NCLEX® Question of the Day: Healthcare Provider Orders for A Sore Throat and High Fever

Today’s NCLEX-RN® question of the day focuses on a client who presents symptoms of sore throat and a fever. Can you figure it out?

A client presents to the clinic with symptoms of a sore throat, a temperature of 103.2°F (39.5°C), and a Centor score of 2. Which test should the nurse anticipate the healthcare provider will order next?

A. A chest x-ray

B. A rapid antigen test

C. Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT)

D. Blood cultures

Scroll down for the correct answer!

The correct answer to today’s NCLEX-RN® Question is…

B. A Rapid antigen test

Rationale: For clients with a Centor score of greater than 1, the cause of pharyngitis is most likely a bacterial infection. Therefore, the nurse should anticipate that the healthcare provider will order a rapid antigen test next.

Major Takeaway

Pharyngitis is generally diagnosed based on the client’s history and physical assessment, guided by The Centor Score. The score evaluates for tonsillar exudate, anterior cervical node enlargement, fever, and absence of a cough. For each one present, one point is added. For clients who score zero and one, the cause is likely to be viral. Scores of two, three, and four indicate the infection is likely to be bacterial. This diagnosis can be confirmed by performing a rapid antigen detection test or a throat culture.

Incorrect answer explanations

A. Administer the prescribed hematopoietic growth factor

Rationale: Based on the clinical findings, the client should be tested for pharyngitis. A chest x-ray is not used to diagnose pharyngitis. Instead, it is used to diagnose other conditions, such as pneumonia.

C. Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT)

Rationale: Based on the clinical findings, the client should be tested for pharyngitis. NAAT testing is not used to diagnose pharyngitis. Instead, it is used to diagnose gonorrhea. 

D. Blood cultures

Rationale: Based on the clinical findings, the client should be tested for pharyngitis. Blood cultures are not used to diagnose pharyngitis. Instead, this test would be beneficial in diagnosing a systemic infection, such as sepsis.                                                      _________________________

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