Common Board Questions (CBQ) in Nurse

Licensure Examination (RENAL SYSTEM)

CBQ no. 1 Differentiate between acute renal failure and
chronic renal failure.
Answers: Acute renal failure: often reversible, abrupt
deterioration of kidney function. Chronic renal failure:
irreversible, slow deterioration of kidney function
characterized by increasing BUN and creatinine.
Eventually dialysis is required.
CBQ no. 2 During the oliguric phase of renal failure,
protein should be severely restricted. What is the
rationale for this restriction?
Answer: Toxic metabolites that accumulate in the blood
(urea, creatinine) are derived mainly from protein
catabolism.
CBQ no. 3 Identify 2 nursing interventions for the client
on hemodialysis.
Answer: Do NOT take BP or perform venipunctures on
the arm with the A-V shunt, fistula, or graft. Assess
access site for thrill or bruit.
CBQ no. 4 What is the highest priority nursing
diagnosis for clients in any type of renal failure?
Answer: Alteration in fluid and electrolyte balance.
CBQ no. 5 A client in renal failure asks why he is being
given antacids. How should the nurse reply?
Answer: Calcium and aluminum antacids bind
phosphates and help to keep phosphates from being
absorbed into blood stream thereby preventing rising
phosphate levels, and must be taken with meals.
CBQ no. 6 List 4 essential elements of a teaching plan
for clients with frequent urinary tract infections.
Answer: Fluid intake 3 liters/day; good handwashing;
void every 2-3 hours during waking hours; take all
prescribed medications; wear cotton undergarments.
CBQ no. 7 What are the most important nursing
interventions for clients with possible renal calculi?
Answer: Strain all urine is the MOST IMPORTANT
intervention. Other interventions include accurate
intake and output documentation and administer
analgesics as needed.
CBQ no. 8 What discharge instructions should be given
to a client who has had urinary calculi?
Answer: Maintain high fluid intake 3-4 liters per day.
Follow-up care (stones tend to recur). Follow prescribed
diet based in calculi content. Avoid supine position.
CBQ no. 9 Following transurethral resection of the
prostate gland (TURP), hematuria should subside by
what post-op day?
Answer: Fourth day
CBQ no. 10 After the urinary catheter is removed in the
TURP client, what are 3 priority nursing actions?
Answer: Continued strict I&O; continued observations
for hematuria; inform client burning and frequency
may last for a week.
CBQ no. 11 After kidney surgery, what are the primary
assessments the nurse should make?
Answer: Respiratory status (breathing is guarded
because of pain); circulatory status (the kidney is very

vascular and excess bleeding can occur); pain

assessment; urinary assessment most importantly,
assessment of urinary output.

Common Board Questions (CBQ) in Nurse

Licensure Examination (CARDIOVASCULAR
SYSTEM)
CBQ no. 1 How do clients experiencing angina?
Describe that pain.
Answers: Described as squeezing, heavy, burning,
radiates to left arm or shoulder, transient or prolonged.
CBQ no. 2 Develop a teaching plan for the client taking
nitroglycerin.
Answers: Take at first sign of anginal pain. Take no
more than 3, five minutes apart. Call for emergency
attention if no relief in 10 minutes.
CBQ no. 3 List the parameters of blood pressure for
diagnosing hypertension.
Answers: >140/90
CBQ no. 4 Differentiate between essential and
secondary hypertension.
Answers: Essential has no known cause while
secondary hypertension develops in response to an
identifiable mechanism.
CBQ no. 5 Develop a teaching plan for the client taking
antihypertensive medications.
Answers: Explain how and when to take med, reason
for med, necessary of compliance, need for follow-up
visits while on med, need for certain lab tests, vital
sign parameters while initiating therapy.
CBQ no. 6 Describe intermittent claudication.
Answers: Pain related to peripheral vascular disease
occurring with exercise and disappearing with rest.
CBQ no. 7 Describe the nurses discharge instructions
to a client with venous peripheral vascular disease.
Answers: Keep extremities elevated when sitting, rest
at first sign of pain, keep extremities warm (but do NOT
use heating pad), change position often, avoid crossing
legs, wear unrestrictive clothing.
CBQ no. 8 What is often the underlying cause of
abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Answers: Atherosclerosis.
CBQ no. 9 What lab values should be monitored daily
for the client with thrombophlebitis who is undergoing
anticoagulant therapy?
Answers: PTT, PT, Hgb, and Hct, platelets.
CBQ no. 10 When do PVCs (premature ventricular
contractions) present a grave danger?
Answers: When they begin to occur more often than
once in 10 beats, occur in 2s or 3s, land near the T
wave, or take on multiple configurations.
CBQ no. 11 Differentiate between the symptoms of leftsided cardiac failure and right-sided cardiac failure.
Answers: Left-sided failure results in pulmonary
congestion due to back-up of circulation in the left

ventricle. Right-sided failure results in peripheral

congestion due to back-up of circulation in the right
ventricle.
CBQ no. 12 List 3 symptoms of digitalis toxicity.
Answers: Dysrhythmias, headache, nausea and
vomiting
CBQ no. 13 What condition increases the likelihood of
digitalis toxicity occurring?
Answers: When the client is hypokalemic (which is
more common when diuretics and digitalis preparations
are given together).
CBQ no. 14 What life style changes can the client who
is at risk for hypertension initiate to reduce the
likelihood of becoming hypertensive?
Answers: Cease cigarette smoking if applicable, control
weight, exercise regularly, and maintain a low-fat/lowcholesterol diet.
CBQ no. 15 What immediate actions should the nurse
implement when a client is having a myocardial
infarction?

Answers: Place the client on immediate strict bedrest

to lower oxygen demands of heart, administer oxygen
by nasal cannula at 2-5 L/min., take measures to
alleviate pain and anxiety (administer prn pain
medications and anti-anxiety medications).
CBQ no. 16 What symptoms should the nurse expect to
find in the client with hypokalemia?
Answers: Dry mouth and thirst, drowsiness and
lethargy, muscle weakness and aches, and
tachycardia.
CBQ no. 17 Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate
below ___ BPM. Tachycardia is defined as a heart rate
above ___ BPM.
Answers: bradycardia 60 bpm; tachycardia 100 bpm
CBQ no. 18 What precautions should clients with valve
disease take prior to invasive procedures or dental
work?
Answers: Take prophylactic antibiotics.