Free OEN Practice Test Questions and Answers (2026) | Cert Empire Practice Questions

The first nursing intervention for a patient with bacterial meningitis who develops a high-grade fever

and nasal discharge is to follow infection precautions. This is crucial to prevent the spread of the

infection to others. Bacterial meningitis is highly contagious, and infection control measures such as

isolation and wearing protective gear should be implemented immediately upon diagnosis and

continued for at least 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.

Reference:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2018). Bacterial Meningitis. Retrieved from CDC

website.

Post Renal Transplant Care:

Patients who undergo renal transplants are prescribed immunosuppressive medications like

Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) to prevent organ rejection.

Risk Factors for Septic Shock:

Age: Older adults have a higher risk of infections, but age alone is not the primary factor for septic

shock in this context.

Multiple Surgeries: Increase the risk of infection but not as significant as immunosuppression.

Immunosuppression: The primary risk factor as it weakens the immune system, making the patient

highly susceptible to infections leading to septic shock.

History of Medication Sensitivity: Important but less relevant to septic shock risk.

Reference:

National Institutes of Health (NIH) on post-transplant care

Mayo Clinic on Septic Shock

During the planning phase, a healthcare organization defines its mission, which states its purpose

and fundamental aims to achieve in the long term. The mission statement outlines the organization’s

core purpose, target population, and primary objectives. It provides direction and guides decision-

making and strategic planning. Vision, on the other hand, describes what the organization aspires to

become in the future. Strategy refers to the specific actions and plans to achieve the mission and

vision, while values are the principles and beliefs that guide the organization's behavior.

A perforated appendix is a medical emergency requiring immediate surgical intervention to prevent

complications such as peritonitis and sepsis. Therefore, an appendectomy in this context is classified

as an emergent procedure. Emergent surgeries are those that need to be performed without delay to

preserve the patient's life or health.

Reference:

Smeltzer,

S. C., Bare,

B. G., Hinkle,

J. L., & Cheever,

K. H. (2010). Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of

Medical-Surgical Nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing (OEHN):

OEHN focuses on health and safety in the workplace, aiming to prevent work-related injuries and

illnesses and promote overall worker health.

Goals of OEHN:

Keep Workers Productive: Ensuring employees are healthy to maintain productivity.

Manage Minor Workplace Injuries: Providing immediate care for minor injuries.

Promote Health for Workers: Specific to workplace health, not the entire population.

Develop Disease Prevention Programs: Creating programs to prevent workplace illnesses.

Reference:

American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines

When teaching nursing students about the recommended diet for a patient with a myocardial

infarction, it's crucial to emphasize a diet low in fat and cholesterol. This helps in reducing the risk of

further cardiovascular complications.

Low Fat and Cholesterol: Foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol are recommended to prevent the

build-up of plaque in the arteries and reduce the risk of another heart attack.

Avoiding Red Meat: High intake of red meat is discouraged because it is often high in saturated fat

and cholesterol.

Dark Chocolate Intake: While some dark chocolate in moderation can have health benefits due to its

antioxidant properties, the emphasis should be on a balanced diet.

Protein and Carbohydrates: Protein is essential for recovery, but the focus should be on lean sources.

Carbohydrates should come from whole grains and other healthy sources rather than simple sugars.

Reference:

American Heart Association (AHA): Dietary Recommendations for Cardiovascular Health

National Institutes of Health (NIH): Heart-Healthy Eating

The initial supportive measure for parents who have just received a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for

their child should be direct counseling. This involves providing clear, compassionate, and thorough

information about the diagnosis, addressing their immediate concerns, and helping them understand

what cerebral palsy means for their child's future. This step is crucial to help reduce their anxiety and

tension. Encouraging reading, support groups, and home adjustments are important but secondary

steps after initial counseling.

In this scenario, the nurse is assuming the role of an advocate. Advocacy involves acting on behalf of

patients to ensure they receive the necessary services and support. This includes communicating

with authorities to improve access to healthcare services, especially in underserved areas like rural

communities. By addressing barriers and promoting patients' needs, the nurse helps to ensure

equitable access to care and resources.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the highest level of evidence in research because

they reduce bias and provide the most reliable results. When conducting a systematic review to

identify best practice evidence for hemodialysis in patients with anemia, RCTs should be prioritized.

These studies provide strong evidence on the efficacy of interventions. Case-control studies, non-

experimental studies, and quasi-experimental studies provide valuable information but are

considered lower levels of evidence compared to RCTs.

Diabetes Self-Management Education:

Effective education methods are essential to ensure patients understand and can manage their

condition independently.

Educational Methods:

Audiovisual Method: Good for initial learning but not the best for confirming understanding.

Teach Back Method: The most effective method where the patient repeats back the information,

ensuring they understand and can perform tasks correctly.

Focus Group and Group Discussion: Useful for sharing experiences but less effective for individual

skill assessment.

Reference:

American Diabetes Association (ADA) on Diabetes Education

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Health Literacy

Audiometry is the most important diagnostic test for assessing hearing loss. This test measures a

person's ability to hear sounds, varying in pitch and loudness. It is a comprehensive evaluation that

helps determine the degree and type of hearing loss, whether it is conductive, sensorineural, or

mixed. Tympanogram, middle ear endoscopy, and auditory brain stem response are also valuable

diagnostic tools, but audiometry provides the primary assessment necessary for diagnosing hearing

loss and guiding subsequent treatment.

Purpose of Throat Culture: A throat culture is performed to detect the presence of pathogens (like

bacteria) that cause infections such as strep throat.

Correct Technique:

Uvula and Soft Palate: These are not the primary sites for collecting throat cultures.

Any site of Oral Cavity Mucosa: This is too broad and non-specific.

Tongue and Buccal Mucosa: These sites are not typically infected in throat infections and do not

provide accurate culture results.

Oropharynx and Tonsillar Region: The mucosa of the oropharynx and tonsillar region is the most

common site of infection in throat infections, making it the appropriate site for swabbing.

Procedure: The nurse should gently swab the oropharynx and tonsillar area, avoiding the tongue and

other parts of the oral cavity to avoid contamination and ensure accurate results.

Conclusion: The correct site for collecting a throat culture is the mucosa of the oropharynx and

tonsillar region, ensuring the detection of the causative pathogens.

Reference: Clinical nursing skills textbooks, NCLEX-RN review guides, guidelines for throat culture

collection.

For a client with brain cancer undergoing radiation therapy and exhibiting cachexia, the first nursing

measure should be to encourage a high protein and high-calorie diet.

High Protein and High Calorie Diet: Cachexia is a severe form of malnutrition often seen in cancer

patients, characterized by weight loss, muscle wasting, and decreased quality of life. Ensuring

adequate nutrition is crucial to improve strength, immune function, and overall well-being.

Frequent Oral Hygiene: This is important, especially if the patient has oral side effects from radiation,

but it does not address the primary issue of malnutrition.

Daily Physical Activity: Beneficial for maintaining muscle mass and overall health but should be

secondary to addressing severe nutritional deficits.

Small Cold Meals: These may be more palatable if the patient has nausea but should also be high in

calories and protein to combat cachexia.

Reference:

American Cancer Society: Managing Cancer Cachexia

Oncology Nursing Society (ONS): Nutrition and Cancer Care

The maximum duration for the therapeutic effects of a bath, especially for conditions like perineum

irritation, is generally 15 minutes. This duration is sufficient to provide relief and ensure the

therapeutic benefits without causing skin maceration or other complications. Shorter durations may

not provide adequate relief, and significantly longer baths can lead to issues like skin breakdown.

Applying Erikson's psychosocial development theory, the nurse should instruct the parents to

observe and respond to the newborn's signals of needs. According to Erikson, the first stage of

psychosocial development is "Trust vs. Mistrust," which occurs from birth to approximately 18

months.

Trust vs. Mistrust: In this stage, infants learn to trust their caregivers when their needs for food,

comfort, and affection are consistently met. If caregivers are responsive to the infant’s needs, the

infant develops a sense of trust and security.

Ignoring and Distracting the Newborn: This approach may lead to feelings of mistrust as the infant’s

needs are not being adequately addressed.

Anticipating and Planning for the Newborn's Demands: While planning is important, it is more crucial

to be responsive to the infant's immediate signals.

Providing a Comfortable Environment: This is beneficial but must be combined with responsive

caregiving to establish trust.

Reference:

Erikson,

E. H. (1963). Childhood and Society.

American Psychological Association (APA): Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development