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

What is the usual normal range for serum potassium in adults (in mmol/L, numerically equal to mEq/L)?

  1. AAbout 135–145 mmol/L
  2. BAbout 6.5–8.0 mmol/L
  3. CAbout 3.5–5.0 mmol/L
  4. DAbout 1.5–2.5 mmol/L
2.Easy

What is the usual normal white cell count in adults?

  1. AAbout 0.1–0.5 × 109/L (100–500/mm3)
  2. BAbout 4–11 × 109/L (4,000–11,000/mm3)
  3. CAbout 50–80 × 109/L (50,000–80,000/mm3)
  4. DAbout 150–400 × 109/L (150,000–400,000/mm3)
3.Easy

Why is a platelet transfusion given?

  1. ATo provide extra protein
  2. BTo raise the haemoglobin level in a patient with anaemia
  3. CTo treat a high white cell count in a patient with infection or leukaemia
  4. DTo prevent or treat bleeding in a patient with low or poorly working platelets
4.Medium

What does HbA1c measure?

  1. ABlood glucose at the moment of testing
  2. BInsulin levels after a meal
  3. CAverage blood glucose over roughly the previous two to three months
  4. DThe amount of ketones in the urine
5.Medium

How should a nurse communicate with a patient who has impaired hearing?

  1. AShout loudly from the end of the bed so they can hear
  2. BTalk to the patient's relative instead of to the patient directly
  3. CFace the patient, speak clearly and reduce background noise
  4. DSpeak very quickly to save time
6.Medium

A confused patient keeps trying to climb out of bed. Why are bed rails not automatically the answer?

  1. ABed rails stop staff from taking observations
  2. BBed rails are illegal in all hospitals and must never be used at all
  3. CBed rails always make patients more confused, but only during the day
  4. DPatients can be seriously injured climbing over or becoming trapped in rails
7.Hard

A patient has a high fever with rigors, jaundice and right upper quadrant pain. Which condition is most likely?

  1. AAscending cholangitis
  2. BSimple biliary colic
  3. CAcute appendicitis
  4. DGastro-oesophageal reflux disease
8.Hard

Why should "units" never be abbreviated to "U" or "IU" on an insulin prescription?

  1. AThe letters can be misread as a zero, causing a tenfold overdose
  2. BIt changes the type of insulin given
  3. CPharmacists cannot dispense insulin written that way
  4. DThe abbreviation is only allowed on prescriptions for children

Answer key

  1. 1. C · About 3.5–5.0 mmol/L
  2. 2. B · About 4–11 × 109/L (4,000–11,000/mm3)
  3. 3. D · To prevent or treat bleeding in a patient with low or poorly working platelets
  4. 4. C · Average blood glucose over roughly the previous two to three months
  5. 5. C · Face the patient, speak clearly and reduce background noise
  6. 6. D · Patients can be seriously injured climbing over or becoming trapped in rails
  7. 7. A · Ascending cholangitis
  8. 8. A · The letters can be misread as a zero, causing a tenfold overdose

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