6.Medium

After removing a peripheral IV cannula, what should the nurse check?

  1. AThat the patient's blood glucose is normal before removal
  2. BThat the cannula is intact, and apply pressure until bleeding stops
  3. CThat the cannula is put back in its sterile packet for the next patient
  4. DThat the site is left uncovered and bleeding freely
7.Hard

A patient on an opioid PCA pump has a respiratory rate of 7/min and is difficult to rouse. What should be done first?

  1. AIncrease the PCA bolus dose because the patient may be in pain
  2. BStop the PCA, rouse the patient, give oxygen and get naloxone given
  3. CEncourage the patient to press the PCA button more often for comfort
  4. DRecord the observations and recheck them at the next four-hourly round
8.Hard

A patient with a head injury shows rising blood pressure, a falling heart rate and irregular breathing. This suggests:

  1. AA panic attack
  2. BRaised intracranial pressure (Cushing's triad)
  3. CHypovolaemic shock from hidden internal bleeding
  4. DSepsis

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Falsely high
  2. 2. A · Removing the catheter as soon as it is no longer needed
  3. 3. B · 7.35–7.45
  4. 4. C · Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon, continuously from the rectum
  5. 5. C · In the first 15 minutes
  6. 6. B · That the cannula is intact, and apply pressure until bleeding stops
  7. 7. B · Stop the PCA, rouse the patient, give oxygen and get naloxone given
  8. 8. B · Raised intracranial pressure (Cushing's triad)

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