CAT Exam Practice Collection Questions
And Already Passed Answers.
The nurse provides care for a group of clients. Which condition puts the client at risk for metabolic
acidosis? (Select all that apply.)
1. Pneumonia. 2. Diabetes mellitus.3. Asthma.4. Renal failure.5. Malnourishment. - Answer The correct
answer is 2, 4, 5 . You answered 2, 4, 5.
1) Pneumonia is a respiratory problem, not a metabolic problem.
2) CORRECT — Diabetes mellitus leads to metabolic acidosis because of the increasing acids in the body.
3) Asthma is a respiratory problem, not a metabolic one.
4) CORRECT — Renal failure leads to metabolic acidosis because of the increasing acids in the body.
5) CORRECT — Malnourishment leads to metabolic acidosis because of the increasing acids in the body.
The nurse provides care for four clients. Which client will benefit the most from a multidisciplinary
conference?
1. A 3-month-old client with intussusception who is vomiting, has colicky abdominal pain, and is having
jelly-like stools.2. A 2-month-old client with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), who is wheezing and has
moderate subcostal retractions and copious nasal discharge.3. A 3-day-old client with developmental
dysplasia of the hip, who has unequal leg length, limited abduction of the left hip, and asymmetry of the
gluteal folds.4. A 2-day-old client with body tremors and hyperirritability, who has intermittent episodes
of sneezing and whose mother abused substances while pregnant. - Answer The correct answer is 4 .
You answered 4.
1) The infant has signs that are characteristic of intussusception. There is no need for a multidisciplinary
conference.
2) This infant has signs that are characteristic of RSV. There is no need for a multidisciplinary conference.
3) This infant has signs that are characteristic of developmental dysplasia of the hip. There is no need for
a multidisciplinary conference.
4) CORRECT - This newborn is experiencing neonatal withdrawal from prenatal exposure to drugs while
in utero. Since these drugs crossed the placenta, the infant suffers from withdrawal symptoms after birth
and may experience long-term developmental and neurological deficits. Also, this newborn is at risk for
abuse from the mother, as these infants are very difficult to console. A multidisciplinary conference
including a social worker, a home health nurse, a nutritionist, and a mental health counselor could
greatly benefit both the mother and newborn.
,The nurse provides care to a client who reports "ringing in the ears" and dizziness. Which medication in
the client's history will the nurse suspect as causing this client's symptoms?
1. Valsartan.2. Amikacin.3. Spironolactone.4. Cinacalcet hydrochloride. - Answer The correct answer is
2 . You answered 3.
1) Valsartan, an angiotensin antagonist, can cause dizziness. However, it does not affect hearing.
2) CORRECT - Amikacin is an aminoglycoside that can cause ototoxicity. Manifestations of ototoxicity
include tinnitus and vertigo.
3) Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic and does not cause ototoxicity.
4) Cinacalcet hydrochloride, a calcium receptor antagonist, can cause dizziness. However, it does not
affect hearing.
The nurse assesses a client's sleep patterns. The nurse suspects that the client has sleep apnea. Which
risk factors should the nurse identify as contributing to sleep apnea? (Select all that apply.)
1. Obesity.2. Short neck.3. Hypertension.4. Diabetes.5. Smoking. - Answer The correct answer is 1, 2, 5 .
You answered 1, 2, 4.
1) CORRECT - Obesity increases the risk of sleep apnea by increasing airway obstruction when sleeping
from excessive tissue around the neck.
2) CORRECT - A short neck increases the risk of sleep apnea by increasing airway obstruction when
sleeping from the excessive tissue around the neck.
3) Hypertension is not a risk factor, but can result from untreated sleep apnea.
4) Diabetes is not a risk factor for sleep apnea.
5) CORRECT - Smoking increases the risk of sleep apnea by causing edema in the airway, increasing the
risk of airway obstruction.
The nurse provides care to a client requiring a sterile dressing change. Which action will the nurse take
when preparing the sterile field?
1. Place sterile items within 2.5 cm (1 in.) of the edge of the sterile field.2. Hold the bottle of sterile
solution with the label facing down.3. Wear sterile gloves when opening sterile gauze.4. Reach over the
sterile pack to open the edges. - Answer The correct answer is 1 . You answered 1.
1) CORRECT — The outer 2.5 cm (1 in.) of the sterile field is not considered to be sterile. Therefore, the
nurse should place all sterile items within 2.5 cm (1 in.) of the edge of the sterile field to ensure all items
remain sterile.
,2) The nurse should hold the bottle of sterile solution at a slight angle so that the label is facing up, away
from the field. That way, if any of the solution drips onto the outside of the bottle, it does not damage
the label and make it illegible.
3) Wearing sterile gloves when adding sterile dressings to the field will contaminate the gloves as the
outer wrappers are not sterile. Instead, the nurse should open the packages by holding the wrapper in
the nondominant hand and peeling the wrapper open to drop the dressing carefully onto the field.
4) The nurse should reach around the sterile pack, pinch the flap with the thumb and index finger, and
open the top flap away from the body to prevent contaminating the inside of the package.
The nurse provides care for a client in the second trimester of pregnancy. Which finding does the nurse
attribute to the normal increase in blood volume during pregnancy?
1. Increase in the respiratory rate.2. Elevation in heart rate of 15 beats per minute (bpm).3. Increase in
blood pressure of 20 points.4. Decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP). - Answer The correct answer
is 2 . You answered 2.
1) Deeper breaths, not quicker breaths, overcome the expanding uterus and the upward pressure on the
diaphragm.
2) CORRECT — Cardiac output increases as more blood is pumped from the heart with each contraction
and the pulse increases by 10 to 15 bpm.
3) Blood pressure does not increase with higher blood volume, rather, resistance to blood flow through
vessels decreases.
4) A decreased MAP indicates decreased organ perfusion.
The nurse who is a practicing Muslim requests to wear a hijab while working. Which action will the nurse
manager take next?
1. Decline the request.2. Make the accommodation.3. Advocate for modification of the organization's
dress code.4. Review the organization's dress code policy. - Answer The correct answer is 4 . You
answered 3.
1) Declining the request should not be done without reviewing the dress code policy.
2) Making the accommodation should not be done without reviewing the dress code policy.
3) The organization's policy should be reviewed prior to advocating for change, because the
accommodation may already be included in the policy.
4) CORRECT - Reviewing the dress code policy should take place on a regular basis, from a cultural
standpoint, to accommodate the various traditional dress needs of employee groups. In addition, the
accommodation for wearing the requested clothing may already be covered in the dress code.
, The nurse instructs a client about a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Which food does the client chose that best
indicates an understanding of the low-fat, high-fiber diet?
1. Garden salad with hard-boiled eggs and Italian dressing.2. Vegetable stock soup with vegetables
served with oat bread.3. Tuna salad sandwich with celery on whole wheat bread.4. Broiled chicken
stuffed with chopped apples and walnuts. - Answer The correct answer is 2 . You answered 2.
1) The salad is low-fat and high fiber, but the eggs and dressing are high in fat.
2) CORRECT — The soup is low-fat because it is made with vegetable stock rather than meat stock. The
bread, vegetables, and legumes are high-fiber.
3) The mayonnaise in the tuna salad is high-fat, and the bread has some fiber.
4) The nuts are high-fat, even though they are fiber-rich.
The nurse delegates care of a client at risk for venous thromboembolism to the LPN/LVN. Which action
by the LPN/LVN causes the nurse to intervene? (Select all that apply.)
1. Reinforce the need to flex and extend legs and feet every 2 hours with the client.2. Apply sequential
compression devices to the client.3. Administer enoxaparin 80 mg subcutaneously to the client. 4. Teach
the client the symptoms of pulmonary embolism.5. Administer oral norgestimate-ethinyl estradiol to the
client. - Answer The correct answer is 4, 5 . You answered 1, 2, 4.
1) It is within the LPN/LVN's scope of practice to reinforce teaching.
2) It is within the LPN/LVN's scope of practice to apply sequential compression devices.
3) Subcutaneous medication administration is within the LPN/LVN's scope of practice.
4) CORRECT - The nurse should perform initial teaching regarding symptoms of a pulmonary embolism.
5) CORRECT - Although medication administration is within the LPN/LVN's scope of practice, the nurse
should intervene because this medication increases the risk of venous thromboembolism.
The nurse evaluates a client with eye ptosis and muscle weakness. Which medication will the nurse
anticipate being prescribed as a test for this client?
1. Quinidine.2. Phenytoin.3. Procainamide.4. Edrophonium chloride. - Answer The correct answer is 4 .
You answered 2.
1) Quinidine can aggravate myasthenia gravis.
2) Phenytoin can aggravate myasthenia gravis.
3) Procainamide can aggravate myasthenia gravis.
4) CORRECT - The client is demonstrating manifestations of myasthenia gravis. Edrophonium chloride is
used to test for improved muscle contractility in a client exhibiting manifestations of myasthenia gravis.
