Comprehensive Nursing
Capstone & Professional
Transition Examination
2026/2027
**Question 1**
The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation. The client's wheezing
suddenly stops, and the client appears exhausted. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer a rescue bronchodilator
B. Assess the client's oxygen saturation
C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
D. Prepare for emergent intubation
,💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The sudden cessation of wheezing in an asthma attack is a sign of impending
respiratory failure (silent chest). The nurse should first assess the client's oxygen saturation and
respiratory status to determine the severity. The provider should be notified and intubation may be
necessary, but assessment is the priority. Silent chest indicates severe airway obstruction and requires
immediate intervention.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Assess the client's oxygen saturation
---
**Question 2**
The nurse is providing education to a client with a new diagnosis of heart failure. Which symptom
should the client report to the healthcare provider immediately?
A. Weight gain of 2 pounds in one day
B. Mild shortness of breath with activity
C. Occasional cough in the morning
D. Fatigue at the end of the day
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: A weight gain of 2-3 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in one week is a sign of fluid
retention and worsening heart failure. This should be reported immediately so that medications can be
adjusted. The other symptoms are expected in heart failure but should be monitored. Early intervention
prevents hospitalization.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Weight gain of 2 pounds in one day
---
,**Question 3**
The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. The client reports low back pain and
chills. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Stop the transfusion and infuse normal saline
B. Slow the transfusion rate and monitor the client
C. Administer diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
D. Assess the client's vital signs
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Low back pain and chills are signs of a transfusion reaction. The priority is to
stop the transfusion to prevent further harm. The nurse should then maintain IV access with normal
saline and notify the provider. This is a medical emergency. The nurse should not slow the infusion or
administer medications without stopping the transfusion first.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Stop the transfusion and infuse normal saline
---
**Question 4**
The nurse is assessing a client who has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which finding is
most characteristic of this condition?
A. Pressured speech and decreased need for sleep
B. Anhedonia and fatigue
, C. Grandiose delusions
D. Auditory hallucinations
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Major depressive disorder is characterized by anhedonia (loss of interest or
pleasure in activities) and fatigue. Pressured speech and decreased need for sleep are signs of mania.
Grandiose delusions and hallucinations are more characteristic of psychosis or schizophrenia. Anhedonia
is a core symptom of depression.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Anhedonia and fatigue
---
**Question 5**
The nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which action is most important to
prevent a transfusion reaction?
A. Verify the client's identity with two unique identifiers
B. Infuse the blood over 4 hours
C. Administer an antihistamine before the transfusion
D. Warm the blood to room temperature before infusion
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Proper identification of the client and the blood product is the most critical step
to prevent a transfusion reaction. The nurse must verify the client's identity using two identifiers (e.g.,
name and date of birth) and match it to the blood product label. This is a critical patient safety measure
that prevents administration of blood to the wrong client.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Verify the client's identity with two unique identifiers
Capstone & Professional
Transition Examination
2026/2027
**Question 1**
The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation. The client's wheezing
suddenly stops, and the client appears exhausted. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer a rescue bronchodilator
B. Assess the client's oxygen saturation
C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
D. Prepare for emergent intubation
,💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The sudden cessation of wheezing in an asthma attack is a sign of impending
respiratory failure (silent chest). The nurse should first assess the client's oxygen saturation and
respiratory status to determine the severity. The provider should be notified and intubation may be
necessary, but assessment is the priority. Silent chest indicates severe airway obstruction and requires
immediate intervention.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Assess the client's oxygen saturation
---
**Question 2**
The nurse is providing education to a client with a new diagnosis of heart failure. Which symptom
should the client report to the healthcare provider immediately?
A. Weight gain of 2 pounds in one day
B. Mild shortness of breath with activity
C. Occasional cough in the morning
D. Fatigue at the end of the day
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: A weight gain of 2-3 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in one week is a sign of fluid
retention and worsening heart failure. This should be reported immediately so that medications can be
adjusted. The other symptoms are expected in heart failure but should be monitored. Early intervention
prevents hospitalization.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Weight gain of 2 pounds in one day
---
,**Question 3**
The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. The client reports low back pain and
chills. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Stop the transfusion and infuse normal saline
B. Slow the transfusion rate and monitor the client
C. Administer diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
D. Assess the client's vital signs
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Low back pain and chills are signs of a transfusion reaction. The priority is to
stop the transfusion to prevent further harm. The nurse should then maintain IV access with normal
saline and notify the provider. This is a medical emergency. The nurse should not slow the infusion or
administer medications without stopping the transfusion first.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Stop the transfusion and infuse normal saline
---
**Question 4**
The nurse is assessing a client who has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which finding is
most characteristic of this condition?
A. Pressured speech and decreased need for sleep
B. Anhedonia and fatigue
, C. Grandiose delusions
D. Auditory hallucinations
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Major depressive disorder is characterized by anhedonia (loss of interest or
pleasure in activities) and fatigue. Pressured speech and decreased need for sleep are signs of mania.
Grandiose delusions and hallucinations are more characteristic of psychosis or schizophrenia. Anhedonia
is a core symptom of depression.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Anhedonia and fatigue
---
**Question 5**
The nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which action is most important to
prevent a transfusion reaction?
A. Verify the client's identity with two unique identifiers
B. Infuse the blood over 4 hours
C. Administer an antihistamine before the transfusion
D. Warm the blood to room temperature before infusion
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Proper identification of the client and the blood product is the most critical step
to prevent a transfusion reaction. The nurse must verify the client's identity using two identifiers (e.g.,
name and date of birth) and match it to the blood product label. This is a critical patient safety measure
that prevents administration of blood to the wrong client.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Verify the client's identity with two unique identifiers
