A student is reading a research study regarding the use of nurse navigators in the pre-operative care environment to improve patient satisfaction. The student examines the guiding research question under the context of the PICO format and correctly identifies that the use of the nurse navigator would be a reflection of which PICO component.
Population
Intervention
Outcome
Comparison Intervention
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Intervention
Topic: Preoperative Care Management
Intervention refers to the specific action or treatment being tested—in this case, employing a nurse navigator to assist patients before surgery, which is the focus of the study’s research question.
Why the others are wrong
A – Population denotes the patient group, not the nurse navigator role.
C – Outcome describes the result measured, not the nurse navigator itself.
D – Comparison Intervention is the control or alternative, not described here.
Remember: Nurse navigator = the intervention being tested.
When a baby takes its first breath, the change in pulmonary pressure causes which embryonic vessel to constrict?
ductus arteriosus
umbilical vein
umbilical artery
ductus venosus
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A. ductus arteriosus
Topic: Fetal Circulation Transition
At birth, the baby's first breath expands the lungs, dramatically lowering pulmonary vascular resistance. This sudden pressure shift, combined with increased oxygen levels, triggers the constriction and eventual closure of the ductus arteriosus.
Why the others are wrong
B – The umbilical vein collapses due to cord clamping and loss of placental blood flow.
C – Umbilical arteries constrict in response to cord clamping and thermal stimuli, not pulmonary pressure.
D – Clamping the umbilical cord, not pulmonary pressure changes, causes the ductus venosus to close.
Remember: First breath, pressure drops, ductus arteriosus stops.
A nursing home administrator notes that staffing for the weekend shift is very limited due to multiple ill calls. The administrator phones a staff member and offers to give the staff member the upcoming holiday off if she is able to come in to work the weekend shift. Which of the following leadership styles is the leader exhibiting in this situation?
Laissez-faire
Democratic
Transactional
Authoritarian
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. Transactional
Topic: Leadership Styles in Nursing
Transactional leadership relies on a system of rewards and punishments to motivate staff. In this scenario, the administrator offers a direct exchange or transaction—giving a holiday off in return for working an extra weekend shift.
Why the others are wrong
A – Laissez-faire leadership is a passive, hands-off approach where the leader abdicates decision-making responsibility.
B – Democratic leadership focuses on group decision-making, collaboration, and shared governance rather than individual transactions.
D – Authoritarian leadership involves dictating tasks and making decisions unilaterally without offering rewards or negotiation.
Remember: Transactional leadership is a "this-for-that" business transaction.
Which of the following is not a tenet of QSEN advocacy?
Patient-Centered Care
Teamwork
Medication Reconciliation
Evidence-Based Practice
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. Medication Reconciliation
Topic: QSEN Core Competencies
The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative defines six core competencies: Patient-Centered Care, Teamwork and Collaboration, Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement, Safety, and Informatics. Medication reconciliation is a specific safety intervention rather than an overarching QSEN competency.
Why the others are wrong
A – Patient-Centered Care is one of the six core QSEN competencies.
B – Teamwork and Collaboration is a fundamental core QSEN competency.
D – Evidence-Based Practice is a core QSEN competency integrating clinical expertise and research.
A patient is admitted to a cardiac floor with CHF exacerbation. The nurse performs which intervention as a priority intervention for this patient?
Encourage cough and deep breathing to reduce occurence of atelectasis
Administer IV push furosemide as ordered by the medical provider
Provide dietary teaching regarding sodium and fluid restriction
Wrap the patients legs with ACE wrap bandages to reduce lower extremity edema
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Administer IV push furosemide as ordered by the medical provider
Topic: Congestive Heart Failure Management
IV push furosemide rapidly reduces intravascular volume, decreasing preload and pulmonary congestion, which is the most urgent need in an acute CHF exacerbation to improve oxygenation and prevent respiratory failure.
Why the others are wrong
A – Coughing aids atelectasis prevention but does not address life‑threatening fluid overload.
C – Dietary teaching is essential long‑term, yet immediate diuresis is more critical.
D – Leg wraps do not remove excess fluid and may restrict circulation.
Remember: First give diuretics to unload the heart quickly.
A nurse in the newborn nursery is caring for 4 newborns. The nurse completes a cardiovascular assessment and notes a heart murmur in one of the newborns. The nurse is aware that heart murmurs in newborns:
frequently require intervention
are not very common
almost always indicate heart disease
are fairly common
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: D. are fairly common
Topic: Newborn Heart Murmurs
Newborn heart murmurs are common during the first few days of life as the cardiovascular system transitions from fetal to extrauterine circulation. Most of these murmurs are benign, transient, and resolve spontaneously without any medical intervention.
Why the others are wrong
A – Most newborn murmurs are transient and benign, requiring only monitoring rather than active intervention.
B – Newborn murmurs are highly prevalent, occurring in up to 60% of healthy neonates.
C – The vast majority of neonatal murmurs are functional and do not indicate congenital heart disease.
Remember: Newborn murmurs: common transition, rarely a condition.
A framework that is useful for enhancing team function.
CUS
DESC
STEP
TeamStepps
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: D. TeamStepps
Topic: TeamSTEPPS Framework
TeamSTEPPS is an evidence‑based teamwork system that defines core competencies—team structure, communication, leadership, situation monitoring, and mutual support—to improve safety and performance in health‑care teams.
Why the others are wrong
A – CUS is a communication technique, not a team function framework.
B – DESC is a conflict‑resolution model, not a comprehensive team framework.
C – STEP is a generic acronym, not the established TeamSTEPPS system.
Remember: TeamSTEPPS builds teamwork skills, not just a single communication trick.
NCLEX-RN is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN). This site is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the owner of that mark.