All NCLEX-RN Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #396 : Nclex
At what point during labor is the cervix considered to be fully dilated?
The cervix is considered to be fully dilated at . This suggests the transition phase of active labor, in which the individual is instructed to bear down (push) in order to facilitate delivery.
Example Question #397 : Nclex
How does blood plasma volume change over the course of a normal pregnancy?
Increases by 25%
Increases by 50%
Decreases by 25%
Decreases by 10%
Increases by 50%
During a normal pregnancy, the volume of blood plasma increases by 50%. The erythrocyte count also increases, by as much as 30%. This may cause the hematocrit to appear lower than normal, due to dilution by the relatively larger increase in plasma.
Example Question #397 : Nclex
What hormone is responsible for triggering nausea and vomiting of pregnancy ("morning sickness")?
Didehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Aldosterone
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
While research is still being conducted to determine the cause of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, it generally correlates with the surge in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCH) that occurs in the first trimester. Estrogen may be another contributing hormone. Aldosterone, DHEA, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) have no apparent involvement.
Example Question #398 : Nclex
Most at-home or in-office pregnancy tests detect what hormone?
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Prolactin
Estrogen
Progesterone
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Most pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced by the embryo that is detectable shorty after implantation (10-14 days after fertilization). The function of hormone is to mimic the effects of luteinizing hormone, ultimately preserving the corpus luteum, which secretes progesterone. The progesterone maintains and vascularizes the uterus, making it a more favorable environment for the implanted embryo.
Example Question #399 : Nclex
A nurse is educating a group of young females about the physiology of fetal development. The nurse explains the stages of how a young fetus over time will develop and what special events take place over time.
Which of the following events is correctly paired in regards to expected fetal development?
8 weeks - sex of the child is recognizable
20 weeks - heartbeat first heard with a stethoscope
10 weeks - lanugo grows
15 weeks - the eyes are open
12 weeks - quickening occurs
20 weeks - heartbeat first heard with a stethoscope
The time frame correctly matched is at 20 weeks, the heartbeat is heard with a stethoscope although it may be heard with ultrasound as early as 10-12 weeks. Quickening usually occurs around 20 weeks as well. The eyes open later between 24-27 weeks, lanugo first appears between 13-16 weeks, and the sex is recognizable around 12 weeks.
Example Question #401 : Nclex
At what embryonic age does the neural tube form?
Sixth week
Fourth week
Fifth week
Third week
Fourth week
The neural tube forms from the neural plate during the fourth week of embryonic development, which is often before the mother knows of the pregnancy.
Example Question #2 : Developmental Biology
Which of the following is a term for a substance that has been known to cause birth defects?
Pyrogens
Teratogen
Mutagen
Carcinogen
Teratogen
A teratogen is a substance that has been known to cause birth defects. Some teratogens include alcohol, tobacco, phenytoin, rubella virus, and tetracycline. Carcinogens are a subclass of mutagens which have been known to cause cancer-inducing mutations. Mutagens cause mutations in cellular DNA expression (which may or may not lead to cancer or any other pathological condition), and pyrogens are substance that cause fever.
Example Question #3 : Developmental Biology
The process by which an embryo develops from a single celled zygote into a complex organism with many cell and tissue types is called:
Evolution
Transcription
Differentiation
Translation
Differentiation
The term for the development of specialized cell types is differentiation. This is a process by which pluripotent embryonic stem cells, all of which have the same genome, are methylated in various ways to "turn off" certain genes and leave other genes exposed for transcription. This allow cells to develop the specific features that they will require to perform their function as heart cells, neurons, etc.
Example Question #4 : Developmental Biology
At what point in a pregnancy is miscarriage most likely to occur?
The first trimester
Miscarriage is equally likely the first or second trimester
The third trimester
The second trimester
The first trimester
Over 85% of miscarriages occur in the first trimester. Less than 10% of miscarriages occur in the second trimester, and miscarriage in the third trimester is very rare and generally considered to be stillbirth or preterm delivery that result in loss of the baby due to complications (most often respiratory or digestive underdevelopment).
Example Question #3 : Developmental Biology
Which of the following hormones, if insufficient, would be the most likely to cause early first trimester miscarriage of a healthy embryo?
Cortisol
Progesterone
Estrogen
Aldosterone
Progesterone
While all of the hormones listed are important for development of a healthy embryo, the most important hormone for preventing early first trimester miscarriage is progesterone. This hormone is generally secreted by the corpus luteum in sufficient quantities to prevent the shedding of the endometrial lining after implantation. When progesterone is insufficient, the endometrium can be shed as in a regular menstrual period, resulting in loss of the pregnancy. In most cases this type of miscarriage can be easily prevented by supplementation with vaginal progesterone suppositories.
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