CSLB General Building (B) — All Questions
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What does the medical term 'benign' most nearly mean?
- a.Not harmful or cancerous✓
- b.Rapidly spreading
- c.Extremely painful
- d.Highly contagious
In medicine, benign describes a growth or condition that is not dangerous and does not spread. It is the opposite of malignant, which refers to cancerous tissue.
A patient described as 'lethargic' is best described as:
- a.Energetic
- b.Sluggish and drowsy✓
- c.Angry
- d.Talkative
Lethargic means lacking energy and appearing sluggish or drowsy. A lethargic patient moves and responds slowly.
The word 'chronic' most nearly means:
- a.Sudden and brief
- b.Mild
- c.Long-lasting or persistent✓
- d.Curable
Chronic describes a condition that lasts a long time or recurs frequently. It contrasts with acute, which means sudden and short-lived.
What does 'acute' mean when describing an illness?
- a.Long-term
- b.Painless
- c.Imaginary
- d.Sudden and severe✓
An acute illness comes on suddenly and is often severe but short in duration. This is the opposite of a chronic condition.
To 'palpate' a body area means to:
- a.Examine it by touch✓
- b.Photograph it
- c.Numb it
- d.Remove it
Palpate means to examine part of the body by feeling it with the hands or fingers. Nurses palpate to assess texture, size, or tenderness.
The term 'edema' refers to:
- a.A skin rash
- b.Swelling from fluid buildup✓
- c.A broken bone
- d.A high fever
Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in body tissues. It often appears in the legs, ankles, or feet.
Something described as 'contagious' is:
- a.Difficult to cure
- b.Not serious
- c.Capable of spreading from person to person✓
- d.Located in the chest
Contagious means an illness can be spread from one person to another, often by contact. Many infections caused by viruses are contagious.
What does the word 'dilate' mean?
- a.To close tightly
- b.To harden
- c.To break apart
- d.To widen or enlarge✓
Dilate means to become wider or larger. For example, pupils dilate in dim light to let in more light.
A 'sterile' environment is one that is:
- a.Free from germs✓
- b.Very cold
- c.Brightly lit
- d.Crowded
Sterile means completely free from living microorganisms such as bacteria. Sterile conditions are essential during surgery to prevent infection.
To 'abstain' from something means to:
- a.Enjoy it fully
- b.Deliberately avoid or refrain from it✓
- c.Depend on it
- d.Demand it
To abstain is to choose not to do or consume something. For example, a patient may abstain from food before a blood test.
The word 'incision' refers to:
- a.A type of bandage
- b.A medication
- c.A surgical cut✓
- d.A body organ
An incision is a cut made into body tissue, usually during surgery. Surgeons make an incision to reach the area they need to treat.
What does 'nausea' mean?
- a.A feeling of dizziness
- b.A sharp pain
- c.A skin infection
- d.A feeling of sickness with an urge to vomit✓
Nausea is the uncomfortable sensation of feeling sick to the stomach, often with the urge to vomit. It can be caused by illness, motion, or medication.
To 'comply' with instructions means to:
- a.Follow or obey them✓
- b.Ignore them
- c.Question them
- d.Rewrite them
To comply is to act in accordance with a rule or request. A patient who complies follows the treatment plan as directed.
The word 'potent' most nearly means:
- a.Weak
- b.Powerful or strong✓
- c.Colorful
- d.Expensive
Potent describes something that has a strong or powerful effect. A potent medication produces a strong result even in small doses.
A 'symptom' is best defined as:
- a.A cure for disease
- b.A type of doctor
- c.A sign of a condition experienced by the patient✓
- d.A medical tool
A symptom is evidence of a disease or disorder that the patient feels or notices, such as pain or fatigue. Symptoms help identify what may be wrong.
To 'exacerbate' a condition means to:
- a.Cure it
- b.Ignore it
- c.Diagnose it
- d.Make it worse✓
Exacerbate means to make a problem or condition more severe. For example, smoking can exacerbate a respiratory illness.
The word 'hydrated' describes a body that is:
- a.Supplied with enough water✓
- b.Overheated
- c.Underweight
- d.Infected
Hydrated means having enough fluid in the body to function properly. Staying hydrated is important for health, especially in hot weather.
Something 'transparent' is:
- a.Very heavy
- b.Able to be seen through✓
- c.Extremely loud
- d.Poisonous
Transparent means clear enough that light passes through and objects behind it can be seen. Glass and clean water are transparent.
To 'monitor' a patient means to:
- a.Discharge the patient
- b.Feed the patient
- c.Watch and check over time✓
- d.Transport the patient
To monitor is to observe and check something regularly over a period of time. Nurses monitor vital signs to track a patient's condition.
The word 'fatigue' most nearly means:
- a.Hunger
- b.Excitement
- c.Confusion
- d.Extreme tiredness✓
Fatigue is a state of extreme tiredness or exhaustion. It can result from illness, overwork, or lack of sleep.
A 'prognosis' is:
- a.A prediction of the likely course of a disease✓
- b.A written prescription
- c.A surgical instrument
- d.A hospital department
A prognosis is a medical prediction about how a disease will develop and the chance of recovery. It differs from a diagnosis, which identifies the condition.
To 'excrete' a substance means to:
- a.Absorb it
- b.Eliminate it from the body✓
- c.Store it
- d.Produce more of it
To excrete is to remove waste products from the body. The kidneys, for example, excrete waste through urine.
The word 'inflamed' describes tissue that is:
- a.Cool and pale
- b.Perfectly healthy
- c.Red, swollen, and irritated✓
- d.Completely numb
Inflamed tissue is red, warm, swollen, and often painful as part of the body's response to injury or infection. Inflammation is a natural defense reaction.
To 'alleviate' pain means to:
- a.Increase it
- b.Measure it
- c.Cause it
- d.Relieve or lessen it✓
Alleviate means to make something less severe or more bearable. Pain medication is given to alleviate a patient's discomfort.